Explore every episode of the podcast State of the Earth

Professor Stephan Harrison's work sits at the intersection of climate change, natural hazards, and policy implementation. A climate scientist and geomorphologist with more than 30 years of experience, he has advised governments, international organisations, and industry on climate risk and adaptation, helping decision-makers understand not only the risks posed by a changing climate, but also the opportunities that come from acting proactively.

In this episode of State of the Earth, Sophie Crossley sits down with Professor Harrison to explore why mountain regions act as early warning systems for climate change, the growing importance of adaptation, and the challenge of "selling climate change" — communicating climate science and risk in ways that inspire meaningful action.

We cover:

• How glaciers reveal the pace and scale of climate change
• The links between glacier retreat, water security, and natural hazards
• How governments and businesses assess climate risk
• Why effective climate communication may be one of the most important tools for driving action
• What climate scientists believe is still being underestimated
• Reasons for hope in the next decade of climate action

Surf therapy is emerging as one of the most exciting areas of mental health research, combining the benefits of physical activity, blue spaces, and social connection to support wellbeing.

In this episode of State of the Earth, Sophie Crossley sits down with Nick Knowles, PhD researcher in Health and Wellbeing at the University of Exeter and Research Manager for the International Surf Therapy Organisation (ISTO), to explore the evidence behind this growing field.

Nick's research investigates how and why surf therapy works, who it benefits most, and what needs to happen for it to become more widely integrated into healthcare and community wellbeing initiatives. As one of the UK's leading early-career researchers in the field, Nick will also be speaking at this year's UK Surf Expo in Newquay, sharing the latest evidence shaping the future of surf therapy.

In this episode, we cover:

• What surf therapy is, and how it differs from recreational surfing
• Why surf therapy is gaining recognition within healthcare and social prescribing
• Who benefits most, and why programmes don't work the same way for everyone
• The biggest challenges facing surf therapy research and implementation
• The future of surf therapy and blue health research

Nick's latest research paper: Explaining how, why, for whom and when surf therapy improves mental health and wellbeing in adults: a realist synthesis Read the paper here. 

In this podcast, host Sofia Salas Lopez speaks with Prof. Callum Roberts, Professor of Marine Conservation at the University of Exeter and one of the world's leading marine conservation scientists.

In this conversation, we explore Callum’s journey from studying coral reef ecology in the Red Sea to becoming a leading voice in ocean conservation through policy. We discuss the impacts of climate change on coral reefs, the global 30 by 30 target to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030, the challenges of overfishing, and the role of science and media in shaping policy.

Callum is the Chief Scientific Advisor to the Blue Marine Foundation, a WWF-UK Ambassador, and was a scientific advisor for the BBC's Blue Planet II. He is also the author of several influential books, including The Unnatural History of the Sea, Ocean of Life, and Reef Life: An Underwater Memoir.

Highlights:

• Callum’s journey into marine conservation
• The importance of coral reefs
• Climate change and coral reef futures
• Marine protected areas and the 30 by 30 target
• Overfishing and bottom trawling
• Science communication and Blue Planet II
• The role of scientists in policy
• Reasons for optimism about ocean conservation

Links to further explore his work:

University of Exeter profile: https://experts.exeter.ac.uk/35107-callum-roberts

Published books: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/737994.Callum_Roberts

Research: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=lRTJ4IQAAAAJ&hl=en

Mining is essential to the technologies powering the transition to net zero, from electric vehicles and wind turbines to batteries and renewable energy infrastructure. But as demand for critical minerals accelerates, how can mining become more responsible, circular, and sustainable?

In this episode, Sophie Crossley speaks with Professor Frances Wall, Professor of Applied Mineralogy at the Camborne School of Mines and one of the world’s leading experts on critical minerals and sustainable resource development. Recently awarded an OBE for services to geoscience and sustainable resource development, Frances shares insights into the future of mining, the growing importance of critical minerals, and Cornwall’s role in the global energy transition.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why critical minerals are essential for achieving net zero
• What “responsible mining” really means in practice
• The role of circular economy systems in reducing waste and improving sustainability
• Why mineral processing is one of the biggest challenges facing the industry
• Cornwall’s mining heritage, and why the region is back in the spotlight
• How the industry can rebuild public trust and operate more responsibly
• What developments in legislation, supply chains, and technology may shape mining in 2026

In this podcast, host Sofia Salas Lopez speaks with Prof. James Scourse, a marine geologist and the Head of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Exeter.

In this conversation, we explore James’s career in marine geology, his research on Quaternary environments and climate change, and how geological records help us better understand past and future environmental change.

After completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Oxford, he went on to earn a PhD from the University of Cambridge. His doctoral research focused on the Quaternary stratigraphy and palaeoenvironments of the Celtic Sea, Isles of Scilly, and West Cornwall.

Following his PhD, James was elected to a Research Fellowship at the University of Cambridge. Shortly after, he was appointed to a Lectureship at Bangor University in the School of Ocean Sciences in 1985 and was awarded a Personal Chair in 2005. In February 2017, he moved his research group to the Penryn Campus at the University of Exeter.

James has held numerous leadership roles within the academic community. He served as President of the Quaternary Research Association (2008–2011) and as Chair of the NERC Radiocarbon Facility Steering Committee (2007–2011). He was Editor of the Journal of Quaternary Science (2000–2004) and was awarded a Royal Society–Leverhulme Trust Senior Research Fellowship in 2008–2009. He was elected a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales in 2014, directed the Climate Change Consortium of Wales from 2011 to 2016, and received a Doctor of Science (ScD) degree from the University of Cambridge in 2023.

Highlights:

• Introduction to Prof. Scourse and his journey into marine geology
• The importance of marine geology
• Experiences conducting field work in the Antarctic
• The work of Sclero
• Marine environmental dating applications
• Climate change, tipping points and glaciers
• Deep-sea mining 
• Policy
• The future of his work

Links to further explore his work:

University of Exeter profile:  https://experts.exeter.ac.uk/26104-james-scourse

Sclero: https://sclerogroupexeter.co.uk/

Tourism connects people, cultures, and economies, but it also places growing pressure on communities and environments around the world. So what does sustainable tourism really mean in practice, and how can such a complex global industry become more equitable and resilient?

In this episode, Sophie Crossley speaks with Jose Melenez Roman, Lecturer in Sustainable Tourism at the University of Exeter. With more than 14 years of experience working across public and private sector tourism projects worldwide, Jose explores how collaboration, governance, and innovation can help tackle some of tourism’s toughest sustainability challenges.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What “sustainable tourism” really means beyond the buzzword
• The hidden social and environmental costs of tourism
• How participatory governance helps destinations design better solutions
• Greenwashing in tourism and how organisations can build credibility
• Whether regulation or collaboration will drive change in the years ahead
• Advice for students and professionals entering the sustainable tourism field

In this podcast, Host Sofia Salas Lopez speaks with Dr Kimberley Hockings, Associate Professor in Conservation Science at the University of Exeter. She is an active member of many conservation organisations, such as the Great Ape Section of the IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group, and as the co-Director of the Cantanhez Chimpanzee Project

Dr Kimberley is a conservation biologist, with her work mainly focused on studying and facilitating human-wildlife interactions, especially with great apes. Dr Kimberley has extensive experience with fieldwork across West Africa, working on conservation projects and policy.

In this conversation, we will learn more about the biggest issues facing primates and how different forms of conservation can shape the future of wildlife by creating a symbiosis between people and nature. 

Highlights:

• Introduction to Dr Hockings and her journey into conservation 

• The importance of studying primates

• Threats to primates (Human-wildlife interactions, disease, land loss…)

• The role of community work in conservation

• AI and technology in conservation

• Hopes for the future 

Links to further explore her work: https://experts.exeter.ac.uk/26467-kimberley-hockings/about

In this episode, Sophie is joined by Dr Sarah Bell, Senior Lecturer in Health Geography at the European Centre for Environment and Human Health.

Sarah is a health and disability geographer whose research explores how wellbeing, social inequality, and disability intersect with our changing environments, from parks, gardens, and coastlines to the weather, seasons, and climate change.

Our conversation covers how our environments shape who we are and how we live — and what it really means to design a fairer, healthier world for everyone.

Highlights:

• How disability, wellbeing, and environment intersect across the life course
• Lessons from the Sensing Nature project and multisensory access to the outdoors
• The balance between research, real-world impact, and policy change
• Short-termism vs long-term investment in health and nature initiatives
• Staying motivated in the face of climate challenges and systemic barriers

Shownotes:

• Sensing Nature program: https://sensing-nature.com

In this episode, Sophie is joined by Professor Martin Siegert, Vice President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Exeter Cornwall Campus. Martin is a leading expert in polar science, glaciology, and climate science. With over 30 years of experience, Professor Siegert shares his inspiring, albeit unconventional, journey into academia, demonstrating that a career in science is “for everybody,” no matter your background!  

The conversation dives into the critical issue of global sea level rise and the dramatic changes occurring in the polar regions, particularly Antarctica, one of the fastest warming places on Earth. Professor Siegert explains how melting polar ice sheets are now controlling global sea levels, potentially leading to significant rises measured in metres rather than centimetres. He highlights two key effects: the gravitational impact that raises sea levels in mid-latitudes like the UK, and the albedo effect, where melting ice causes polar regions to absorb heat instead of reflecting it, creating a planetary problem. 

