Living Proof: the Isaac Newton Institute podcast
The Isaac Newton Institute is the world's foremost mathematical research centre. Living Proof aims to highlight the diverse people and interconnected topics linked to its many activities. Interviewees range from visiting academics and lecturers to mathematicians, other scientists, musicians, artists, students, and prominent figures within the University of Cambridge and beyond. The podcast typically involves mathematical themes, but is specifically aimed at a general audience. The focus is on the subjects being interviewed and the social stories they have to tell, not just on the significance and details of the research they may be undertaking. We hope there is interest...
#69 Ekaterina Eremenko on Olga Ladyzhenskaya’s Life in Math
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In this episode of Living Proof, we speak with renowned filmmaker Ekaterina Eremenko about her film "Portrait of Olga Ladyzhenskaya", which tells the story of the legendary Russian mathematician celebrated for her groundbreaking work in partial differential equations and fluid dynamics. Ekaterina shares what inspired her to bring Ladyzhenskaya’s life to the screen, explores the creative process behind the film, and reflects on the powerful intersection of art and science.
The film was screened at the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences to celebrate International Wo...
Meet the Ramanujan Fellow Dr Mike Ogiugo
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In this podcast, Sara Khan interviews Dr Mike Ogiugo about his experience with the Ramanujan Fellowship, which enabled him to participate in the INI research programme Modern History of Mathematics, and how it has helped shape his journey in mathematics.
This fellowship, named after Srinivasa Ramanujan, a highly gifted Indian mathematician of the early 20th century, offers the opportunity for promising early career researchers living and working in low and middle-income countries to attend an INI programme for one to three months.
#68 Hunting through higher dimensions with Zhouli Xu
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Welcome to the latest episode of Living Proof, our podcast produced in collaboration with Plus.maths.org– you can find all the content from the collaboration here.
On May 30th 2024 seminar goers at Princeton University witnessed a thrilling moment. The mathematician Zhouli Xu of the University of California, LA, announced that, together with colleagues he had sorted out the 126th dimension. Not in general, but in regards to a problem that has taunted mathematicians since the 1960s. The problem involves strange shapes and is...
#67 The meaning is in the arrows with Adina Goldberg
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Welcome to the latest episode of Living Proof, our podcast produced in collaboration with Plus.maths.org
In this podcast we hope to give you some interesting information. This information is encoded in terms of 0s and 1s – the classical bits in your computer or phone. But what if instead we were using a quantum computer? Then we'd be dealing with quantum bits, or qubits, opening up exciting new possibilities. And quantum information theory is the area of mathematics that explores how we can d...
#66 A conversation with Sarah Hart
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Welcome to the latest episode of Living Proof, our podcast produced in collaboration with Plus.maths.org
In this episode we spoke to Sarah Hart, a mathematician interested in not just the maths itself, but also its connections to other areas of literature and art. She's done an amazing number of things throughout her career — from research in pure mathematics and heading up a maths department, to being the first woman Gresham Professor of Geometry and President of the British Society for the Hi...
#64 Communicating mathematics with the INI and Hannah Fry
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Welcome to the latest episode of Living Proof, our podcast produced in collaboration with Plus.maths.org
In this episode, we dive into the importance of communicating mathematics to a broader audience, a growing priority within the maths community. Sara Khan, Communications Manager at the Isaac Newton Institute, shares how the INI is championing mathematics communication. Then, Rachel Thomas and Marianne Freiberger, editors of Plus.maths.org, revisit their conversation with Hannah Fry, who has recently taken on the role of Professor of...
#65 Diving into maths with Emmy Noether
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Welcome to the latest episode of Living Proof, our podcast produced in collaboration with Plus.maths.org
In this episode, we talked to famous Maths historian, David E. Rowe, who provided scientific advice for the play Diving into math with Emmy Noether, which was staged as part of the Modern History of Mathematics research programme and the Inclusivity in the Mathematical Sciences workshop at the INI. We dive deep into the life and work of Emmy Noether, and about what it's like putting m...
#63 Exploring anomalous diffusion: an interview with Aleks Mijatovic and Codina Cotar
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In the latest episode of Living Proof, Dan Aspel speaks to Aleks Mijatovic (Warwick, Alan Turing Institute) and Codina Cotar (UCL) about the Stochastic systems for anomalous diffusion programme. They’ll be speaking about the theme and challenges of their highly interdisciplinary six-month research project, but the conversation starts with comments on some truly remarkable headwear…
Stochastic systems for anomalous diffusion programme: https://www.newton.ac.uk/event/ssd/
Submit a proposal for an INI programme: https://www.newton.ac.uk/even...
