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    166 – Solarpunk and Positive Visions of the Future

    June 13, 2025

    It feels like we’re surrounded by dystopian visions of the future. But what might a future look like where humanity, technology and nature harmoniously coexist? In this episode, Johnny McQuade and David Stern explore the concept of “Solarpunk”, a science…

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    165 – Systemic Change

    June 10, 2025

    In this episode, Lily Clements talks to David Stern about how IDEMS aims to bring about systemic change. Key examples include work with National Met Offices in Zambia and Malawi to make climate data accessible and impactful, and digital interventions…

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    164 – Further Reflections on the ICMS Workshop

    June 6, 2025

    Lucie and Kate discuss their experiences at a workshop for PhD and postdoctoral mathematicians at the International Centre for Mathematical Sciences in Edinburgh. They reflect on the challenges mathematicians experience to enter into socially impactful careers, the sense of community…

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    163 – Rethinking Statistics Education

    June 3, 2025

    Lily Clements and David Stern explore the future of statistics education through the lens of George Cobb's influential 2015 paper, “Mere Renovation is Too Little Too Late: We Need to Rethink Our Undergraduate Curriculum from the Ground Up”. They discuss…

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    161 – Tool Agnosticism in Modern Education

    May 27, 2025

    George Simmons and David Stern discuss the development of educational courses with a focus on tool agnosticism, particularly in their collaboration with the Open University of Kenya for their Msc in Mathematical Innovation course. They explore the challenges and benefits…

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    160 – Developing Modelling Courses for the Maths Innovations MSc

    May 23, 2025

    In this episode, George interviews David, discussing the development of an 'Introduction to Systems Modelling' course in collaboration with the Open University of Kenya. They explore balancing theoretical and practical approaches to enhance postgraduate students' modelling skills and emphasise the…

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    Impact Area
    IDEMS Domain
    Sociotechnical Innovation

    139 – Scaling the Maths Camps

    In this episode David and Zach discuss the exciting work with scaling the math camps in Kenya. These camps, designed to engage all students, not just the math enthusiasts, are changing how young people view mathematics. They share inspiring stories of students who discovered a passion for math through these unconventional and interactive camps. They suggest how the Virtual Maths Camp innovation enabled large-scale participation and empowered teachers to keep the momentum going after camps.

    138 – AI in International Development, Part 2

    Lily Clements and David Stern continue their discussion on the role of AI in international development, focusing on the evolution of AI in education, particularly in low-resource environments. From providing automated feedback on assessments to supporting personal tutors, they stress the importance of collaboration in building effective feedback systems and consider how AI can enhance rather than replace human interactions in education.

    137 – AI in International Development, Part 1

    Lily Clements and David Stern discuss the intersection of AI and international development, particularly in low-resource environments. David reflects on the critical, yet often overlooked, role AI could play in aiding smallholder farmers in regions like West Africa. They consider the potential of open-source AI, the ethical issues around commercially driven AI apps, and the significant yet underutilised impact of established AI technologies on international development.

    136 – A Role of Technology in Education

    In this episode, Santiago Borio and David Stern explore how technology can better support teachers and improve student interactions. They share personal stories, discuss the challenges of providing personalized feedback, and highlight innovative tools and techniques. The episode offers insights into making classrooms more engaging and effective through technology, with perspectives from educational contexts in Argentina and Tanzania.

    135 – Resource Constraints and Technological Innovation

    In this episode, co-founding director David Stern is joined by Johnny McQuade, a software developer at IDEMS, for his first discussion on the show. Prompted by recent advancements in AI technology from Chinese company DeepSeek, they consider the impact of resource limitations on technological development, within the field of AI and more generally. They consider how IDEMS’ approach of building technology for low-resource environments has the potential for global benefits in terms of innovation, efficiency, and sustainability in technology, linking this to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

    134 – Introducing Michael Obiero: Rethinking Maths Textbooks

    David Stern talks to Dr. Michael Obiero from Maseno University about their inspiring joint initiatives in educational reform. They delve into the challenges and achievements in developing digital, competency-based mathematics textbooks aimed at the Kenyan education system. Michael shares insights on the innovative methods deployed by the interns working on this project, the integration of various educational tools, and how this effort is expected to transform mathematics education in Kenya and potentially other countries too.

    133 – Schooling and Alternative Education Systems

    Santiago Borio, currently working as a maths teacher in Argentina, talks to David Stern about the differences between traditional schooling and other forms of education. They explore the potential downsides of compulsory schooling on rural and traditional communities, the distinction between education and schooling, and the societal impact of standardised education.

    132 – Paris AI Action Summit

    In this episode, data scientist Lily Clements and co-founding director David Stern discuss the AI Summit held in France in February 2025. The newly released declaration, signed by over 60 nations, promotes inclusive, sustainable, and responsible AI practices. They consider how, despite the notable absence of the UK and US, the declaration signals a potential shift towards societal benefit over commercial interest in AI development.

    131 – USAID Revisited

    Following up on the discussion in Episode 129, Santiago Borio questions David Stern further on the implications of Donald Trump’s executive order terminating USAID funding. They analyse the immediate and future consequences of this decision, and compare the situation with the UK’s DFID closure, noting differences in impact and response.

    130 – Equality and Equity

    Is it right to treat people differently? In this episode, Lily questions David around the idea of the IDEMS principle “options by context”, and how it applies to making concessions for different students in an educational setting. What is the difference between equality and equity, and which should we aim for?

    129 – USAID

    In this episode of the IDEMS podcast, co-directors David Stern and Kate Fleming discuss the breaking news of the proposed shutdown of USAID. Highlighting the immediate and long-term implications, they consider the historical context of similar actions, notably the disbandment of DFID in the UK. They examine the wide-reaching effects on international development, local economies, and human lives, while recognising the potential for future innovation and systemic change.

    128 – Experiences of Using STACK for Data Skills

    In this episode, Lily and Santiago discuss their work with STACK for developing data skills. They share their experiences using STACK to create interactive and personalized questions for teaching statistical concepts. They reflect on different experiences using STACK questions on data with students, highlight the platform’s ability to foster understanding through feedback and mastery learning, delve into the challenges of question design, and discuss student reception and performance improvements.
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