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Britain’s chip strategy: smart focus, but does it pack enough punch?

By John Goodacre Filed Under: All posts, On Critical Technologies, Science and Technology Posted: March 16, 2026

Semiconductors, or microchips, are akin to tiny silicon brains inside everything – from your phone and car to NHS scanners and the nation’s power grid. They are essential, yet Britain’s role in making them has been uncertain. In 2023, the Sunak government unveiled its National Semiconductor Strategy, identifying where the UK can compete in the market. […]

How the Policing White Paper can deliver for police productivity

By Bart van Ark and Joel Hoskins Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Urban Posted: March 12, 2026

The Public Accounts Committee recently painted a concerning picture of policing in England and Wales. Forces are drawing down reserves, spending a greater proportion of revenue on financing debt, and operating under an outdated funding formula. Into this fragile landscape comes the new Policing White Paper. It promises a radical structural overhaul, including a new […]

School Streets: A win for children, a challenge for communities?

By Joel Gildert and Sarah Mander Filed Under: All posts, Health and Social Care, Urban Posted: March 4, 2026

School Streets is a scheme where the road outside a school is closed to motorised traffic at drop-off and pick-up times to make it safer, healthier and more pleasant for residents and those using it. Currently, it is estimated there are approximately 1000 School Streets in operation in the UK, the vast majority of which […]

Beyond evolution: rethinking curriculum reform for equity

By Louisa Dawes, Rosa Archer and Elizabeth Gregory Filed Under: All posts, Education Posted: March 2, 2026

The Department for Education (DfE) has published the final report on its independent review of the curriculum, assessment and qualifications system in England. Although recommendations on inclusion, representation, enrichment, clearer transitional phases and a broader curriculum of real-world skills are welcomed, there are still substantive issues related to the breadth of curriculum, an enduring assessment […]

Unlocking the north-west’s industrial biotechnology potential

By Aline Miller Filed Under: All posts, On Critical Technologies Posted: February 27, 2026

Industrial biotechnology is an interdisciplinary field that draws on biological resources to produce and process everyday products such as food, fuels, materials, and medicines. It holds huge potential to revolutionise industry by making production processes more sustainable and so addressing global challenges such as food security, resource scarcity and environmental degradation. In this article, Professor […]

Designing life: how synthetic genomics could hold the key to sustaining the world

By Patrick Cai Filed Under: All posts, On Critical Technologies, Science and Technology Posted: February 19, 2026

With climate change affecting our rising demand for sufficient food, affordable medicines, equitable healthcare, sustainable fuels and safe but effective agrochemicals; there is an increasing need to find new ways to produce these goods at scale. In this article, Professor Patrick Cai explores how synthetic genomics can address these global challenges and provides recommendations about how […]

Calling for a unified, evidence-informed, national primary-secondary school transitions strategy

By Charlotte Bagnall Filed Under: All posts, Education Posted: February 6, 2026

Over the past decade, government reports in England have consistently identified primary–secondary school transitions as poorly managed and a systemic weakness. Dr Charlotte Bagnall shares how her #P-S WELLS research team have combined academic research, with policy and practice consultation to co-develop a unified, evidence-based framework with key recommendations to inform a primary-secondary school transitions […]

Running dry? The invisible impacts on water demand

By Claire Hoolohan, Alison Browne and Leilai Immel-Parkinson Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Urban Posted: January 26, 2026

Water scarcity is one of the most critical and widespread impacts of climate change. In England, water stress is an immediate crisis, with the gap between public water supply and demand increasing year on year. Alongside necessary changes to supply systems and improving the efficiency of buildings and appliances, additional measures to curb demand are […]

Beyond the Query: Transforming Environmental Data Discovery with LLMs

By David Topping Filed Under: All posts, Digital Futures, Research and development, Science and Technology Posted: January 19, 2026

Environmental problems are complex, evolving issues that defy straightforward solutions. These challenges demand integrated data, yet current environmental data is scattered and hard to access. Artificial intelligence (AI), alongside strong metadata frameworks, is emerging as a powerful tool for breaking down barriers to data discovery. Here Professor David Topping outlines the importance of access to […]

Engineering security for the UK’s cyber ecosystem

By Daniel Dresner Filed Under: All posts, On Critical Technologies Posted: January 8, 2026

The government’s Cyber Security and Resilience Bill aims to strengthen national security and boost cyber protections for the services that people rely on every day. In this article, Professor Daniel Dresner outlines how a sociotechnical approach to cyber security can be used to target vulnerabilities in the cyber ecosystem. 7.7 million cybercrimes have been experienced […]