Cookshop.Biz is a food delivery service like UberEats, Deliveroo or GrubHub, but operating under much different business and market conditions in Liberia. It is the first company in Liberia to accept online payments locally and it is revolutionizing the food supply chain in Monrovia. Founders Charles Cooper and Mlen-Too Westley discuss how they set…

Mahmud Johnson, a 25 year old Liberian Dartmouth graduate, returned to Liberia to found JPalm. JPalm supplies farmers around Liberia with palm oil collection machines and then helps the farmers sell their crude palm oil. JPalm strives to use every part of the palm tree and not only sells the palm oil now but also sells the palm kernel shells as an …

Monrovia has one of the most consistent rainfalls in the world, and is also the 'wettest' capital city in the world. However, potable drinking water is a huge issue in the country. Joel Gordon and Charles Cooper discuss their business, African Rain, which installs rainwater collection tanks across the country to turn rainwater into drinking water.…

Archel Bernard, founder of the Bombchel Factory, discusses how her clothing company in Monrovia empowers Liberian women who were affected by ebola or sexual assault. The Bombchels (as the women who work there are called) create contemporary outfits for the global woman using bold African prints. Check out this inspiring podcast about a clothing com…

Somali presidential candidate Fadumo Q. Dayib talks with On the Map, Off the Radar about her choice to run for office in order to initiate social change, why the 4.5 clan system of choosing a leader is corrupt and needs to change, how Western media and organizations are hindering democratic elections in Somalia and perpetuating a damaging narrative…

Earth system models to date operate in a world without animals. In these models animals are assumed passive recipients of environmental conditions and plant processes, contributing negligible effects on global biogeochemical cycles and biome function. In this episode of On the Map, Off the Radar Andrew Abraham discusses the previously overlooked mo…

Oxford PhD students Yale Michaels and Quentin Ferry discuss their research at the Fulga Lab using CRISPR and cas9 to edit genes, and the implications this work has for potential cures for cancer and other diseases, as well as its ethical considerations. For further reading, you can check out www.fulga-lab.org…

Sofar Sounds, short for 'songs from a room' is a global phenomenon that has re-shaped the live music experience, stripping it down to intimate gigs in intimate settings. Rafe Offer, one of the founders of Sofar, discusses how Sofar was founded, and the unexpected community of musicians and music lovers that the organization has created in over 260 …

Franklin Chang-Diaz, former NASA astronaut, veteran of 7 space shuttle missions and founder of Ad Astra Rocket Company, discusses the importance of human space flight, the development of sustainable energy inspired by technology developed for space exploration and how the Ad Astra designed engines will make it cheaper, faster and more efficient to …

David Llewellyn, a founder of the Good Lad Initiative, talks about how the organization aims to improve the definition and behavior of what it means to be a "lad" through discussion-facilitated workshops and how this in turn will create a better gender dynamic between men and women on university campuses and beyond. To find out more about the Good …

One year ago, I ran the London Marathon with my good friend, Kiran Gandhi. Kiran was on her period and it bled through her spandex. Her essay recounting running the marathon on her period without a tampon went viral internationally, and she has since used her experience as a platform to work towards destigmatizing menstruation. A musician and a fem…

Cathy White, Seedcamp's Communications and Marketing Director and organizer of GeekGirl Meetup UK talks with us about her experiences as a woman in the tech and startup world, and offers advice to other women hoping to get into the field. For more information on Seedcamp:http://seedcamp.com/GeekGirl Meetup:http://www.geekgirlmeetup.co.uk/This video…

109world is an organization that harnesses social media to create a space for global awareness and social change through service trips in different parts of the world. It was founded in February 2015 by Olivia Rothschild and Rachel Brathen. Olivia and Rachel discuss how they came up with the idea to create a space for global awareness through socia…

Jesse Sanchez, a dream director for the Future Project, talks about his journey to Harvard as a first-generation college student. He also discusses the work of The Future Project, which helps equip U.S. high school students with entrepreneurial skills. You can find out more information on The Future Project at:http://www.thefutureproject.org/…

Smitha Mallaiah, a mind-body intervention specialist at MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses how practicing yoga benefits cancer patients, and the research study being conducted at MD Anderson currently about the effects of yoga on breast cancer patients. To learn more about the Integrative Medicine Center at MD Anderson, check out:https://www.mdan…

