So, now what?
Gates Cambridge
Recent Episodes
In this episode of 'So Now What', host Catherine Galloway engages with Gates Cambridge scholars Jakub Szomalec, Raggenhilde Fregdaler, and Jansu Karabiak to explore how creative methods can address wicked problems in society. The conversation delves into the importance of arts in academia, the role of entertainment in cultural activism, and the power of personal stories in engaging audiences. The guests share their unique experiences and insights on how to effectively communicate complex issues in an increasingly noisy world, emphasizing the need for emotional connection and community engagement.
Takeaways
Creative methods can effectively address wicked problems.
Arts and academia should be funded for their impact.
Comedy can relay serious messages in engaging ways.
Stories are essential for activating empathy.
Entertainment can serve as a platform for activism.
Immersive experiences can change audience perceptions.
Adapting messaging is crucial for short attention spans.
Understanding technology is a parental responsibility.
Engaging with diverse communities enriches perspectives.
Real conversations foster better understanding and connection.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Wicked Problems and Creative Solutions
05:25 The Role of Arts in Academia
10:05 Entertainment as a Tool for Cultural Activism
13:30 Personal Stories and Vulnerability in Creative Work
18:38 Engaging Audiences Through Immersive Experiences
22:25 Adapting Messaging for Short Attention Spans
28:13 The Responsibility of Understanding Technology
32:23 Takeaways for Action and Engagement
Cansu Karabiyik received her PhD in medical science in 2021. Since then she has spent her days as a neuroscientist developing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases and her evenings as a standup comedian performing in clubs in New York City.
Jakub Szamalek award winning novelist and video game writer, who co-created international bestsellers such as "The Witcher 3" and "Cyberpunk 2077", currently Narrative Director at Rebel Wolves, a game development studio he co-founded. Doctor of classical archaeology educated at Oxford and Cambridge Universities and a Cambridge Gates Scholar. His most recent book, "Inner Space", will come out in English in July 2025.
Ragnhild Freng Dale is a social anthropologist and senior researcher at the Western Norway Research Institute. Her research interests include energy imaginaries, justice in climate transitions and impacts of energy infrastructure on local and indigenous communities. She thrives working on projects that are multimodal and experimental, especially in collaboration with the performing arts field.
In this episode of So Now What, host Catherine Galloway talks to Gates Cambridge scholars Kevin Beckford, Emma Soneson, and Blanca Piera Pi Sunyer to discuss the pressing issues facing today's youth. The conversation explores the importance of empowering young people, the role of community and culture in their development, and the need for systemic change in education and mental health support. The scholars share their insights on how to harness the energy of young people to create a brighter future, emphasizing the significance of supportive environments and the necessity of listening to youth voices in shaping policies that affect them.
Takeaways
- Young people are powerful agents of change.
- Community support is crucial for youth development.
- Mental health should be prioritized in education.
- Adversity can have cumulative negative effects on health.
- Empowering youth requires systemic change in institutions.
- Resilience should be reframed to focus on support, not just endurance.
- Education should promote exploration and self-discovery.
- Youth voices must be included in decision-making processes.
- Creating supportive environments can buffer against adversity.
- A visionary approach is needed to reimagine society for young people.
00:00
Introduction to youth empowerment and impact
02:58
Harnessing the energy of young people
06:07
The role of community and culture in youth development
08:54
Exploring opportunities for young people
12:03
The importance of mental health in education
15:04
Creating supportive environments for adolescents
18:12
Reimagining education for young people
20:58
The need for systemic change
23:55
Resilience vs. hustling: a new perspective
27:01
Global perspectives on youth challenges
29:56
Visioning a better future for young people
Kevin Beckford [2011] is the co-founder and a board member of The Hustlers Guild, a non-profit that uses hip hop to expand access and opportunity to Black and Latinx youth in the innovation space. He is also Senior Associate, Parnerships and Engagement at the Pretrial Justice Institute. From 2020 to 2022 he was an Atlantic Fellow for Racial Equity from 2020 to 2022 and from 2014-2016, Kevin worked in the White House Presidential Correspondence Office. He also served as a special advisor to Secretary Julian Castro at the US Department of Housing and Development.
Blanca Piera Pi-Sunyer [2021] is a final year PhD student at the Department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge working on social inequalities and socioemotional difficulties during adolescence.
Emma Soneson [2018] is a Senior Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Oxford Department of Psychiatry. She maintains a broad research profile within the field of child and adolescent mental health but is especially interested in the intersections between mental health and education.