The Vrije Universiteit Brussel is an urban engaged university that values a sustainable society. That's why it has launched Scientists With A Cause, a new podcast series built around the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to give visibility to the social relevance of the research VUB scientists are carrying out.
Behind the scenes at the VUB labs
In Scientists With A Cause, listeners will discover the contribution of VUB scientists to the SDGs, the 17 goals set by the UN to steer our planet and its inhabitants towards sustainability and away from poverty and climate change.
How do our scientists go about this and what happens behind the walls of VUB? The researchers themselves speak about their work, their vision, the solutions they are pursuing and why it matters for our future.
Karin Vanderkerken, vice-rector for Research Policy: "VUB scientists work extremely hard on their research assignments. For years on end, they immerse themselves in a social issue. In this podcast series, they speak with passion about their area of expertise. We hope that this can inspire young and not-so-young people about science, but even more about the importance and urgency of the Sustainable Development Goals".
With the approval of Luc Haekens
The series was made with the Podcast Planet, the production house of broadcaster Luc Haekens. As a podcast expert and reporter, he knows better than anyone how to enthuse a broad audience and was eager to get involved in making the work of scientists relevant to Flemish listeners.
Haekens: "Podcasts open up a new world, and nothing is as fascinating as the wonderful world of science. Without images you see so much more."
10 episodes
The first four episodes have already been launched, and there will be a new one launched every fortnight from May. Some episodes are in Dutch and some in English. You can subscribe here.
Listen to the first episode called 'How sustainable is vinted?' (in Dutch). In this episode Cathy Macharis and Heleen Buldeo Rai dig deeper in to sustainable e-commerce.