Moein Nodehi Constructive Voices Podcast Cover

He was born in the middle of war.

As conflict tore through Iran, Moein Nodehi’s family fled in search of safety, eventually ending up in an immigration camp in Sweden.

But even in those uncertain early years, another world was being built inside him.

His parents kept hope alive by telling stories of ancient Persia — its gardens, palaces, civic systems and extraordinary buildings. Those stories stayed with him. So did the contrast he later witnessed when he returned to Iran as a boy: the visible scars of war set alongside the brilliance of ancient architecture.

That collision of destruction and civilisation shaped him.

It made him question how we build, why we build, and what kind of world our buildings are really creating.

“What happened to me in the pyramids was deeper than what I can really explain with words.” Moein Nodehi

Biotonomy's visual of green walls

Years later, that questioning would take him from engineering school to major construction projects in Dubai, and then far beyond the mainstream industry altogether. Disillusioned by what he saw — buildings celebrated as symbols of innovation while human and environmental costs were ignored — Moein chose a different route.

He walked away, travelled widely, learned from grassroots projects around the world, and eventually founded Biotonomy: a company focused on nature-based architecture that treats buildings as living systems rather than machines.

“I was really obsessed about how we are building our buildings, our cities, and really our civilisation.” Moein Nodehi

In this episode of Constructive Voices, Jackie De Burca speaks with Moein about exile, ancient wisdom, modern cities, water, heat, resilience, and why nature may hold many of the answers we’ve forgotten.

Moein Nodehi Biotonomy aerial view of green roofs

“The design decisions that we take for our cities, for our buildings, have a direct impact on our brain waves and our wellbeing.” Moein Nodehi

In this episode

Jackie and Moein explore how buildings can work with nature rather than against it — and why that shift matters not just for carbon and climate, but for health, wellbeing and the future of cities. They discuss:

• how Moein’s early life between Iran and Sweden shaped his worldview
• why ancient Persian and desert design still offers powerful lessons today
• what he learned from walking away from conventional large-scale construction
• how nature-based architecture can cool buildings, recycle water and reduce dependence on fragile infrastructure
• the success of wastewater-fed green walls in Malaga
• why retrofitting existing buildings is both possible and urgent
• how greener neighbourhoods can improve health, commerce and quality of life
• where AI and robotics may help scale more affordable, nature-based building solutions

“The amount of money you save as a city by investing in making your buildings and your city healthy for people — it’s a no-brainer financially.” Moein Nodehi

Why this conversation matters

This episode is about far more than buildings.

It is about memory, identity, courage and rethinking progress. Moein’s work asks a simple but profound question: what if our homes, hotels, neighbourhoods and cities were designed to behave more like ecosystems — resilient, regenerative, efficient and life-supporting?

Instead of treating water as waste, nature-based systems can clean and reuse it. Instead of fighting heat with ever more energy-hungry cooling systems, buildings can be designed to work with physics, airflow, shade and thermal mass. Instead of lifeless urban walls, buildings can become places that restore biodiversity, support mental wellbeing and even strengthen local economies.

A turning point in construction

One of the most compelling parts of the episode is Moein’s account of leaving behind the prestige and salary of mainstream mega-project construction after seeing practices he felt were deeply at odds with both human dignity and environmental responsibility.

That decision led him into years of hands-on learning across projects in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and South America, where he encountered local, practical, low-tech and often overlooked solutions. Out of that came Biotonomy’s mission: to bring together nature-based ideas that already work, and adapt them for urban scale.

Biotonomy's nature-based cities

“When you bring nature into the city, that’s what attracts people.” Moein Nodehi

From scepticism to success in Malaga

A standout example in the episode is Biotonomy’s work in Malaga, where Moein and his team fought for permission to install a green wall system fed by treated building wastewater.

The idea was initially dismissed. Officials reportedly doubted it would work. But once installed, the project thrived. The plants flourished because the recycled water carried nutrients, and the wall became more than a technical success — it became a social one too. People altered their routes to pass it. It became a meeting point. Nearby businesses saw increased footfall. What began as an experiment became a visible demonstration that greener, more circular urban systems can work in practice.

“We had to fight for the licence… and so many people told us, ‘We’re going to watch you guys fail because this is not going to work.’” Moein Nodehi

Awards and wider impact

Moein also reflects on some of the recognition Biotonomy has received, including an award linked to a humanitarian conflict-resolution project in Lebanon, where people from different backgrounds came together to build and learn practical regenerative design solutions. He also shares how later work in Spain helped shift perceptions and build confidence in what nature-based retrofits can achieve.

A hopeful message

There is a strong sense of possibility running through this conversation.

Moein is not waiting for perfect systems or perfect approval. He argues that cities, policymakers, developers and communities need to be bolder — to stop over-analysing risk to the point of paralysis, and start testing what better could look like.

His message to listeners is equally direct: you do not need to be an expert to get involved. If this way of building resonates with you, start learning, join the conversation, and take part.

Listen to the episode

From fleeing war to rethinking civilisation through design, Moein Nodehi brings a rare mix of lived experience, technical insight and visionary thinking to this episode.

This is a conversation about what buildings could become — and what humanity could become with them.

Moein Nodehi, Founder of Biotonomy

About Moein Nodehi

Moein Nodehi is the founder and CEO of Biotonomy, a leading company in Nature-Based Architecture.

For more than 15 years, he has designed and implemented real projects that integrate living systems directly into the structure of buildings and cities — rethinking how they manage water, climate, and ecology.

His work supports developers and public institutions in creating buildings and cities with circular systems — reducing dependency on external resources while strengthening urban resilience and ecological balance.

He is also co-founder of Circular Living where he is focusing on merging Robotic Construction, Artificial Intelligence and Nature Based Architecture to develop self-sufficient buildings

About Biotonomy

Biotonomy is a global development & education company that applies the principles of Nature Based Solutions, Biomimicry, and Innovative Technology to develop Autonomous buildings, communities and cities.

Our team of experts works to understand how nature solves complex problems, and then applies that knowledge to create innovative solutions creating a healthier and regenerative built environment.

With a strong focus on collaboration & education, we aspire to bring about a world where buildings & cities are not just sustainable, but actively contribute to the restoration of ecosystems.

Discover more about Biotonomy

“This conversation makes the case for a shift: from sustainability as a materials-and-energy conversation, to neurosustainability — designing environments that protect sleep, reduce stress load, support movement, and build cognitive resilience across the lifespan.” Jackie De Burca

Host: Mohamed Hesham Khalil – Creator of the Neurosustainability theory, architect and neuroscience researcher, and a PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge.

Guest: Professor Agustín Ibáñez — Director of Global Research Networks at the Global Brain Health Institute (Trinity College Dublin) and Scientific Director of the Latin American Brain Health Institute

Guest: Burcin Ikiz — Neuroscientist and brain health advocate working at the intersection of climate, equity, and brain outcomes

Podcast cover

Brain health isn’t only personal. It’s environmental. And the places we live, move, and work in can either build resilience — or quietly chip away at it.

“The built environment… is the space where we most of the time live, move, think and also thrive or become sick.” — Professor Agustín Ibáñez

In the third part of this mini-series about neurosustainability, Cambridge scholarship student, Mohamed Hesham Khalil sits down with Professor Agustín Ibáñez and Burcin Ikiz to connect the dots between climate, inequality, urban design, and the ageing brain.

They unpack the exposome and zoom into the built environment as the missing middle layer we can actually change.

“Scientists sometimes we use strange words for simple things.” — Professor Agustín Ibáñez

What is the exposome?

The exposome is the full set of environmental influences (physical, social, and economic) that shape our health and behaviour over time — and why the built environment is the missing “mesoscale” link between global forces (like climate change and inequality) and individual brain outcomes (like cognition, dementia risk, and mental health).

“I always see that the built environment itself maybe hasn’t been given the same attention… because… people spend around 90 percent of time indoors.” Mohamed Hesham Khalil

The discussion moves from greenness and air pollution to navigation complexity in cities, indoor air quality, heat, sleep disruption, and the urgent need to reframe sustainability as neurosustainability — designing spaces that support brain plasticity, cognitive reserve, and resilience across the lifespan.

“If you’re going out… with pollution… noise… and… light… that kind of stimulation can be actually really bad for the brain.” Burcin Ikiz

City at night with lights noise pollution

Important Takeaways

1) The exposome is the full environment of your life

Not just air pollution and heat — but also education, safety, housing, and inequality. All of it shapes health and behaviour over time.

