#39: What can Marriage Bars teach us about gender discrimination in the workplace?
What can Marriage Bars teach us about gender discrimination in the workplace? Explore this forgotten policy and its surprising legacy in the latest episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills podcast!In the 20th century, many countries enforced so-called "Marriage Bars" – rules that required women to leave their jobs once they got married. While most countries abolished these policies by the 1950s, Ireland maintained its Marriage Bar until the 1970s. What impact did this have on the lives of Irish women, and what can we learn from it today?In the 39th episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills podcast, Dr Irene Mosca, lecturer in Economics at Maynooth University, takes us on a journey through her research on Marriage Bars in Ireland and beyond. Drawing on data from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), she reveals the lasting economic and social consequences of this institutionalised form of gender discrimination.Dr Mosca explains how women affected by the Irish Marriage Bar tended to have shorter working lives and lower personal incomes, yet also more children, more educated children, and – paradoxically – greater household wealth. She also sheds light on the political and social arguments that kept such policies in place and reflects on how the legacy of the Marriage Bar still echoes in today’s debates on gender equality.Learn more about Irene Mosca:Dr Irene Mosca is a lecturer in Economics at Maynooth University and has a strong track record in applied health, population, and labour economics. She is also a research fellow at the IZA Institute of Labor Economics and the Global Labor Organisation, and an Executive Committee Member of the Irish Society for Women in Economics.
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#38: Why strengthening bonds between generations is key to our future?
What impact do intergenerational relations have on our society? What initiatives are needed between generations to ensure the effective transfer of knowledge, education, and resources? How can we fight ageism and discrimination to create a more inclusive world? These are the key questions explored in this episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills podcast. In this episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills podcast, we explore these critical questions with Carolina Campos, a researcher at the Macrosad Chair in Intergenerational Studies at the University of Granada. Dedicated to bridging the gap between generations, the Macrosad Chair plays a vital role in shaping policies and programs that ensure knowledge is shared, education is strengthened, and wealth is distributed sustainably across time—between those who have been, those who are, and those who will be.Carolina shares insights on the significance of intergenerational research, the challenges of fostering meaningful connections, and how knowledge transfer can drive real-world impact. She also highlights a key issue: despite the clear benefits and urgent need for these connections, institutional and legal frameworks often create barriers that separate age groups rather than bringing them together—whether in education, housing, or care systems.As the world rapidly changes, ensuring sustainability over time requires meaningful connections between people of all ages. Tune in to this insightful conversation and discover how we can build a more connected and inclusive future—together.Learn more about Carolina Campos Rueda:Carolina Campos Rueda is member of the Macrosad Chair in Intergenerational Studies at the University of Granada, where she has been a research staff member since 2019. Graduated in Occupational Therapy and specialised in Intergenerational Projects, she has specific training in intergenerationality, such as the certificate “Together Old and Young: An Intergenerational Approach”, or the “International Certificate in Intergenerational Learning”, as well as training in qualitative and quantitative research techniques.At the Chair, she carries out research, training and dissemination work, as well as all those activities that derive from the lines of action of the Chair. Her work is also closely connected to CINTER (Macrosad's Intergenerational Reference Centre in Albolote, Granada); to the research projects led by the Chair (currently focused on the validation of Intergenerational Contact Zones in Andalusia and Extremadura, or on the development of quality indicators in intergenerational practices and spaces); and to practical actions such as the intergenerational project “Harmonía” or the national coordination of the worldwide movement “Global Intergenerational Week”.
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#37: Can we win the fight against antibiotic resistance?
Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest challenges of modern medicine, threatening the effectiveness of treatments and putting millions at risk. But what if the key to overcoming this crisis lies in nature itself? This month’s episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills podcast features Dr Agata Dorotkiewicz-Jach, a microbiologist at the University of Wrocław, who explores groundbreaking and sustainable antibacterial therapies.Dr Dorotkiewicz-Jach discusses alternative treatments such as bacteriophages, plant-based compounds, and anti-virulent therapies, highlighting their potential in fighting antibiotic-resistant bacteria. She also shares insights on the impact of climate change on antimicrobial resistance and the need for global cooperation.For the 37th episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills, Agata explores how research and interdisciplinary approaches can help shape the future of medicine.Learn more about Dr Agata Dorotkiewicz-Jach:Dr Dorotkiewicz-Jach specializes in alternative antibacterial therapies at the University of Wrocław. She has led research on innovative treatment strategies and plays an active role in the Arqus Alliance, coordinating climate change and sustainability initiatives.
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#36: Facial recognition and ethics
What misconceptions lie beneath this widely used technology? What ethical and societal debates about its use are emerging? Find out the answers to these questions and more as Helena Machado discusses her work in this episode of Knowledge Pills.
Facial recognition technologies, while promising convenience and security, raise critical issues like invasion of privacy, surveillance normalization, discrimination, and inaccuracies. This episode delves into these technologies' societal impacts, examining how they shape citizenship and public engagement.
In this episode, Professor Helena Machado discusses the project fAIces, which integrates diverse perspectives to reshape technology’s societal role, amplify marginalized voices, and inspire creative, activist-driven approaches to ethics and engagement.
For the 36th episode of Arqus Knowledge Pills, “Facial recognition and ethics,” she highlights her efforts to develop innovative ethical frameworks, such as “etho-assemblages,” and explore alternative futures for facial recognition technologies that prioritize inclusivity, creativity, and public empowerment.
Learn more about Helena Machado
Helena Machado is a leading researcher in the sociology of science and technology. Full Professor of Sociology at the Institute for Social Sciences, University of Minho (Braga, Portugal), she is the Director of the PhD Programme in Sociology; and founding member and coordinator of the AIDA Social Sciences Network, a social sciences’ research initiative focusing on artificial intelligence, data, and algorithms.
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#35: How does data analysis influence society today?
What strategies can effectively promote constructive online interactions? How can we effectively moderate content on social media platforms? Find out the answers to these questions and more as Jana Lasser discusses her work in this episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills.
From developing counter-speech strategies to tackle online hate to exploring how data management can improve social interactions, this episode explores how data can offer positive alternatives to moderation and counters to hate speech in online spheres.
In this episode, Professor Jana Lasser outlines the functionality and importance of such efforts from a data analysis perspective and provides a deeper understanding of the intersection between data science and social issues.
For the 35th episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills, Jana discusses the work she has done to develop countermeasures to hate speech in online spaces. Social media platforms are constantly changing, and she offers some insight into possible solutions.
Learn more about Jana Lasser:
Jana Lasser is a Professor of Data Analysis at the University of Graz where she leads the research group of Complex Social and Computational Systems at the interdisciplinary research centre IDea_Lab. She researches emergent phenomena in complex social systems, employing methods from machine learning, data science, natural language processing, and computational and statistical modelling to understand how humans behave in socio-technical environments. Her current research interests include the effectiveness of counter-speech strategies, the spread of misinformation on social media platforms, and the impact of social media content recommendation algorithms on societal outcomes.
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