The World We Want

In this episode of the "World We Want" podcast, Márcia Balisciano interviews Marty Odlin, Founder and CEO, Running Tide. They discuss Running Tide's business model and how it plans to mitigate ocean acidification while remaining self-sustainable in the long run. Marty Odlin Marty Odlin is the founder and CEO of Running Tide, a global ocean health company. He is a systems engineer from a fourth-generation fishing family and founded the company in 2017 after witnessing the devastation caused by climate change in his own community. Running Tide, headquartered in Portland, Maine, creates and implements cutting-edge diagnostics and comprehensive interventions to help balance the carbon cycle, decarbonize global supply chains, restore marine ecosystems, and revitalize coastal communities. It aims to address some critical United Nations sustainable development goals, such as global hunger, by reducing ocean acidification and restoring ocean health. The company is expanding globally in partnership with leading investors, businesses, scientific institutions, and governments.

In this episode of the "World We Want" podcast, Márcia Balisciano interviews Dr. Ana Maria Porras, Assistant Prof of Biomedical Engineering, Crochet Artist, and Science Communicator. They discuss how biomedical engineering is helping develop better treatment strategies for tropical disorders, which have historically received very little attention. Ana Maria Porras Dr. Ana Maria Porras is an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida and serves as an IF/THEN Ambassador for the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She is well-known for creating crochet versions of microorganisms to reach a larger audience, particularly children in her native Colombia. She was named a UF International Center Global Fellow in 2021, a Cornell Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow, 2019-2022, and an American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellow, 2015-2016. She co-founded the LatinX in Biomedical Engineering (LatinXinBME) community with Brian Aguado, a Professor of Bioengineering at the University of California, San Diego. Additionally, Porras has received the Society for Biomaterials Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award 2024, which recognizes outstanding achievements and contributions to the biomaterials field, mainly promoting anti-racism and fostering diversity in the STEM disciplines, especially in biomaterials. She has also been honored with the Early Career Award for Public Engagement with Science by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), 2024. Dr. Porras has authored academic papers on the human microbiome, tissue engineering, biomaterials, global health, and infectious diseases. She intends to use her engineering expertise to create more complex models in the lab, bridging the gap between cells in a petri dish and animal models to test hypotheses and better understand tropical diseases through biomaterial-based approaches.

In this episode of the "World We Want" podcast, Márcia Balisciano interviews Marco Richter, Global Head of Customer Success, LexisNexis Intellectual Property Solutions. They discuss how businesses and policymakers can leverage intellectual property (IP) frameworks to promote environment-friendly technologies and practices. Marco Richter Marco Richter is the Head of Global Customer Success and Managing Director of LexisNexis® PatentSight®, a LexisNexis Intellectual Property subsidiary. He has over 15 years of experience in the IP space, starting in the IP consulting business and running projects for DAX 30 and Fortune 500 companies. He established the Data Harmonization Team and the Consulting & Customer Success Team at PatentSight, a German start-up, into a global software provider. Moreover, he also helped integrate the PatentSight application into LexisNexis IP Solution's SaaS and DaaS offerings. He has strong ties to academia and international patent offices and actively engages with intellectual property leaders and practitioners. He believes that SDG-related patent analytics can assist policymakers in understanding the involvement and identifying gaps in sustainable technological development, allowing them to develop strategies to foster and incentivize investment and innovation in these areas.

In this episode of the "World We Want" podcast, Márcia Balisciano interviews Karin Sempf, CEO and Founder of Innova Nation. The talk about how Innova Nation accelerates sustainability ideas from children and teenagers and provides a framework for transforming these ideas into reality. Karin Sempf Karin Sempf is the CEO and Founder of Innova Nation, an educational lab that motivates and empowers the next generation of entrepreneurs, innovators, and sustainability advocates. They provide interactive learning opportunities for children and teenagers, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities while also encouraging them to pursue their interests and ideas. Innova Nation has created its own methodology to nurture young minds' talent and potential while incubating ideas about entrepreneurship and sustainability. This framework enables children to identify the most pressing issues confronting our planet today and work toward achieving goals that will result in solutions.