2) The built environment is the “middle layer” we can redesign

Between huge macro forces (climate, inequality) and individual outcomes (sleep, cognition), the built environment is the neglected middle ground — and a realistic place to intervene.

“Built environment… provides… the opportunity to modify the inner environments.” Professor Agustín Ibáñez

3) City complexity can train — or strain — the brain

Complex navigation can boost cognitive stimulation, but as cognition declines, it can become a barrier. The challenge: ageing-friendly and dementia-friendly cities.

4) Indoors is the real battlefield

People spend most of their time indoors — and improving air quality, comfort, light, and noise where life actually happens can be one of the most direct interventions available.

5) Equity is not an add-on — it’s the headline

Green space helps if it’s clean, safe, and accessible. But noise, light, heat stress, and pollution can turn “stimulation” into harm.

Neurosustainability and the built environment

“It’s really important that we really show everyone that it’s a shared responsibility… scientists, architects and policymakers… it’s not just a sole responsibility, but really every step counts.” Mohamed Hesham Khalil

Practical design + policy signals that come through clearly

This episode surfaces “brain-supportive” moves across scales — from homes to cities:

1. Healthier indoor air and thermal comfort, especially for older adults

2. Noise reduction and sleep protection as non-negotiables

3. Shared spaces and intergenerational housing to reduce isolation

4. Wayfinding and navigation support that helps people age well

5. Climate adaptation and clean air policies framed as brain health strategies

“Work with the local governments… city planners… implementing… regulations that will clean the air… bring green spaces… accessible.” Burcin Ikiz

What if sustainability wasn’t only about carbon, materials, and energy — but also about the human brain?

In this second episode of the mini-series about neuro-sustainability, neuroscience and architecture meet in a conversation that feels both urgent and surprisingly practical.

We investigate the work of Cambridge scholarship student, Mohamed Hesham Khalil, which we believe should be integrated into planning and architecture around the world.

“We can change diet, can change habits, but we cannot change a built environment. It’s built once and it lasts for tens of years.” Mohamed Hesham Khalil

In this episode, he is joined by Burçin Ikiz, who brings a climate-and-health lens to brain wellbeing across the lifespan.

Mohamed Hesham Khalil brings a design-and-research lens focused on environmental enrichment — and what our homes, streets, workplaces, and neighbourhoods are doing to us every day, whether we notice it or not.

This is not a theoretical chat. It’s about how we design environments that help brains thrive — especially as heat, pollution, and chronic stress become part of daily life for millions.

Why this episode about neuro-sustainability matters

We like to think of brain health as something personal: sleep, diet, exercise, mindset. But the built environment is a long-term exposure — and it’s stubbornly permanent.

If your surroundings make movement hard, keep you indoors, overwhelm your senses, trap heat, or load the air with pollution — you don’t just “feel it.” Your brain does too.

What you’ll learn

1) What “environmental enrichment” means in the real world

This conversation translates neuroscience into design language: environments that support movement, stimulation, connection, and recovery.

“Don’t use it, you lose it. Just kind of like our muscles in our bodies.” Burçin Ikiz

2) The indoor reality we rarely talk about

If buildings are designed mainly for convenience and comfort, what happens to stimulation, mobility, and everyday brain engagement?

“When we spend like around 90 percent of time indoors… almost no chance for cognitive stimulation or physical activity through the building…” Mohamed Hesham Khalil

3) Heat, buildings, and brain function

As the climate warms, poorly adapted buildings become neurological stressors — not just uncomfortable boxes.

“If most of our buildings… have not been created for this increasingly warming world, it can be very, very hot indoors and that can really affect our brains.” Burçin Ikiz

neuro-sustainability and the built environment

4) Pregnancy, pollution, and lifelong outcomes

The discussion doesn’t dodge the hard evidence: prenatal exposure can shape brain development before birth.

“Even if the parents are exposed to some air pollution… effects on the structural changes of the brain of the fetuses that are not even born yet.” Burçin Ikiz

5) The developing brain and why early life is everything

They break down neurodevelopment in a way that’s easy to grasp — connection-building, then refinement.

“By the time you reach 10 years old, you lose half of those connections that are made in the first two, three years of life.” Burçin Ikiz

6) Mapping risk: from science to neighbourhood action

A standout moment is the push toward tools that help cities prioritise interventions where they’re needed most.

“Brain Vulnerability and Resilience Index that can be mapped out to different neighbourhoods…” Burçin Ikiz

Neurosustainability and the built environment

Who should listen

Architects, planners, developers, and sustainability professionals

Public health teams, local government, and school decision-makers

Anyone interested in brain health, climate impacts, neurodevelopment, and ageing

People who want a sharper definition of “healthy buildings” — beyond comfort

Topics covered

• Neurosustainability: what it is, and why it’s bigger than a buzzword
• Environmental enrichment: stimulation, movement, complexity, and connection
• Indoor life: design gaps, missed opportunities, and hidden stressors
• Heat, air quality, noise, and other exposures that affect brain health
• Pregnancy and early childhood vulnerability
• Practical policy pathways for local government, schools, and housing

Mohamed Hesham Khalil

About Mohammed Hesham Khalil

Mohammed Hesham Khalil is an architect and neuroscience researcher, and a PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge.

His work explores the relationship between environmental enrichment, neurogenesis, and the built environment, with the aim of developing a practical framework for neurosustainability in architecture and urbanism.

Courtesy of Burcin Ikiz

About Burçin Ikiz

Burçin Ikiz is a neuroscientist with over two decades of experience in brain health research, and a leading voice on how climate and environmental exposures affect the brain. She is the founder of the Neuroclimate Working Group and the director of EcoNeuro.

The final takeaway

Neurosustainability asks a simple question with massive consequences:

Are we designing places that protect — or quietly drain — our brain health?

This episode makes a strong case that the next wave of sustainability must include the brain: from pregnancy to older age, from buildings to entire cities, and especially for the communities facing the greatest environmental burden.

“The brain is not concrete… it is always changing.”  Mohamed Hesham Khalil

We investigate the work of Cambridge scholarship student, Mohamed Hesham Khalil, which we believe should be integrated into planning and architecture around the world.

Mohamed also brings other top global experts to your ears during this short series of podcasts.

Neurosustainability and the built environment

What if sustainability isn’t complete unless it includes the brain?

In this opening episode, architect and Cambridge PhD candidate Mohammed Hesham Khalil introduces neurosustainability—a way of thinking about buildings and cities that asks how everyday environments shape mental health, cognition, stress levels, and long-term brain resilience.

“Sustainability… has to be inclusive and include the brain as well.” Mohammed Hesham Khalil 

Jackie and Mohammed explore how the built environment influences us in ways we often overlook: the presence (or absence) of nature, whether our days include movement, how much variety and “spatial complexity” we experience, and how factors like air pollution can undermine health—even in places that look green on the surface.

This episode sets the foundation for the series: a practical, research-informed conversation about designing places that support the brain—not just the building.

Neurosustainability and the built environment

This episode is for anyone who makes decisions that shape how people live inside places—and anyone who’s felt, personally, that certain environments lift you up or drag you down.

“It’s not only about architecture… it’s about the way we live.” Mohamed Hesham Khalil

People who really need to listen

• Architects & designers (especially if you care about wellbeing beyond “light and air” checklists)

• Urban planners & transport planners working on walkability, density, public realm, and mobility

• Developers & project managers making trade-offs between cost, space, green features, and liveability

• Local authorities, policy people, and public health teams looking for stronger links between place and mental health

• Sustainability professionals who want a fuller definition of “sustainable” that includes human brains, not just carbon

• Landscape architects & public realm designers designing parks, streetscapes, and “everyday nature”

• Workplace / facilities leaders thinking about offices, campuses, movement, and stress

• Researchers and students in architecture, planning, neuroscience, psychology, public health, or environmental science

You’ll also get a lot from it if you’re…

• A city-dweller feeling burned out, anxious, or mentally overloaded, and wondering how much of that is “you” vs the environment

• Someone who wants simple, practical reasons to walk more and get outdoors (without the wellness fluff)

• Anyone interested in the future of healthy cities—especially post-pandemic

Who it’s especially useful for

If your work touches walkability, green space, air quality, or urban stress, this episode gives you language and research framing to explain why it matters in a way people take seriously.

