Members in Spotlight#
Explore our collection of interviews, featuring Members of Academia Europaea and colleagues connected with the Academy, as they offer insights into critical research topics. The interviews are conducted by the Academia Europaea Cardiff Knowledge Hub
.#
2025#
- Gender, technology, and resistance: An interview with Caroline Bassett where she reflects on the promises and perils of digital technologies, and why critical feminist perspectives remain vital in shaping our technological futures. 30th September 2025.
- Interview with Lise Øvreås, incoming President of EASAC: Microbial worlds and climate futures where she highlights the vast diversity of microbes, their unseen influence on global systems, and the potential of microbial science in tackling environmental challenges. 21st August, 2025.
- Advancing European research: An interview with Academia Europaea’s next President, Professor Donald Dingwell where he discusses how a European perspective and global experience will guide his ambitions for the Academy. 15th July 2025.
- Interview with Chrysostomos Mantzavinos: Science, society, and the search for truth where he explores the idea of science as a self-governing enterprise and reflects on the institutional culture that underpins its success. Professor Mantzavinos was elected to the Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies section in 2022. 12th May 2025.
- Wartime resilience through science. Read an interview with Professor Alla Yemets where she discusses the role of biotechnology in Ukraine’s recovery, the resilience of its scientific community, and the urgent need to support research during conflict. Prof. Yemets was elected to the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology section in 2024. 7th May 2025.
- Interview with Tuomas Heikkilä: The hidden networks of medieval Europe where he explores the CODICUM project’s innovative use of DNA analysis and AI to trace the medieval book fragments that shaped Europe’s cultural and intellectual history. Prof. Heikkilä was elected as member of the History and Archaeology section in 2022. 29th April 2025.
- Interview with Svante Pääbo: Exploring ancient genomes, the 2024 Hypatia Prize winner, where he reflects on his pioneering work in paleogenetics, the impact of ancient DNA on modern science, and his vision for the future of human evolutionary research. Svante Pääbo is Nobel Prize Laureate and was elected as member of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology section in 1998. 1st April 2025.
- Interview with Sir Leszek Borysiewicz: A Cardiff legacy where he exlores his early days in Cardiff, the career decisions that shaped his path, and the contributions he hopes to leave for future generations of scientists. Sir Leszek Borysiewicz is a member of the Basic and Clinical Translational Sciences section since 2008. 24th March 2025.
- Interview with Zaal Kokaia: Advancing stem cell therapies where he discusses the rapid progress in stem cell research, the hurdles in bringing regenerative therapies to patients, and the academic challenges facing Georgia. Prof. Kokaia is a member of the Physiology and Neuroscience section. 18th March 2025.
- Interview with Naki Nakićenović and Benjamin Sovacool: Scientific advice on Solar Radiation Modification where they reflect on the recent work on SRM by the Scientific Advice Mechanism and their role within it. Prof. Nakićenović and Prof. Sovacool are members of the Economics, Business and Management Sciences section. 25th February 2025.
- Interview with Martin Kahance: Shaping Europe’s future through research and policy where he discusses his work on inequality, migration, and the importance of safeguarding academic freedom. Prof. Kahanec is the new Class Chair of the Social and Related Sciences Class. 17th February 2025.
- Interview with Rosi Braidotti: Radicalism, legacy, and the future of the Humanities where she reflects on her contributions to feminist philosophy, the evolution of the Humanities, and the importance of embracing intergenerational justice. Prof. Braidotti is a Distinguished Professor Emerita of Humanities at Utrecht University and a Member of the Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies section of the Academia Europaea since 2014. 9th January 2025.
- Interview with Saiful Islam: Pioneering green energy and science communication where he shares his journey in advancing sustainable energy research, championing science communication through engaging talks and record-breaking public experiments. 9th January 2025.
2024 BUILDING BRIDGES INTERVIEW SERIES#
- An exclusive interview with the Nobel laureate behind “molecular scissors”, Professor Emmanuelle Charpentier. Prof. Charpentier was interviewed by Wyborcza, one of Poland’s leading newspapers. 28th December 2024.
