Science and Engineering

The rise of the robots – now’s the time to talk

By Diane Coyle Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: May 8, 2017

The pace of change in technology shows no sign of slowing down, and as artificial intelligence develops, ever-more tasks that were previously carried out by humans could be done by machines. We have seen technological change before, and history tells us that there will be winners and losers. We must prepare economic and employment policies […]

The UK Technifesto

By Vikas Shah Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Growth and Inclusion, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: May 3, 2017

Inequality in our world is a root cause of many problems, but the strength of technology means it is no longer inevitable, says Vikas Shah. Here he shares his Technifesto for the United Kingdom. Information is now who we are – technology is our primary economic, social and cultural tool It’s an absolute priority to […]

Brexit and science: all risk and no benefit

By Martin Yuille Filed Under: All posts, Brexit, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: February 9, 2017

With new trade deals being negotiated following the Brexit vote, there are other areas of policy which should not be overlooked. Martin Yuille, Reader in Biobanking/Co-Director of CIGMR at The University of Manchester, argues that science and technology is increasingly a pre-condition for world-class research and therefore, now, after the EU referendum, the UK cannot […]

Do three-parent babies suggest a future for genetically modified designer children?

By Iain Brassington Filed Under: Health and Social Care, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: December 16, 2016

Yesterday, the UK’s fertility regulator approved a new technique of mitochondrial transfer, which allows babies to be made from two women and one man in order to prevent children being born with serious genetic diseases. Dr Iain Brassington considers some of the potential legal, ethical and practical implications of the decision. There is a specific legal exemption […]

We must allow nuclear power to play its part in tackling climate change

By Melissa Denecke Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: November 28, 2016

This month, the twenty-second session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) took place in Marrakech, Morocco. Here, Prof Melissa Denecke reflects on the letter that Women in Nuclear Global wrote on the occasion of COP21 last year and argues that investing in Nuclear Energy is vital to tackling climate change. Decision-makers across the […]

The Plastic Microbeads of Dorian Gray?

By David Polya Filed Under: All posts, Science and Engineering Posted: October 12, 2016

Millions of us world-wide have been unwittingly using plastic microbeads in products such as toothpastes, body scrubs and face washes – but do we know where they end up or what impact they have on the environment? In the light of the UK Government’s proposed ban and consultation and the recently reported first evidence of […]

ARM Holdings takeover deal: are we selling the crown jewels?

By Steve Furber Filed Under: All posts, Brexit, Science and Engineering Posted: August 3, 2016

ARM Holdings, one of the UK’s biggest technology companies, has been taken over by a Japanese company for £24bn. The country’s new Prime Minister is citing it as a success of Brexit – but Steve Furber says it’s on a par with selling the crown jewels. Was it a coincidence that, during the week that […]

Chernobyl anniversary: dealing with the fallout

By Francis Livens Filed Under: All posts, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: April 26, 2016

Today marks the 30-year anniversary of the nuclear accident at Chernobyl. There are important lessons for governments to learn from the nuclear incidents of the past. The implications of their actions have significant and far-reaching consequences, says Francis Livens, as he reflects on his own experiences of the events during spring 1986. I find it […]

Plugging the energy gap: keeping our reactors running, to keep the lights on

By Barry Marsden Filed Under: Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: March 3, 2016

Demand for power continues to increase, and without enabling sufficient access to it, we run into serious economic, social and health problems, argues Prof Barry Marsden. EDF Energy has recently announced the plant life extension of four of their Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactors – in Hartlepool, Heysham and Torness. Extending the operating lifetime of these reactors […]

Is Dr Google a good source of medical information?

By Julia Mueller Filed Under: Featured, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: February 23, 2016

We won’t stop Googling our symptoms any time soon, so why aren’t online health information resources more effective? An interdisciplinary study between Computer Science and Health Sciences is trying to answer the question, explains Julia Mueller. The internet is increasingly becoming an important health information source and many people routinely turn to the internet to […]