Singapore aerial view

What you’ll learn in this episode

• What neurosustainability means, and why Mohammed argues we need it as a framework

• How lockdown changed our brains’ daily inputs by shrinking our worlds and reducing spatial complexity

• What environmental enrichment is and why it matters for brain health across the lifespan

• Why walkability should be discussed as a brain and mental health topic, not only a transport one

• How nature exposure and movement can act as protective factors—especially in high-stress urban living

• Why air quality matters as much as green space, and how mixed exposures can shift outcomes

• What this means for architecture and planning decisions happening right now

Oslo views of water and greenery

“Go back to nature… and translate nature into our built environments.” Mohamed Hesham Khalil

Key themes

Neuroplasticity: your brain responds to your environment
A central message from Mohammed is that the brain is dynamic. Over time, what we repeatedly experience—movement, stress, monotony, nature, stimulation—can influence how we function and feel.

Environmental enrichment: nature + movement + variety
The episode explores enrichment as a combination of richer sensory inputs, more movement, and more varied experiences—things modern life often strips away.

Walkability is a brain-health intervention hiding in plain sight
When daily life includes natural, repeated walking—especially in engaging environments—it may support brain regions involved in memory, navigation, and emotional regulation.

Green space isn’t a magic fix if air quality is poor
One of the strongest practical points: well-being is shaped by multiple exposures at once. Trees help, but not if the route there is a pollution corridor.

Neurosustainability and the built environment scientific references

Scientific references according to the time of the podcast discussion

3:14

Khalil, M. H., & Steemers, K. (2024). Housing environmental enrichment, lifestyles, and public health indicators of neurogenesis in humans: A pilot study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(12), 1553.

Nik Ramli, N. N., Kamarul Sahrin, N. A., Nasarudin, S. N. A. Z., Hashim, M. H., Abdul Mutalib, M., Mohamad Alwi, M. N., … & Ramasamy, R. (2024). Restricted Daily Exposure of Environmental Enrichment: Bridging the Practical Gap from Animal Studies to Human Application. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(12), 1584.

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Crouzier, L., Gilabert, D., Rossel, M., Trousse, F., & Maurice, T. (2018). Topographical memory analyzed in mice using the Hamlet test, a novel complex maze. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 149, 118-134.

Khalil, M. H. (2024). Environmental enrichment: A systematic review on the effect of a changing spatial complexity on hippocampal neurogenesis and plasticity in rodents, with considerations for translation to urban and built environments for humans. Frontiers in neuroscience, 18, 1368411.

3:52

Khalil, M. H. (2024). Environmental affordance for physical activity, neurosustainability, and brain health: quantifying the built environment’s ability to sustain BDNF release by reaching metabolic equivalents (METs). Brain Sciences, 14(11), 1133.

Puccinelli, P. J., da Costa, T. S., Seffrin, A., de Lira, C. A. B., Vancini, R. L., Nikolaidis, P. T., … & Andrade, M. S. (2021). Reduced level of physical activity during COVID-19 pandemic is associated with depression and anxiety levels: an internet-based survey. BMC public health, 21(1), 425.

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Coughenour, C., Gakh, M., Pharr, J. R., Bungum, T., & Jalene, S. (2021). Changes in depression and physical activity among college students on a diverse campus after a COVID-19 stay-at-home order. Journal of community health, 46(4), 758-766.

Wolf, S., Seiffer, B., Zeibig, J. M., Welkerling, J., Brokmeier, L., Atrott, B., … & Schuch, F. B. (2021). Is physical activity associated with less depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic? A rapid systematic review. Sports Medicine, 51(8), 1771-1783.

4:17

Khalil, M. H. (2025). The Impact of Walking on BDNF as a Biomarker of Neuroplasticity: A Systematic Review. Brain Sciences, 15(3), 254.

Phillips, C. (2017). Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor, depression, and physical activity: making the neuroplastic connection. Neural plasticity, 2017(1), 7260130.

5:30

Elliott, T., Liu, K. Y., Hazan, J., Wilson, J., Vallipuram, H., Jones, K., … & Howard, R. (2025). Hippocampal neurogenesis in adult primates: a systematic review. Molecular Psychiatry, 30(3), 1195-1206.

Zhou, Y., Su, Y., Yang, Q., Li, J., Hong, Y., Gao, T., … & Song, H. (2025). Cross-species analysis of adult hippocampal neurogenesis reveals human-specific gene expression but convergent biological processes. Nature neuroscience, 28(9), 1820-1829.

Spalding, K. L., Bergmann, O., Alkass, K., Bernard, S., Salehpour, M., Huttner, H. B., … & Frisén, J. (2013). Dynamics of hippocampal neurogenesis in adult humans. Cell, 153(6), 1219-1227.

6.09

Mieske, P., Hobbiesiefken, U., Fischer-Tenhagen, C., Heinl, C., Hohlbaum, K., Kahnau, P., … & Diederich, K. (2022). Bored at home?—A systematic review on the effect of environmental enrichment on the welfare of laboratory rats and mice. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 9, 899219.

McCormick, B. P., Brusilovskiy, E., Snethen, G., Klein, L., Townley, G., & Salzer, M. S. (2022). Getting out of the house: The relationship of venturing into the community and neurocognition among adults with serious mental illness. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 45(1), 18.

6:54

Khalil, M. H. (2025). Green Environments for Sustainable Brains: Parameters Shaping Adaptive Neuroplasticity and Lifespan Neurosustainability—A Systematic Review and Future Directions. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(5), 690.

Khalil, M. H. (2024). Neurosustainability. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 18, 1436179.

8:51

Kempermann, G., Kuhn, H. G., & Gage, F. H. (1997). More hippocampal neurons in adult mice living in an enriched environment. Nature, 386(6624), 493-495.

Funabashi, D., Tsuchida, R., Matsui, T., Kita, I., & Nishijima, T. (2023). Enlarged housing space and increased spatial complexity enhance hippocampal neurogenesis but do not increase physical activity in mice. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 5, 1203260.

9:14

Rossi, C., Angelucci, A., Costantin, L., Braschi, C., Mazzantini, M., Babbini, F., … & Caleo, M. (2006). Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is required for the enhancement of hippocampal neurogenesis following environmental enrichment. European Journal of Neuroscience, 24(7), 1850-1856.

9:47

Schmidt, H. D., & Duman, R. S. (2010). Peripheral BDNF produces antidepressant-like effects in cellular and behavioral models. Neuropsychopharmacology, 35(12), 2378-2391.

Zhou, C., Zhong, J., Zou, B., Fang, L., Chen, J., Deng, X., … & Lei, T. (2017). Meta-analyses of comparative efficacy of antidepressant medications on peripheral BDNF concentration in patients with depression. PloS one, 12(2), e0172270.

9:56

Toader, C., Serban, M., Munteanu, O., Covache-Busuioc, R. A., Enyedi, M., Ciurea, A. V., & Tataru, C. P. (2025). From synaptic plasticity to Neurodegeneration: BDNF as a transformative target in medicine. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(9), 4271.

Yang, T., Nie, Z., Shu, H., Kuang, Y., Chen, X., Cheng, J., … & Liu, H. (2020). The role of BDNF on neural plasticity in depression. Frontiers in cellular neuroscience, 14, 82.

Schmidt, S., Gull, S., Herrmann, K. H., Boehme, M., Irintchev, A., Urbach, A., … & Witte, O. W. (2021). Experience-dependent structural plasticity in the adult brain: How the learning brain grows. Neuroimage, 225, 117502.

10:14

Khalil, M. H. (2024). The BDNF-interactive model for sustainable hippocampal neurogenesis in humans: Synergistic effects of environmentally-mediated physical activity, cognitive stimulation, and mindfulness. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(23), 12924.

10:54

Khalil, M. H. (2025). Borderline in a linear city: Urban living brings borderline personality disorder to crisis through neuroplasticity—an urgent call to action. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15, 1524531.

Khalil, M.H. & Steemers, K. (2026). Neurobiophilia. Brain Sciences.

12.04

Khalil, M. H. (2025). Urban physical activity for neurogenesis: infrastructure limitations. Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1638934.

Bos, I., Jacobs, L., Nawrot, T. S., De Geus, B., Torfs, R., Panis, L. I., … & Meeusen, R. (2011). No exercise-induced increase in serum BDNF after cycling near a major traffic road. Neuroscience letters, 500(2), 129-132.

