A close-up view of the ground breaking research and teaching at the University of Aberdeen. In each episode of Beyond Boundaries, Aberdeen students introduce you to diverse and pioneering experts from across the university. Hit 'play' to expand your horizons Beyond Boundaries.
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Beyond Boundaries Podcast Episodes
- Episode 1 - Future of food: what should you eat in an age of climate change?
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'You are what you eat', right? Swathi and Samantha unpack how food and drink choices impact climate change, and how food poverty affects communities right here in Scotland.
Our experts this time are Prof Alexandra Johnstone and Prof Jennie MacDiarmid - both from Aberdeen's prestigious Rowett Institute for food and nutrition research.
Learn more about studying at the University of Aberdeen, and find a prospectus here.
Listen to the series:
Episode 1: 'Future of food what should you eat in an age of climate change?' transcript
- Episode 2 - Designer babies? The future and ethics of assisted reproduction
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Girl or boy? How tall? What eye colour? Advances in technology mean that it’s increasingly possible for expectant parents to make precise choices about precise characteristics of their unborn children. But what rights should parents have to do this, and what are the ethical considerations?
The University of Aberdeen has been at the forefront of guiding effective and ethical assisted reproduction in Scotland for decades. Our expert for this episode is Prof Siladitya Bhattacharya (often known as just Bhatty). He is a University Vice Principal and former head of Aberdeen's state-of-the-art School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition.
Learn more about studying at the University of Aberdeen, and find a prospectus here.
Listen to the series:
Episode 2: 'Designer babies? The future and ethics of assisted reproduction' transcript
- Episode 3 - How can the law keep pace with AI?
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Our next generation of lawyers face an enormous new challenge: how to keep pace with rapidly advancing artificial intelligence.
For example, how can we legislate for 'deathbots', where someone’s online activity can be uploaded to an avatar to imitate their conversational style after they have died?
Understanding and staying ahead of technology is a big passion for Dr Patricia Živković. She is a senior lecturer in Aberdeen's prestigious School of Law.
Learn more about studying at the University of Aberdeen, and find a prospectus here.
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- Episode 4 - Your scrolling brain: are you an internet addict?
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Ever worry that you're addicted to social media? It turns out there is a big difference between 'an addiction' and 'a habit'. Get all the answers - and top tips on cracking your social media habit - with Dr Helen Knight from the University of Aberdeen's School of Psychology.
Learn more about studying at the University of Aberdeen, and find a prospectus here.
Listen to the series:
Episode 4: 'Your scrolling brain: are you an internet addict?' transcript
- Episode 5 - Would you donate your body to medical science? Introducing Aberdeen's anatomy department
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Medical science students at Aberdeen benefit from the chance to work with real people's bodies, that have been donated after their death.
Hundreds of people from across north Scotland have signed up to donate their bodies in future - including Beyond Boundaries host Tamsin!
In this episode, Tamsin and Swathi learn about how and when bodies are donated, with the University's Regius Chair of Anatomy Prof Simon Parson.
Aberdeen is ranked 2nd in the UK for the study of Anatomy and Physiology in the 2025 Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide.
Learn more about studying at the University of Aberdeen, and find a prospectus here.
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- Episode 6 - Can a museum be racist? Understanding decolonisation
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What does it mean to 'decolonise' a museum? And what is the difference in being 'not racist' and being 'anti-racist' in the way you showcase artefacts and exhibits?
Aberdeen, as an ancient university, has acquired museum pieces from all over the world - and sometimes needs to make very tricky ethical decisions about what should happen to them.
This introduction to decolonising is with Museum Studies lecturer Dr Rachel Smith, and the University's Head of Museums & Special Collections Neil Curtis.
Learn more about studying at the University of Aberdeen, and find a prospectus here.
Listen to the series:
Episode 6: 'Can a museum be racist? Understanding decolonisation' transcript
- Episode 7 - Would you pass the Turing test? The past, present and future of artificial intelligence
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You might think artificial intelligence - or AI - is a relatively modern concept, but the science goes back to World War 2, and a remarkable British mathematician Alan Turing.
Who better to introduce us to the history of AI, than Aberdeen's Interdisciplinary Director for Data and AI, Georgios Leontidis.
Learn more about studying at the University of Aberdeen, and find a prospectus here.
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- Episode 8 - Is your protein shake worth it? The science of sport and nutrition
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Protein supplements, performance shakes, isotonic powders... there are so many expensive things you can buy to support your gym routine.
But do any of them actually do anything useful?
This episode is for regular gym-goers and high-performance athletes alike, as we go beyond boundaries of sport and nutrition with Dr Derek Ball, until recently the Head of Sports Science at the University of Aberdeen.
Learn more about studying at the University of Aberdeen, and find a prospectus here.
Listen to the series:
Episode 8: 'Is your protein shake worth it? The science of sport and nutrition' transcript