Expert insight, analysis and comment on key public policy issues
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 […]
By Iain Brassington Filed Under: Health and Social Care, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:
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 […]
By Francis Livens Filed Under: All posts, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:
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 […]
By Laura Leay Filed Under: All posts Posted:
Today marks the fifth anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that caused nearly 20,000 deaths and triggered a major emergency at Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station, Japan. In the days that followed, Japanese authorities evacuated around 100,000 people from the area as radiation was released into the atmosphere. But, asks Laura Leay, are policies around radiation […]
By Barry Marsden Filed Under: Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:
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 […]
By Hollie Ashworth Filed Under: All posts, Featured, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:
Radioactive waste is a controversial topic. But understanding the difference between historic and new wastes would produce a more informed debate, explains Hollie Ashworth. Whenever there is talk about new-build nuclear power stations, there is also talk about the cost of cleaning-up radioactive waste. People often correctly quote figures for the cost of cleaning-up radioactive […]
By Jim Pendrill Filed Under: Devo, Featured, Science and Technology Posted:
Could the Northern Powerhouse be powered by itself? And if so, what would be the best energy mix to sustain its economy? These were the questions posed at a debate on the UK energy industry during Policy Week, where PhD students from The University presented four different proposals as to how the North West could […]