- Interview with Katarzyna Chojnacka: Transforming urban waste for a sustainable future where she discusses her pioneering work in sustainable technologies and shares insights on contributing to climate-neutral urban innovations. 28th November 2024. The interview is part of the BUILDING BRIDGES 2024 INTERVIEW SERIES.
- Interview with Heino Falcke: Towards the ends of space and time where he shares his experience of capturing the first image of a black hole. 28th November 2024. The interview is part of the BUILDING BRIDGES 2024 INTERVIEW SERIES.
- Interview with Helen Kennedy: Towards an equitable digital society where she explores what a fair and inclusive digital society could look like and the challenges of digital inequality, big data, and technology ethics. 28th November 2024. The interview is part of the BUILDING BRIDGES 2024 INTERVIEW SERIES.
- Welcoming the Chair of the Young Academy of Europe: An interview with Scott Bremer where he discusses his motivation for taking on the role and his priorities for the YAE. 27th November 2024. The interview is part of the BUILDING BRIDGES 2024 INTERVIEW SERIES.
- Interview with Verena Winiwarter: Insights from history into energy use. An interview with Verena Winiwarter where she discusses historical shifts in energy use, and the lessons they offer for modern energy policy and transition. 27th November 2024. The interview is part of the BUILDING BRIDGES 2024 INTERVIEW SERIES.
- Interview with Yvonne Buckley: Biodiversity in the age of climate change. where she examines how climate action and land use shape biodiversity. 27th November 2024. The interview is part of the BUILDING BRIDGES 2024 INTERVIEW SERIES.
2024#
- Interview with Arlene Holmes-Henderson: The impact of arts and humanities on public policy where Prof. Holmes-Henderson explores the process that led to a new publication highlighting real-world examples of how arts and humanities research impacts public policy. 11th October 2024.
- Interview with Kate Tchanturia: Advancing mental health and autism research where she describes her career at the intersection of research and clinical practice in autism and eating disorders, and shares her reaction to receiving the prestigious National Award of Georgia. Kate Tchanturia is Professor of Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience at King’s College London and was elected as member of the Physiology and Neurescience section of Academia Europaea in 2021. 22nd October 2024.
- Interview with Oleg Krishtal: Living and working through war where he describes the need for ‘metalanguage’. Prof. Krishtal is the former director of the Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology in Kyiv and a member of the Physiology and Neuroscience section of Academia Europaea since 1990. 1st October 2024.
- Interview with Nicolas Mathevon: Exploring animal communication where he discusses his book ‘The Voices of Nature’ and uncovers the fascinating world of how and why animals communicate. Professor Mathevon is a Distinguished Professor of Neurosciences and Animal Behaviour at the University of Saint-Etienne in France and a senior member of the Institut Universitaire de France. He was elected into Academia Europaea as a Member of the Ecology and Evolution section in 2022. 20th September 2024.
- Interview with Cláudia Álvares: Challenging gender norms in media where she reflects on the changing portrayal of gender in media, the nuances of intersectionality, and the critical need for effective digital regulation in promoting equality. Professor Álvares is Associate Professor of Communication in the Department of Sociology at Lisbon University Institute (ISCTE). 3rd September 2024.
- Interview with Professor Jiří Přibáň, newly-elected member of the Law section and recently appointed as Justice at the Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic. 23rd July 2024.
- Interview with Kjersti Fløttum: Exploring climate change narratives, 16th July, 2024. Kjersti Fløttum is Professor Emerita of French Linguistics at the Department of Foreign Languages, University of Bergen and member of the Linguistic Studies section of Academia Europaea since 2018.
- Interview with Kai Simons: Building effective research environments, member of the Cell and Developmental Biology section since 1989, in which he reflects on life as a scientist and entrepreneur, as described in his autobiography ‘The Magic of the Collective’. June 8th, 2024.
- Interview with Péter Hegyi, the new Academic Director of the Budapest Knowledge Hub. 4th June, 2024.
- Interview with Professor Wei Li: Exploring the bilingual brain.
Read an interview with Professor Wei Li, member of the Linguistic Studies section of Academia Europaea since 2021. April 17th 2024.