Pu, F., Chen, W., Li, C., Fu, J., Gao, W., Ma, C., … & Liu, Z. (2024). Heterogeneous associations of multiplexed environmental factors and multidimensional aging metrics. Nature communications, 15(1), 4921.

13:19

Kühn, S., Düzel, S., Eibich, P., Krekel, C., Wüstemann, H., Kolbe, J., … & Lindenberger, U. (2017). In search of features that constitute an “enriched environment” in humans: Associations between geographical properties and brain structure. Scientific reports, 7(1), 11920.

Sudimac, S., Sale, V., & Kühn, S. (2022). How nature nurtures: Amygdala activity decreases as the result of a one-hour walk in nature. Molecular psychiatry, 27(11), 4446-4452.

Harris, J. C., Liuzzi, M. T., Cardenas-Iniguez, C., Larson, C. L., & Lisdahl, K. M. (2023). Gray space and default mode network-amygdala connectivity. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 17, 1167786.

14.13

Richelli, L., Arioli, M., & Canessa, N. (2025). Neurosustainability: A Scoping Review on the Neuro-Cognitive Bases of Sustainable Decision-Making. Brain Sciences, 15(7), 678.

14:48

Khalil, M. H. (2025). Walking and Hippocampal Formation Volume Changes: A Systematic Review. Brain Sciences, 15(1), 52.

Cerin, E., Rainey-Smith, S. R., Ames, D., Lautenschlager, N. T., Macaulay, S. L., Fowler, C., … & Ellis, K. A. (2017). Associations of neighborhood environment with brain imaging outcomes in the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle cohort. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 13(4), 388-398.

Sudimac, S., & Kühn, S. (2024). Can a nature walk change your brain? Investigating hippocampal brain plasticity after one hour in a forest. Environmental Research, 262, 119813.

16:32

Khalil, M. H., & Steemers, K. (2025). Brain Booster Buildings: Modelling Stair Use as a Daily Booster of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor. Buildings, 15(20), 3730.

17:44

Moreno-Jiménez, E. P., Terreros-Roncal, J., Flor-García, M., Rábano, A., & Llorens-Martín, M. (2021). Evidences for adult hippocampal neurogenesis in humans. Journal of Neuroscience, 41(12), 2541-2553.

19:44

Park, S. A., Lee, A. Y., Park, H. G., & Lee, W. L. (2019). Benefits of gardening activities for cognitive function according to measurement of brain nerve growth factor levels. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(5), 760.

20:59

Khalil, M.H. (2026). The Architectural Spatial Complexity Index (A-SCI): A Layout Assessment Tool for Hippocampal Neurogenesis through Cognitive Enrichment. [Forthcoming]

21:59

Shin, N., Rodrigue, K. M., Yuan, M., & Kennedy, K. M. (2024). Geospatial environmental complexity, spatial brain volume, and spatial behavior across the Alzheimer’s disease spectrum. Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring, 16(1), e12551.

24:38

Khalil, M.H. & Steemers, K. (2026). The Neurobiophilia Index. Buildings. [Forthcoming].

Mohamed Hesham Khalil

About Mohammed Hesham Khalil

Mohammed Hesham Khalil is an architect and neuroscience researcher, and a PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge.

His work explores the relationship between environmental enrichment, neurogenesis, and the built environment, with the aim of developing a practical framework for neurosustainability in architecture and urbanism.

This positive news story has been inspired by one of the world’s most tragic situations: the war in Ukraine.

“We in Ukraine are becoming a pilot site for diverse sustainable pilots, experiments and innovations. We have to leapfrog and build a society, buildings and processes that are inclusive, that are beautiful and that are sustainable. That’s our vision.” Roman Pushko

Rebuilding Ukraine safely, sustainably and swiftly – courtesy of S3RoU

A consortium of individuals, universities and entities in Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands has come together to create a solution that will not only help rebuild Ukraine but could be used in other places that have been affected by wars or extreme weather events.

In layperson’s terms, rubble from the war in Ukraine will go through processes so it can be used to rebuild Ukraine swiftly, safely and sustainably. Discover more about the consortium who are involved in this rebuilding Ukraine project.

Rebuilding Uktraine S3 University of Leeds team

The conversation explores the innovative S3 project, which aims at sustainable reconstruction in Ukraine, focusing on the circular economy, community involvement, and the importance of decentralisation.

Experts discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by the project, emphasising the need for collaboration and inclusivity in rebuilding efforts. The discussion highlights the potential legacy of the project in shaping future construction practices and addressing the impacts of conflict and disaster.

“Concrete is made up of cement, sand, gravel and water – and we can theoretically get them all back. My vision is to decentralise it, prove it can work, and show people – through real demonstrations – that this is doable.” Professor Theodore Hanein

Rebuilding Ukraine S3RoU consortium

Who Should Listen?

This episode is for you if:

• You’re a civil engineer, architect, urban planner or contractor interested in circular materials and real-world pilots.

• You’re working on post-conflict or post-disaster reconstruction and want scalable, community-centred models.

• You’re engaged in climate, energy or development policy and want to understand how embodied carbon and circularity fit into recovery plans.

• Or you simply want to hear how, even in the worst of circumstances, people are finding ways to rebuild with courage, creativity and care.

“We need to minimise the extraction of our construction materials, extract them back as efficiently as possible at the end of their life, and reuse them – just like everything else we use in our lives, from our clothes to our buildings and the energy that we use.” Professor Philip Purnell

Why This S3 Rebuilding Ukraine Episode Matters

If you work in construction, architecture, policy or climate, this episode is a glimpse of the future of reconstruction:

• A future where concrete is genuinely circular – not just crushed and downcycled, but separated, reactivated and returned to high-value use.

• A future where rebuilding after war or disaster is an opportunity to rethink energy, equity, aesthetics and identity – not just to restore the old status quo.

• A future where international programmes like Innovate Ukraine catalyse long-term partnerships and demonstrations that can be replicated well beyond Ukraine’s borders.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

1. A Radical Rethink of “Waste”

Theo and Roman unpack the core idea behind S3:

Treat rubble as a resource, not a burden.

Separate aggregates and cementitious materials and reactivate hardened cement so it can be used again.

Move away from a mindset where “waste is a material without identity” to one where each material is known, valued and reused.

Instead of simply crushing debris into road bedding – the current “wet dream” of many municipalities – S3 shows how to rebuild structures directly from rubble, dramatically cutting embodied carbon and energy demand.

2. Decentralisation, Jobs and Local Power

The team make a compelling case for decentralised reconstruction:

Mobile modular systems can move from town to town, processing concrete on site rather than relying on a handful of global cement giants.

Circular systems create local jobs, skills and resilience, instead of funnelling value to a few transnational players.

Communities become less dependent on imports and more able to build with what they have, even in post-conflict or post-disaster settings like Ukraine, Gaza or earthquake-hit regions.

For Jackie, this decentralisation story sits right at the intersection of climate justice, livelihoods and technical innovation – a powerful counter-narrative to despair.

rebuilding Ukraine S3

3. Embodied Memory, Identity and the Psychology of Reconstruction

One of the most moving strands in this episode is Roman’s reflection on embodied memory:

Destroyed homes contain not just embodied carbon, but embodied heritage and personal history.

Temporary container housing may solve an immediate shelter problem, but it can erase that sense of place and continuity.

“All the embodied memory that was there – it’s quite strong psychologically. Then people are put into temporary housing, often just a container, simply to give them shelter. Reconstruction has to take those people and those memories into account.” Roman Pushko

In projects like the “Circularity on the Edge” Venice Biennale installation, fragments of material from destroyed houses in Bucha are used with AI and light to tell stories of loss and determination to rebuild better.

Reconstruction, as Jackie draws out, must be about respecting local aesthetics, cultures and memories, not just about pouring new concrete faster.

4. Inclusion: Women, Veterans and New Voices in Construction

The S3 consortium is also trying to change who gets to rebuild:

The project’s JETZ component focuses on gender equality, disability and social inclusion, bringing women and veterans into what has been a heavily male-dominated industry.

Circular reconstruction demands more hands and more skills – from sorting and testing materials to operating mobile plants – opening up new types of work in war-torn communities.

This isn’t just a technical pilot; it’s the beginning of a new construction culture.

5. Hard Realities: When Green Meets Everyday Needs

Roman speaks frankly about the tension between advanced circular ideas and people’s immediate needs:

In the Teplo project, his team proposed using natural materials and timber façades for a 1930s Soviet residential block – but residents pushed back once they learned about long-term maintenance costs.