#62 Exploring Twistor Theory - an interview with Lionel Mason and Maciej Dunajski
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In the latest episode of Living Proof, Dan Aspel speaks to Professors Lionel Mason (Oxford) and Maciej Dunajski (Cambridge) of the Twistor Theory programme (https://www.newton.ac.uk/event/twt). Over the 30 minutes, they share their experiences of the scale and challenges of this far-reaching topic that - amongst other things - aims to unify general relativity and quantum mechanics.
00:00 - Introduction
00:42 - Welcome
01:48 - “I have been excited about this programme for 40 years”, introducing the topic
#61 Organising an INI Satellite Programme: an interview with Professors Mark Blyth and Sasha Korobkin
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In the latest episode of Living Proof, Dan Aspel speaks to Professors Mark Blyth and Sasha Korobkin, organisers of the INI Satellite Programme “The mathematics of multiphase flows with applications” (https://www.newton.ac.uk/event/mfa/). In the conversation, Mark and Sasha explain the programme’s research themes and share their insights into the challenges and rewards of organising an INI programme at your home institution - in their case the University of East Anglia in Norwich.
00:00 - Introduction
0...
#60 Exploring 'Mathlib' and the digitisation of mathematics: an interview with Professor Kevin Buzzard
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In the latest episode of Living Proof, Dan Aspel speaks to Professor Kevin Buzzard of Imperial College London. Inspired by a lecture given by Thomas Hales at INI’s Big Proof (https://www.newton.ac.uk/event/bpr/) programme in 2017, Kevin has spent the past seven years working alongside fellow enthusiasts on the “Maths Library” project. In this conversation he explains the project in detail, touching on why the programming language of Lean was chosen, and how it interacts with his recent five-year grant to check the proof of Fermat’s Last The...
“Meet the… Simons Postdoctoral Fellows” mini series #12 Dr Luke Davis
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Established in 2021, the INI Postdoctoral Fellowships in Mathematics scheme enables “exceptional early career researchers in the mathematical sciences” to gain “experience, independence and new connections on their way to a successful academic career”.
In this episode of Living Proof, Dan Aspel speaks to Dr Luke Davis to learn about his journey through mathematics so far, and to find out what being awarded this Fellowship – which involves spending six months on the INI research programme “Stochastic systems for anomalous diffusion” – means to him personally.
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#59 Meeting the three mathematics medalists from the STEM for Britain awards 2024
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In this episode of Living Proof, Dan Aspel is joined by three guests: Daniel Gardham (Surrey), Katherine Benjamin (Oxford), and Francisco de Melo Virissimo (LSE), all of whom won medals as podium finishers at the 2024 STEM for Britain awards at the UK parliament in March. The conversation covers their success in the highly competitive poster exhibition, how it felt to present their mathematical research to politicians and the public, and what the future holds for each of them from this point onwards.
> https...
“Meet the… Simons Postdoctoral Fellows” mini series #11 Dr S. J. Kole
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Now in its third year, the INI Postdoctoral Fellowships in Mathematics scheme enables “exceptional early career researchers in the mathematical sciences” to gain “experience, independence and new connections on their way to a successful academic career”.Â
In this episode of Living Proof, Dan Aspel speak to Dr Swapnil Jaideo (SJ) Kole to learn about her journey through mathematics so far, and to find out what being awarded this Fellowship – which involves spending three months on the INI research programme "New statistical physics in living matter: non equilibrium states under adaptive co...
#58 Linking Cambridge with Africa: how to co-host an international research workshop
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From 8-12 January 2024, the "Equivariant methods in geometry" took place in INI's main seminar room in Cambridge, UK. So far, so routine procedure. However, this workshop had the unique twist of being run in parallel with a team at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Linked by audio-visual streaming connections, the two events were remotely connected and operated as one throughout the week.
Following successful interactions across continents (on top of the usual collaborations taking place at the Cambridge base), Dan Aspel caught up with organisers and participants: <...