In this special edition of "The World We Want," Márcia Balisciano interviews Diana Mbogo, the Founder and Managing Director of Millennium Engineers in Tanzania. Diana, an award-winning entrepreneur, focuses on renewable energy solutions and is currently implementing the Sardine Fishing Industry Business Project. The project aims to transition the traditional, environmentally harmful methods of the sardine fishing industry toward more sustainable practices using solar drying facilities. Diana emphasises the critical connection between access to energy, particularly for women, and the broader goal of achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Throughout the discussion, Diana shares her journey, challenges, and the transformative impact of her work on communities, highlighting the positive changes brought about by her innovative approach to the sardine industry. Diana Mbogo Diana Mbogo is the Founder and Managing Director of Millennium Engineers – a 100% women founded and led social enterprise that specialises in renewable energy. Their primary focus is identifying untapped energy poverty markets across various sectors. They excel in creating tailored and innovative business solutions by analysing the requirements of specific industries, communities, or business value chains. Currently, Millennium Engineers is implementing the “Sardine Fishing Industry” business project which aims to transition the low-income sardine fishing industry in Lake Victoria, away from pressurised kerosene/LED lead acid powered batteries lamps and conventional methods of sardine drying towards more climate friendly solar drying facilities to ensure sustainable fishing practices in the region.

In this episode of the "World We Want" podcast, Márcia Balisciano interviews Lene Bjorn Serpa, Director, Head of Corporate Sustainability & ESG, A.P. Moller - Maersk. They discuss how her work at Maersk aligns with the United Nations sustainable development goals and how companies can contribute to a positive change by engaging with sustainability from a corporate standpoint. About Lene Bjorn Serpa Lene Bjorn Serpa is the Director of Head of Corporate Sustainability & ESG, A.P. Moller – Maersk. She leads Maersk's worldwide initiatives in sustainability and environmental, social, and governance strategy, encompassing reporting, governance, stakeholder engagement, and trend analysis. She earned a master’s degree from the Copenhagen Business School. With a remarkable 25-year track record in corporate sustainability, she serves on corporate boards and holds the Chair of the Global Compact Network Denmark. Lene is also a co-author of the insightful book 'Squaring the Sustainability Circle,' which delves into integrating sustainability seamlessly into corporate strategies.

In this episode of the "World We Want" podcast, Márcia Balisciano interviews Judy Kuriansky, an award-wining journalist, clinical psychologist, lecturer, and United Nations NGO representative. They discuss sustainable development and global goals for education, health, peace, and gender equality. About Judy Kuriansky Dr. Judy Kuriansky is an academic, a world-renowned clinical psychologist, a Professor of Psychology and Education at Columbia University Teachers College, a certified sex therapist, and a popular speaker. She is also the founder of radio call-in advice, a former television reporter, and a newspaper columnist. Dr. Judy, a humanitarian and philanthropist, is a first responder who has provided psychosocial support worldwide in the aftermath of major disasters such as the attacks on the US World Trade Center, school shootings, the tsunami in Japan, floods in St. Martin, and earthquakes in Iran and Haiti. She is the Policy Advisor to Sierra Leone's Mission at the United Nations and has been representing NGOs for over 20 years, advocating for mental health and well-being. She is a strong supporter of women's and girls' rights, having founded a Girls Empowerment Camp in Lesotho, edited a book called "Women Around the World," and backed the Sierra Leone First Lady's "Hands Off Our Girls" initiative.

In this episode of the "World We Want" podcast, Márcia Balisciano interviews Nicholas Murdock, Sustainability Program Manager, NASA. They discuss how his experience in engineering, construction, and operations contribute to the multifaceted sustainability efforts at NASA. About Nicholas Murdock Nicholas Murdock is NASA's Sustainability Program Manager, in charge of developing and implementing the agency's sustainability initiatives across all centres. He earned a bachelor’s degree in civil/environmental engineering and a master’s degree in engineering management from the University of Central Florida. At NASA, Nicholas recognizes the importance of pursuing and achieving the current administration's goals. He is passionate about problem solving, building strong teams, and creating a safe, collaborative, and inclusive environment. Prior to his current position, he worked in a variety of roles supporting environmental functions, engineering, construction, and operations and maintenance

