Thulani Rachia & Oli Shorttle in conversation

Each year, we invite the Cavendish Arts Science Fellow to join us for a conversation with one of the scientists whose ideas helped shape their time in Cambridge.Today’s episode is one of those conversations, and I’m delighted to welcome artist Thulani Rachia and planetary geoscientist Oliver – Oli - Shorttle to the studio.Thulani is the fifth Cavendish Arts Science Fellow. A South African artist working across moving image, performance, music composition and sculpture, he explores two closely connected ideas: critique and recovery. His work, which has been shown nationally and internationally, questions how communities can reclaim what colonial violence has erased or displaced.Over the past year, Thulani has immersed himself in conversations with Cambridge scientists though the annual Cavendish Arts Science Fellowship at Girton College. One of the strongest connections to emerge was with Oli, sparked by a deceptively familiar material central to both their work: graphite.Oli is Professor of Planetary Geoscience, working across the Institute of Astronomy and the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Cambridge. Combining fieldwork, geochemical analysis and modelling, he investigates the chemical and dynamic processes unfolding within planetary interiors and crusts.What follows is a conversation that begins with the graphite in a pencil and quickly expands…to darkness and light, lightning and deep time, the origins of life and the histories held within materials. Along the way, Thulani and Oli ask what artists and scientists can reveal to one another when they resist easy answers and follow a shared question… wherever it leads.Useful Links:Explore Thulani's work : obuyile - Thulani Rachia StudioIf you would like to learn more about Oli's Planetary Chemistry research visit Planetary Chemistry – University of Cambridge | Oliver ShorttleLearn more about the Cavendish Arts Science programme and fellowship at Cavendish Arts ScienceThulani refers to the project: RE Handle with care. Watch the videos: https://vimeo.com/1215845563 and https://vimeo.com/1215854527Share and join the conversationHelp us get better by taking our quick survey. Your feedback will help us understand how we can improve in the future. Thank you!If you like this episode don’t forget to rate it and leave a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps others to find us.Any comment about the podcast or question you would like to ask our physicists, email us at podcast@phy.cam.ac.uk or join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #PeopleDoingPhysics.Episode creditsHosts: Vanessa BismuthRecording and editing: Chris BrockThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy