Join the leaders of tomorrow on the UK Young Academy podcast.
Hear from our members across disciplines and sectors as they share their journeys, including the highs and lows of their careers, and what drives them to make a difference.
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Alistair McConnell and Wenmiao Yu talk all things UK Young Academy
In this final episode of season 1 of the UK Young Academy podcast, Co-hosts Alistair McConnell, Associate Professor in Computer Science at Heriot-Watt University, and Wenmiao Yu, entrepreneur and co-founder of Quantum Dice, share their backgrounds, motivations for joining the UK Young Academy, and their contributions to various projects in the Young Academy's early years.
They discuss the importance of collaboration within academia, and the conversation also touches on the cultural dynamics of academia in the UK. They reflect on the many insights gained from their guests throughout the season.
Learn more about Wenmiao and connect
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/wenmiao-yu-b37bba151)
Website (https://www.lowtogrow.com/)
UK Young Academy website profile (https://ukyoungacademy.org/members/wenmiao-yu/)
Learn more about Alistair and connect
UK Young Academy website profile (https://ukyoungacademy.org/members/alistair-mcconnell/)
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alistair-mcconnell-1576246a/)
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the hosts
02:44 Backgrounds and motivations for joining the UK Young Academy
05:19 Contributions to the UK Young Academy
07:58 Projects and initiatives in focus
10:24 Challenges and time management
12:48 Collaboration and engagement in academia
15:28 Cultural reflections on academia
18:19 Podcasting experience and insights
21:04 Future aspirations and impact of the podcast
24:06 Quickfire round and closing thoughts
18 Mar 2026
Fatemeh Shahbazi on innovation, education, and empowerment
In this episode of the UK Young Academy podcast, Fatemeh Shahbazi, an Associate Professor at the University of Warwick, shares her journey in mechanical engineering and computational fluid dynamics (CFD).
She discusses her passion for education, innovative teaching methods, and her involvement with the UK Young Academy, particularly the IMAGINE project aimed at empowering disadvantaged children.
Fatemeh reflects on the importance of collaboration and inclusivity in academia and encourages others to pursue their passions.
Learn more about Fatemeh and connect:
UK Young Academy website profile (https://ukyoungacademy.org/people/fatemeh-shahbazi/)
Fatemeh's LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/fatemeshahbazi/?)
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Fatemeh Shahbazi
01:05 Journey into computational fluid dynamics
03:50 Passion for education and innovative teaching
04:46 Involvement with the UK Young Academy
05:11 The IMAGINE project: empowering disadvantaged children
07:26 Challenges and lessons learned when volunteering
09:31 Impact of UK Young Academy on personal growth
11:22 Future aspirations
13:21 Key Lessons from UK Young Academy involvement
14:27 Vision for the future of UK Young Academy
15:58 Exciting projects in mechanical engineering
16:41 Engagement opportunities for collaboration
17:11 Quick fire round
4 Mar 2026
Nikita Hari on embracing failure and taking risks
On the fourth episode of the UK Young Academy podcast, Nikita Hari, an electronics engineer and educator, shares her journey from academia to industry, emphasising the importance of interdisciplinary work and the role of the UK Young Academy in fostering collaboration.
She discusses her work in engineering education, her involvement in tech start-ups, and her contributions to science and technology diplomacy. Nikita also offers advice to young professionals, highlighting the value of embracing failure and taking risks.
Learn more about Nikita and connect:
LinkedIn (http://uk.linkedin.com/in/nikitahari)
Website (https://nikitahari.com/)
Google Scholar (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=UAYaF6wAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao)
University of Oxford staff profile (https://eng.ox.ac.uk/people/nikita-hari)
UK Young Academy website profile (https://ukyoungacademy.org/members/nikita-hari/)
Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction to Nikita Hari
00:03:00 Career journey and education
00:09:00 Interdisciplinary work and innovation
00:15:00 Role in tech startups
00:21:00 Science and technology diplomacy
00:27:00 Advice for young professionals
17 Feb 2026
Building diverse communities with Denis Newman-Griffis
On the third episode of the UK Young Academy podcast, Denis Newman-Griffis shares their journey from computer science to leading AI and health initiatives at the University of Sheffield. They discuss the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, challenges faced in academia, and their motivations for joining the UK Young Academy.