For many households, having heat and insulation now outweighs the promise of more ecological materials later.

This leads into a bigger question that Rhiannon and the guests explore:

How do we design reconstruction that is green, circular and inclusive, and genuinely reflects people’s financial and practical realities on the ground?

Rebuilding Ukraine through circularity, community with British and Dutch support

Rebuilding Ukraine Conference 2026

S3 Conference 2026

About the Event

This conference aims to bring together scientists, policymakers, industry leaders, educators, and experts in construction and building materials to exchange knowledge, explore cutting-edge research, and collaborate on innovative solutions for Ukraine’s reconstruction.

Discover more about the conference here.

Meet The Constructive Voices

Prof. Theodore Hanein

Professor of Construction Materials Science at the University of Leeds, Prof. Theodore Hanein leads the S3ROU technical work on circular concrete and mobile, decentralised production.

Professor Theodore Hanein

His vision is simple but radical: a mobile system that can travel to devastated areas and turn rubble back into high-quality construction materials, proving that “we can theoretically get it all back” – the cement, sand, aggregates and water.

Prof. Hanein is a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow on Green, Circular, and Smart Cement Manufacture. Following his two UG degrees in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, he graduated from the University of Manchester (2012) with a Masters in Advanced Process Design and Integration, and then from the University of Aberdeen (2016) with a PhD in Cement/Clinker Thermochemistry.

Following graduation, Prof. Hanein began working at the University of Sheffield on low-carbon cement and concrete, where he was promoted twice from postdoc to assistant professor and then associate professor, before joining University of Leeds. His work centres around sustainable materials and processes.

For Prof. Hanein’s full biography and research, go to the University of Leeds website.

Roman Puchko

Co-founder and CEO of Rethink, a Ukrainian circular economy NGO, Roman is a leading voice on green and circular reconstruction.

Roman Pushko

For him, S3 is about far more than technology: it’s a chance for Ukraine to leapfrog towards better architecture, better urban design and a more inclusive construction culture, even in the middle of trauma.

Roman holds his master’s degree from Wageningen University and has complemented it with the circular cities program accomplishment at the University of Amsterdam. Since co-founding ReThink in 2017, he has been promoting the implementation of green innovations in Ukraine and trying to unleash the country’s potential in ensuring a circular transition for the European continent.

Currently, Roman unites colleagues, like-minded people, and various stakeholders around his vision of ecologically sustainable and aesthetically beautiful reconstruction of the Ukrainian urban environment and infrastructure.

He loves cheesecakes, music, tennis, and beauty in everything. If you hear someone humming something in the office – it’s him!

Learn more about ReThink

Prof. Philip Purnell

Professor of Materials and Structures at Leeds, Phil sets S3 in the wider context of circular economy research – from construction to textiles and energy – and reminds us that we use more construction materials than all other materials combined.

Professor Phil Purnell

Phil Purnell is Professor of Materials and Structures in the School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds (UoL). He manages projects and networks at the intersections between Engineering, Economics and Environmental Science.

Phil’s background is in concrete technology but his current publication portfolio also spans composite durability, biomaterials, critical materials, fashion and textiles, carbon footprints for construction materials, 3D printing and non-destructive testing, waste management and the circular economy. He is an advisor for UKRI and DEFRA and holds visiting positions at the Royal College of Art and the University of Cambridge. He is a member of the HMG Circular Economy Taskforce.

Andrew Horsley

Andrew Horsley

Head of Innovate Ukraine program delivery, Andy explains how this flagship UK programme backs projects like S3 that combine energy resilience, clean technology and real-world demonstration in Ukraine, as part of a long-term UK-Ukraine partnership.

Rhiannon Mathias

Rhiannon Matthias

Based at the University of Leeds, Rhiannon works in research and development and supports S3ROU across partners in Ukraine, the UK and the Netherlands.

With a background in frugal innovation, urban transitions and international relations, she moderates the core technical and social discussion in this episode, bringing out questions of justice, identity and long-term resilience.

Fresh from representing youth voices at COP28 in Dubai, Jessica and Aoibhínn came home determined not to let the momentum fade. Together, they designed and delivered “Feminist Voices for Climate Justice” – a youth-led Dublin event that combined a powerful panel discussion on gender and climate justice with a hands-on upcycling workshop, where attendees turned donated t-shirts into tote bags.

The result? A hopeful, practical space where young people could explore climate justice through a feminist lens, pick up real advocacy skills, and literally make something together. In this conversation, Jessica and Aoibhínn open up about what it really takes to organise a community-level climate event – the nerves, the logistics, the safeguarding, the storm on the day – and the joy of seeing people leave more confident and fired up than when they arrived.

In this episode about bringing Social Justice Messages to Your Community, we talk about:

From COP28 to community action

How attending COP28 as youth delegates with Plan International Ireland inspired Jessica and Aoibhínn to bring their learnings back to Irish communities – with a focus on the intersection of gender equality and the climate crisis.

Designing “Feminist Voices for Climate Justice”

Why they chose a gendered lens on climate justice, how they selected speakers, and what it was like to host the event at the Carmelite Community Centre in Dublin on 6 April 2024. Panelists included:

Vanessa Conroy – National Women’s Council, Feminist Communities for Climate Justice

Jennifer (Jenny) Salmon – Ireland’s climate youth delegate 2023–2024

Kiera Carney – host of The Book of Leaves podcast, bringing the arts and storytelling into climate conversations.

Making climate justice feel accessible

The importance of talking about everyday issues like rubbish on the beach, public transport or fast fashion, instead of always framing everything as “climate change” – and how that simple shift can invite more people into the conversation instead of scaring them off.

The tote bag workshop: climate action with scissors and string
How donated t-shirts from Change Clothes Crumlin became upcycled tote bags – and why a creative, hands-on activity helped break the ice, build connection, and give attendees a skill they could take home and repeat.

Behind the scenes of youth-led events

The very real challenges of organising a social justice event when you’re also studying, working and volunteering:

• Safeguarding and risk assessments for youth events
• Finding an affordable, suitable venue
• Coordinating dates that work for students, speakers and the wider public
• Dealing with last-minute changes like storms and cancelled speakers – and why planning backup questions saved the day.

Breaking out of the “Dublin bubble”

Why it’s so often the same 10–20 young people at climate and gender events, and the ongoing challenge of reaching:

• Young people outside Dublin
• More marginalised communities
• More young men, who are often missing from feminist climate spaces.

"The Blue Zone in Belem: A long way to go, but the direction is clear!" Photo by Tim Christophersen

Drawing on decades of experience inside the UN system and now in the private sector, Tim takes us behind the headlines – beyond disappointment over the lack of fossil fuel phase-out language – into the real energy that’s building around solutions, especially in and around the Amazon.

He talks about dawn boat rides past parrots and agroforestry plots, industrial-scale ecosystem restoration on degraded pastureland, and the quiet revolution happening in food, finance, and cities. At the heart of it all is one simple shift: treating nature as core infrastructure, not decoration.

“For the first time at a COP, I had the feeling that the excitement about building something new is bigger than the anxiety about dismantling the old, extractive, unsustainable economy.” Tim Christophersen

Photo credit: Deposit Photos

COP30 Outcomes – Listen To The Podcast To Fully Understand

• Why COP30 in Belém, Brazil, felt different from previous climate summits – and why Tim sees it as a pivot point rather than just “another COP”.
• How Brazil used the location – right in the Amazon – to showcase a new kind of bioeconomy, from deforestation-free cattle to forest-based products and restoration concessions.
• What the new long-term forest finance facilities, including the Tropical Forests Forever concept, could mean for paying countries to keep forests standing.
• The rise of ecopreneurs and large-scale restoration projects turning degraded pasture into thriving forests – powered by carbon markets and better tech.
• Why Tim believes the real story now is building something new, not just fighting the old fossil-fuel system.
• How cities like Paris and Singapore are quietly proving that climate action can make daily life better – cleaner air, more green space, healthier people.
• What it means to see food and regenerative agriculture as the frontline of the bioeconomy, from Amazonian superfoods to local, seasonal diets in Europe.
• How “stubborn optimism” survives after yet another COP without a fossil fuel phase-out.

About Tim Christophersen

Tim Christophersen is a leading global voice on ecosystem restoration, with over 25 years of experience in climate and biodiversity advocacy. He is the author of ‘Generation Restoration’, a roadmap for restoring nature at planetary scale.

