A science podcast to shed light on major societal issues
Like light that breaks down into beams, Prism multiplies points of view to reveal the complexity of reality and enrich our understanding of the world.
Each season is divided into three episodes that shed light on a single social issue under the prime of three expert viewpoints. The aim is to offer a plural and in-depth vision of contemporary issues such as climate, energy or natural resources by putting science at the heart of the analysis.
The first season of the podcast: "The city in the heat"
For this first series, Prisme focuses on urban heat phenomena. Why does it get hotter in the city? What physical mechanisms are involved? What factors promote warming? What concrete solutions are being tested? Which have proved their worth?
"Why does the city overheat?", the first episode is online!
Our cities suffocate when heat persists between concrete and glass. But what causes this urban warming? Pietro Salizzoni, a university professor of fluid mechanics, explains the physical mechanisms behind this phenomenon: the city's morphology, the materials used, and the way air and water circulate.
The episode details how physics sheds light on possible solutions - convection, albedo, revegetation, urban density, air conditioning... - and shows how urban, energy and social choices intertwine in the same system. An immersion to see the city differently, at the crossroads of science, the environment and lifestyles, and to better understand the dynamics that shape our daily lives.
Episode available on: Spotify | Deezer | Apple Podcast | YouTube | Amazon Music.
What solutions are there to meet the challenge of urban heat?
To meet the challenge of urban heat, we need to ask ourselves: do we need to reinvent everything, or do solutions already exist? Can traditional know-how, ancient urban forms or yesterday's materials fuel tomorrow's solutions? These are all avenues that Prisme will explore in the next episode with Éric Vincens, teacher-researcher in civil engineering.
See you next month for new scientific insights from Prisme, the Centrale Lyon podcast.
