Expert insight, analysis and comment on key public policy issues
By Phil Withers Filed Under: Science and Technology Posted:
In this blog Professor Phil Withers, Chief Scientist at the Henry Royce Institute calls for an ‘Internet of Materials’ to help the UK to innovate faster, smarter and with a more competitive edge. A new material or process can utterly transform a sector, or even our lifestyle. Failing fast in the lab and learning quickly […]
By Kirk J Malone Filed Under: Science and Technology Posted:
Dr Kirk J Malone is Director of Commercialisation at the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology. In this blog he looks to nature as part of a wider rethink into how we produce, process and recycle materials. • There needs to be a fundamental rethink in the way we manufacture and dispose of materials. • One of […]
The 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change has set out commitments to limit the increase in global average temperature to “well below 2°C and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C”. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has concluded that this is still possible, but nearly all of their scenarios assume that it will require […]
By Laurence Stamford Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Renewables Posted:
On the 7 March, the long awaited “Offshore Wind Sector Deal” was launched, laying out the UK Government’s vision for the future of offshore wind power to 2030. So far, responses to the deal have been somewhat mixed: it’s been welcomed by various industry players as a sign of the Government’s commitment, but has faced […]
By Richard Taylor Filed Under: Energy and Environment Posted:
The recent suspension of the Wylfa Nuclear power project has been seen by some as a potential opening for small modular reactors. Here Professor Richard Taylor, the BNFL Chair in Nuclear Energy Systems, at The University of Manchester’s Dalton Nuclear Institute looks at what needs to happen for small modular reactors to actually become part […]
By Matthew Paterson Filed Under: Digital Futures, Energy and Environment, Europe Posted:
#SDG Two protest movements erupted in the UK and France on November 17th, with apparently opposite logics. Here, Matthew Paterson, Professor of International Politics in the School of Social Sciences, argues that both movements are a result of the way carbon pricing is been both regressive socially and woefully inadequate in climate terms. This centre […]
By Juan Matthews Filed Under: All posts, Brexit, Energy and Environment Posted:
Earlier this year, Professor Juan Matthews contributed to a policy blog on the consequences of Britain’s planned withdrawal from Euratom as part of the Brexit process. Here, he gives us an update on the progress (or lack of it) around the issues of Euratom withdrawal and scientific collaboration with the European Union. In the months […]
By Kitty Lymperopoulou and Lindsey Garratt Filed Under: All posts, Brexit, Ethnicity Posted:
The House of Commons has cleared the way for the Prime Minister to trigger article 50 at the end of March 2017, however, what happens next for EU citizens living in the UK post Brexit? Here, Dr Lindsey Garratt and Dr Kitty Lymperopoulou from The University of Manchester recount the recent Migrant Families in Europe […]
By Vikas Shah Filed Under: All posts Posted:
‘Disruption’ has become a signature term in business, culture, and increasingly in our politics. Here, Professor Vikas Shah offers his reflections on what disruption means in its economic, cultural and technical aspects, and the challenges and opportunities that each of these offer the policy-makers who are open to engaging with the speed and scale of […]
By Francis Livens, Juan Matthews and Tim Abram Filed Under: All posts, Brexit, Energy and Environment Posted:
The pending withdrawal of the United Kingdom from Euratom (the European nuclear regulator) has caused controversy, as membership is neither related to nor dependent upon membership of the European Union. Here, The University of Manchester’s Professor Juan Matthews, Professor Francis Livens, and Professor Tim Abram explain what this move will mean for the British nuclear […]