Podcast: The IDEMS Podcast

IDEMS founding directors David Stern and Danny Parsons discuss the concept of impact activation and the potential for mathematicians to contribute to social impact projects. They consider specific ways in which the skills of mathematical scientists can be useful in these contexts, advocating for a pipeline to create more opportunities for those interested in this…

In this episode of the IDEMS podcast, David talks with James Musyoka about their journey to revolutionise statistics education at Maseno University and beyond. They highlight the use of technology, overcoming access issues, and the importance of practical data work. They emphasise gradual change led by new educators and the critical need for interpretation skills…

In this episode, Lily and David Stern consider IDEMS’ relationship to transparency. They discuss the challenges and ethical considerations in sharing data, and the importance of balancing transparency with the need for privacy and protection against potential harm.

David and Lucie reflect on outcomes of the recent Farmer Research Network (FRN) convening led by the McKnight Foundation’s Global Collaboration for Resilient Food Systems programme. Bringing together researchers, farmers, NGOs and other stakeholders in agroecology from four continents, the four day convening was rich in learnings.

Lily and David consider the concept of “wicked problems” (sometimes referred to as “grand challenges”): those problems that are inherently unsolvable and require continuous incremental improvements. In a wide-ranging conversation, they touch on the importance of imagination in envisioning positive futures and the role of different contexts in shaping educational outcomes.

In this episode, Lily and David discuss the unintended consequences of data misuse, highlighting how outdated survey responses can adversely affect individuals. They explore the balance between human judgement and automated systems, emphasising the need for improved data practices and hybrid approaches.

David Stern and George Simmons discuss the concept of collaborative modelling and its transdisciplinary nature. Considering examples from various fields, including agriculture, ecology, and disease modelling, they highlight the need for better communication and collaboration among experts from different disciplines.

Lucie and David continue their discussion about Communities of Practice, focusing this time on the distinction between communities that have emerged ‘naturally’ and those that have been created.

David sits down with Sue Johnson, one of IDEMS’ non-executive directors (NEDs). They discuss Sue’s transition from the corporate world to her role at IDEMS, motivated by the organisation’s focus on social impact, and their recent in-person team meeting. Considering R-Instat in particular, Sue provides some insights into the challenges of effectively communicating IDEMS’ projects…

At the 100th episode milestone, directors David Stern, Kate Fleming, and Danny Parsons meet to celebrate their journey and discuss the evolution of The IDEMS Podcast.