Child of the North: Child mental wellbeing
Children’s mental health and wellbeing was deteriorating prior to COVID-19, but there was significant decline during the pandemic, particularly in the North of England. This blog post covers the...
View ArticleLocal employment charters: re-defining productivity with employers?
The COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on the harsh reality of insecure working conditions that many workers – particularly those in the front line – are subject to. Good employment charters are one way...
View ArticleAdvancing cell and gene therapies: Levelling-up life sciences investment in...
Life sciences – including new cancer treatments – forms a central pillar of the UK Government’s post-Brexit plan for science and technology. But how could this focus also play a role in another key...
View ArticleHealth inequalities and regional productivity
The health of those living in the north is worse than those living in the south, and this inequality is reflected in the comparative economic performance as well. The regional inequality in economic...
View Article“I don’t do anything”: It’s time to place more emphasis on strength training...
Since 2011, the UK Chief Medical Officers’ (CMOs) guidelines on physical activity have included strength recommendations. However, there is limited evidence that these recommendations are getting...
View ArticleFighting the war with drugs: How can psychedelic-assisted therapies help...
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...
View ArticleThe UK productivity-governance puzzle
The productivity issue in the UK is often framed as an issue driven by economic outcomes. This idea neglects some of the more complex structures that exist and contribute to the economic gaps in the...
View ArticleGlobal partnerships: How can international research collaborations boost our...
The University of Manchester is a founding partner of the Kenya-UK Healthcare Alliance, which aims to share best practice and reciprocal training between the two nations, particularly in the area of...
View ArticleSkills, Productivity and Regional Inequality: why a ‘one size fits all’...
Skills are important contributors to the improvement of productivity. With new skills, there are associated higher wages and better living standards. However, implementing a better agenda for skill...
View ArticleTurning gadgets into productivity
The Industrial Revolution brought about great economic success in the north of the United Kingdom that translated into a social, cultural and urban transformation. However, the Digital Revolution of...
View ArticleMaking space sustainable: can very low Earth orbits enable a more resilient...
The use of space-based infrastructure to support life on Earth has become one of the successes of the industry. Whether it be the delivery of global communications, navigation using GPS, or remote...
View ArticleHow can understanding astronaut psychology benefit us all?
Plans are underway for a permanent base on the Moon and human missions to Mars. These missions will be challenging for crew members and supporting the search for ways to maintain physical and...
View ArticleBioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage – real-worlding emission estimates
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...
View ArticleCan geothermal energy provide a sustainable source of renewable heat in the UK?
With the move towards sustainable, low carbon energy in the UK, alongside a need for long-term energy security, a range of renewable energy sources are under consideration by national and devolved...
View ArticleSustainability transitions: catalysing innovation in the foundational economy...
The UK is making progress to achieve net zero, with the latest findings indicating that UK emissions in 2021 fell below 2019 levels. These efforts, however, are still identified as insufficient for...
View ArticleCommunities, traffic and positive action to address air pollution
Air pollution levels in Greater Manchester are some of the highest in the UK. As air pollution can potentially worsen pre-existing health conditions, Greater Manchester residents are increasingly...
View ArticleA nuclear society: rebuilding perceptions of nuclear energy
The nuclear industry has historically had a fairly tumultuous relationship with wider society. Early perceptions of nuclear energy were generally positive, with it viewed as a beacon of how technology...
View ArticleGreen space: off-world habitation could stimulate sustainability on Earth
NASA’s Artemis program aims to return humans to the lunar surface by 2025, before establishing a sustained human presence on and around the Moon by the end of the decade. This so-called Lunar Gateway...
View ArticleSpace rocks: the need for an international approach to space resource...
Extraction of Earth’s resources is vital for the advancement of modern infrastructure and technology. However, Earth’s resources are limited, and their continued use for the expansion and growth of...
View ArticleUnder the weather: Reimagining mobility in the climate crisis
Transport systems are essential to the movement of people, things, and services. When disrupted, as during severe weather, social and economic costs are high. Communities are vulnerable to extreme...
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