How Does Chemistry Shape our World? With Professor Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu

Intelligence Squared

News, Society & Culture, News Commentary, Arts

4.2 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 18 April 2026

⏱️ 43 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Chemistry is everywhere. From cosmetics and the clothes we wear to life-saving medicines and kitchen experiments, chemical processes are all around us, defining our interactions with the world we live in. In this episode, Professor Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu joins Professor Helen Czerski to discuss how chemistry shapes our understanding of the world. Their conversation explores our complex relationship with plastics; the fact that synthetic products are not always harmful and natural ones not always safe; and the ways machine learning could transform chemical testing and revolutionise the development of new medicines. Professor Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu is President of Wolfson College, University of Cambridge. She is the author of Chain Reaction: The Wondrous Chemistry of Everyday Life. Professor Helen Czerski is a British physicist, oceanographer, and broadcaster. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events ... Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	This episode is sponsored by Indeed. Hiring isn't just about finding someone willing to take the job.
0:06.0	You need the right person with the right background who can move your business forward.
0:11.0	If you're looking for candidates who match exactly what you're looking for, trust Indeed sponsored jobs.
0:17.0	Hiring, Indeed is all you need. Stop struggling to get your job posts seen on other sites,
0:23.6	give your job the best chance to be seen with Indeed's sponsored jobs.
0:27.6	They help you stand out and hire quality candidates who can drive the results you need.
0:32.6	Sponsored jobs boosts your post for quality candidates, so you can reach the exact people you want
0:38.5	faster.
0:39.7	And it makes a big difference.
0:41.6	According to Indeed data, sponsor jobs posted directly on Indeed are 90% more likely to report
0:48.3	a hire than non-sponsored jobs, because you reach a bigger pool of quality candidates.
0:54.3	Join the 1.6 million companies that sponsor their jobs with Indeed.
0:59.1	When we were recently hiring for a role, it could at times feel draining and overwhelming.
1:04.1	Indeed would have streamlined the process, getting us straight to the people who can actually
1:08.6	do the job.
1:09.9	Plus, with Indeed sponsored jobs, you only pay four results.
1:13.6	No monthly subscriptions, no long-term contracts,
1:16.6	just a boost whenever you need to find quality talent fast.
1:20.6	People are finding quality hires on Indeed right now.
1:23.6	In the minute I've been talking to you,
1:25.6	companies like yours made 27 hires on Indeed,
1:29.4	according to Indeed data worldwide. Spend more time interviewing candidates who check all your
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Intelligence Squared, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Intelligence Squared and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.