Episodes
Universities and the Climate Crisis
Universities are uniquely positioned to take action on climate change. Experts John Robinson of the University of Toronto, and Jennifer Dunn of Northwestern University, discuss how to change the institutional culture of universities to make sustainability an essential component of operations as well as research and education missions.
Infrastructure and the Climate Crisis
Building new and necessary infrastructure while complying with sustainability agendas and agreements is a challenge that must be met in the next decade. Kate Newman, Vice President for Sustainable Infrastructure and Public Sector Initiatives at the World Wildlife Fund, and Jim Hambleton of Northwestern University, discuss the paths forward to make sustainable infrastructure a priority.
Law and the Climate Crisis
Righting injustices in energy and climate change regulation is an important part of addressing the global climate crisis. Hari Osofsky, Dean of Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law, talks about working with business, government and nonprofit leaders to make bipartisan progress on climate, energy and equity issues.
Economics and the Climate Crisis
Economic growth at expense of the environment is no longer an option. Chris Canavan, Chair of the Board of the Institute for New Economic Thinking, talks about how an outdated economic structure is endangering our planet and new approaches that could save it.
Indigenous Rights and COP26
The Northwestern delegation that attended COP26, the annual UN climate change conference that took place in Glasgow, is back on campus. Of the many topics discussed at COP26, climate change and the roles and rights of Indigenous peoples was top of mind for our delegation.
Humanistic Thinking in the Age of Big Data
Breaking down silos, trying to help people to work together across boundaries of discipline, profession and culture, is a difficult job and one that Christian Madsbjerg has spent much of his career trying to accomplish with much success.Listen Now
Feature Films and Global Crises
Using the power of narrative film to create empathy and motivate action in response to human rights abuses is a personal passion for Rana Kazkaz. She is an award-winning filmmaker and Assistant Professor of Communication at Northwestern University in Qatar where she teaches narrative filmmaking.
Insight on Russia-Ukraine Tensions
In recent weeks, Russia has assembled tens of thousands of troops on its border with Ukraine, leading to a phone call on December 7, 2021, between President Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin about consequences should Russia attack Ukraine. On this episode of the Breaking Boundaries podcast, two former U.S. ambassadors weigh in on the historic and geopolitical dynamics behind current tensions.LISTEN NOW
Gender Discrimination and International Human Rights
Juliet Sorensen talks about SDG #5, her career and her recent work with the Clooney Foundation for Justice to bring international attention to women in El Salvador who were convicted and imprisoned after suffering an obstetric emergency related to pregnancy.
Tackling Global Issues Locally
Maria Hadden brings a global point of view to her position on the Chicago City Council as the alderwoman of the 49th Ward. Since being elected in May 2019, she has pushed forward issues of local, national and international importance, such as recognizing Juneteenth as a holiday, exploring reparations to Black people and supporting a treaty outlawing nuclear weapons.
A New Focus on the Global South
Marwan M. Kraidy is a scholar of global communication, a leading authority on Arab media, and the CEO and Dean of Northwestern University in Qatar. One of his first major initiatives as Dean was the creation of the Institute for Advanced Study in the Global South. He discusses the goals of this institute and how it relates to United Nations sustainable development goal number 16, peace, justice and strong institutions.LISTEN NOW
Global Cyber Security Challenges
The companies behind popular digital platforms are critical players in this effort that is central to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16, which is peace, justice and strong institutions. Roland Cloutier is the global chief information security officer at TikTok. He has more than 30 years of experience in cybersecurity and law enforcement.LISTEN NOW
How to Help Women Succeed in the State Department
Alison E. Dilworth is a Foreign Service Officer with more than 20 years of experience, serving in countries such as Paraguay, Israel, Egypt, Poland and the United Arab Emirates. In this episode, she talks about her career and what needs to be done to address gender and diversity issues at the highest levels of government.LISTEN NOW
Solving Complex Problems with Nexus Thinking
In this episode, Julio M. Ottino, Dean of the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Northwestern University, discusses his new book The Nexus, which is a call to “augmenting” our knowledge in the face of complex global challenges, by bringing together the insights, and the conceptual moves, of art, technology, and science.LISTEN NOW
The Impact of Russia's War in Ukraine
Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine is no longer a short-term event and its impact is going to shape global affairs for a long time to come, according to Fiona Hill, a leading expert on Russia and Vladimir Putin’s regime. In this episode, Hill shares insight on Putin’s actions, what could happen next, and how the war may impact our world for decades to come.LISTEN NOW
Building Scientific Capacity in Developing Nations
Building scientific capacity is essential to strong institutions and supporting problem-solving and innovation, especially in the Global South. Romain Murenzi, PhD, Executive Director of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) joins Annelise Riles to talk about United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16, peace, justice and strong institutions, and how TWAS is working to meet this goal.