In this episode of the "World We Want" podcast, Márcia Balisciano interviews Filip Neele, Lead Scientist at TNO in Utrecht, the Netherlands. They discuss carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology as a “key” in energy transition and its role in supporting global sustainability. About Filip Neele Filip Neele is the TNO's subsurface team's lead scientist on carbon dioxide (CO2) transport and storage. He holds a doctorate degree in Seismology and has been researching CCS technologies since 2006. His research focuses on the creation and management of CCS networks, as well as regional screening studies for CO2 storage capacity and detailed storage feasibility assessments. He is especially interested in the evolution of CCS networks, ship transport, and multi-asset storage networks. Dr. Philip is currently working on methods for monitoring operational CO2 projects that are both efficient and effective

In this episode of the "World We Want" podcast, Márcia Balisciano speaks to Gaythri Raman, Managing Director of Southeast Asia, LexisNexis. They talk about Ms. Raman’s efforts in leveraging AI-powered legal innovations in transforming the legal business and advancing the rule of law across Southeast Asia, with the goal to address statelessness and enabling access to justice through key projects with world leaders committed to social justice even in remote jungles across Borneo. About Gaythri Raman Gaythri Raman is the Managing Director of LexisNexis Southeast Asia, responsible for the adoption of online solutions for litigation across government and corporate segments throughout Southeast Asia. She is a strong advocate for the transformation of the legal business by leveraging legal innovations, and her vision has led the way for the legal industry in Southeast Asia. As a changemaker, Gaythri has led the print-to-digital transformation of a 90-year-old business in the last five years. Under her leadership, her team have successfully created and launched multiple award-winning AI-powered solutions for legal professionals in Malaysia and Singapore, enabling the use of cutting-edge Large Language Model on premier local legal content. Gaythri is passionate about advancing the rule of law. She believes technology can be a powerful enabler in providing access to justice, improving She and her team have worked on multiple rule of law projects, notably with Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Laureate and State Counsellor of Myanmar in the nation’s democratisation process prior to the coup in 2021, working with the United Nations Global Compact to launch the Business for the Rule of Law Framework and key projects across Asia to provide transparency in laws. She and her team have been supporting the Mobile Court of Sabah and efforts to address statelessness and enabling access to justice in the jungles of Borneo since 2018. Gaythri is a purposeful leader and believes in leveraging the skills and passion of her followers to make a positive impact in society. She welcomes all opportunities to collaborate to change the world for the better and sees herself as a lifelong student with the world as her inspiration.

In this episode of the "World We Want" podcast, Márcia Balisciano and David Emmett, from the Biodiversity Partnerships team at the Hempel Foundation, engage in a deep conversation. They discuss the importance of biodiversity conservation, and how our efforts toward preserving wildlife species should not ignore the human communities that surround and rely on them. David Emmett For the past two years, David has been a driving force at the Hempel Foundation, where he has helped champion the protection of some of the world's most precious ecosystems. David is also involved in management of a pipeline of Impact Investment Fund opportunities. Prior to his move to Europe, David held the role of Senior Vice President for Conservation International, Asia-Pacific, from 2011 to 2019. From teaching biology and tropical agriculture in rural Malawi to conducting biodiversity surveys in Tanzania, Madagascar and Cambodia, he has explored many places to learn about and safeguard their complex ecosystems. As a public speaker, published author, and esteemed advisor, David Emmett embodies the ideals of conservation and sustainability.

In this episode of “The World We Want” podcast, Robert Skinner, Deputy Director and Chief of Partnerships and Global Engagement at the Outreach Division of the United Nations Department of Global Communications, reminds us that it is not too late to take action against climate change. In a lively conversation with Márcia Balisciano, he touches upon the importance of spreading awareness about the SDGs and making sure that global policymakers and stakeholders understand how imperative it is to act, and act now. Robert Skinner Robert Skinner is the Deputy Director and Chief of Partnerships and Global Engagement in the Outreach Division of United Nations Department of Global Communications. Prior to this, Robert was the Director of the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Washington, DC. He has also held the posts of Senior Special Advisor in the UN’s Department of Global Communications, focusing on the UN’s COVID-19 Communications Response Initiative, and Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Partnerships. Prior to joining the UN, Robert was the Executive Director in the New York Office of the United Nations Foundation. Before joining the Foundation in 2006, Robert held several positions in the United States Department of State. Before starting his diplomatic career, Robert was an attorney in the Office of the Cook County Public Defender, Chicago, Illinois.

