In this episode Claudia speaks to first year PhD student Medline Myers about her Master research in Antarctica and her PhD work in the arctic. They explore some of the unique challenges of doing research at the poles and why such research is significant for understanding other life and climate change. Guests: Madeline Myers is a first year PhD Candidate in Geography and Planning at Queen’s University Host: Claudia Hirtenfelder is the International Student Affairs Commissioner for the SGPS and a PhD Candidate in Geography and Planning at Queen’s University. Her Twitter handle is @ClaudiaFTowne Bed Music: Mafikizolo Featuring Uhuru singing Khona Featured Song: Ice, Ice, Baby by Vanilla Ice Date Recorded: 13 October 2020 Tags: Antarctica, Arctic, Poles, Ice

In this episode Claudia speaks to El Zahraa Majed about her research with immigrants and health in Kingston.  They discuss some of the challenges of doing research with international populations, especially during Covid-19 as well as how being an international student affords unique opportunities to analyse and understand health. Guests: EL Zahraa is a second year PhD Candidate in Health Promotion at the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies Host: Claudia Hirtenfelder is the International Student Affairs Commissioner for the SGPS and a PhD Candidate in Geography and Planning at Queen’s University. Her Twitter handle is @ClaudiaFTowne Bed Music: Mafikizolo Featuring Uhuru singing Khona Featured Song: The Script – Superheroes Date Recorded: 14 September 2020 Tags: Health, Kingston, Physical Activity, Immigrants

Claudia talks to Prerna Subramanian about her research studying public toilets as depicted in recent Indian films and how they imagine transgender persons on-screen through the trope. They also touch on feelings of imposter syndrome when you are not in the country you research as well as how international research provides opportunities to create international solidarity around issues. Credits Guests: Prerna Subramanian is a PhD Candidate in Cultural Studies  (Gender Studies, Film and Media Studies) at Queen’s University. Connect with her via Twitter @prayernaaah Host: Claudia Hirtenfelder is the International Student Affairs Commissioner for the SGPS and a PhD Candidate in Geography and Planning at Queen’s University. Her Twitter handle is @ClaudiaFTowne Bed Music: Mafikizolo Featuring Uhuru singing Khona Featured Song: Akshay Kumar - "Toilet Ka Jugaad Song" (You can watch the video on Youtube) Date Recorded: 20 June 2020 Tags: International Research, Race, Gender, India, Media Studies, Toilets

Recorded: 20 January 2020 In this episode Claudia records an international research seminar in which three international graduate students discuss their research in Turkey. Canan Sahin (Political Science) talks about Syrian Refugees as a Surplus Population, Hilal Kara (Geography) discusses youth navigating precarious environments and Gaye Onurer (Sociology) unpacks the tensions of Academic or Peace. An interesting and thought provoking conversation with the audience then follows. Host: Claudia Hirtenfelder (the International Student Affairs Commissioner for the SGPS)Guests: Canan Sahin (PhD Student in Political Science), Hilal Kara (PhD Student in Geography), and Gaye Onurer (PhD Student in Sociology)Bed Music: Mafikizolo Featuring Uhuru singing KhonaFeatured song: Fikret Kızılok & Bülent Ortaçgil – Değirmenle

In this episode Claudia records an international research seminar in which three international graduate students discuss their research in Ghana. Priscilla Apronti (Geography) talks about renewable energy in Ghana, Joseph Braimah (Geography) discusses elderly care and James Kwateng-Yeboah (Cultural studies) delves into how God became Ghanaian. A dynamic and thought provoking conversation with the audience then follows. Host: Claudia Hirtenfelder (the International Student Affairs Commissioner for the SGPS)Guests: Priscilla Apronti (PhD Candidate Geography), Joseph Braimah (PhD Candidate Geography) James Kwateng-Yeboah (PhD Candidate  Cultural studies)Bed Music: Mafikizolo Featuring Uhuru singing Khona

Sean Patrick Marrs talks to Claudia about his experiences of delving into French Espionage in the Archives. They touch on the significance of history, stories in the archives and some ethical tensions with looking at dated material. Host: Claudia Hirtenfelder (the International Student Affairs Commissioner for the SGPS)Guests: Sean Patrick Marrs (History, Queen’s University)Bed Music: Mafikizolo Featuring Uhuru singing KhonaFeatured Song: Edith Piaf - Sous le ciel de ParisImage: The image in the poster is a microfilm discussing the Swedish spy discussed in the episode; the second image is Sean’s from Paris Royal

Raziel Miranda talks to Claudia Hirtenfelder about his transnational identity as well as the conflicting world of surveillance and big data with its many opportunities and challenges. They discuss how information from our everyday lives are used and what opportunities there are for resistance. Host: Claudia Hirtenfelder (the International Student Affairs Commissioner for the SGPS)Guests: Raziel Miranda (Sociology, University of the Basque Country - UPV/EHU)Bed Music: Mafikizolo Featuring Uhuru singing KhonaFeatured Song: The Spy, The DoorsImage: Artwork in the poster is done by Raziel titled Gazes of Dusk

Siobhan Speiran talks to Claudia about her pathbreaking PhD research on the lives of primates in rescue centers in Costa Rica. They discuss why this research is significant, the challenges of doing research in a different context, across species divides, and the opportunities for creating meaningful policy changes from PhD work. Host: Claudia Hirtenfelder (the International Student Affairs Commissioner for the SGPS)Guests: Siobhan Speiran (Environmental Studies, Queen’s University)Bed Music: Mafikizolo Featuring Uhuru singing KhonaFeatured Song: Patiño - milagrito de amor

In this episode Claudia talks to 3 Queen Elizabeth Scholars about the collaborations and research they have conducted at Queen’s University. Nuworza Kugbey, Phidelia Doegah, and Ryenchindorj Erkhembayar unpack their different health projects and explain how working on their research in Canada influences the work and opportunities they have in their home countries (Ghana and Mongolia). They reflect on how international collaboration enables opportunities to share resources, ideas, and solutions for pressing health issues (including maternal, mental, and brain health). Finally, having all recently competed their PhDs, they give tips for graduate students interested in international research.

Host Claudia Hirtenfelder chats with PhD Candidate Nathalia Santos Ocasio about her research pertaining to social infrastructure in Santiago. The  pair also consider challenges and opportunities of language, culture, and representation in research processes that stretch beyond international borders and some of the power dynamics involved therein. Host: Claudia Hirtenfelder (the International Student Affairs Commissioner for the SGPS) Guest: Nathalia Santos Ocasio (PhD Department of Geography and Planning, Queen’s University) Bed Music: Mafikizolo Featuring Uhuru singing Khona Featured Song: Lo Único Que Tengo by Victor Jara (Voice: Isabel Parra) from the album La Población (1972) Images: (1) The picture of Santiago in the podcast poster is an image Nathalia took in 2016 from one of the cerros (hills) of the city. In the background, you can see the recently snowed Andes. (2) An Arpillera Nathalia saw in the Oshima Hakko Museum in Nagano, Japan, 2018.