Older and poorer communities are left behind by the decline of cash
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Daniel Tischer, University of Bristol; Jamie Evans, University of Bristol, and Sara Davies, University of Bristol
A future without cash seems almost inevitable. Recent statistics paint a damning picture: while cash accounted for 62% of all payments by volume in 2006, this dropped to 40% in just a decade and is predicted to fall yet further to 21% by 2026. Continue reading
Climate change: sea level rise could displace millions of people within two generations
Michael Bamber, Author provided
Jonathan Bamber, University of Bristol and Michael Oppenheimer, Princeton University
Antarctica is further from civilisation than any other place on Earth. The Greenland ice sheet is closer to home but around one tenth the size of its southern sibling. Together, these two ice masses hold enough frozen water to raise global mean sea level by 65 metres if they were to suddenly melt. But how likely is this to happen? Continue reading
Care under the Rainbow Launch Event on IDAHOT Day 17th May 2019
Introducing a new learning resource for creating inclusive care home environments for older LGBT+ residents.
By Dr Wenjing Zhang and Dr Paul Willis, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol.
17th May 2019 marks IDAHOT Day – International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. This is a significant day for a number of reasons. For LGBT+ groups and organisations it’s about recognising and speaking out against the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people and all other people who belong to sexual and gender minority groups around the world. Continue reading
What should British universities do about benefits received from past wrongs?
Steven Greer, University of Bristol
The University of Cambridge has embarked on a project to discover how it may have contributed to, and benefited financially from, slavery. This venture follows hot on the heels of a similar investigation at University College London, and a decision by the University of Glasgow to launch a “reparative justice programme” after having discovered it made the equivalent of £200m from the transatlantic slave trade. Continue reading
Children with eczema: the link to food allergies is not clear cut
Matthew Ridd, University of Bristol and Robert Boyle, Imperial College London
Around one in five children have eczema – and even mild cases can have a big impact on both the child and their family. For many, symptoms will come and go before they start primary school, but for others it can indicate the beginning of a genetic tendency to develop allergic conditions such as hay fever or asthma (or both). Continue reading
The ‘5 Ts’ of policy engagement: PolicyBristol’s approach to supporting academics
Supporting academics across the University of Bristol to achieve policy impact from their research is a diverse and fascinating job. In the process of doing this, our team at PolicyBristol is constantly learning about new topics; from the value of NHS managers to refugee rights, enhancing peace processes to the role of universities. Continue reading
Women face enough barriers to breastfeeding — incorrect medication advice should not be one of them
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Amy Brown, Swansea University; Gretel Finch, University of Bristol, and Heather Trickey, Cardiff University
The challenges many new mothers overcome to breastfeed their babies are well documented. Despite a public health system in the UK that promotes breastfeeding, many do not have access to the support that enables them to do it. Every day, services are being cut, public attitudes are negative, and this is exacerbated by a culture that does not really understand how breastfeeding works and how best to support it. Continue reading
Revoke Article 50 petition: largely Remainers signing – but there’s a surprising twist
Image credit: PA/Aaron Chown
Ron Johnston, University of Bristol; Charles Pattie, University of Sheffield, and David Manley, University of Bristol
Not surprisingly, much public attention has been given to the online petition asking parliament to revoke Article 50 so that the UK will remain within the European Union. It attracted more than 5m signatures within a week of being launched, making it the most signed petition since the government’s e-petition site began. It crashed the system multiple times over the course of the first few days. Continue reading
The social animals that are inspiring new behaviours for robot swarms
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Edmund Hunt, University of Bristol
From flocks of birds to fish schools in the sea, or towering termite mounds, many social groups in nature exist together to survive and thrive. This cooperative behaviour can be used by engineers as “bio-inspiration” to solve practical human problems, and by computer scientists studying swarm intelligence. Continue reading
Brexit extended to October 31: why the EU chose a six-month reprieve for its awkward partner
Theresa May has been granted a Brexit ‘flextension’ until the end of October. EPA/Olivier Hoslet
Nieves Perez-Solorzano, University of Bristol
In another Groundhog Day experience, and at the end of a difficult seven-hour meeting, the EU27 has agreed to give the UK until October 31 2019 to ratify the withdrawal agreement. The bloc has, however, attached three very specific conditions to this offer.
Should the UK and EU ratify the withdrawal agreement before October 31, the UK would exit the EU on the first day of the following month – hence why it is being dubbed a “flextension”. Continue reading