His career includes pivotal roles at the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and 15 years as a diplomat with the United Nations Environment Programme.

From the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement to the 2022 Global Biodiversity Framework and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030, Tim has been at the forefront of global environmental action. In May 2022, Tim joined the private sector as Vice President of Climate Action at Salesforce, where he drives sustainability initiatives with major corporations and public institutions.

Tim also explores regenerative practices on his family farm in Denmark, continuing his personal mission to restore planetary abundance and beauty.

Ireland’s Retrofit Race

Ireland set out to decarbonise its housing by upgrading existing homes—insulation first, fossil heating out, heat pumps and other renewables in.

Dr. Ciarán Byrne from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland explains what “retrofit” really means, where the numbers stand, what’s working, and how to start your own upgrade without getting overwhelmed.

Ireland’s Retrofit Race with Dr. Ciarán Byrne

Dr Ciaran Byrne C Dir, SEAI

A New Way To Look at Sustainability: Neurosustainability

We open with a fascinating concept that’s as much about protecting our minds as it is about protecting the planet — neurosustainability. Host Jackie De Burca speaks with Mohamed Hesham Khalil, whose pioneering research at the University of Cambridge explores how the built environment affects our brain health, mental wellbeing, and cognitive performance.

“That shift… from experiencing the built environment in a specific way and then going back was an alert to start seeing this relationship between the built environment and the human brain.” — Mohamed Hesham Khalil

Discover how architecture, neuroscience, and nature intersect — and why this matters more than ever post-lockdown.

Greening Ireland: Pocket Forests

Next, volunteer reporter Sarah Austin speaks with Catherine Cleary, co-founder of Pocket Forests, about transforming small urban spaces into thriving native woodlands. With over 125 sites planted — from car-parking-space-sized micro-forests to half–tennis-court plots — these dense plantings are changing soil health, biodiversity, and community connections.

“We’re planting much younger trees… much more closely together… the result is that they create this microclimate very quickly.” — Catherine Cleary

For the full deep dive, check out our special episode Greening Ireland from Pocket Forests to Native Woodlands on our website.

Catherine Cleary and Ashe Conrad-Jones, Founders of Pocket Forests.
Image courtesy of Pocket Forests

Ireland’s Retrofitting Momentum

We round things off with encouraging retrofitting news: in early 2025, Ireland saw 11,910 home energy upgrades supported through government grants — a 2% rise from the previous year.

These upgrades avoided 15,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, reinforcing Ireland’s national push toward energy efficiency and climate action.

Bookmark this page to check for the podcast episode that deep dives into this topic with Dr. Ciaran Byrne, the Director of National Retrofit at Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

In this energising and deeply insightful episode of Constructive Voices, Jackie De Burca sits down with Dr. Gretchen Gagel — a trailblazing leader who has spent over 40 years shaping the global construction industry.

From turning down Harvard to study engineering against her father’s wishes, to running manufacturing plants in her twenties, Gretchen’s career is a testament to courage, adaptability, and a refusal to accept the status quo.

Today, she is an international author, speaker, and founder of the Women Thriving in Construction Institute, a global non-profit driving data-led change to attract and retain more women in construction.

If you care about leadership, diversity, or the future of the construction industry, this conversation delivers both inspiration and actionable insight. Gretchen doesn’t just talk about change — she’s building the structures, connections, and data that will make it happen.

Here’s what you’ll learn from Gretchen Gagel:

• The “grounded self-leadership” approach – why leadership starts with personal values and purpose

• How male allyship can transform workplace culture and open doors for women

• Why inclusivity fuels innovation in construction, energy, and engineering

• Four agile leadership routines every leader needs in high-stakes industries

• The systemic barriers holding women back — and practical steps to dismantle them

• Gretchen’s vision for scaling what works globally through the Women Thriving in Construction Institute

About Dr. Gretchen Gagel

Dr. Gretchen Gagel is a distinguished executive in the construction industry, bringing 40 years of management consulting expertise.

She holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering, an MBA focused on finance, and a Ph.D. in Leadership, Organization Culture, and Change/Agility.

She has served as Chair of Brinkman Construction and is the founder of Women Thriving in Construction, a Global Institute dedicated to fueling global collaboration and funding strategies to accelerate the success of women in construction, mining, and energy inspired by her 2021 induction into the National Academy of Construction, Dr. Gagel is committed to fostering the success of women leaders.

Her book, Building Women Leaders: A Blueprint for Women Thriving in Construction, published by Wiley in April 2025, provides invaluable guidance and strategies for women to excel in construction, engineering, and related fields.

Mary K. Rhinehart, Chair, Johns Manville Corporation, wrote,

“In the decades I’ve known Gretchen, I have watched her grow and excel as a mother, a civic and business leader, and an influencer in the construction industry. We are so fortunate that Gretchen carved out the time to write this seminal book on women’s leadership and I am confident that all will benefit from the knowledge she shares. Gretchen is a remarkable leader and role model who cares deeply for the construction industry, and her passion for helping women thrive helps us build a more inclusive industry.”

Dr. Gagel’s work is driven by a deep commitment to diversity and innovation, making her a key advocate for transformative change within the construction sector.

In this episode of Constructive Voices, we’re joined by Stephen Barrett, the driving force behind Ireland’s transition to whole-life carbon assessment in construction. (Bookmark this page for the release date of 29th July)

As Programme Manager at the Irish Green Building Council (IGBC), Stephen is at the heart of implementing the updated Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)—a policy shift that’s set to transform how we design, construct, and assess buildings across Europe.

Whether you’re a building designer, material supplier, or policy watcher, this is the insight you need to prepare for what’s coming.

"Don’t worry about the result—just begin assessing. It’s the act of questioning your design that starts to change behaviour." — Stephen Barrett, IGBC

Who Should Listen?

• Architects, engineers & building designers

• Construction managers & BIM specialists

• Sustainability officers & ESG consultants

• Policy makers & local authorities

• Students and educators in built environment studies

Key Topics Covered

• What the updated EPBD really means—and why it’s a "starting gun" for industry change.

• Why lifecycle carbon is overtaking energy as the key metric in building performance.

• The vital role of BIM (Building Information Modelling) in meeting new EU carbon targets.

• Open source vs proprietary BIM platforms: How to start now, without breaking the bank.

• Lessons from the Nordics, and how Ireland’s ahead of the curve with its prototype methodology.

• What the construction industry must do before 2030 to stay compliant—and competitive.

• Why your old tools won’t cut it anymore—and how new platforms like One Click LCA are changing the game.

• Simple advice for professionals: Start assessing now—don’t fear the results.

"If we design with carbon in mind from the beginning, we won’t just build better—we’ll change the entire supply chain behind construction." — Stephen Barrett, IGBC

Bouygues Construction Commits to a Net Zero Future

French firm Bouygues Construction is leading the charge towards a low-carbon future. With a bold goal to cut carbon emissions by 40% by 2030, they’re investing in eco-design, bio-based materials, reuse strategies, and life cycle analysis (LCA) at every stage of construction.

Digital tools and staff training are central to their approach — and they’re calling on the industry to join in the transformation.

Related episode plug: If this topic piques your interest, don’t miss our newly released episode on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive with Stephen Barrett of the Irish Green Building Council.

Conservation Win: Rare Okapi Calf Born at Dublin Zoo

In a moment of joy for wildlife enthusiasts, Dublin Zoo has welcomed its first okapi calf in over a decade. This elusive and endangered species — often called the “forest giraffe” — is native to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Courtesy of Dublin Zoo

Born to Lumara and Kitabu, the new calf represents hope for the future of the species and a proud achievement for the zoo’s conservation team. Although born on Good Friday, the news was only released officially in late July.

Helen Clarke, the Team Leader at Dublin Zoo said,

“The calf is thriving, and visitors exploring the African Plains area may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of her in the coming days – and see just how much she has grown!”

“In fact, we’re digging a bit deeper. And connecting the people and their places together, because this is what it’s all about.” Jackie De Burca

How the environment affects us every single day with our health in mind, with how our daily activities are able to be conducted. There’s just a whole host of things that our environment brings to us or perhaps makes more difficult for us.

So tune in to Jackie De Burca as she speaks with Stephen Barrett. He’s the program manager for the Whole Life Carbon Programme at the Irish Green Building Council, and he is going to talk to us about Cobh, which is a picturesque Irish town just outside Cork.

