Ask the Geographer

Elena is a Professor of Chinese and International Politics at the University of Manchester. Elena discusses how migration connects with issues of citizenship, race, identity, and belonging, particularly in the context of China and the Chinese Russian borderlands. Elena looks at marriage migration, the experiences of culture on migrant communities. This podcast highlights power, relationships, and cultural change, how migration shapes societies, the importance of identity in a globalised world, and why studying migration helps us better understand the challenges of the 21st century.

This podcast looks at the most extreme environment on Earth – Antarctica.
Max Worsley who is planning an expedition to ski over 1,300km across Antarctica in November 2026 - a 2 month unsupported two person trek to raise awareness about Antarctica’s role in global systems from sea level to climate regulation.

Risk assessment in insurance and reinsurance relies on many of the skills developed through studying geography. This podcast explores how insurers evaluate risk and how it is evolving with growing threats from climate change and urbanisation. Dr Tina Thomson also shares real-world examples of where hazards have - and have not - been effectively managed from an insurance perspective.

Join us in our podcast where we speak with Professor Ilan Kelman on the role people play in hazard management. Ilan uses well known examples such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake to show the impact of poor planning and management has affected communities long after the hazard event.

This episode of ask the Geographer features a discussion with Chrystiann Lavarini, a senior fluvial geomorphologist at the environmental and engineering consultancy - WSP. The conversation explores how rivers behave, the impact of human activities on them, and sustainable management practices in the context of climate change.

Chrystiann shares insights on river regimes, systems, and the factors influencing them, such as climate, geology, and human intervention. He highlights examples of river restoration projects, and discusses the challenges and successes in balancing environmental recovery with community needs.