TV: Team provide insight into a changing world

From the perils posed by Asian hornets and more frequent and powerful storms, to the fight against antibiotic resistance, few would argue that we don’t live in challenging times.

However, science will hopefully have the answer to many questions - and we get the inside track as a new series of popular show 10 Things To Know About starts next week.

Veteran presenter Kathriona Devereux - a weekly columnist for The Echo - is joined by a new team for the latest run - fellow Corkonian Fergus McAuliffe and Amy Hassett, from Wexford.

Each week, the trio meet the researchers and communities working at the coalface of science and innovation, revealing how Irish scientists are tackling some of the world’s most pressing problems.

The first episode on RTÉ1 on Monday at 8.30pm looks at the topic of change, and asks: Why is change so difficult, even when we want it?

What’s the one change you want to make in your life, but you keep putting it off? Getting fit? Cooking more? Put up the shelving that’s been staring at you for months?

The team explores why we are so resistant to change and examines aspects of behavioural science through the lens of climate action.

It gauges the mood of the public, discusses contributing factors such as status quo bias, and meets researchers engaging social change advocates in the unlikely but powerful setting of the hair salon.

Also on 10 Things To Know About, we visit the dairy farmers who are deeply committed to their livelihood, but who have dedicated 20% of their land to wildlife conservation and encouraging biodiversity.

They have seized upon the opportunity to make a difference and show how one small change can lead to much bigger and exciting things.

In Enniscorthy, we meet researchers working with local communities to empower them and transform how people live and move around Ireland’s small towns.

And in the Curious Chronicles segment, Fergus gets on his bike and explores how necessity can be the mother of invention and a driving force of change.

Future episodes of the series will dig deep into the materials and technologies behind how we build, from the gypsum mines of Monaghan to the craftspeople preserving Ireland’s architectural heritage.

The series also investigates the science of extreme weather and the efforts to protect forests and coastal communities.

Plus, the growing threat of invasive species — from Asian hornets to aquatic invaders – and the scientists developing new technologies to safeguard biodiversity.