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Policy@Manchester Blogs
Expert insight, analysis and comment on key public policy issues
Group of teens in school chatting

LGBT+ inequalities in adolescent wellbeing

By Neil Humphrey Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Growth and Inclusion Posted: June 21, 2022

Improving wellbeing in every area of the UK is the overarching ambition of the Levelling Up White Paper, and government has said it will undertake further work to supplement existing wellbeing data at a subnational level. In Greater Manchester, a community-led, hyper-local project is underway to understand and improve children and young people’s wellbeing, and […]

Tagged With: Children & Young People, education, LGBTQ+, MIE, SEED

Aerial view of UK town

The importance of mapping in the shift to net zero

Picture of Charlottepicture of Hannah By Charlotte Brown, Hannah Charles and Rob Bellamy Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment Posted: June 17, 2022

Delivering on net zero energy requires the radical transformation of our whole energy system from supply and distribution to demand. In this blog, Charlotte Brown, Hannah Charles and Rob Bellamy explore three topics that illustrate the importance of mapping in relation to low carbon energy transitions and their implications for policy. Policymakers should go ‘beyond […]

Tagged With: carbon reduction, energy, energy futures, environment, inequalities, SEED

Smart meter on kitchen counter

Energy inequality and low carbon futures: geography matters

Picture of AmishDr Kate ScottPicture of Manonpicture of Stefan By Amish Sarpotdar, Kate Scott, Manon Burbidge and Stefan Bouzarovski Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment Posted: June 17, 2022

The UK is heading towards a period of economic uncertainty. The cost-of-living crisis, inflation, and an increase in energy prices have further stressed the finances of households. With a rapid increase in the number of households experiencing difficulty in affording their domestic energy, many will be unable to secure the level of energy needed for […]

Tagged With: carbon reduction, climate change, energy, energy futures, environment, inequalities, SEED, transport

Too close to the sun: The health benefits and economic case for banning sunbeds

By Katherine Payne, Paul Lorigan and Adèle Green Filed Under: Health and Care, Health and Social Care Posted: June 16, 2022

Melanoma skin cancers are the UK’s fifth most common cancer, causing over 2,000 deaths each year. Over 85% of cases are preventable, with excessive exposure to ultraviolet light the most common cause, including the ultraviolet light used in sunbeds. The cancer risk from sunbeds is well known, but a new study has outlined the stark […]

Tagged With: Business Energy & Industry, cancer, Children & Young People, devolution, economy, education, GMCA, Greater Manchester, Health & Social Care, Health inequalities, local government, mental health, NHS, public health, SBS, SHS, SMS, urban

VR headset in purple lighting

Online safety: Child abuse and exploitation in eXtended Reality

Picture of Steve Pettifer By Emma Barrett and Steve Pettifer Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Digital Futures Posted: June 13, 2022

In 2020 a team led by Professor Emma Barrett and Professor Steve Pettifer was commissioned by GCHQ to examine how child exploitation and abuse may evolve in light of the latest emerging technology trend: the widespread adoption of immersive ‘eXtended Reality’ (XR) technologies, including Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. Their report synthesises research on online […]

Tagged With: Children & Young People, crime, cyber crime, digital, Metaverse, online safety bill, policing, technology, VR, XR

Making light work: Recommendations for healthy lighting

By Rob Lucas and Tim Brown Filed Under: Cities and Environment, Health and Care, Science and Technology, Urban Posted: June 7, 2022

Light exposure has important effects on human health and wellbeing, regulating our sleep/wake cycles, and influencing our mental and physical health. Advances in our understanding of the role of light in health, and emerging lighting technologies, now present opportunities to adjust lighting to promote optimal physical and mental health and performance. In this blog, Professor […]

Tagged With: Ashton Institute, Children & Young People, energy, Health & Safety, Health & Social Care, housing, infrastructure, justice, mental health, MERI, NHS, older people, productivity, SBS, SMS, technology, work & pensions

Taking action on hot air: Why agriculture is the key to reducing UK methane emissions

By Ian Plewis Filed Under: Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: May 24, 2022

While much of the global discussion on climate change focusses on cutting CO2 emissions, methane is around 25 times more potent as a greenhouse gas in trapping heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. At COP26, the UK Government committed to reducing methane emissions by 30%. In this blog, Emeritus Professor Ian Plewis lays out the scale […]

Tagged With: Brexit, Business Energy & Industry, climate change, consumption, energy, environment, food & agriculture, food insecurity, International trade, net zero, SoSS, sustainability

How logistics workers kept the UK going during lockdown: Lessons for the next pandemic

Martie van Tongeren By Hua Wei, Sarah Daniels, Carl Whitfield and Martie van Tongeren Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Health and Care Posted: May 20, 2022

During the COVID-19 pandemic, measures to reduce social contacts were applied in most countries; something that was only viable because the logistics sector continued to deliver. However, in the face of a lack of pandemic preparedness and planning from the government, how did different parts of the sector respond? In this blog, Dr Hua Wei, […]

Tagged With: Ashton Institute, COVID-19, Health & Safety, labour market, MERI, Pandemic, public health, SHS, trade unions

An elderly woman sits on a bench near a large pond, on her own.