- Interview with Pearl Dykstra, a former Member of the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors to the Cabinet of European Commissioners and its Deputy Chair between 2016 and 2019. She currently acts as an expert to the European Commission. April 8th,2024.
- Interview with Professor Samuel Lieu: From the Silk Road to the One Belt, One Road Initiative, member of the History and Archaeology section of Academia Europaea. March 13th , 2024.
- Interview with Nuria Oliver, the 2024 winner of the Hypatia European Science Prize, where she shares her reaction to receiving the award and discusses the opportunities and challenges of Artificial Intelligence. February 23rd, 2024.
2023 BUILDING BRIDGES INTERVIEW SERIES#
- Interview with Jean-Pierre Changeux, recipient of Academia Europaea’s Erasmus medal.
- Interview with Michael Udvardi, recipient of the Adam Kondorosi Academia Europaea Award for Advanced Research 2023.
- Interview with Katalin Solymosi, Chair of the Young Academy of Europe, where she talks about her motivation for taking on the role and her plans for the YAE.
2023#
- Interview with Ann-Christine Davis: Overcoming barriers in male-dominated world where she talks about making history as the first female Mathematics professor at Cambridge. October 17, 2023.
- Interview with Johanna Ivaska: where she shares her passion for cancer research and the challenges faced by female scientists.
Building Bridges 2023 Spotlight Series. October 9th, 2023.
- A conversation on gender equity and allyship in STEM: an interview with Jeremy Sanders where he talks about his personal inclusion agenda and setting an example as a male ally, 11th September 2023.
- Interview with Dame Athene Donald: Why we need more women in science where she talks about her recently published book which examines the modern way of working in scientific research and how gender bias operates within it, drawing on the experiences of leading women in science. June 27th, 2023.
- Interview with European Review Editor-in-Chief Alban Kellerbauer where he discusses his ambitions for the journal, and what makes the ER distinctive, 1st June, 2023.
- Interview with Magdolna Hargittai: Telling the stories of women scientists
Read an interview with Magdolna Hargittai, member of the Chemical Sciences section, in which she discusses her latest book which focuses on the achievements of female scientists and the importance of role models in promoting and supporting more women in STEM. May 12th, 2023.
- Interview with István Hargittai: Telling the story of émigré scientists
Read an interview with István Hargittai, member of the Chemical Sciences section, where he discusses his motivation for writing his latest book ‘Brilliance in Exile,’ which explores the lives of Hungarian émigré scientists who have made significant contributions to science after leaving their country of birth. May 3rd, 2023.
- Interview with Susan Wray: Changing landscapes in academia
Read and watch an interview with Susan Wray, member of the Physiology and Neuroscience section, on the occassion of the International Women’s Day 2023, March 8th, 2023.
2022 BUILDING BRIDGES INTERVIEW SERIES#
- Interview with Philippe Aghion, 27th October 2022.
- Interview with Nancy Cartwright, 27th October 2022.
- Interview with Sierd Cloetingh, 27th October 2022.
- Interview with Carl-Henrik Heldin, 27th October 2022.
- Interview with Sir Shankar Balasubramanian and Professor Helga Nowotny, 26th October 2022.
- Interview with Moniek Tromp FYAE, Chair of the Young Academy of Europe, 26th October 2022.
2022#
- Interview with Dr Katalin Solymosi FYAE and Dr Linn Leppert FYAE where they discuss Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, their experiences as women in science and the importance of the CALIPER project in addressing the gender balance in STEM fields. 19th December 2022.
- Celebrating physiology: an interview with David Paterson in which he marks the life and work of neurophysiologist Thomas Graham Brown FRS (1882-1965) in Cardiff, 4th October 2022.
- Interview with Sierd Cloetingh: The founders of Academia Europaea had great vision in seeing the importance of independence
Read an interview with the former president of Academia Europaea, Professor Sierd Cloetingh, on the occassion of his visit to the University of Bergen, September 4th-6th 2022.
- Interview with Valerio Lucarini: Mathematics and Planet Earth.
Read an interview with Prof. Valerio Lucarini, member of the Earth and Cosmic Sciences section of Academia Europaea. 1st September, 2022.