Listeners will discover Professor Siegert's groundbreaking research using radio-echo sounding to map hidden subglacial environments and hundreds of lakes, which is essential for developing accurate ice sheet models to predict future sea level rise. With current CO2 levels far exceeding natural norms, he emphasises that significant sea level rise is inevitable. 

Professor Siegert outlines a feasible decarbonised pathway as the only viable solution, firmly rejecting impractical geoengineering strategies. He concludes with a powerful call to action for individuals, businesses, and institutions, leaving listeners inspired to engage in the fight against climate change. This insightful and optimistic conversation highlights the interconnectedness of human activities and the Earth's polar regions, underscoring the urgent need for collective action. 

In this episode of the State of the Earth Podcast, Mark is joined by Bri Pickstone, a PhD researcher at the Environmental Intelligence Centre for Doctoral Training. Together, they explore how remote sensing and machine learning are transforming biodiversity monitoring and shaping the future of Biodiversity Net Gain. Bri shares how her research helps us better understand ecosystems from space and how these insights can guide smarter, more sustainable land management. From policy to practice, this conversation sheds light on the tools and data driving nature recovery in the UK and beyond. Whether you’re curious about tech’s role in conservation or want to understand how big data can support biodiversity, this episode offers a fresh perspective on the intersection of nature and innovation. 

In this episode of the State of the Earth Podcast, Mark is joined by Catherine Leyshon, a Professor of Human Geography at the University of Exeter, Cornwall. They discuss how to unravel the hidden systems behind our daily routines to make a difference on the climate change impact and how the system itself can be redesigned. Mark and Catherine explore how simple activities like showering, shopping and commuting aren’t just routine but could be powerful practices that shape our planet’s future. Using Elizabeth Shove’s Theory of Enabled Practices helps us discover how shifting these ingrained behaviours can ignite a local revolution for sustainability and learn why every small choice you make matters in the fight against climate change. Whether you’re driven by a desire to make a personal change or eager to be part of a broader movement, this conversation will inspire you to rethink, act, and transform your everyday life for a healthier, greener tomorrow. 

In this episode of the State of the Earth podcast, Sophie and Mark are joined by Tiago De Melo Cartaxo, a Senior Lecturer in Environmental Law at the University of Exeter. They discuss Tiago's professional background, the concept of UNESCO biospheres, and the potential for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to be designated as such a reserve. The conversation explores the benefits of biosphere status, including improved conservation, economic development, and community engagement. Tiago shares his experiences working on biosphere projects in Portugal and offers insights on the steps required for Cornwall to achieve this designation. The discussion highlights the importance of stakeholder collaboration, cultural heritage conservation, and research in sustaining biodiversity and environmental justice.   

Tune in to the latest episode of the State of the Earth podcast. In this episode, Sophie Jackson, an MSc Sustainable Business Management student, is joined by Dr. Laura Colombo, a senior lecturer at the University of Exeter Business School. They delve into the urgent need for transformative change in management education to address pressing environmental and social challenges. Dr. Colombo offers a compelling critique of the current system and provides valuable solutions, advocating for a shift towards civic management education that emphasises cooperation, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary approaches. She highlights the importance of experiential learning and community engagement as means to foster hope and action among students, calling for educators and students to rethink the purpose of higher education and engage with their communities to drive meaningful change.

In this episode of the State of the Earth podcast, hosts Mark, a BSc Environmental Science student, and Sophie, an MSc Sustainable Business Management student, sit down with Dr. Maike Hamann, a sustainability scientist. Dr. Hamann explores the intricate relationship between nature and human well-being, delving into how socio-economic inequalities affect people-nature dynamics. With climate change posing increasing challenges, Dr. Hamann highlights the critical benefits urban nature provides to city residents. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation on creating equitable and resilient urban environments.

In this episode we talk to Professor Brendan Godley, a world renowned marine biologist and conservationist, all about his work protecting sea turtles across the globe.

Hear about some of the biggest threats to the species, the important initiatives being undertaken to save them, and understand why sea turtles are so important to us all.

MSc Marine Environmental Management student, Daniel, talks to Professor Clare Saunders from the University of Exeter, Cornwall about the role of protest and activism in the development of social and environmental policy.

MSc Marine Environmental Management student, Daniel, talks to Professor Karen Hudson-Edwards from the Camborne School of Mines about the importance of mining to the net zero transition, how we can mine sustainably for the future, and the opportunities in the sector both locally and globally.

Karen leads the MSc Mining Environmental Management programme at the Graduate School of Environment and Sustainability at the University of Exeter, Cornwall.