Listen to the new season of radio series, Rare Earth

Posted on 30 May 2025 • Science, maths, computing and technology, TV and radio

Today at midday (30 May) the OU/BBC radio series, Rare Earth, returns with a fifth 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.

The first episode kicks off the series looking at earth’s insects. Insects are in trouble. Their numbers are plummeting with reports of massive die-offs, and scientists warn that this could have huge ramifications for our planet.

In this programme, Helen and Tom explore the largely ignored world of insects, asking important questions – could they be the answer to some of the environmental problems we have created? Would eating them help and would we ever do it on a large scale? They also discuss the world of insects with a panel of experts.

In upcoming episodes Tom and Helen will investigate Net Zero, Data and AI, Green Revolution, Whaling and the Hiroshima anniversary.

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.

Dr Martin Braun commented:

“It’s been a pleasure to be involved with the ‘Rare Earth’ programme from the very start.

“This new series offers an engaging mix of personally relevant themes and topics of wider interest, creating space for meaningful reflection and connection. I’m excited to see how audiences connect with it.”

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 the how you can be a more mindful consumer and consider sustainability.                                         (NB: this site may not be live or complete prior to broadcast)

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 – Prof. Andrew Norton
• Broadcast Project Manager – Jo Shipp
• Digital Content Producer – Xinmiao Zhang