Podcast: The IDEMS Podcast

  • 185 – Enabling Access to STACK through PreTeXt

    Santiago and David discuss recent advancements and challenges in educational technology, looking at the integration of the STACK electronic assessment system with the PreTeXt tool for textbook authoring. Reflecting on a successful African STACK Conference held in Ethiopia, they consider the broader impact of these innovations on education in Ethiopia and potentially other African countries,…

  • 184 – Twenty Years of RMS for CRFS: Controls

    In their continuing conversations on Research Methods for Agriculture, Lucie and Roger discuss the importance and application of controls in agricultural research. They consider the importance of controls in general, and consider examples from both agricultural and medical experiments, emphasising the importance of ethical considerations when using controls. Roger shares insights on how to make…

  • 183 – Using AI for Qualitative Analysis

    AI tools can be helpful in analysing quantitative data, but their potential utility in qualitative analysis might be less obvious, or even concerning. In this episode of the IDEMS Podcast, data scientist Lily Clements and social impact scientist Lucie Hazelgrove Planel discuss the usage of generative AI in analysing qualitative data. They explore the ethical…

  • 182 – Twenty Years of RMS for CRFS: Levels of Variability

    Lucie Hazelgrove Planel and Roger Stern consider the importance of multilevel data in agricultural research. They discuss the concept of measurement units at different levels, such as individual, household, community, and village, and the challenges faced when dealing with multilevel data in practice. Using an example of a student’s experiment on tadpoles, they illustrate key…

  • 181 – Tricot Participatory Breeding Trials

    In this episode, Lily Clements and David Stern discuss the “Tricot” method for participatory breeding trials. Short for “Triadic Comparisons of Technologies”, Tricot involves farmers testing three crop varieties and ranking them based on qualitative measures. They reflect on a recent workshop aimed at simplifying this complex analysis using custom R packages and the R-Instat…

  • 180 – Twenty Years of RMS for CRFS: On-Farm Agricultural Trials

    Lucie and Roger continue their discussions of research methods for agriculture, this time focusing on on-farm trials. They consider the benefits and challenges of conducting research on farms versus research stations, emphasizing the importance of farmer involvement in the research process. They consider the innovative “Tricot” method, which tests multiple crop varieties with minimal control…

  • 179 – Challenging the Dead Internet Theory

    In this episode, David and Santiago debate the ‘Dead Internet’ Theory, which claims that AI-generated content will dominate the internet, making it less reliable. David challenges this theory, emphasizing the need for digital literacy, responsible use of AI, and the complex nature of trust in institutions versus individuals. They also discuss the implications of misinformation…

  • 178 – Twenty Years of RMS for CRFS: On-Station Agricultural Trials

    In this episode, Lucie interviews Roger about essential aspects of agricultural statistical experiments. They discuss treatment, layout, and measurement, using an irrigation and maize variety case study. Roger emphasizes the importance of clear objectives and balancing statistical rigor with practical agricultural considerations.

  • 177 – Mathematical Modelling vs Statistical Modelling

    statistical and mathematical modeling. They explore how each field approaches modeling, and touch on hybrid models that incorporate both statistical and mathematical elements, and the significance of uncertainty in modeling predictions.

  • 176 – Twenty Years of RMS for CRFS: Multimethod Agricultural Research

    In this episode, Lucie and Roger discuss planning agricultural research, highlighting on-station and on-farm trials. They emphasize integrating diverse data collection methods, farmer involvement, and balancing research design and farmer participation.