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Strengthening the UK’s energy resilience and security

Maria Sharmina By and Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering Posted:

Energy is a key resource enabling the functioning of modern societies. Arguably, the fast-paced technological advances in the past 200 years have been based on plentiful supply of cheap energy. But cheap and plentiful are no more. In this article, from our publication On Resilience, Professor Maria Sharmina and Timothy Capper explore how to strengthen the […]

Game changers, a new approach to tackling sportswear garment waste

Headshot of AuthorAuthor photographAuthor Headshot By , and Filed Under: Energy and Environment, Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering Posted:

The UK disposes of one million tonnes of textiles every year, 300,000 tonnes of which end up in landfill or incineration and figures suggest 10% of global CO2 emissions could come from the fashion industry. The football sector is a huge contributor to this – approximately 2.45 million Liverpool and 1.95 million Manchester United sports shirts […]

A critical question: what should we do with the UK’s plutonium stockpile?

By Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering Posted:

The UK is currently storing around 140 tonnes of plutonium, mostly arising from its civil nuclear programme over the past 60 years. What should we, as a nation, do with it? Should we use it as fuel for future reactors, or dispose of it as waste? The latest position paper from the Dalton Nuclear Institute […]

Built on sand: the need for new environmental standards in the construction industry

By and Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Environment, Science and Engineering Posted:

The building sector is responsible for 40% of global CO2 emissions, and many policies have been introduced about the energy efficiency of buildings during their working life. However, little consideration has been given to the whole life of a building, from the production of materials to the disposal of old buildings. Here, Ms Judy Too […]

Not immaterial: Why the UK must play to its strengths in quantum technology

By Filed Under: British Politics, Research and development, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

The UK Science and Technology Framework has recently been announced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, with Quantum Technologies (QTs) identified as one of five critical technologies. But what is needed to realise this vision – and should the UK invest everywhere, or target its areas of expertise? Here, Professor Richard Curry outlines how the country […]

Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage – real-worlding emission estimates

Clair GoughAndrew Welfle By , and Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering, UK economy Posted:

Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) could play an important role in meeting the UK’s net zero emissions target according to the sixth carbon budget scenarios. However, there are many different ways BECCS could be deployed in the UK, and how that roll out is managed could make a big difference in terms of […]

Fighting the war with drugs: How can psychedelic-assisted therapies help veterans?

By , and Filed Under: British Politics, Health and Care, Research and development, Science and Technology Posted:

Around 17% of recent military veterans in the UK report symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and currently available treatments don’t work for many of these. Here, Professor Jo Neill, Dr Verity Wainwright, and Frances Smith report the findings of a new study into the role that psilocybin (the active constituent of so-called ‘magic’ mushrooms) […]

On productivity and Net Zero

By Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Growth and Inclusion, Industry 4.0, OnProductivity, Renewables, Science and Engineering, UK economy Posted:

The UK government has assigned itself with the tasks of boosting productivity in left-behind areas and transitioning to a net-zero economy. In this blog, Professor Jonatan Pinkse explores how the UK can simultaneously improve its standards of productivity regionally while transitioning to a net-zero economy. His policy recommendations include securing green jobs and not using […]

Advanced radiotherapies: What are the challenges and opportunities?

By and Filed Under: Health and Care, Health and Social Care, Science and Technology Posted:

Advanced radiotherapies are redefining the kinds of cancer treatment that are possible. These developments are exciting, but they also present new challenges. One challenge for researchers and clinicians is how to support policymakers, tasked with developing treatment and care standards across the NHS. So, what are these new treatments, what do they mean for patient […]

Antifungal resistance – a growing global problem

By Filed Under: Energy and Environment, Health and Care, Health and Social Care, Science and Technology Posted:

The spread of resistance to antifungal medications has led to many serious infections becoming untreatable, compromising patient safety and posing a global public health threat. The World Health Organisation (WHO) will soon publish its fungal pathogen priority list, highlighting fungi that are already untreatable, and those for which treatment outcomes are poor. In this blog, […]

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