"We're no acme or pinnacle of anything, we're just simply evolutionary steps," says this week's "World We Want" podcast guest, Dr. Gabriel Filippelli, of the human hubris surrounding climate change. In a long conversation, Márcia Balisciano and Dr. Filippeli, author of Climate Change and Life, touch upon the history of the world, both in terms of climate change and in the patterns of evolution and extinction, as well as what the presently changing climate means for human beings. Balancing pragmatism and optimism, this episode serves as a stark look at the reality of climate change and the will—political, environmental, and personal—needed to adapt. Gabriel Filippelli Dr. Gabriel Filippelli is a Chancellor’s Professor of Earth Sciences and Executive Director of the Indiana University Environmental Resilience Institute. Filippelli is a biogeochemist with broad training in climate change, exposure science, and environmental health. Filippelli has published broadly, including publications in Science, Nature and Geology as well as in specialty journals and in popular press. He is the Editor-in-Chief for the journal GeoHealth,. a Fellow of the International Association of Geochemistry, a 2022 Fulbright Distinguished Chair, and former National Academy of Sciences Jefferson Science Fellow, where he served as a Senior Science Advisor for the U.S. Department of State.

In this episode of the "World We Want" podcast, Márcia Balisciano speaks to Dr. Christian Leitz, Managing Director, Secretary of Corporate Culture and Responsibility Committee, and Group Historian and Lead for Long-Term Archives at UBS. During the course of their conversation they cover the challenges to achieving sustainability from all aspects—from historical lessons to providing financial impetus to invest in sustainability. Christian Leitz Dr. Christian Leitz is Managing Director, Secretary of Corporate Culture and Responsibility Committee, and Group Historian and Lead for Long-Term Archives at UBS. He is the firm's first corporate historian. He coordinates UBS's sustainability reporting and regularly gives workshops and presentations on the topic of sustainability, both at UBS and the broader world. He also serves as a center of competence for questions relating to historical concerns at the firm. Before joining UBS in 2003, Christian taught history at universities in the UK and New Zealand. He has written and edited a large number of articles and essays, as well as six books.

On the occasion of World Hepatitis Day 2023, this "World We Want" podcast episode focuses on the public health threat of hepatitis and the urgent need to address it to achieve SDG3: Good Health and Well-Being. Here, Márcia Balisciano speaks to Rob Brierly, Editor-in-Chief of The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology to understand the ongoing challenges to achieving this goal, including medical, infrastructural, financial, and other roadblocks. Rob Brierley Rob Brierley is Editor-in-Chief of The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology. Rob studied molecular and cellular biochemistry and clinical pharmacology at the University of Oxford, and clinical oncology at the University of Birmingham. Rob has worked in the publishing industry since graduation, first as a technical editor for the Journal of Molecular Biology, before working on a series of viral hepatitis textbooks for a book publisher. Rob joined The Lancet Group in 2004, first at The Lancet Infectious Diseases and The Lancet, before joining The Lancet Oncology as Senior Editor in 2008 and then Deputy Editor in 2012. The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology launched in 2016. Rob’s interests include gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary cancers, viral hepatitis, and inflammatory bowel diseases.

In this episode of the "World We Want" podcast series, Márcia Balisciano speaks to Professor Lora Fleming, Professor Lota Creencia, Professor Helena Solo-Gabriele, and Jake Keast who advocate the need for a world where protecting the seas, the coasts, and the oceans is essential for human health and wellbeing. Lora Fleming Professor Lora Fleming is the founder of the European Centre for Environment and Human health and Chair of Oceans, Epidemiology and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School. Professor Fleming is an occupational and environmental health physician and epidemiologist with more than 30 years of experience and expertise in environment and occupational exposures and human health research and training. She is the recipient of the 2013 Edouard Delcroix Prize and the 2015 Bruun Medal of the International Oceanographic Commission (IOC), and an ASPIRE principle fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Lota Creencia Professor Lota Creencia is the organization lead for Western Philippines University, Philippines. holds a PhD in Fisheries Science and MS in Fisheries Science from Kagoshima University, Japan and MS from Siliman University, Philippines. Western Philippines University. Her experience spans various programs and projects in line with fisheries management and aquaculture. She has served as a principal investigator/project leader/coordinator with funding from USAID-STRIDE, Malampaya Foundation Inc., Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCIEERD), Commission on Higher Education (CHED-DARETO & NAFES), Department of Agriculture- Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR). She specializes in abalone biology and culture, marine biology, mangrove ecology and management, integrated seaweed farming and community-based fisheries management and aquaculture. Helena Solo-Gabriele Helena Solo-Gabriele is a Professor and Associate Dean for Research at the University of Miami. She is an environmental engineer who evaluates problems that relate to the domains of public health and environment. She focuses on environmental measures and actively engages with epidemiologists and other public health professionals to get to know the possible links between environmental exposures and illness. Jake Keast Jake is a medical student at the University of Exeter, United Kingdom. In addition to being a medical student, Jake is also an elite athlete and an oceans and human health researcher who spends time over performance improvements and exercise physiology. He has recently co-authored a textbook on Oceans and Human Health, and is working with local projects to bring young people and vulnerable adults to the sea for sports and education.

