Science and Technology

Can the Northern Powerhouse ignore the digital economy?

By Anita Greenhill Filed Under: All posts, Featured, Science and Technology, Urban, Whitehall Watch Posted: February 27, 2015

The Government’s proposed Northern Powerhouse is all well and good, but, asks Anita Greenhill, where does the digital economy fit in this? The concept of a Northern Powerhouse and establishing an alternative to the dominant ‘London Powerhouse’ has strong Government support. It also has cross-party backing, with both the Conservative and Labour parties proposing their […]

Should We Welcome “Three-Parent Babies”?

By Iain Brassington Filed Under: All posts, Featured, Science and Technology, Westminster Watch Posted: February 3, 2015

The House of Commons voted for a small but significant change in the law when it expressed its approval for the legalisation of mitochondrial transfer. Iain Brassington, Senior Lecturer, in the School of Law at The University of Manchester explores the issues the debate hinged on and whether the right decision was made. Mitochondrial illnesses arise […]

Nuclear energy and society

By Andrew Sherry Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted: December 8, 2014

Faced by the challenge of energy security, the UK nuclear industry is recognising the need to engage with society on the case for nuclear power. Professor Andrew Sherry explains. Many areas of science and engineering are difficult to discuss with the public. This is particularly true where views are entrenched and polarised. Nuclear energy […]

To save lives we must rethink our assumptions about good healthcare

By Stephanie Snow Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted: August 7, 2014

A new report in the British Medical Journal on centralising acute stroke services in Greater Manchester and London reveals the revolution in stroke care and treatment over the last twenty years – and it contains vital lessons for patients and policymakers, explains Dr Stephanie Snow. Around 152,000 of us will suffer from stroke in the […]

Shipping industry on course for uncertainty in low carbon future

By Sarah Mander Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted: July 30, 2014

Shipping contributes about 3 per cent of global carbon emissions. The lack of a single regulatory environment makes it difficult to bring this down, explains Dr Sarah Mander. Shipping sits at the heart of international trade and has been the primary means by which globalisation has been facilitated. So it is not surprising that carbon […]

Divisions over Russian gas highlight tensions in EU energy policy

By Tomas Maltby Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted: July 23, 2014

There are few issues more important to EU governments than energy security. Promises of EU solidarity may mean less than they seem, explains Tomas Maltby. The crisis in Ukraine has caused the European Union to urgently revise its policy on energy and energy security. In February the European Council agreed that existing efforts to reduce […]

Don’t overlook old techology amid push for defence innovation

By Michael Pryce Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted: July 16, 2014

Technology policy and defence acquisition can present striking contrasts, writes Dr Michael Pryce. Government policy is supportive of innovation – and often the more disruptive the better. But the highest spender in government on ‘high technology’ – defence – often has an old-fashioned look to it. Looking closely at examples of current military projects, we […]

Using ‘Big Data’

By Camilla Lewis Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology, Whitehall Watch Posted: July 2, 2014

‘Big Data’ will change many aspects of our lives and our public services – right down to waste management, explains Camilla Lewis. Big Data has the potential to transform much of our everyday lives and the way in which public services are delivered. This transformation is linked to the vast increase in computing power and […]

Responding to the ‘darknet’

By Anita Greenhill Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology, Whitehall Watch Posted: June 27, 2014

The ‘darknet’ is being used by criminals and political dissidents to avoid surveillance. Anita Greenhill suggests ways that governments can tackle it. While most people use the internet’s legitimate channels to shop, search for items, or communicate with friends and family, there are some who hide in the internet’s cracks and shadows. These less known […]

The food waste crisis

By Joanne Swaffield Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted: June 25, 2014

With millions of people facing food poverty, retailers are being criticised for choosing anaerobic digestion over redistribution. We should be thinking about the broader picture, argues Joanne Swaffield. One third of all food produced for consumption gets wasted – that is 1.3 billion tonnes annually. This waste occurs at all stages of the supply chain. […]