What we need to know next about loneliness

By Pamela Qualter Filed Under: Growth and Inclusion, Health and Care, Urban Posted: May 12, 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the UK’s mental health, particularly loneliness. Data from spring 2021 found a million more adults were feeling lonely “often” or “always” compared to spring 2020. Now, a recent evidence review for DCMS, led by Professor Pamela Qualter, has set out what we know – and don’t […]

Tagged With: Children & Young People, communities, COVID-19, Disabilities, inequalities, LGBTQ+, loneliness, mental health, MIE, older people, SEED

Engineers surveying windfarm in the UK.

The energy strategy: missed opportunities, false solutions, better ways forward

Prof Matthew Paterson By Prof Matthew Paterson Filed Under: British Politics, Energy and Environment Posted: May 9, 2022

The government’s ‘British Energy Security Strategy’ released on the 7th April 2022 has raised more questions than answers for those in interested in energy policy. While it claims to offer solutions to the dual problems of rising energy prices and threats to natural gas supplies, it adopts an outdated method that runs conversely to net […]

Tagged With: British Politics Business, climate change, energy, energy & industry, fuel poverty, SCI, SoSS

Child of the North: Pregnancy and early years

Anna Sanders By Pamela Qualter and Anna Sanders Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Cities and Environment, Growth and Inclusion, Health and Care, Health and Social Care, Urban Posted: May 9, 2022

Evidence makes it clear that exposure to adversity and stress has vast potential to negatively influence the trajectory of a person’s health and wellbeing throughout their life. In this blog, Professor Pamela Qualter and Dr Anna Sanders present the key findings of a Child of the North report, co-authored with colleagues from Newcastle, Bradford, Sheffield, […]

Tagged With: british politics, caring responsibilities & children, Children & Young People, education, gender inequalities, Health & Social Care, Health inequalities, Levelling Up, mental health, MIE, poverty, Racial Inequalities, schools, SEED, SoSS

picture of digitally connected city

Using big data to tackle the air pollution problem

James EvansThomas BannanDavid Topping By James Evans, Thomas Bannan and David Topping Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Digital Futures, Science and Technology Posted: May 3, 2022

Data-driven policy has the potential to maximise positive outcomes on the environment, public health and the economy. In this blog, Prof David Topping, Prof James Evans and Dr Thomas Bannan explore the benefits of using big data tools as well as the challenges facing the implementation of data techniques to inform air quality policy in […]

Tagged With: air quality, digital, environment, MERI, technology

Antifungal resistance – a growing global problem

By David Denning Filed Under: Energy and Environment, Health and Care, Health and Social Care, Science and Technology Posted: April 26, 2022

The spread of resistance to antifungal medications has led to many serious infections becoming untreatable, compromising patient safety and posing a global public health threat. The World Health Organisation (WHO) will soon publish its fungal pathogen priority list, highlighting fungi that are already untreatable, and those for which treatment outcomes are poor. In this blog, […]

Tagged With: biotechnology, consumption, environment, food & agriculture, Health & Social Care, public health, SBS, science & engineering

A school corridor with schools bags hanging from pegs on either side

Child of the North: Schools and education

By Caroline Bond and Pamela Qualter Filed Under: All posts, Education, Health and Care, Health and Social Care Posted: April 20, 2022

COVID-19 exposed the disadvantage suffered by children and young people in our most deprived areas, disproportionately in the north of England. In this blog, Professor Caroline Bond and Professor Pamela Qualter discuss how these problems, and the accumulating evidence, demand a policy response. This is an adaptation of an article they co-authored for the Child […]

Tagged With: british politics, Children & Young People, Digital Divide, education, Levelling Up, MIE, Northern Powerhouse, schools, SEED, students

The Energy Security Strategy: Going nuclear

Francis Livens By Francis Livens Filed Under: Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: April 7, 2022

The government has today announced plans to build eight new nuclear reactors in the UK, alongside strategies to boost wind, hydrogen, and solar production. These new reactors are intended to improve the UK’s energy self-sufficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as creating thousands of new jobs. In this blog, Professor Francis Livens of […]

Tagged With: Business Energy & Industry, climate change, Dalton, energy, Hydrogen, infrastructure, innovation, MERI, net zero, nuclear, science & engineering, sustainability

water sink

Reimagining water consumption: challenges and opportunities to reduce domestic water demand in the UK

