Thinks-tanks get a massive amount of (sometimes ill-deserved) attention, but they are small, usually ideologically biased and carry out only very limited research. We are big, neutral and carry out massive amounts of research – which doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. That is partly our fault, for not communicating our research well enough to the right audiences.

Manchester Policy Blogs is one of the ways in which we are opening up communications between ourselves, policymakers, the press and public about the policy implications of our work as a world-leading University.

We are launching with a limited number of policy themes – Whitehall Watch and Science, Technology and Environment, as well as Policy Book Reviews. But we will have posts covering many areas and will be developing more themes as we grow.

Some of our posts will contain opinion, but opinion rooted in expertise at the highest level and high quality research. Indeed it is because of our research our experts often get asked to contribute to policy discussions – on everything from space research programmes to European minority languages policy.

Welcome again to Manchester Policy Blogs – we hope you enjoy the experience as much as we are enjoying putting it together.

Prof. Colin Talbot, Editor-in-Chief

Alex Waddington, Managing Editor