Stephen has planted his roots there for the moment, and now he questions some aspects of the area, such as development.

Biodiversity transport and community pride and how this area Cobh and Cork in general can shape a more sustainable way forward. This episode touches on subjects such as underused train lines to cruise ship impacts, and the local lens that Stephen sees on global challenges.

About Stephen Barrett, Programme Manager for Whole Life Carbon initiatives, Irish Green Building Council

Stephen joined the Irish Green Building Council (IGBC) in 2020 and is currently Programme Manager for Whole Life Carbon initiatives.

He has contributed to several key European and national projects, including Level(s) – the EU framework for measuring the environmental performance of buildings – and the #BuildingLife campaign, aimed at aligning public policy and industry practices with Whole Life Carbon (WLC) goals.

Stephen led the UPFRONTCO2 and INDICATE projects and is currently managing IMPLEMENT, which focuses on mainstreaming WLC approaches.

He holds an MSc in Sustainability and Adaptation in the Built Environment and brings a strong background in data management, analysis, and visualisation.

What You Will Learn In This Episode

In this eye-opening episode, Jackie De Burca speaks with Peter Robbins, one of the world’s leading voices on the floating economy. From delivering fresh meals via jet skis to developing mega-scale coastal innovation projects in Korea and the US, Peter is building a blueprint for what he calls the next “mega-trend”: the floating economy.

More than a futuristic fantasy, this is a global movement gaining momentum across industries like logistics, hospitality, port infrastructure, energy, and even education. Learn how floating solutions are solving everything from workforce shortages to population crises, and how ports are being reimagined as launchpads—not limits.

Whether you're a policymaker, investor, engineer or just curious about where cities are headed, this episode dives deep into the possibilities of our water-bound future.

Imagine cities that rise with the sea instead of sinking beneath it.

In this eye-opening episode of Constructive Voices, host Jackie De Burca speaks with visionary Dutch engineer Rutger de Graaf, co-founder of Blue21, about how floating urban developments can offer real, resilient solutions to the climate crisis.

For over 18 years, Rutger has been leading the charge in designing, engineering, and implementing floating infrastructure in the Netherlands and beyond.

This episode delves deep (pun intended) into how floating neighbourhoods, ports, and even social housing could redefine our relationship with water—and why this isn’t science fiction but a rapidly emerging reality.

What You’ll Learn From This Podcast

 From Fight to Float: How Dutch engineering is shifting from battling water to embracing it—and how other coastal cities can follow.

️ Floating Cities 101: What they are, how they work, and how they’re being built today.

 Innovation Meets Ecology: The hidden ecosystems growing beneath floating platforms, and why they’re good news for biodiversity.

⚡ Decentralised Resilience: Why floating buildings can be more energy-efficient, flood-resistant, and self-sufficient than traditional ones.

️ From Luxury to Inclusion: Blue21’s pioneering work on the world’s first floating social housing complex.

 Tipping Points & Tech Curves: Rutger shares why we may be near an inflection point for global adoption—and what’s holding us back.

 A Call to Policymakers: Why mayors and urban planners must show leadership now if we want cities to truly adapt to rising seas.

Courtesy of Blue21

“With the right leadership, floating communities can become models of ecological, social, and democratic resilience.” Rutger de Graaf

 

About Rutger de Graaf

Rutger de Graaf is a pioneer in climate resilience, water management, and sustainable urban development.

As co-founder of Blue21, he is a global frontrunner in floating urban development, merging engineering, governance, and sustainability to create climate-adaptive cities on water.

With a background in civil engineering, Rutger has transformed groundbreaking research into real-world projects, such as the Floating Pavilion in Rotterdam and the Bluelands Floating Tiny Office.

A thought leader and keynote speaker, he advocates for innovative, socially embraced, and ecologically sound solutions to global urban challenges.

“We seek to live in a regenerative and respectful way, sharing these 64 acres with many other species... to live with as light a footprint on the planet as possible.” – Peadar Kirby

Sarah is joined by Peadar Kirby, a resident of Cloughjordan Ecovillage and a retired professor who has spent his academic career studying development models and climate policy. Together, they explore the origins, vision, and everyday life of this pioneering community—and how its lessons can be shared with the world. 

“Our greatest asset is one another. The technologies can help, but it's our creativity and collaboration that will truly see us through.” – Peadar Kirby

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• What Cloughjordan Ecovillage is: A 64-acre eco neighbourhood integrated into the rural village of Cloughjordan, Co. Tipperary.

• How it began: From an idea in 1990s Dublin to a vibrant, regenerative community.

• Sustainable living in action:

  • Homes built to top ecological standards

  • A district heating system powered by renewable energy

  • A community-run organic farm feeding residents fresh, local food

• The power of community: Insight into how genuine interdependence creates resilience, creativity, and a rich cultural life.

• Governance with purpose: A flat, nature-inspired governance model that supports active participation and shared responsibility.

• Global connections: Cloughjordan's role in the Global Ecovillage Network and its importance as an educational charity.

• Tips for other communities: How towns and neighbourhoods can implement small but powerful changes for sustainable living.

A seasoned landscape architect, author and urban designer, Alexandra shares her insights from her dual practices in London, UK, and Vancouver, Canada.

The conversation delves into the unique urban design strengths of Vancouver, the challenges of densification, and the city’s need to address climate resilience through green and blue infrastructure.

“Vancouver has always been one of the most livable cities in the world, placed within an absolutely spectacular setting, and its forefathers safeguarded green areas like Stanley Park right from the beginning.” – Alexandra Steed

From the rewilding initiatives at Forty Hall Estate to the innovative transformation of the Living Room Library, Sangeeta paints a vivid picture of how Enfield embraces sustainability while fostering a strong sense of community. She also highlights the crucial role of local media, the surprising biodiversity of the area, and how nature’s wisdom can guide us toward a more balanced way of living.

Tune in for a conversation that’s as enlightening as it is heartwarming, filled with real-world examples of how urban and natural worlds can harmoniously coexist.

What to Expect in This Episode:

• Discovering Forty Hall Estate:
  Learn about the rewilding of beavers, free-grazing red poll cows, and how technology like QR codes helps locals live side-by-side with nature.

• The Living Room Library in Edmonton:
  A stunning example of urban regeneration, where two old garages were transformed into a sustainable library and community hub.

• Why Local Media Matters:
  How Enfield’s Dispatch newspaper keeps the community informed and counters misinformation in an age of digital overload.

• Sangeeta’s Perspective on Sustainability:
  Insights from her books, including Corporate Social Responsibility is Not Public Relations and her upcoming release, What Will Your Legacy Be?

Memorable Quotes from the Episode:

• “It takes a village to raise a child. I really believe it takes a community to do that and to do more.” – Sangeeta Waldron
• “Nature has thought of everything to keep everything in place and in balance. It’s just us who’ve gone in and disrupted everything because we don’t know.” – Sangeeta Waldron
• “Local newspapers and local media are the backbone of communities. They counteract misinformation and are a place where communities go for real, authentic news.” – Sangeeta Waldron

Key factors for this recovery include:

• A shift in local leadership and collaboration between the private and public sectors.
• Substantial investment from the European Union and key private investors like the Duke of Westminster.
• The success of initiatives such as Liverpool One and the European Capital of Culture in 2008.
• Ongoing challenges in economic and social issues, particularly in neglected areas like North Liverpool.
• Exciting new developments, including Everton FC's plans for a sustainable stadium at Bramley Moore Dock, aiming to revitalize the city’s northern waterfront.

Key Quotes

1. On Liverpool's Transformation:

   • “Liverpool went from this culture of failure to a culture of success.”
   • “Europe took a risk and invested in Liverpool when national government wouldn’t.”

2. On Collaboration and Leadership:

   • “30 years ago, the private and public sectors were at odds. That’s changed. Now we have much more of a partnership approach.”
   • “The Labour government’s investment in cities, along with local leadership, helped reposition Liverpool.”

3. On European Influence:

   • “European money in the 1990s made the difference between Liverpool collapsing and recovering – €1.4 billion over 10 years.”

4. On Everton’s Stadium Development:

   • “It would transform the worst part of the waterfront… and tie that part of the city back into the city center.”
   • “This project is hugely symbolic, culturally significant, and exciting.”