Denis highlights their contributions to the Young Academy, the impact of this work on their professional life, and their aspirations for the future of the organisation. They emphasise the need for continuous improvement and the importance of building a supportive community.
Learn more about Denis and connect:
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/drgriffis)
Website (https://sheffield.ac.uk/cs/people/academic/denis-newman-griffis)
Google Scholar (https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=Aj5bTx8AAAAJ)
UK Young Academy website profile (https://ukyoungacademy.org/members/denis-newman-griffis/)
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Denis
02:55 Denis' journey in AI and health
05:59 Interdisciplinary challenges in research
08:42 Motivation for joining the UK Young Academy
11:26 Contributions to the UK Young Academy
14:40 Overcoming challenges in a Young Organisation
17:52 Impact of UK Young Academy on Denis' work
20:32 Future aspirations for the UK Young Academy
23:32 Engaging with the community
26:20 Final thoughts and advice
4 Feb 2026
Sandeep Sandhu: How cross-sectoral collaboration can solve our biggest challenges
In this episode of season 1 of the UK Young Academy podcast, Sandeep Sandhu, the Executive Director at Innovate UK Business Connect, shares her journey from research to innovation and the importance of collaboration across academia, industry, and government.
She discusses her involvement in science and technology diplomacy through her UK Young Academy project and the challenges and successes she's experienced in developing these initiatives. Sandeep emphasises the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and networking, and shares her aspirations for the future of the UK Young Academy.
Learn more about Sandeep and connect:
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/drsandeep-sandhu/)
UK Young Academy website profile (https://ukyoungacademy.org/members/sandeep-sandhu/)
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Sandeep
03:19 Journey from research to innovation
06:04 The importance of collaboration in academia and Industry
08:26 Science and technology diplomacy initiatives
10:58 Challenges in science diplomacy projects
13:34 Impact of UK Young Academy involvement
15:54 Future aspirations for the UK Young Academy
18:45 Key lessons learned from UK Young Academy
21:10 Quickfire round and final thoughts
21 Jan 2026
Collaboration in action: Keri Wong and the power of community
In the first episode of the UK Young Academy's podcast, meet member Keri Wong, a psychologist and criminologist. Keri shares her journey in academia, her research focus on youth mental health and community engagement, and her involvement with the UK Young Academy.
She discusses her research experiences, the impact of her work, and the importance of collaboration among early-career researchers. Keri emphasises the need for scientists to engage in science diplomacy and the value of community in driving positive change.
Learn more about Keri and connect:
UK Young Academy website profile (https://ukyoungacademy.org/members/keri-ka-yee-wong/)
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerikw/)
Keri's Wong Lab website (https://keriwong.com/)
Google Scholar (https://ukc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/%E2%80%A2%09https:/www.linkedin.com/in/kerikw/%20%E2%80%A2%09https:/keriwong.com/%20%E2%80%A2%09https:/scholar.google.com/citations?user=skEuYYUAAAAJ&hl=en)
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Keri Wong
03:31 Research focus and community engagement
05:49 Surprising findings in research
06:33 Involvement in the UK Young Academy
08:20 Experiences and contributions in the UK Young Academy
10:53 Challenges and overcoming obstacles
13:26 Impact of the UK Young Academy on perspectives
16:12 Aspirations for future impact
18:17 Lessons learned from the UK Young Academy
20:28 Future vision for the UK Young Academy
21:59 Integrating research and policy experience
24:29 Support from UK Young Academy members
25:10 Quickfire round and final thoughts
6 Jan 2026
Welcome to the UK Young Academy podcast
Hear from rising stars across disciplines and sectors as they share their journeys, including the highs and lows of their careers, and what drives them to make a difference.
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