Dr. Sarah Prinsloo, an Assistant Professor at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, explains how neurotherapy is used in helping cancer patients manage acute pain, in addition to being used to treat things like attention-deficit disorder and anxiety. To learn more about neurotherapy , you can read Dr. Prinsloo's article:http://www.neuroregulation.org/articl…

On the Map, Off the Radar is a weekly news digest that covers stories that the mainstream media largely neglects. While the news is full of stories directly affecting the Western world, more structurally complex or less obvious stories from other parts of the world are often neglected. We are bringing these underreported events back to attention! W…

This week, we will be discussing the upcoming presidential elections in Nigeria with Sa'eed Husaini, who is a student at Oxford University reading for an MSc in African Studies. If you'd like more information on the Nigeria elections, you can check out Sa'eed's op-ed in the Daily Nation at:http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/blogs/dot9/Goodluck-Jonathan-B…

A (very) brief overview on how the media portrayal of the conflict in South Sudan doesn't reflect the reality of the conflict on the ground. I haven't gone into much detail on the dynamics of the conflict, but for those of you who are interested, I would recommend starting with Young's book 'The Fate of Sudan', along with Copnall's 'A Poisonous Tho…

In this episode of 'On the Map, Off the Radar' I look at how the rise in quinoa popularity around the world affects the locals in Peru and Bolivia where it is grown. For further reading, here are some more interesting pieces about quinoa in the global and local spheres:http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/jan/25/quinoa-good-evil-complicatedh…

This is a schematic outline of some of the ideas which are described in more detail in the book Treasure Islands, meticulously researched by Nick Shaxson. If you want to learn more about this topic either read the book, or visit http://treasureislands.org/ or http://www.taxjustice.net/. The Tax Justice Network does a great podcast called the taxcas…

Oxford graduate student and Rio de Janeiro native Nicolas Lippolis talks about the pervasive problem of police violence in Brazil. If you'd like to read more about this topic, here are some great links:http://www.rioonwatch.org/?p=13506http://blackwomenofbrazil.co/2015/02/11/the-genocide-continues-military-police-kill-15-young-black-males-in-operat…

Grace Blakeley talks about the dangers of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), and it's global impact. Sign the petition to stop TTIP: https://stop-ttip.org/General overview of TTIP: http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/what-is-ttip-and-six-reasons-why-the-answer-should-scare-you-9779688.html http://www.waronwant.org/ca…

One elephant is killed for its tusks every 15 minutes. Oxford MSc student Jamee Bender talks with us about the human cost of the ivory trade. National Geographic and the ivory trade focus on China/Manila: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2012/10/ivory/christy-textUnderstanding the "ivory war" in Africa: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/04/world/afri…

On the Map Off the Radar talks with Karan Nagpal about the little known South Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu, and how Cyclone Pam has affected life there. Whilst Vanuatu has made headlines in recent days as a result of Cyclone Pam, we want to learn a little more about life in the archipelago prior to the storm, and find out about the damage from th…

In a dispatch from Mindelo on Sao Vicente, one of Cape Verde's northern islands, I talk with University of Mindelo graduate Soraya Monteiro about Cape Verde music and culture.Von On the Map, Off the Radar

OTMOTR talks with Cape Verdean musician and tour guide Edson Oliveira about a little bit of the history and culture of Cape VerdeVon On the Map, Off the Radar

On the Map, Off the Radar talks with Oxford MSc student Alethea Osborne about taboos about menstruating, the tampon tax, and how PMS is covered in the media. For further reading, check out the links below:https://www.change.org/EndTamponTaxhttp://stoptaxingperiods.webs.com/https://www.facebook.com/events/884127144977530/https://instagram.com/rupika…

In On the Map, Off the Radar's first ever satellite interview, Astronaut Ron Garan talks with us about how being in space gave him a new perspective about how to think about solving different problems on the ground. "Each and every one of us is riding through the universe together on this spaceship that we call Earth."For further information on Ron…

Kenyan and African Studies MSc student at Oxford Stanley Kamau talks with us about shortcomings of the Kenyan government in preventing and responding to security threats in the wake of the Al-Shabab led Garissa University attacks in April. For further reading, check out Stanley's piece in the Kenyan newspaper The Daily Nation about what the Kenyan …

Oxford MSc in Migration Studies student Kamyar Jarahzadeh unpacks some of the current migration debates following the media coverage of the rescue missions of thousands of migrants off of the coast of Italy in the past weeks.For further reading, check out:http://heindehaas.blogspot.co.uk/http://heindehaas.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/let-their-people-dro…

