Dorit Korine, the conference manager who has been steering the Drylands, Deserts and Desertification (DDD) Conference since its second run, shares the history and unique ethos of the event. She explains how the conference started as a one-time success and quickly became a tradition, emphasizing that its value lies in its deeply multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary structure—forcing water researchers to attend health sessions, for example. Dorit highlights that this intentional mixing of fields fosters breakthroughs and collaborations that extend far beyond the conference floor, making the DDD Conference a truly unique and vital platform for addressing the world's most urgent climate issues.

Interviewer: Boaz Ukelson

Edits: Dr. Buzi Raviv

BGU Radio is an educational program and it is part of BGU's entrepreneurship center, Yazamut360

Dr. Neta Tsur, a scientist with a diverse background in physics, environmental sciences, and ecology, shares her unique perspective on finding solutions to the climate crisis. She argues that creative problem-solving requires looking at environmental challenges from all resolutions—from the deep physics of plant processes to macroscopic field measurements—to find solutions that are not obvious. Neta emphasizes the power of transferable skills (like data analysis) to bridge disciplines and develop the necessary nature-based solutions for arid agriculture and a sustainable future.

Interviewer: Amir Avnieli

Edits: Dr. Buzi Raviv

BGU Radio is an educational program and it is part of BGU's entrepreneurship center, Yazamut360

Dr. Yahel Kurlander, a specialist in agricultural labor migration, connects her field to the climate crisis, explaining how workers—particularly Thai migrants—are highly vulnerable to the escalating severe heat in agriculture and often lack the ability to refuse unsafe working conditions. She shares the emotional context of her work, including her efforts following the October 7th attacks to house and assist Thai migrant workers who escaped the massacre in the Gaza envelope. The conversation highlights that the nexus of environment, health, and labor is a critical humanitarian challenge that requires immediate policy focus.

Interviewer: Amir Avnieli

Edits: Dr. Buzi Raviv

BGU Radio is an educational program and it is part of BGU's entrepreneurship center Yazamut360.

Moses Banda Aron interviews Victor Kanyema, former Program Manager for Partners in Health in Malawi, about his first visit to Israel for the DDD Conference. Victor shares his surprise at finding Israel "calm" compared to its media portrayal and reflects on the spiritual significance of visiting the Holy Land. The two discuss the universal challenge of climate change, which impacts everything from agriculture to mental well-being globally. Victor's key takeaway is the critical need for developing strong community resilience—systems that empower people to "bounce back" from environmental and climatic shocks.

Interviewer: Moses Aaron Banda

Edits: Dr. Buzi Raviv

BGU Radio is an educational program and it is part of BGU's entrepreneurship center Yazamut360.

Public health professional Moses Banda Aron (Moshe) from Malawi joins the podcast to discuss his work tackling a severe and often neglected disease: snake bites. He explains that people in the global South who work in rural and agricultural areas which change as climate changes, are highly exposed to this risk. Aron shares his personal journey from mathematics to public health, and details his current project: working with doctors to establish a call center to provide crucial guidance for snake bite cases, highlighting the desperate need for local, community-based health solutions in drylands.

In the background you can hear happy voices from the conference lunch break.

Interviewer: Shahar Livne

Edits: Dr. Buzi Raviv

BGU Radio is an educational program and it is part of BGU's entrepreneurship center Yazamut360.

Professor Nadav Davidovitch, a public health physician and epidemiologist, joins the podcast to celebrate the 18th anniversary of the dedicated Health Sessions at the DDD Conference, noting the high quality of international and local participation. He reviews sessions on climate change preparedness and infectious disease, and previews a "Food, Health, and Resilience" tour focused on addressing obesity in the Bedouin community and using teaching kitchens. Professor Davidovitch leaves one core lesson: achieving climate and desertification goals requires "Health in all policies"—a systemic implementation built on solidarity and trust across government, NGOs, and the community.

Interviewer: Shahar Livne

Edits: Dr. Buzi Raviv

BGU Radio is an educational program and it is part of BGU's entrepreneurship center Yazamut360.

Nuria Levy, Course Director at Mashav, Israel's agency for international development, discusses the crucial link between climate, business, and gender. She explains how their course on empowering women through innovative agribusiness brings international professionals from emerging economies like Ghana, Cambodia, and Ukraine to the DDD Conference, underscoring the severe economic impact of drylands and desertification on women worldwide. Tune in to learn how international cooperation and development are fighting the climate crisis on the ground.

Interviewer: Boaz Ukelson

Edits: Dr. Buzi Raviv

BGU Radio is an educational program and it is part of BGU's entrepreneurship center Yazamut360.

Merav Battat, Director of the Negev Urban Research Lab (NUR) , discusses the unique challenge of desert urbanism and mitigating extreme heat in cities like Beersheba. She reveals how the lab is using 3D scanning and digital twinning to create urban platforms that test scenarios—like turning a boulevard into a forest—to help decision-makers design more resilient streets and improve human comfort. Tune in to hear how this unique MIT-affiliated lab is adapting cities for climate change.

Interviewer: Boaz Ukelson

Edits: Dr. Buzi Raviv

BGU Radio is an educational program and it is part of BGU's entrepreneurship center Yazamut360.