5. On Liverpool’s Resilience:

   • “It had a very good boom and quite a decent bust. Liverpool didn’t go as far backwards during austerity as it could have.”

6. On the Waterfront:

   • “The river made Liverpool the richest city in the greatest empire outside of London. And for 30 years, Liverpool turned its back to it.”

7. Closing Reflection:

   • “Liverpool is the pool of life. It makes to live.” – Carl Jung.

These quotes and insights highlight Liverpool's unique journey of urban regeneration and the blend of local, national, and European efforts that fueled its recovery.

Angus shares his journey from the Scottish countryside to the bustling city of London, where he found his calling in bringing nature back into urban spaces. From his early days as an apprentice gardener to leading Scotscape’s mission of making cities greener and more sustainable, Angus discusses the challenges, innovations, and his passion for nature.

"70% of the population will be living in cities by 2050. If we don’t bring biodiversity into cities, they’ll be unhealthy places to live. We need to create cities that are more sustainable, healthier, and green."

Angus delves into Scotscape’s evolution, explaining how the company now specialises in installing urban greening systems, including their pioneering living walls and living pillars. He reflects on the importance of biodiversity, the future of cities, and how small innovations can create big impacts in urban environments.

Living Walls Carnaby Street, London

He also shares personal anecdotes about his love for the outdoors, his entrepreneurial journey, and his vision for a future where cities are covered in verdant greenery.

Key Takeaways:

• Angus Cunningham shares his personal and professional story, from his rural upbringing in Scotland to running a thriving urban greening business in London.
• An in-depth look at Scotscape’s innovative projects, including living walls and living pillars, designed to bring nature into the most unexpected urban environments.
• Angus’ insights into the importance of biodiversity, climate change, and how urban greening can play a critical role in creating healthier cities.
• His vision for the future: a world where cities are draped in greenery, with urban environments designed to nurture both people and nature.

Topics Discussed:

• The journey from Scotland to London: Angus’ love for nature and how it shaped his career.
• Scotscape’s 40-year journey and evolution into urban greening specialists.
• The importance of biodiversity and the role of plants in tackling climate change.
• Scotscape’s innovative living walls and living pillars, bringing greenery to the vertical spaces of cities.
• The challenges of running a business in the green industry and the importance of sustainability in urban planning.
• Angus’ inspiring vision of future cities covered in verdant greenery.

Discover how AI Dash’s innovative BNG AI tool is supporting the UK's push for biodiversity restoration by 2030, and how it can help developers, planners, and ecologists meet the new 10% net gain requirement. Whether you’re in construction or environmental planning, this episode will offer valuable takeaways on harnessing technology to address the pressing issue of biodiversity loss.

Tune in to learn how AI Dash is changing the game for nature preservation and climate action!

At Constructive Voices, we have been doing that since our birth in 2021. We have interviewed some amazing guests and continue to do so. We have a team with decades of media production, radio, and podcasting experience. This team is now at your disposal.

From as little as £150 per month based on an annual contract, we can produce short 5-8 minute* productions for your clients or your own brand. These may be podcast conversations about your latest blog news topics, case studies, interviews with team members, and so much more. Check out the Use Cases section below.

Or you can decide to go for the yearly package, which costs £1,650 (11 months cost), and plan content for different durations, such as 15 minutes each quarter. 

Of course, these packages are designed to make this form of content more accessible. We can work with you on whatever brief you may have.

This example is:

In addition to personal narratives, the series delves into broader industry topics, including the importance of diversity in engineering, mentorship, and fostering environments that encourage female participation in STEM fields. Each episode not only serves as an inspiration for aspiring engineers but also acts as a call to action for industries to embrace a more inclusive future.

By giving a platform to these voices, Constructive Voices aims to amplify the critical role women play in shaping the built environment. This series is not just for those in engineering but for anyone interested in learning how inclusivity can drive innovation and progress in one of the world’s most crucial industries.

Now in 2024, Neal Maxwell, and his team and partners, the University of Liverpool, are launching their new organisation, Changing Materials.

Tune into Neal now to hear all about Cbanging Materials - an exciting initiative that aims to promote sustainable materials while breaking down silos.

Changing Materials is a platform designed to aid architects, designers, and specifiers in transitioning towards sustainable construction by reducing the industry's reliance on plastic.

With a comprehensive database, it offers solutions like recycled plastic, low- or zero plastic content materials, and alternatives such as metal and timber.

Developed in partnership with the University of Liverpool, the platform promotes the use of eco-friendly materials while aligning with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. It also provides a space for manufacturers to showcase their sustainable products.

Learn more at Changing Materials.

This is a short taster for the full episode and also an example of a certain podcast style.

For more information, go to: https://constructive-voices.com/stories/

Lisa shares her extensive experience working with Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc., highlighting the innovative strategies and technologies her company employs to improve urban resilience. She discusses the complexities of designing infrastructure that can withstand both anticipated natural disasters and unexpected events, emphasising the interconnectedness of systems such as water, power, and mobility. Through real-world examples, including ongoing projects on the Texas Gulf Coast and in Houston, Lisa illustrates how comprehensive planning and community involvement can enhance disaster preparedness and recovery efforts.

Listeners will gain insight into the evolving field of resilient urban design, from data modelling and planning for multiple future scenarios to leveraging both new and time-tested techniques, such as rainwater harvesting and flexible infrastructure use. Lisa also touches on the critical role of community engagement, coordinated efforts between government and private sectors, and the importance of funding and policy in driving sustainable development. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of urban planning, sustainability, and the ways communities can adapt and thrive in the face of growing environmental challenges.

About Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN)

Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) is a full-service civil engineering firm founded in 1935. With more than 350 employees across 16 offices in the United States, LAN offers comprehensive planning, engineering, programme management, construction management, and inspection services.

Halls Bayou

The firm’s expertise spans various sectors, including transportation, transit, facilities, water, wastewater, stormwater management, drainage, education, right-of-way, healthcare, and ports and marine.

Consistently ranked among the top engineering companies in the country, LAN has pioneered resilient and sustainable civil engineering solutions to shape evolving communities for nearly 90 years.

Recognising the increasing challenges posed by climate change, urbanisation, and ageing infrastructure, LAN has developed a strong focus on resilience in its projects. This approach ensures that the infrastructure designed and managed by LAN not only withstands short-term emergencies but also adapts to evolving conditions in the long term.

As municipalities deal with population growth, climate change, rising sea levels, and supply chain stress, having sustainable infrastructure is necessary. LAN is committed to implementing resilience measures now to enable communities to meet current and future challenges.

LAN’s project portfolio highlights its diverse capabilities across different markets. In the stormwater and drainage sector, key projects include the nine-time award-winning Exploration Green Detention Facility in Clear Lake, Texas, and the $400 million Halls Bayou Flood Mitigation Project in Houston, Texas. Additionally, LAN implements advanced modelling services, such as the 2-Dimensional Hydrodynamic and Sediment Transport Modelling Project for the Harris County Flood Control District, enhancing flood mitigation and stormwater management strategies​.

Lebow Creek

In the transportation and transit sector, LAN has provided design and project management services for significant projects like the TxDOT MoPAc Diverging Diamond Interchange Expansion, the first of its kind in Austin, Texas, and the VTA/BART Silicon Valley Berryessa Extension near San Jose, California.

These projects emphasise LAN’s commitment to improving public transit infrastructure and accessibility, fostering sustainable urban transportation solutions​.

108-inch Northeast Transmission Line, Contract 99C-1 – City of Houston

LAN has a long history of programme management and engineering expertise for large-diameter water conveyance projects, including serving as the Programme Manager for the $660 million City of Houston’s Programme Manager for the Surface Water Transmission Programme for 30+ years.

Another notable project in this category is the 72-Inch Raw Water Main Design for the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department in Miami, Florida, showcasing LAN’s proficiency in managing complex water transmission projects essential for urban development​ and water infrastructure resilience.

In the wastewater market, LAN’s project portfolio includes the award-winning Conroe Central Wastewater Treatment Plant and the $225 million Nueces River Authority Petronila Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in South Texas. These projects illustrate LAN’s expertise in designing and managing wastewater treatment facilities that support sustainable growth and environmental stewardship​.

Through its wide-ranging and geographically varied project experience, LAN continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing public infrastructure and fostering community resilience nationwide.

Learn about how one of our longterm collaborators is once again on one of the UK's most important award lists.

Want to be featured regularly, check this out: https://constructive-voices.com/action-leaders/