Science and Engineering

How can “Great British Nuclear” make a great difference?

By Adrian Bull Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: March 31, 2023

The announcement of Great British Nuclear (GBN) is a long awaited positive step. GBN clearly now faces a monumental workload and a range of challenges as it sets the ground for new nuclear build in the UK. In this article, Professor Adrian Bull emphasises the need to engage with development companies rather than just ‘starting […]

Graphene as a regional-global innovation model

By James Baker Filed Under: British Politics, Budget, Growth and Inclusion, Levelling up, Research and development, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology, UK economy Posted: March 17, 2023

A new national policy report has identified the graphene innovation ecosystem at Manchester as a regional hub for international partnership and investment. In this article, James Baker explores how this success demonstrates that research and development (R&D) investment into specialist regional clusters like Graphene@Manchester provides national government with an excellent return on investment as they […]

Location, location, location: finding sites for nuclear power plants

By Adrian Bull Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: March 13, 2023

Expanding nuclear power should be a key priority as the government aims to cut its carbon emissions. However, finding suitable sites to accommodate the proposed plants raises new questions. In this article, based on the Dalton Nuclear Institute’s position paper, Siting implications of nuclear energy, Professor Adrian Bull gives his view on how policymakers can […]

Space rocks: the need for an international approach to space resource utilisation

By Katherine Joy and Thomas Harvey Filed Under: All posts, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: February 13, 2023

Extraction of Earth’s resources is vital for the advancement of modern infrastructure and technology. However, Earth’s resources are limited, and their continued use for the expansion and growth of humanity has resulted in their depletion. Mining is often destructive, we have little control over the global distribution of economically viable reserves of rare materials, and […]

A nuclear society: rebuilding perceptions of nuclear energy

By Adrian Bull Filed Under: Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: February 1, 2023

The nuclear industry has historically had a fairly tumultuous relationship with wider society. Early perceptions of nuclear energy were generally positive, with it viewed as a beacon of how technology went hand in hand with increasing prosperity. However, a history of highly-publicised leaks, discharges and assorted incidents have created a legacy of societal mistrust of […]

Can geothermal energy provide a sustainable source of renewable heat in the UK?

By Cathy Hollis Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering Posted: January 23, 2023

With the move towards sustainable, low carbon energy in the UK, alongside a need for long-term energy security, a range of renewable energy sources are under consideration by national and devolved governments in the UK. Some, like wind energy, are well-developed, while others have barely entered the public consciousness. One such source is geothermal energy. […]

Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage – real-worlding emission estimates

By Muir Freer, Clair Gough and Andrew Welfle Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering, UK economy Posted: January 16, 2023

Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) could play an important role in meeting the UK’s net zero emissions target according to the sixth carbon budget scenarios. However, there are many different ways BECCS could be deployed in the UK, and how that roll out is managed could make a big difference in terms of […]

How can understanding astronaut psychology benefit us all?

By Emma Barrett and Nathan Smith Filed Under: All posts, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: January 10, 2023

Plans are underway for a permanent base on the Moon and human missions to Mars. These missions will be challenging for crew members and supporting the search for ways to maintain physical and psychological wellbeing and promote high performance is key. In this blog, Professor Emma Barrett and Dr Nathan Smith outline their recommendations for […]

Making space sustainable: can very low Earth orbits enable a more resilient space environment?

By Peter Roberts Filed Under: All posts, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: December 20, 2022

The use of space-based infrastructure to support life on Earth has become one of the successes of the industry. Whether it be the delivery of global communications, navigation using GPS, or remote sensing information to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals, satellites have become an indispensable part of our modern world. However, space is becoming […]

How can nuclear help with energy costs – and how do we pay for nuclear?

By William Bodel Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering Posted: October 24, 2022

Europe is struggling through a period of exorbitant energy prices. In addition to directly hitting consumers with a higher cost of living, high energy prices will also have detrimental effects on business and industry. In this blog, Will Bodel from the Dalton Nuclear Institute examines the role of nuclear energy in reducing the cost of […]