Claire Hoolohan By Claire Hoolohan Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Urban Posted: April 5, 2022

Emissions related to domestic water use contribute 5-6% of total UK greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing emissions from domestic water use is necessary for the UK to meet its ambitious target of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. However, current policy instruments to reduce water-related emissions remain limited in scope. In this blog, Dr Claire Hoololan […]

Tagged With: #BuildingUtopia, consumption, energy, environment, Tyndall, urban

Rapid diagnosis and treatment of fungal infections

By David Denning Filed Under: All posts, Health and Care, Health and Social Care, Science and Technology Posted: April 4, 2022

The rapid and accurate diagnosis of fungal infections is crucial to effective treatment and ultimately saves lives. Diagnostics are often not widely available in low income countries leading to inappropriate and delayed treatments. This is the case for a serious fungal infection called chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA), and often for other fungal infections associated with […]

Tagged With: Health & Safety, Health inequalities, international development, public health, SBS, science & engineering

Picture of smart speaker on couter with woman leaning towards it in the background.

Smart (and Safe) Homes – public-private partnerships to mitigate the digital harms of smart home devices

Photo of Dr David Buil-GIlPicture of James NicholsonPicture of Steven Kemp By David Buil-Gil, James Nicholson and Steven Kemp Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Digital Futures, Science and Engineering Posted: March 31, 2022

In recent years smart devices have become a feature of people’s, increasingly complex, home ecosystems. This brings new opportunities for users and may improve energy efficiency, but it also poses new threats to the privacy and security of end users. While there is emerging evidence of attacks against home devices and data misuse, there is […]

Tagged With: crime, criminology, cyber crime, data, digital, Digital Futures, fraud & financial crime, intelligence & security, Privacy, technology

stockport

Greater Manchester economy: response to crises

By Marianne Sensier Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Devo, Growth and Inclusion, Inclusive Growth Posted: March 28, 2022

The coronavirus pandemic has shone a spotlight on the inequalities in our society. Those in comfortable jobs have largely been able to work remotely from home. Those in precarious sectors and occupations have lost the most, particularly in deprived communities. The tighter restrictions imposed on Greater Manchester since the easing of the first lockdown in […]

Tagged With: AMBS, COVID-19, devolution, economy, Greater Manchester, inclusive growth, labour market, Levelling Up, local government

Group of young people in blue overalls listen to instructor and look happy.

Levelling Up Education: what place-based education could look like

Headshot of Eric Lybeck By Eric Lybeck Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Growth and Inclusion, Urban Posted: March 21, 2022

Earlier this year, the government published its much anticipated white paper, Levelling Up the United Kingdom, which outlined 12 interventions deemed necessary to tackle the regional inequalities that have grown in recent decades. In this blog, Dr Eric Lybeck argues that, at root, the government and its economists see this imbalance, not as the result […]

Tagged With: communities, education, Levelling Up, MIE

Public transport and the pandemic: perceptions of risk and mitigation

By Anna Coleman and Nicola Gartland Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Health and Care, Urban Posted: March 14, 2022

Throughout the pandemic, public transport has been identified as a significant potential hub of transmission for the disease, with messaging urging people to avoid it wherever possible. Despite this guidance, however, there was little evidence on how great this risk was, or the effectiveness of mitigation measures such as masks and ventilation. In this blog, […]

Tagged With: #IHPO, AMBS, Ashton Institute, COVID-19, Health & Safety, public health, SHS, trade unions, transport, urban, work & pensions

Image depicts a nuclear power site

Building Nuclear for a Greener Future

Francis LivensHeadshot of Author - Adrian Bull By William Bodel, Gregg Butler, Juan Matthews, Francis Livens and Adrian Bull Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering Posted: March 7, 2022

The UK’s ambition to achieve net zero by 2050 is an enormous undertaking, and many acknowledge that achieving such a goal requires an increase in nuclear energy capacity and therefore an increase in the number of nuclear sites across the UK. In this blog, colleagues from the Dalton Nuclear Institute; William Bodel, Adrian Bull, Gregg […]

Tagged With: Dalton, energy, environment, net zero, nuclear

Computer robot makes micro chip

Can we use autonomous robotic systems in hazardous environments?

