Radio series Rare Earth returns for series 6

Posted on 22 August 2025 • Science, maths, computing and technology, The OU speaks out

Today at midday (22 August) the OU/BBC radio series, Rare Earth, returns with a sixth series with environmental journalist Tom Heap and physicist Helen Czerski on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.   

Rare Earth is a weekly podcast and radio show which digs into the biggest issues facing our planet. Each week, hosts Tom and Helen tackle a major topic about our world’s environment and wildlife and meet the brave and clever people with fresh ideas to help us – and nature – thrive.

Our first episode considers whether the insurance industry be the key to solving climate change.  If we want to build homes in flood-prone areas or on coastlines with increasing hurricanes, or forests at risk of wildfires, then insurance costs should become prohibitive. But is this really happening?  How does the insurance industry calculate climate risk, and what are they doing about it?

This season of Rare Earth was supported with insight and expert opinion by academic consultants from the OU, Dr Martin Braun, Dr Simon Collinson, Dr Emma Dewberry and Dr Kadmiel Maseyk.

Alasdair Cross, Series Producer at Radio 4, commented on the academic’s contribution:

“I wanted to pass on a heartfelt thanks to you, the academics and the whole OU team for your support. Advice from the team has helped us correct errors, contributed to lines of questioning and inspired significant shifts in our approach to some of the topics.  Rare Earth would certainly not be the same without you all.”

Supporting Online content:

Visit our Broadcast and Partnerships website OU Connect where you can discover more about our environment and explore what we can do to help, as well as better understand extreme weather changes and how you might be able to help pollinators in your very own garden.

This radio series was commissioned by Broadcast and Partnerships and is supported by the Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, with particular relevance to R58 BSc Biology, Q52 BSc Environmental Science and Q61 BSc/BA Design and Innovation.

• Commissioned by Dr Caroline Ogilvie, Director, Broadcast & Partnerships
• Academic Consultants – Dr Kadmiel Maseyk, Dr Emma Dewberry, Dr Simon Collinson and Dr Martin Braun
• Media Fellows – Dr Zhraa Alhaboby
• Broadcast Project Manager – Jo Shipp
• Digital Content Producer – Xinmiao Zhang

Header image credit: BBC