logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2021
27m 15s

Dare to repair: Fixing the future

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Mark Miodownik, explores the environmental consequences of the throwaway society we have become and reveals that recycling electronic waste comes second to repairing broken electronics. He asks what we can learn from repair cultures around the world , he looks at manufacturers who are designing in repair-ability, and discovers the resources available to encourage and train the next generation of repairers.

Producer: Fiona Roberts

(Photo: Teen boy solders wires to build robot, Credit: SDI Productions/Getty Images)

Up next
Nov 17
Bodies
<p>The London Anatomy Office accepts around 350 human bodies donated for medical research and education annually. You may imagine that these bodies are presevered in chemicals for medical students to study over weeks and months. And some are. But many are used - almost fresh - to ... Show More
26m 28s
Nov 10
The Life Scientific: Kevin Fong
There can't be many people in the world who've saved lives in hospital emergency rooms and also helped care for the wellbeing of astronauts in space – but Kevin Fong’s career has followed a singular path: from astrophysics and trauma medicine, to working with NASA, to becoming an ... Show More
26m 30s
Nov 3
The Life Scientific: Dame Pratibha Gai
Chemical reactions are the backbone of modern society: the energy we use, the medicines we take, our housing materials, even the foods we eat, are created by reacting different substances together. If we zoom in, it’s the atoms within these substances that rearrange themselves to ... Show More
26m 28s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2019
Is Recycling All Our Waste at Home Possible?
Waste, trash, garbage – whatever you call it, unwanted materials have become a major presence in many of our lives and our environment. Every year it is estimated that humans around the world produce 2 billion metric tonnes of waste. Listener Clare from Devon in the UK wants to s ... Show More
30m 38s
Jul 2021
Fighting for the right to repair
US President Joe Biden has signed an executive order asking the Federal Trade Commission to “limit powerful equipment manufacturers from restricting people’s ability to use independent repair shops or do DIY repairs”. This could mean manufacturers can no longer require repairs on ... Show More
42m 26s
May 2023
Recycling
In this special edition of Inside Science, Vic Gill prepares to rummage through our rubbish, to peek behind the curtain of the UK's recycling habits and see how well prepared we are as a nation to further our efforts of sustainable waste management.Presenter: Vic Gill Producer: E ... Show More
27m 54s
Jan 2024
The powerful possibilities of recycling the world's batteries | Emma Nehrenheim
<p>The world has plenty of clean energy. The problem is storing that energy and getting it where we need it, when we need it, says battery recycling pioneer Emma Nehrenheim. While batteries are fundamental to powering a sustainable future, their production is surprisingly harsh o ... Show More
12m 36s
Jan 2024
S5E4 Mark Ross | Medical Device Engineering Leaders 5
<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/995575/open_sms">Send us a text</a></p><p>We discuss Mark&apos;s career journey and lessons learned from over two decades in leadership roles. He shares insights on problem-solving, industry trends, keys ... Show More
48m 15s
Jan 2023
Repair, Repurpose, Reimagine (2022)
Original broadcast date: Friday, May 20, 2022. "Reduce, reuse, recycle." We've heard that for decades - but does it work? This hour, TED speakers reimagine the well-known slogan and reconsider how we think about what we consume and throw away. Guests include right-to-repair advoc ... Show More
50m 8s
May 2022
Repair, Repurpose, Reimagine
"Reduce, reuse, recycle." We've heard that for decades - but does it work? This hour, TED speakers reimagine the well-known slogan and reconsider how we think about what we consume and throw away. Guests include right-to-repair advocate Gay Gordon-Byrne, materials scientist Andre ... Show More
49m 45s
Dec 2023
Time is running out on climate change. The metaverse could help | Cedrik Neike
<p>The metaverse could be our key to making real progress in the fight against climate change, says engineer Cedrik Neike. Examining how AI-powered modeling eliminates the trial and error of wasteful industries, he explores how this emerging technology is already improving everyt ... Show More
10m 5s
Dec 2022
The affordable, 3D-printed bionics of the future | Enzo Romero
<p>Creating functional prosthetics at a fraction of the cost of imported tech, bionic innovator and TED Fellow Enzo Romero shares a groundbreaking model for designing 3D-printed assistive technology sourced from recycled materials -- built in and for his native Peru. Hear how Luk ... Show More
9m 21s
Feb 2024
Repairing our belongings: applying circular design
<p>What if we could design our belongings to elongate their useful life? In this episode, we delve into the world of repair, shifting the focus from disposable products to ones that are designed to be repaired. Join us as we explore the potential for third-party repairs to flouri ... Show More
15m 15s