- Interview with Lyubov Kyyanovska: Music as a strategic issue of Ukrainian independence
Read an interview with Professor Lyubov Kyyanovska, a newly elected member of the Musicology and Art History section of Academia Europaea. 17th August 2022.
- Interview with Yaroslav Shuba: Life as a Ukrainian scientist.
Read an interview with Professor Yaroslav Shuba, a newly elected member of the Physiology and Neurosciece section of Academia Europaea. 21st July 2022.
- Interview with Sir David King: Dedicating my next 20 years to climate change.
Read an interview with Professor David King, member of the Chemical Sciences section of Academia Europaea. 14th March 2022.
- Interview with Karina Lovell: The rewards and challenges of working in mental health.
Read an interview with Professor Karina Lovell, member of the Clinical and Veterinary Science section of Academia Europaea. 24th January 2022.
- Interview with Marja Makarow: My passion to serve the research community.
Read an interview with Professor Marja Makarow, the President of Academia Europaea. 13th January 2022.
2021#
- Interview with David Allison: Looking through the lens of good science. Read an interview with Professor David Allison, member oof the Clinical and Veterinary Science section of Academia Europaea. 15th September 2021.
- Interview with Sierd Cloetingh: A special collective spirit - Reflections on my time as President of Academia Europaea.
Read an interview with Professor Sierd Cloetingh, President of Academia Europaea 2014 - 2020. 28th June 2021.
2020#
- Interview with Peter Barnes, Professor of Medicine at the National Heart and Lung Institute , where he tells us about his career highlights and the effect of COVID-19 on his research, 27th August 2020.
- From Research to Public Health Policy: Interview with Martin McKee in which he tells us about his passion for Public Health, his role at the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and his research on the adverse effects of movement restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 12th May 2020.
- Interview with Nils-Eric Sahlin: Making decisions at times of uncertainty. Prof. Sahlin is a member of the Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies section since 2016. 20th April 2020.
- Interview with Barbara Prainsack: Working at the interface between academia and policy
Read an interview with Professor Barbara Prainsack, member of the Human Mobility, Governance, Environment and Space section of Academia Europaea. 26th February 2020.
- Interview with Yike Guo MAE, professor at the Imperial College London, in which he discusses the importance of big data analysis, the impact of his international education and his continued links with China.
2019#
- Interview with Johan Rooryck where he shares his priorities for Plan S and his passion for Open Access publishing. 23rd September 2019.
- Interview with David Prangishvili, the Academic Director of the Academia Europaea Tbilisi Knowledge Hub, where he talks about his plans for Hub. 13th September 2019.
- Interview with Professor Péter Hegyi, Director of the Centre of Translational Medicine, the University of Pécs, in which he provides an insight into the importance of Translational Medicine. 1st September 2019.
- Interview with Dr Mangala Srinivas, Chair of the Young Academy of Europe (YAE) where she discusses the impact of being awarded an ERC Starting Grant, her role as the Chair of the Young Academy of Europe and why the YAE became involved in the debate on Plan S. 1st August 2019.
- Interview with Theo D’haen: Career highlights, the relevance of his research, the role of international collaboration in research and his thoughts on Plan S. Read an interview with Professor Theo D’haen, member of the Literary and Theatrical Studies section of Academia Europaea. 18th June 2019.
- Interview with Rosalind L Smyth where she talks about her work as a clinician and academic at the UCL Great Ormond St Institute of Child Health, her commitment to Open Access and her views on gender equality in science, 20th May 2019.
2018#
- Interview with Christopher Smith, Professor of Ancient History, where he shares his most noteworthy professional experiences, 20th November, 2018.
- Interview with John Tucker, Professor of Computer Science, where he shares his professional highlights and what being a Member of Academia Europaea means to him, 2nd August 2018.
- Interview with ord Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal, where he talks about how to successfully engage the public with science and gives us an insight into his latest book, 6th March 2018.
2017#
- Interview with Ole Petersen, Cardiff Hub Academic Director and Vice-President Academia Europaea, where he shares highlights of his life and career. 4th January 2017.
