Policy@Manchester Articles

What should responsible innovation look like in our society?

By Jonny Hankins Filed Under: Science and Technology Posted: March 12, 2014

The emerging concept of responsible innovation is already taking hold in science policy and governance, writes Jonny Hankins. He argues for a multi-faced approach that emphasises reflexivity, involves public engagement from the outset and brings on board social scientists. The phrase ‘responsible innovation’ is cropping-up ever more frequently in policy documents in the UK, Europe […]

Care home culture is forcing older people back into the closet

By Paul Simpson and Kathryn Almack Filed Under: Featured Posted: March 12, 2014

Encouraging an LGBT-friendly, or better still, an LGBT-inclusive environment needs to be higher on the agenda in care homes, argue Dr Paul Simpson and Dr Kathryn Almack. If homes were to function more along these lines, they could work more like communities than simply places to live. What if you had lived a life as […]

Unsustainable practices: Why electric cars are a failure of ambition

By Nicola Spurling and Daniel Welch Filed Under: Science and Technology Posted: March 5, 2014

A focus on ‘techno-fix’ solutions to climate change like electric cars simply perpetuate current unsustainable practices and represent a failure of ambition, argue Nicola Spurling and Dan Welch. In January David Cameron announced that his cabinet might trade in their limousines for electric cars. It was the latest in a stream of initiatives to promote the […]

‘Greece has a problem, but Greece is not the problem’

By Ewan Munro Filed Under: Europe, Featured Posted: March 5, 2014

Former Greek Prime Minster George Papandreou delivered the Manchester Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence’s Annual Lecture, accompanied by two formidable looking bodyguards. Ewan Munro heard him affirm his commitment to the European Project and decry the lack of visionary leadership at the national level. While the Eurozone crisis may have slipped from the front pages […]

Why the Government should keep ‘discredited’ child poverty measures

By Ruth Lupton Filed Under: Featured Posted: March 3, 2014

Last week the government announced its child poverty strategy – but at the same time revealed that, after a year of consultation and consideration, it has still not been able to reach a conclusion on how to measure success. Prof Ruth Lupton explains why the government should stick with the measures it has got. Thanks […]

Are trust issues driving fear of mass surveillance in Europe?

By David Barnard-Wills Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted: February 26, 2014

David Barnard-Wills argues that EU citizens don’t necessarily want to trade their privacy for security – and that policymakers should take their views seriously in determining surveillance practices. Fuelled in part by Edward Snowden’s release of documents revealing NSA and GCHQ surveillance practices, recent months have seen much media coverage of surveillance and European citizens […]

Will new enforcement tool help the Serious Fraud Office secure its reputation and ‘justice’?

By Nicholas Lord Filed Under: All posts Posted: February 25, 2014

It’s been a difficult few years for the UK’s beleaguered Serious Fraud Office (SFO), writes Dr Nicholas Lord. As the authority responsible for the investigation and prosecution of corporate corruption in international business, it’s been blighted by a lack of prosecutions, collapsed cases, failed investigations and data loss. But while the introduction of Deferred Prosecution […]

Care.data project tarnished by liberties and assumptions

By Jonathan Hammond Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted: February 21, 2014

The potential for Care.data to improve the health of the nation is hard to argue with, writes Jonathan Hammond. But he argues that a lack of patient control, security concerns and a lamentable communications strategy have tarnished the laudable aims of the whole scheme. Let’s start with some facts about Care.data. It is a programme […]

Reality check-up: Care.data is good for our health

By David Springate Filed Under: Science and Technology Posted: February 20, 2014

Amid the furore over the delayed Care.data scheme, the reality is that the storage of pseudoanonymised patient data is already common practice, writes Dr David Springate. He argues that a national primary care database will bring big benefits – and says the risk of individuals’ data being de-anonymised by big pharma companies or criminals is remote. […]

Don’t let early warnings on innovation arrive too late

By Hilary Sutcliffe Filed Under: Science and Technology Posted: February 19, 2014

A new approach to seeking out and responding positively to early warnings on technological innovations is needed, argues Hilary Sutcliffe, who warns we need to welcome them and be prepared to act if necessary. A must read for anyone involved in innovation is the latest volume of the European Environment Agency’s ‘Late Lessons from Early Warnings […]

What should responsible innovation look like in our society?

Care home culture is forcing older people back into the closet

Unsustainable practices: Why electric cars are a failure of ambition

‘Greece has a problem, but Greece is not the problem’

Are trust issues driving fear of mass surveillance in Europe?

Will new enforcement tool help the Serious Fraud Office secure its reputation and ‘justice’?

Care.data project tarnished by liberties and assumptions

Reality check-up: Care.data is good for our health

Don’t let early warnings on innovation arrive too late

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