#57 Cambridge Festival | Prof Ben Allanach previews his talk: "The Force Awakens: Quantum Collisions"
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In this short episode, Dan Aspel speaks to Professor Ben Allanach (Cambridge, CERN) about his talk "The Force Awakens: Quantum Collisions" which he'll be delivering in INI's main seminar room for this year's Cambridge Festival.
Taking place on Saturday 23 March at 11:00, the talk is in fact now sold out. However, if you'd like to join the waiting list for any cancelled tickets you can do so here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-force-awakens-quantum-collisions-tickets-810293639087
... and remember that even if you aren't able to attend in...
#56 Voices from Ukraine: Olena Domanska of the Solidarity for Mathematicians programme
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Episode published 30/01/24Â
In February 2022, Olena Domanska and her family left their home in Ukraine. The ongoing Russian invasion has meant that they are yet to return to the world they left behind. However, through her engagement with INI's Solidarity for mathematicians programme, she and her family are currently based near the University of Manchester where she is continuing her work on neural networks "at the intercept of artificial intelligence and differential equations".Â
In this podcast, Olena - mother to five children, including an eight-month-old daughter - t...
“Meet the… Simons Postdoctoral Fellows” mini series #10 Dr Samuel Stark
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Episode published: 20/11/23Â
Thanks to the generous support of the Simons Foundation, the INI-Simons Postdoctoral Fellowships in Mathematics is now in its second year of enabling “exceptional early career researchers in the mathematical sciences” to gain “experience, independence and new connections on their way to a successful academic career”.Â
In this episode of Living Proof, Dan Aspel speak to Dr Samuel Stark to learn about his journey through mathematics so far, and to find out what being awarded this Fellowship – which involves spending six months on an INI resea...
“Meet the… Simons Postdoctoral Fellows” mini series #9 Dr Zhao-He Watse Sybesma
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Episode published: 10/10/23Â
Thanks to the generous support of the Simons Foundation, the INI-Simons Postdoctoral Fellowships in Mathematics is now in its second year of enabling “exceptional early career researchers in the mathematical sciences” to gain “experience, independence and new connections on their way to a successful academic career”.Â
In this episode of Living Proof, Dan Aspel speak to Dr Zhao-He Watse Sybesma to learn about his journey through mathematics so far, and to find out what being awarded this Fellowship – which involves spending six months on an INI research...
“Meet the… Simons Postdoctoral Fellows” mini series #8 Dr Paul Pruzina
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Episode published: 09/10/23Â
Thanks to the generous support of the Simons Foundation, the INI-Simons Postdoctoral Fellowships in Mathematics is now in its second year of enabling “exceptional early career researchers in the mathematical sciences” to gain “experience, independence and new connections on their way to a successful academic career”.Â
In this episode of Living Proof, Dan Aspel speak to Dr Paul Pruzina to learn about his journey through mathematics so far, and to find out what being awarded this Fellowship – which involves spending six months on an INI research pro...
#55 Marbles, pint glasses and the Kepler conjecture: an overview of the 2023 GeomPack programme, with organisers Simon Cox and Adil Mughal
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In the latest episode, Dan Aspel speaks to Simon Cox and Adil Mughal - organisers of the 2023 programme "GeomPack: Geometry and packing in material structure and biology". The second ever INI satellite programme, GeomPack is being held at Aberystwyth University in its 150th year. Simon and Adil explain the joys and challenges of organising such an event, as well as the fascinating research which has seen them and the participants tackle "some of the knottiest problems in mathematics for centuries”.
PMV programme: https://ww...
#54 Discussing "The Irrational Diary of Clara Valentine", an interview with Coralie Colmez
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Episode recorded: 17/07/23
In this episode of Living Proof, Dan Aspel speaks to Coralie Colmez, author of the young adult novel "The Irrational Diary of Clara Valentine" - recently chosen as one of Chalkdust magazine's "books of the year". A Cambridge maths graduate herself, it was Coralie's ambition to write a story rich in both mathematics and mystery - with the Chalkdust review highlighting that "the explanations of the solutions to these puzzles are blended into the story expertly". In this interview, Coralie explains further about the books...
#53 Disproving Ravenel's "telescope conjecture": an interview with Tomer Schlank and Jeremy Hahn
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Episode recorded: 07/07/23
In this episode of Living Proof, Dan Aspel and Marianne Freiberger are joined by Tomer Schlank (Hebrew University of Jerusalem) and Jeremy Hahn (MIT). Working alongside Robert Burklund and Ishan Levy, Tomer and Jeremy's recently announced a disproof of Ravenel's telescope conjecture at the June 2023 INI workshop "A panorama of homotopy theory". Here, they explain why this was such a significant announcement, and what effect it has had on the field of homotopy theory.
