Forum - A World of Ideas

Forum - A World of Ideas

Ideas from the world's biggest thinkers. Hear philosophers, scientists, politicians, novelists, historians and artists challenge each other. Podcast weekly on Saturdays.

  • Updated:
    Weekly
  • Episodes available for:
    30 Days help

Subscribe for free

Subscribe to this podcast and automatically receive the latest episodes.

More help with subscribing

Recent episodes (4)

  • Globalisation Bulawayo, Mehta, Okri 25 Jun 2013

    Sat, 15 Jun 13

    Duration:
    41 mins

    Available:
    26 days remaining

    This week’s Forum comes from the Zamyn Cultural Forum 2013 where we're asking how globalisation is changing the way we think about ourselves and others. What impact is it having on personal and national identity? Are we all more connected as global citizens now, or is globalisation actually driving us further apart? Joining Bridget Kendall and a lively audience at the iconic Tate Modern Art Gallery: NoViolet Bulawayo, Zimbabwean author and previous winner of the Caine Prize for African Writing; Pratap Bhanu Mehta, eminent Indian political scientist and commentator; and Ben Okri, award-winning Nigerian novelist, poet and writer.

    Download 19MB (right click & "save target as / link as")

  • Fragility in nature. Barbara Kingsolver, David Goulson, Markus Buehler 08 June 2013

    Sat, 8 Jun 13

    Duration:
    41 mins

    Available:
    19 days remaining

    Why are some materials and ecosystems easier to break than others? And what gives others better resilience? Joining Bridget Kendall are the celebrated American writer Barbara Kingsolver, whose latest novel contemplates vulnerability in butterflies and humans; one of world’s leading experts on bumblebees, professor David Goulson, who explains why artificially rearing bumblebee nests can paradoxically lead to mass extinction; and Markus Buehler, bio-engineer from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who studies the molecular basis of strength and weakness in natural materials such as human bones and spider webs.

    Download 19MB (right click & "save target as / link as")

  • Curiosity. Lee Smolin, Masooda Bano, Philip Ball 01 Jun 2013

    Sat, 1 Jun 13

    Duration:
    41 mins

    Available:
    12 days remaining

    What is the proper place for curiosity in the 21st century? Have theoretical physicists lost sight of it in a dogmatic theory of the universe? Cosmologist Lee Smolin discusses his unsettling new theory about evolution and the laws of physics. We ask science historian Philip Ball what are the lessons in the scientific spirit of the 17th century. And in the developing world, does curiosity sometimes carry dangers for young people in changing societies? Social scientist Masooda Bano explains.

    Download 19MB (right click & "save target as / link as")

  • Why do we tell stories? Yorke Omar Bruneau 25 May 2013

    Sat, 25 May 13

    Duration:
    41 mins

    Available:
    5 days remaining

    Are you sitting comfortably? Because on today’s programme we’re going to tell you a story. It’s a tale of our unquenchable thirst for stories, of stories that could stop wars, and of why no matter how hard we try, we can’t avoid telling the same story, over and over again. Helping Bridget Kendall construct this narrative are Afghan writer Qais Akbar Omar, MIT neuroscientist Emile Bruneau and award-winning drama producer and screenwriter John Yorke.

    Download 19MB (right click & "save target as / link as")

Terms of Use

The BBC Podcasts are for your personal non-commercial use only.

All title, ownership rights and intellectual property rights in and to the BBC Podcasts shall remain the property of the BBC or third parties. You may not edit, alter, adapt or add to the BBC Podcast in any way. The BBC Podcasts are made available by the BBC on an "as is" and "as available" basis and the BBC gives no warranty of any kind in relation to the BBC Podcast. To the maximum extent permitted by law the BBC will not be liable for any loss or damage which you may suffer as a result of, or connected to, the download or use of the BBC Podcasts.

 

See the full Standard Licence Terms here.

Play recent episodes

You may also like

The English We Speak

  • Factual
  • Learning > Adults

Make the English you speak sound more natural with The English We Speak from bbclearningenglish.com. Every week, we look at a different everyday English phrase or piece of slang in this fun

Mon, 17 Jun 13

3 minutes

A Brief History of Mathematics

  • Factual > Science & Nature
  • Learning > Adults

Professor Marcus du Sautoy argues that mathematics is the driving force behind modern science. Ten fifteen minute podcasts that reveal the personalities behind the calculations from Newton to the

Fri, 1 Oct 10

14 minutes

Genres

BBC © 2013 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.