In this episode of the “World We Want” podcast series, Dr. Eric Altschular and Simone Emmons talk to Márcia Balisciano about the their book Animal Assisted Therapy and the importance of service animals in treating a large array of mental health disorders. Eric Altschuler, MD, PhD is Associate Chief and Director of Clinical Research in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Metropolitan Hospital and Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at New York Medical College. Dr. Altschuler is also an Associate Editor of the American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Simone Emmons is a Veteran, PTSD/SA/MST/DV/Addiction Survivor, blessed Mom of three children and one service dog. She has gone from surviving to thriving as a mental health advocate, author, innovator and Co-founder of Service Dog Strong. SDS is one of the first non-profits in America to pair rescued Service dogs with SA and MST Survivors diagnosed with PTSD from their assault. Eric Altschuler is the editor of the book Animal Assisted Therapy, and Simone Emmons is the author of Chapter 8.

In this episode of "The World We Want" podcast series, Samy Ahmar—who is Head of Global Health at Save the Children UK, where he and his team oversee a wide portfolio of maternal, newborn, and child health projects across 20 countries in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa—speaks with Márcia Balisciano about providing quality and inclusive healthcare to people across the world. Samy Ahmar is Head of Global Health at Save the Children UK. Samy has over 15 years of experience in international development, global health, and evidence-based programming. At Save the Children UK, Samy and his team support programs in maternal, newborn, and child health programming in over 20 countries. He is passionate about providing access to inclusive, quality healthcare to every individual, including those from the poorest communities. His recent work includes diarrhea control in India and Nigeria, adaptive MNCH programming in rural Democratic Republic of Congo, evidence-based strategies for pneumonia control in nine countries, and global health partnerships with private sector organizations. Samy is also Co-chair of the ORS–Zinc Co-Pack Alliance, which advocates for the co-packaging of ORS and Zinc as the "go-to" treatment for childhood diarrhea.

Kume is an astute leader with global experience across four continents with over fifteen years of experience and significant achievements in Corporate IT transformation and social impact entrepreneurship initiatives. Kume is CEO & founder of Afrovalley, the blockchain agro, cross-border commodity trading and logistics platform and ecosystem that will serve as the peer-to-peer marketplace connecting farmers with wholesalers and retailers, assuring quality and quantity to the buyer while opening direct financing, market opportunities, and greater return for farmers. Previously, Kume has successfully founded & exited more than 3 start-ups in different countries in areas ranging from waste management digital platforms to supply chain & vendor management to technology consultancy services. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Dalhousie University in Canada and a Master’s degree in the Executive MBA program from Imperial College London, UK. Kume is also an alumna of Oxford and MIT universities where she completed Oxford Blockchain Innovation & Strategy programs.

Shiv Gaglani is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Osmosis.org, a leading health education platform with an audience of millions of current & future clinicians as well as their patients and family members. Shiv’s primary passion is developing innovative and scalable solutions in the fields of healthcare and education. To this end he curated the Smartphone Physical, which debuted at TEDMED, and the Patient Promise, a movement to improve clinician-patient relationship through partnership in pursuing healthy lifestyle behaviors. Shiv is also an avid writer who has written two educational books, Success with Science and Standing out on the SAT & ACT. He is a regular contributor to Forbes, which named him to their 30 Under 30 List in 2018. After graduating magna cum laude from Harvard College in 2010 with degrees in engineering and health policy, Shiv began his MD degree at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and earned his MBA from Harvard Business School in 2016.