Manchester Policy Blogs

Youth engagement: can we afford not to invest in what works?

By James Laurence Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Growth and Inclusion, OnCohesion Posted: May 17, 2018

As part of a preview to our new publication ‘OnCohesion’ read Dr James Laurence’s blog from the collection which examines how effective youth social and civic engagement schemes can be in cultivating and strengthening social cohesion, especially among young people. Youth social and civic participation schemes create positive social mixing where young people are working […]

Protecting against terror: are we dividing our cities?

By Martin Coward Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, OnCohesion Posted: May 16, 2018

As part of a preview to our new publication ‘OnCohesion’ Martin Coward examines the new wave of terrorist violence in Europe that focuses on crowded public spaces and low-tech weapons – and asks if countermeasures aimed at protecting us are generating physical and social barriers to community and cohesion? Examples of physical countermeasures include the […]

To Every Thing There is a Season – lessons from the Alvey Programme for Creating an Innovation Ecosystem for Artificial Intelligence

By Luke Georghiou Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Science and Engineering Posted: May 15, 2018

Last month the UK House of Lords Artificial Intelligence Committee published a report, ‘Artificial Intelligence, AI in the UK: ready, willing and able?’ In the report, which concluded that the UK is in a strong position to be a world leader in the development, use and ethics of artificial intelligence (AI), the Lords committee revisited […]

How can Greater Manchester tackle social Isolation among older Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people?

By Camilla Lewis and Natalie Cotterell Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Ethnicity, Inclusive Growth Posted: May 14, 2018

Researchers Dr Camilla Lewis and Natalie Cotterell from The University of Manchester outline the key findings from their report into isolation among older Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people in Greater Manchester. Earlier this year Greater Manchester was recognised as the UK’s first age-friendly city-region. However, economic, social and health inequalities remain entrenched among […]

Genital normalising surgeries on intersex infants: A scandal in waiting?

By Anna Nelson Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Health and Social Care Posted: May 10, 2018

Anna Nelson Postgraduate Researcher at the University of Manchester examines the current law around imposition of surgery upon intersex infants and why the UK should follow Malta’s lead and legislate against this. Currently, there is no law prohibiting the imposition of surgery upon intersex infants which has the sole purpose of altering of external genitalia […]

Brexit and Health, Science and Society

By Tamara Hervey and Sarah McCloskey Filed Under: All posts, Brexit, British Politics, Health and Social Care Posted: April 30, 2018

Our blog ‘Brexit, Regulation and Society’ blog series, in conjunction with ManReg, continues with Tamara Hervey and Sarah McCloskey, from the School of Law at The University of Sheffield who examine the importance of health to the Brexit debate. Health was simultaneously at the forefront and the back of the electorate’s minds when the majority […]

Zero-carbon UK? Let’s make zero mean something

By Joe Blakey and Marc Hudson Filed Under: Science and Engineering Posted: April 26, 2018

The UK’s minister for energy and clean growth wants to set the UK on a path to a ‘zero-carbon economy’. Marc Hudson and Joe Blakey from The University of Manchester’s Sustainable Consumption Institute ask whether ‘zero-carbon’ will give zero-thought to the emissions from the international supply chains that underpin our economy. What does a ‘zero-carbon […]

Democracy on the Line?

By Kingsley Purdam and Rob Ford Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Inclusive Growth Posted: April 26, 2018

Kingsley Purdam and Rob Ford from The University of Manchester use the Manchester Metrolink map to show levels of voter turnout and ask if there will be more or less local democracy in 2018. The 2018 local elections across England will be held in May, but despite their importance for policy they are likely to […]

Why it’s time to address workplace racism as a matter of health and safety

By Stephen Ashe and James Nazroo Filed Under: All posts, Health and Social Care, Inclusive Growth Posted: April 19, 2018

Fifty years on from the UK’s first piece of legislation outlawing racial discrimination in employment, Stephen Ashe & James Nazroo look at what’s changed and whether racism in the workplace needs to be looked at in a different light. It has been shown repeatedly that reoccurring exposure to racism has serious negative long-term effects on […]

Just Because I Can Doesn’t Mean I Will: Behavioural science and translating professional change into practice

By Lucie Byrne-Davis, Jo Hart and Eleanor Bull Filed Under: All posts, Health and Social Care Posted: April 19, 2018

All innovation in health and social care has the same final common pathway: health and social care professionals doing something new or different. There are numerous theories of behaviour and behaviour change, so people who are trying to innovate can find it confusing and difficult to meaningfully draw on behavioural science. Here, Drs Jo Hart, […]