Garreth McCruden, a gay Irish student and DPhil at Oxford, explains the importance and historic significance of the same-sex marriage referendum to take place in Ireland on May 22. Get out and vote!Von On the Map, Off the Radar

Oxford DPhil student and Vice President of Oxford's African Society Simukai Chigudu discusses institutionalized racism and the necessary decolonization of academia following the controversy over a racist poster at the Oxford Union. To learn more about the Rhodes Must Fall Movement:Twiter: @RMF_OxfordFacebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rho…

A brief history of the conflict in BurundiVon On the Map, Off the Radar

Environmental geoscientist Oliver Forster explains and discusses the risks associated with glacial lake outburst floods in the Karakoram region of the Himalayas. For more information, visit:facebook.com/karakoramprojectwww.karakoram.coVon On the Map, Off the Radar

M.I.A drummer and former Interscope Records Digital Analyst Kiran Gandhi discusses how the music industry is changing, making way for new and innovative ways for artists to create and listeners to experience music.Von On the Map, Off the Radar

Oxford MSc graduate in African Studies Sheridan Gunderson discusses how the UK ban on the chewed substance khat has affected Kenyan and Somalians at home and abroad. For further reading, check out Sheridan's article in the Kenyan newspaper, The Daily Nation:http://www.nation.co.ke/business/seedsofgold/Miraa-farmers-move-on-to-passion-fruit-and-dair…

Siobhan White discusses the formation of the Silfra Fissure - the divide between the Eurasian and North American plate - in Iceland and the experience scuba diving in the fissure.For more information on scuba diving in between the Eurasian and North American plates, check out DIVE.IS.Von On the Map, Off the Radar

Colette Bishogo, Harvard Class of 2016 in African Studies, discusses her work comparing govenrment accountability in Gisenyi, Rwanda and Goma, DRC.Von On the Map, Off the Radar

Alex Breinin discusses the initiatives and strategies of the NY Rising Community Reconstruction Program for building communities back better following the wake of destruction caused by Superstorm Sandy.For more information on NYRCR, visit: http://stormrecovery.ny.gov/nyrcr/final-plansVon On the Map, Off the Radar

HERO advocate and Houston native Chris Valdez discusses the proponents of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance and the importance of Houstonians to get out and vote to put it into law on November 3. For more information:About HERO (Vote yes on Proposition 1!) houstonunites.orgwww.houequality.com/wearehero.usNon-partisan information about candidates a…

Catherine Njeri, Kenyan yoga teacher and teacher coordinator for the Africa Yoga Project, discusses how yoga changed her life, and how, through teacher training and free yoga classes, the Africa Yoga Project has transformed communities in Kenya and ten other African countries.For more information on how you can get involved, visit africayogaproject…

NASA doctor and scientist Christian Otto discusses what it is like to winter over at the South Pole, highlighting some of his experiences at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.Von On the Map, Off the Radar

Former Houston City Council Member, Madame Trustee, Lawyer, and mom, Jolanda 'Jo' Jones talks about the problem with misdemeanors and racial profiling, highlighting discrimination that her son has faced in college.Von On the Map, Off the Radar

80% of people who hold full-time jobs don't graduate from college. PelotonU is an organization that provides mentorship and academic support to people trying to get their college degree from online colleges. Hudson Baird, co-founder and executive director of PelotonU discusses some of the challenges people face while getting an online college degre…

Harvard Professor and Pulitzer-Prize winning author Caroline Elkins discusses how a 2013 case filed against the British Foreign Commonwealth Office by elderly Kenyans who were tortured in British concentration camps led to the unearthing of hidden archives that revealed a previously secret insight into the gruesome nature of the British colonial pa…

Mubeen Shakir discusses the rise in discrimination against Muslims in the United States and Europe and his thoughts on the best ways to move forward. If you'd like to read his article in the Washington Post about this, you can check the link below:https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/terrorism-is-the-universal-enemy/2015/12/13/0f352880-9f7d-11e5…

Harvard '15 graduate Fernando Espino discusses his journey of being undocumented and attending Harvard and also shares his hopes for improvements in immigration policy in the future.If you'd like to learn more about Harvard Act on a Dream, visit: http://www.actonadream.org/Von On the Map, Off the Radar