Artificial intelligence often struggles with the ambiguity, nuance, and shifting context that defines human reasoning. Fuzzy logic offers an alternative, by modelling meaning in degrees rather than absolutes.

In this roundtable episode, ResearchPod speaks with Professors Edy Portmann, Irina Perfilieva, Vilem Novak, Cristina Puente, and José María Alonso about how fuzzy systems capture perception, language, social cues, and uncertainty.

Their insights contribute to the upcoming FMsquare Foundation booklet on fuzzy logic, exploring the role of uncertainty-aware reasoning in the future of AI.

You can read the previous booklet from this series here: Fuzzy Design-Science Research

You can listen to previous fuzzy podcasts here: fmsquare.org

Join Professor Michelle Barbour in this captivating conversation with Professor Marc Holderied from the University of Bristol’s School of Biological Sciences. Discover how a serendipitous encounter with a fluffy moth in Costa Rica sparked a 30-year scientific journey that led to the development of ultra-thin, nature-inspired sound-absorbing materials.

🎙️ In this episode follow Marc’s path to Bristol and his passion for acoustics including:

• Fascinating collaborations with Bristol Zoo, including the discovery of a new frog species and a mysterious bat call
• The groundbreaking invention of an acoustic tomograph
• How moth wings inspired the creation of acoustic metamaterials
• Finding real-world applications from the study of moth wings from noise-reducing wallpaper to quieter aircraft cabins
• A dream to reduce the hidden health costs of urban noise pollution

Read his original research article : https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2313549121

⭐Highlights

0:00 – Introducing the Enterprise Sessions and Professor Marc Holderied

0:34 – Marc’s journey to Bristol

2:22 – Discovering new species of frogs and bats with Bristol Zoo

4:41 – How shaving a moth’s wings led to an enterprise opportunity

7:49 – How moths evolved an acoustic invisibility cloak to evade bats

13:01 – From research to enterprise: developing acoustic wallpaper and ultra-thin sound absorbers

16:46 – The societal impacts of noise pollution

21:48 – The role Enterprise Fellowships and the University of Bristol’s Commercialisation team and others in going from research to enterprise

🌐 About the Enterprise Sessions

The Enterprise Sessions bring together a diverse mix of company founders and researchers who talk openly about their personal experiences of forming spin-outs and start-ups, raising capital, academic-industry partnerships and the joys of translating research discoveries into real-world impact.

The series aims to inform, inspire and challenge myths and stereotypes about research commercialisation and how businesses and universities can work together to tackle society’s biggest challenges.

👍 Like, Share, Subscribe, Explore

If you found this episode inspiring or informative, please don’t forget to like and share. Visit our website or subscribe to the University of Bristol’s YouTube channel for more Enterprise Sessions.

https://www.bristol.ac.uk/enterprise-sessions

🔗 Connect with

Marc Holderied https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-holderied/

Michele Barbour https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-barbour-7b049566/

This is the third in a series of three podcasts exploring ‘Claiming Tomorrow – Sociodigital Futures in the Making.’

'Who is making claims over sociodigital futures' looks at which actors are making futures claims. Should we pay heed to government announcements around the capabilities of AI and how it will change our lives? Can any single actor make such sweeping generalisations when there are many possible futures in front of us?

Hear from Dale Southerton, Susan Halford and Helen Manchester in this fascinating and timely discussion.

This podcast is brought to you by the Centre for Sociodigital Futures – a flagship research centre, funded by the ESRC and led by the University of Bristol in collaboration with 12 other Universities in the UK and globally. The support of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is gratefully acknowledged.

This is the first of three podcasts exploring ‘Claiming Tomorrow – Sociodigital Futures in the Making.’ We are addressing the research question ‘What sociodigital futures are being claimed and made, and how, by which actors, across key areas of social life?’ Each of the three podcasts will address What, How and Who.

In this episode we hear from Debbie Watson, David Evans, Bridget Anderson and Rich Hemming as they discuss what defines futures. Futures are multiple, and we explore if they are on the way or already here. Can they be resisted or are some inevitable?'

This podcast is brought to you by the Centre for Sociodigital Futures – a flagship research centre, funded by the ESRC and led by the University of Bristol in collaboration with 12 other Universities in the UK and globally. The support of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is gratefully acknowledged.

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This second of three podcasts exploring ‘Claiming Tomorrow – Sociodigital Futures in the Making' is asking 'How are sociodigital futures being claimed?'

Claims about the future shape government policies, shape investments that are made by companies, and how all of us think about our lives. But how are these claims being made?

Listen to Susan Halford, Jessica Pykett, Debbie Watson, Paul Clarke and Beckie Coleman as they explore this timely subject.

This podcast is brought to you by the Centre for Sociodigital Futures – a flagship research centre, funded by the ESRC and led by the University of Bristol in collaboration with 12 other Universities in the UK and globally. The support of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is gratefully acknowledged.

Littering is a global issue with serious environmental and economic impacts. But, what drives people to act responsibly?

Sonny Rosenthal from Singapore Management University and Pengya Ai, a PhD student from Nanyang Technological University are interested in how social norms shape pro-environmental behaviour. Their research reveals how descriptive norms (what people do) and injunctive norms (what people should do) interact with personal responsibility, challenging assumptions about collective action and the bystander effect. The findings offer a new framework for understanding how individuals respond to social cues, and how policy can use these vital insights.

Read the original research: doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-60047-0

Green innovation is often seen as the key to sustainable growth. But, not all eco-technologies deliver the same results.

Cheng Qiang from Singapore Management University examines how pollution prevention and pollution control impact firms’ profitability and environmental performance, revealing why prevention strategies offer greater financial and environmental returns.

Read the original research: doi.org/10.1016/j.jacceco.2024.101706

Can CRISPR help build a unified platform for biological discovery?

Dr Kaivalya Shevade from the Laboratory for Genomics Research (UCSF) is developing new CRISPR-based screening methods to map gene networks, understand drug resistance, and track neuronal activity in disease.

The research team’s innovations, including the CAT-ATAC assay and the Plexus machine learning model, show how combining biology with computation could accelerate the search for new treatments.

Read the original research: doi.org/10.1101/2025.02.11.637716