Policy@Manchester Articles

Expert insight, analysis and comment on key public policy issues

Policy@Manchester Articles
Expert insight, analysis and comment on key public policy issues

Securing the UK’s critical minerals future: building an ethical and resilient supply chain

Maria Sharmina By , and Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Environment, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

The global transition to net zero hinges on securing minerals such as lithium and cobalt, which are critical for use in renewable energy technologies. Despite its rich mining heritage and expertise, the UK faces challenges in rebuilding a resilient and ethical critical minerals sector. The UK government has emphasised the importance of securing supplies of […]

A smiling medical professional chatting with an older female patient in an examination room.

Primary care staffing and the NHS 10 Year Plan: it’s more than right people, right place

By and Filed Under: All posts, Health and Social Care Posted:

The NHS 10 Year Plan outlines a strategic vision for the NHS workforce, which aims to create a more motivated and skilled workforce by 2035, achieved through personalised career development plans and a shift from ‘train to role’ towards ‘train to task’. Here, Dr Imelda McDermott and Dr Sharon Spooner provide lessons learned from their […]

shipping containers

Ports of the future: AI-powered maritime innovation for decarbonising ports and vessel routes

Photograph of manYu-Wang Chen By , and Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Science and Technology Posted:

The maritime industry is a significant contributor to global carbon emissions, and therefore a key barrier to the UK’s mission to become a Clean Energy Superpower. In this article, Dr Arijit De, Prof. Yu-Wang Chen and Prof. Richard Allmendinger outline their research from The University of Manchester on AI-powered maritime solutions that can address these […]

Industry 4.0 Modern Factory: Project Engineer Talks to Female Operator who Controls Facility Production Line, Uses Computer with Screens Showing AI, Machine Learning

Unlocking tech potential in the UK

Mabel-Sanchez-Barrioluengo author headshotSilvia Massini - author headshot By and Filed Under: Growth and Inclusion, UK economy, Work Posted:

The UK is on a mission to supercharge its economy, and technology is at the heart of it. The government have published the Technology Adoption Review alongside the ‘Modern’ Industrial Strategy as blueprints for how the UK plans to harness the power of digital technologies in the next 10 years and increase business investment and […]

Image of 5 drinks being held, combination of beer and soft drinks

Left out to dry: levelling the social playing field for non-drinkers

Dr Ben Walker headshot By and Filed Under: All posts, Health and Care, Health and Social Care Posted:

Alcohol-related harm costs the UK around £24.7 billion each year, making it a key priority for public health interventions. However, with alcohol forming the basis of many social activities in the UK, what is the impact of teetotalism on non-drinkers’ social wellbeing? Here, Dr Luke Munford and Dr Benjamin Walker outline their research on drinking […]

Landfill bulldozer on a pile of rubbish

No room for waste – unlocking the potential of landfill mining

Daniel WelchHeadshot of Pawan Srikanth By and Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Environment Posted:

As the UK pursues its net zero goals by 2050, the transition toward a circular economy shapes practices of how resources are consumed – and how waste and resources are perceived. In this article, Pawan Srikanth and Dr Daniel Welch explore how legacy landfill sites across the UK offer pathways for the UK’s net zero […]

Two researchers, one man and one woman, discuss data on a computer screen in a laboratory.

Why policy support for evolutionary biology is critical in the fight against antimicrobial resistance

Dr William SmithDr Danna GiffordDr Matthew Shepherd By , and Filed Under: All posts, Health and Social Care, Science and Engineering Posted:

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) looms among the greatest health and economic challenges of the 21st century. AMR causes more than 1 million deaths annually; by 2050, this number is forecast to double, piling over $1 trillion in additional costs onto stretched healthcare systems worldwide. Without urgent action, we risk a future where treating infectious diseases, chemotherapy, […]

Teacher shows two students a science project using a plastic bottle in a bright, busy classroom.

Schools fit for the future: can smart technologies improve indoor air quality in schools?

By Filed Under: All posts, Education, Energy and Environment, Science and Technology Posted:

Nurseries and primary schools are among the most significant energy consumers within the built environment, affecting both their operational budgets and the role of the education sector in the transition to net zero. Moreover, indoor air quality (IAQ) in these buildings plays a crucial role in determining the health, productivity, and wellbeing of students and […]

A female scientist in a lab examines a piece of laboratory equipment.

In silico technologies: the future of UK life sciences?

Professor Alejandro Frangi By Filed Under: All posts, Health and Care, Health and Social Care, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

The UK life sciences sector contributes £94 billion to the economy each year, but it faces increasing global competition, alongside internal challenges such as low numbers of NHS clinical trials, and slow regulatory approval processes. Here, Professor Alejandro Frangi outlines how in silico technologies – Artificial Intelligence and other computer-based approaches for virtual product development […]

A female healthcare assistant fits a hearing aid for an older woman.

Hear to help? Addressing the unmet need of hearing loss in care homes

Rebecca MillmanHannah Cross By and Filed Under: All posts, Health and Care, Health and Social Care Posted:

More than 75% of the 300,000 older adults living in UK care homes struggle to hear the world around them properly. Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions in later life, yet it remains routinely unidentified, unsupported and overlooked for care home residents. Here, Dr Hannah Cross and Dr Rebecca Millman outline the […]

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Articles give the views of the author, and are not necessarily those of The University of Manchester.

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