Louise DennisMatt Luckcuck By Michael Fisher, Louise Dennis and Matt Luckcuck Filed Under: All posts, Digital Futures, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: March 1, 2022

Autonomous systems are becoming increasingly commonplace across all facets of modern life, including hazardous environments, where the choices made by machines have the potential to cause harm or injury to humans. But how well do we understand the decision-making process of artificial intelligence, and how does this affect trust in autonomous systems? In this blog, Professor […]

Tagged With: AI, innovation, nuclear, Robotics, science & engineering, technology

Psychedelics for mental health: tripping over red tape

By Jo Neill Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Health and Care, Health and Social Care, Science and Technology Posted: February 15, 2022

The last decade has seen a new focus on psychedelics as powerful medicines for treating severe mental health issues, including the use of psilocybin for conditions such as PTSD and treatment-resistant depression. However, many of these potentially life-saving treatments, including psilocybin, remain difficult to research due to overly strict drug laws. In this blog, Professor […]

Tagged With: biotechnology, Health & Social Care, Lydia Becker Institute, mental health, SBS, science & engineering, SHS

Psychotherapy session, woman talking to a psychologist in the studio

No quick fix: the long-term needs of sexual assault survivors

Picture of Laura WattsDavid GaddPicture of Filippo Varese By Laura Watt, David Gadd, Maria Pampaka, Filippo Varese and Rabiya Majeed-Ariss Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Health and Social Care Posted: February 9, 2022

Around 1 in 5 women will experience sexual assault at some point in their life. The results can be devastating for victims and survivors. They not only have to deal with the psychological trauma of the assault, but often suffer physical harm and social consequences, including financial ones, as a result. The impact of these […]

Tagged With: CMI, gender inequalities, Greater Manchester, Health inequalities, inequalities, mental health, MIE, SEED, SoSS

Carbon capture facility in Yorkshire UK at sunset

Carbon Capture and Storage and Greenhouse Gas Removal – Essential ingredients for net zero

Sarah ManderClair Gough By Sarah Mander and Clair Gough Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering Posted: February 7, 2022

Our planet is heating up, and the impacts of climate change are already being felt across the world. We all know reducing greenhouse gas emissions is essential for our planet’s future. However, research shows that, given the scale and urgency of the challenge of reducing emissions across the entire economy, meeting climate change targets will […]

Tagged With: carbon reduction, climate change, energy, environment, net zero, technology, Tyndall

Middle-aged woman in a wheel chair and eats a meal alone.

Institutional abuse and neglect: time for policy and regulatory reform?

Phot of Kirsty KeywoodPicture of Margaret Flynn By Kirsty Keywood and Margaret Flynn Filed Under: All posts, Health and Care Posted: February 1, 2022

Attention to the abuse and neglect of people in institutional settings is at the forefront of existing and proposed policy agendas. Investigations, reviews and calls for action feature in the workload of the Joint Committee on Human Rights; the Health and Social Care Select Committee; the Equality and Human Rights Committee and the Care Quality […]

Tagged With: care quality, disability, Health & Social Care, Health inequalities, inequalities, law, SoSS

Sustainable engineering – not just engineering for sustainability

By Michael Fisher Filed Under: Digital Futures, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: January 25, 2022

Net zero now forms the heart of policies and strategies across government, from “levelling up” to “build back better”. Combined with the UK’s National Infrastructure Strategy, it is clear that engineering – particularly new technologies such as robotics and AI – has a core role in our decarbonisation efforts. But how green are the technologies […]

Tagged With: AI, Business Energy & Industry, climate change, digital, energy, environment, food & agriculture, infrastructure, innovation, net zero, Robotics, science & engineering, sustainability

biogas plant in the UK

How to incentivise bioenergy with carbon capture and storage responsibly

By Rob Bellamy Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: January 24, 2022

The latest IPCC report on the state of the world’s climate shows that the remaining carbon budget – the amount of CO2 that can still be emitted while keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees – is almost gone. To meet net zero within these parameters, we will need to remove CO2 that is already in […]

Tagged With: carbon reduction, energy, environment, innovation, MERI, SEED, sustainability, technology

E-scooters parked on city street

Digital platforms, COVID-19 and the reshaping of urban mobility

Headshot of Andy LockhartHeadshot of Mike HodsonHeadshot of Andy McMeekin By Andy Lockhart, Mike Hodson and Andy McMeekin Filed Under: All posts, Science and Technology, Urban Posted: January 12, 2022

When COVID-19 struck, it caused unprecedented disruption to urban transport systems. Stay-at-home and social distancing orders had dramatic impacts on urban mobility. Cities around the world ground to a halt, and many saw a sudden and prolonged emptying out of urban centres. In this blog Dr Andy Lockhart, Prof Mike Hodson and Prof Andy McMeekin […]

Tagged With: AMBS, consumption, digital, infrastructure, Levelling Up, SCI, transport, urban

Carbon capture and storage: A solution under our noses

By Cathy Hollis, Kevin Taylor and Lin Ma Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: January 10, 2022

In 2019, the UK became the first major economy to legally commit to achieving net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. With new evidence of rapid, anthropogenic-induced climate change emerging, it is likely that many climate forecasts have underestimated the speed and extent of climate change. This means that drastic action is needed to both slow […]

Tagged With: Business Energy & Industry, carbon reduction, climate change, energy, environment, MERI, net zero, science & engineering

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