2018 INI programme: https://w...
Thirty years of proof: celebrating Andrew Wiles on the anniversary of Fermat's Last Theorem
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The 23rd of June 2023 marks exactly thirty years since Sir Andrew Wiles announced his historic first proof of Fermat’s Last Theorem. He did so at the Isaac Newton Institute, during the culmination of three days of special lectures, delivered as part of the June 1993 L-functions and arithmetic programme - one of the first research meetings to take place at the recently founded INI.
To mark this happy occasion, we - together with our colleagues at Plus magazine and the Maths on...
#51 Celebrating the Newton Gateway's 10th anniversary, an interview with Clare Merritt
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This year, and more specifically during the week of 20 March, the Newton Gateway to Mathematics will be celebrating its 10th anniversary.
A "knowledge intermediary for the mathematical sciences" and the "impact initiative" of the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences, the Gateway has spent the past decade connecting mathematical research with industry, businesses, the public sector and other scientific disciplines.
To mark this happy occasion - and to look back at the past, and ahead to the future - Dan Aspel is joined by Newton Gateway manager <...
#50 Why should we bother communicating INI research? An interview with Rachel Thomas and Marianne Freiberger
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In this 50th (!) episode of Living Proof, Dan Aspel speaks to Rachel Thomas and Marianne Freiberger of Plus magazine. Plus works closely with INI to help explain, celebrate and publicise the research that happens at the Institute. But what challenges does that present? And why should it happen in the first place?
00:00 - Introduction
00:44 - Welcome, discussing “Communicating Mathematics for the Public”, the importance of trustworthiness
05:30 - Who you’re speaking to vs what you’re saying
0...
#49 How to make maths funny, an interview with Timandra Harkness
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In episode #49 of Living Proof, Dan Aspel and Maha Kaouri are joined by presenter, writer and comedian Timandra Harkness. The author of Big Data: Does Size Matter? And Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society speaks about her current projects, how to make maths "funny", and how she came to fall in love with mathematics from an arts and humanities background.
> Visit timandraharkness.com or find Timandra on Twitter @TimandraHarknes
00:00 - Introduction
00:44 - Welcome, discussing “Communicating Mathematics fo...
Making data accessible: an interview with Hannah Thomas of Government Analysis Function
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Episode published 15/02/23
In episode #48 of Living Proof, Dan Aspel and Maha Kaouri speak to Hannah Thomas of Government Analysis Function (analysisfunction.civilservice.gov.uk). Hannah's role at this "network for civil servants", is that of "Lead Support for Communicating Data, Statistics and Analysis" - making her the perfect person to discuss how to make data accessible.
This conversation was inspired by the Newton Gateway event "Communicating Mathematics for the Public" at which Hannah delivered the talk "Data Visualisation and Digital Accessibility: What We C...
“Meet the… Simons Postdoctoral Fellows” mini series #6 Dr Patrick Sprenger
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Thanks to the generous support of the Simons Foundation, the INI-Simons Postdoctoral Fellowships in Mathematics are enabling “exceptional early career researchers in the mathematical sciences” to gain “experience, independence and new connections on their way to a successful academic career”.Â
In this episode of Living Proof, Dan Aspel speak to Dr Patrick Sprenger to learn about his journey through mathematics so far, and to find out what being awarded this Fellowship – which involves spending six months on an INI research programme and six months working at Cambridge University’s Faculty of Maths – means...
“Meet the… Simons Postdoctoral Fellows” mini series #7 Dr Nicolas Boulle
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Thanks to the generous support of the Simons Foundation, the INI-Simons Postdoctoral Fellowships in Mathematics is now in its second year of enabling “exceptional early career researchers in the mathematical sciences” to gain “experience, independence and new connections on their way to a successful academic career”.Â
In this episode of Living Proof, Dan Aspel speak to Dr Nicolas Boulle to learn about his journey through mathematics so far, and to find out what being awarded this Fellowship – which involves spending six months on an INI research programme and six months working at Cambridg...
Voices from Ukraine: Yuriy Semenov of the Solidarity for Mathematicians programme
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Forced to leave Ukraine, and his work at the Institute of Hydromechanics at the National Academy of Sciences, due to the Russian invasion of February 2022, Yuriy Semenov found sanctuary in Britain at the University of East Anglia. This was in part thanks to support from INI's "Solidarity for mathematicians" programme.
This episode of the podcast tells Yuriy's story in his own words.
00:00 - Introduction
00:43 - Welcome
01:20 - Discovering the Solidarity for mathematicians programme, career history
05:20 - Leaving Ukraine...
Voices from Ukraine: Nataliya Vaisfel'd of the Solidarity for Mathematicians programme
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Professor Nataliya Vaisfel’d was until recently Head of the Chair of methods of mathematical physics at Odesa I. I. Mechnykov National University. She is currently a Senior Lecturer at King’s College London. Forced to flee Ukraine after the Russian invasion of her home country in February of this year, Nataliya has since travelled across Europe with her wheelchair-bound mother and their dogs, eventually finding sanctuary in Britain in part thanks to INI’s "Solidarity for mathematicians" programme.
This podcast tells Nataliya’s story in her own words.
00:00<...
#45 Making maths fascinating, an interview with Ben Sparks and Katie Steckles
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Episode published 20/09/22
In episode #45 of Living Proof, Dan Aspel and Christie Marr are thrilled to meet Ben Sparks and Katie Steckles. Ben is a mathematician, musician and speaker based at the University of Bath who works with groups as diverse as the Advanced Mathematics Support Programme and the hugely popular Numberphile YouTube channel. Katie, meanwhile, is a mathematician and communicator who lectures at Sheffield Hallam University and is regularly found presenting entertaining and insightful talks everywhere from science festivals to schools and theatres...
#44 Travel, enthusiasm and history: an interview with Don and Silke Zagier
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Episode published 31/08/22
In episode #44 of Living Proof, Dan Aspel and Christie Marr speak to both Don Zagier and Silke Zagier. Don is a widely respected number theorist and currently and currently "Retired Scientific Member and Director" of the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in Bonn. This summer he has been involved in two INI programmes: K-theory, algebraic cycles and motivic homotopy theory and New connections in number theory and physics. Silke, meanwhile, is an experienced administrator and historian of mathematics. Topics covered include...
#43 Communicating maths: a journalist’s perspective, an interview with Tom Whipple
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Episode published 06/07/22
In episode #43 of Living Proof, Maha Kaouri and Christie Marr speak to Tom Whipple, Science Editor at The Times. Tom read Maths at Cambridge and has been covering science for the Times since 2011. He was recently involved in a Newton Gateway/V-KEMS/RAMP Virtual Study Group on The Public Perception of Science, where he presented a challenge on Communicating Mathematics. Tom was then invited to the Institute to learn more about all the mathematics programmes and activities INI hosts.
00:20 – We...
#42 Solving the "two-body problem", an interview with Prof Parimala Raman
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In episode #42 of Living Proof, Dan Aspel and Christie Marr speak to Prof Parimala Raman of Emory University. Parimala, the Kirk Distinguished Visiting Fellow for K-theory, algebraic cycles and motivic homotopy theory programme, has extensive experience of research in her home country of India, where she represents a significant role model for younger women beginning their careers in mathematics. Not only this, but she also has some uplifting thoughts to share on the "two-body problem" often faced by couples simultaneously pursuing academic careers in a job market...
#41 Discovering the "Gems of Hypolytos" - an interview with Prof Herbert Gangl
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Dan Aspel speaks to Prof Herbert Gangl to learn about his unique mathematical jewellery the "Gems of Hypolytos".#40 Fluid mechanics, turbulence and more: an interview with Prof Rama Govindarajan
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Dan Aspel and Christie Marr speak to Prof Rama Govindarajan of the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences in Bengaluru.#39 Meeting one of Canada's most powerful women: an interview with Prof Anita Layton
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Dan Aspel and Plus magazine’s Dr Marianne Freiberger are joined by the irrepressible Prof Anita Layton of the University of Waterloo.#38 Amsterdam to INI... by bicycle! An interview with Antoine Gagnebin
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Dan Aspel catches up with Antoine Gagnebin, an INI workshop participant who's made the exciting decision to travel from Amsterdam to Cambridge by bicycle. Find out the "how" and the "why" of his forthcoming adventure in this short episode.