UNESCO Futures of Education Report
Education is a basic human right and the foundation for peace and sustainable development according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). UNESCO recently released the Futures of Education report: "Reimagining our futures together: a new social contract for education." In this episode, Noah Sobe, PhD, explains what is in the report and how education must be reformed to create the futures we all want.
Strengthening U.S.-Pacific Island Country Partnerships
Combating climate change was at the forefront of the historic U.S.-Pacific Island Country Summit, which was recently held in Washington. It resulted in an important new declaration signed by leaders of 14 Pacific Island countries and the United States. Former U.S. ambassador Steven McGann joins Annelise Riles to talk about the summit, the human security concerns facing these countries and United Nations sustainable development goal number 13: climate action.
The Day of 8 Billion
Scientists estimate that the global population will cross the 8 billion mark on November 15th, 2022, ushering in a new age of potential challenges for countries across the globe. John Wilmoth, PhD, director of the United Nations Population Division, joins Annelise Riles to discuss this new milestone.LISTEN NOW
The Role of Data in Sustainable Development
Jean-Louis Sarbib has built a career working across boundaries of public and private international organizations and national governments to address this important challenge. In this episode, he shares insights into the current challenges facing the field of international development today and how open access to data and information may help solve some of these challenges.LISTEN NOW
Art, Scholarship and Social Justice
In this episode, Osborn Professor of Sociology at Northwestern University and Northwestern Buffett Faculty Fellow Vilna Bashi discusses her work critically examining themes related to racism and human rights through her career as an artist and sociologist.
How to Be a Better Global Citizen
Collaboration is a skill set that requires training and practice and it is an essential part of UNSDG 17, which focuses on partnerships between governments, the private sector and civil society. In this episode, guest Blythe McGarvie shares expert advice on how to collaborate across global spaces and be a better global citizen.LISTEN NOW
Diplomacy and the Welfare of Children
In this episode, former Ambassador Susan Jacobs joins Annelise Riles to talk about her career in the foreign service, as one of the first married women to become a foreign service officer, and her work as it relates to United Nations Sustainable Development goal number 16, which includes targets related to protecting children.LISTEN NOW
Local Diplomacy and Global Challenges
In this episode, two foreign career diplomats explain why facilitating communication and cooperation between their homelands and the communities of Chicago is essential, and the role of local diplomacy in addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 17, which is partnership for the goals.LISTEN NOW
COP27 Takeaways from the Northwestern University Delegation
Three members of Northwestern University’s delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27) reflect on their experiences at the event, which was held November 2022 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.Listen Now
One Year into Russia's Invasion: Will Justice Be Served? with Oona A. Hathaway, JD
The impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine is far-reaching with some scholars arguing that the conflict threatens progress on all of the UNSDGs, especially UNSDG 16: peace, justice and strong institutions. In this episode, international law expert Oona A. Hathaway, discusses legal recourse to prosecute Vladimir Putin and other top Russian leaders for the crime of aggression, a move that many say is essential to restore international world order.Listen Now
