The Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas

Take three top academics, some dangerous ideas, add one comedian and it’s the force of nature that is the Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas (CODI). Hosted by comedian Susan Morrison, and now in its eleventh year, CODI is ninety minutes of rapid-fire research from some of the finest minds in the country.

Why monuments should lie

Dr Paul Leworthy (The University of Edinburgh) isn’t having a good day. First he noticed that the city he lives in was full of statues of men most of us would agree shouldn’t be celebrated in public, then he realised he was incapable of saying what he really means and can’t stop speaking in metaphors. But what if these problems are related? And what if everyday metaphors offer the answer for what to do with controversial monuments? The answer might be to make such monuments lie down. 

Cybercrime is not just for criminals

Hackers are convicted for cybercrime. But should the collection and sale of personal data from social media be classed as a cybercrime? Is it a crime for parents to allow their children mobile phones with access to the internet? If manufacturers knowingly sell insecure devices that give access inside our homes, is this a cybercrime? Cybersecurity expert Garry Scobie (The University of Edinburgh) asks whether the need to post about every aspect of our lives is making us all criminals?

Transition to Net Zero?

How will we use energy in the future and where will it come from? And how do we ensure that this is done equitably? This show will not focus on technical solutions as such. Researchers at The University of Edinburgh from social and political sciences and mathematics describe their research. Where shall we place future energy generation facilities so that the gains and the costs are shared equitably? What is the public response to the transition? How shall we design future energy markets and how do we ensure that our energy supply is secure?

CODI is curated by the University of Edinburgh as part of Beltane Public Engagement Network and produced by Fair Pley.