Newsroom University of ˮ��ർ��

Student interns capture stories of belonging in ˮ��ർ�� through documentary with SICK! Productions

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:16:17 +0100

A group of student interns from the University of ˮ��ർ�� worked in collaboration with SICK! Productions to create a short film exploring identity, belonging and what it means to make North ˮ��ർ�� home.

Students from the School of Social Sciences and the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures have taken part in a creative internship with SICK! Productions, a North ˮ��ർ��-based arts organisation, to gain hands-on experience in research, storytelling and film production.

Now in their third year, the Creative Track internships offer students the opportunity to spend two weeks working with SICK! Productions in collaboration with video production company Freshrb. The interns are given a creative brief to research and produce a short film, developing their ideas with support from industry mentors.

This year’s interns created ˮ��ർ�� Through Her Eyes, a short documentary exploring the internationalisation and interculturality of ˮ��ർ��, focusing particularly on North ˮ��ർ��. The film follows the story of a young Italian woman of West African descent who has chosen to make ˮ��ർ�� her home, offering a personal perspective on identity, community and belonging in the city.

The cohort of students included Abigail Elias and Sofia Sarosh from the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, and Jude Pfieiffer, Jasmin Khaled Araby Aly and Lailah Boateng from the School of Social Sciences. The experience gave them the opportunity to develop practical creative media skills while engaging with local communities and reflecting on the real-world stories that shape ˮ��ർ��’s cultural life.

Fathers who take solo parental leave remain more involved parents years later

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:52:50 +0100

Fathers who take sole responsibility for caring for their baby during parental leave are more likely to remain actively involved in childcare years later, according to major new research from The University of ˮ��ർ�� and ˮ��ർ�� Metropolitan University.

The five-year study found that periods of solo caregiving helped fathers develop confidence, practical parenting skills and a deeper understanding of the demands of childcare, leading to more equal sharing of work and family responsibilities long after the leave period ended.

Researchers followed ten dual-career couples across the UK in which fathers took a period of solo parental leave during their child's first year. The study tracked how families organised work and childcare over the following five years.

The findings suggest that early solo caregiving can have lasting effects on family life, helping mothers pursue career opportunities while encouraging fathers to take a more active role in parenting and household responsibilities.

The research comes as debate continues about parental leave policy in the UK, where take-up of Shared Parental Leave remains low.

Lasting impact on family life

The researchers found that fathers who spent extended periods caring for their child alone developed practical parenting competence, emotional confidence and a stronger understanding of the often unseen work involved in childcare.

Rather than reverting to traditional gender roles when they returned to work, fathers made adaptations to their work patterns and continued to share responsibilities such as childcare planning, school runs, household management and day-to-day caregiving.

The study found these experiences often helped couples maintain more equal relationships and created greater flexibility in how families balanced careers and childcare.

Key findings

Fathers who undertook solo caregiving became more confident and capable parents.
Early childcare experiences helped fathers better understand the emotional, practical and mental load of caring for children.
Mothers were often able to return to work earlier or pursue career progression because they had confidence in their partner's caregiving abilities.
Couples were more likely to view childcare as a shared responsibility rather than primarily the mother's role.
Many fathers continued to organise work around family responsibilities years after their leave ended.
Some fathers became more open about caregiving responsibilities at work and more willing to prioritise family life over career progression.

Rethinking careers and parenting

"Our research shows that fathers' solo caregiving can have long-lasting effects on how couples organise work and family life years later,” said Professor Emma Banister from the Work and Equalities Institute at Alliance ˮ��ർ�� Business School. "The fathers we spoke to developed confidence and skills through caring for their child alone, and those experiences continued to shape their decisions about work and parenting long after their leave had ended."

Challenge to traditional gender roles regarding paid and unpaid work

The study also found evidence that fathers who had taken sole responsibility for childcare were more likely to challenge traditional expectations about parenting and work.

Several participants reported openly discussing childcare commitments with colleagues and managers, rejecting the idea that caregiving should be hidden or secondary to paid work.

The researchers argue that organisations and policymakers should do more to support fathers who want to take an active role in childcare.

Implications for parental leave policy

The researchers say the findings strengthen the case for expanding dedicated leave for fathers.

While Shared Parental Leave was introduced in the UK in 2015 to encourage more equal parenting, uptake remains relatively low because of affordability, eligibility restrictions and the way the system is structured.

The study suggests that creating more opportunities for fathers to undertake solo caregiving could help promote greater gender equality both at home and in the workplace.

"The benefits we observed weren't simply about fathers spending more time with their children - it was the experience of taking responsibility for childcare independently that appeared to make the difference,” said Professor Ben Kerrane of ˮ��ർ�� Metropolitan University. “That experience helped reshape how couples thought about parenting, careers and family responsibilities, with effects that were still visible five years later.”

Publication details

The study was published in journal Human Relations.

DOI:

Fragmented system hampering UK response to economic crime, researchers find

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 15:21:36 +0100

A new study from The University of ˮ��ർ�� has offered the most comprehensive look to date at how the UK coordinates its response to economic crime, identifying the structural challenges that make this difficult to do well.

The study examines the tensions that make these challenges resistant to easy resolution, and the enabling conditions needed for multi-agency collaboration to work more effectively.

The research examined the work of the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC), a multi-agency body established in 2018 to coordinate the UK's response to economic crime including fraud, money laundering, bribery and corruption.

Drawing on interviews with 22 senior officials from organisations including the National Crime Agency, HM Revenue & Customs, the Serious Fraud Office, the Financial Conduct Authority, the City of London Police and private-sector partners, the researchers identified a series of structural challenges limiting the effectiveness of the UK's response.

Key findings

Multiple agencies share responsibility for tackling economic crime, in some cases creating uncertainty over leadership and accountability
Competing priorities and budget pressures can limit organisations' ability to devote resources to economic crime investigations
The broad and evolving nature of "economic crime" makes it difficult to define priorities and measure success
Outdated technology and poor data-sharing arrangements continue to hamper investigations and intelligence gathering
The UK's response relies heavily on cooperation between organisations with different responsibilities, cultures and objectives

Economic crime has become one of the UK's biggest crime threats

The researchers say economic crime encompasses a vast range of offences, from online fraud and investment scams to money laundering, bribery and sanctions evasion.

However, a key issue identified by the study was ambiguity surrounding the term ‘economic crime’ - which lacks clear boundaries and scope - and how different threats should be prioritised.

The research found that political priorities and major world events can rapidly reshape which forms of economic crime receive attention and resources. As a result, agencies can find themselves responding to an ever-expanding range of threats, stretching already limited resources.

The authors argue that while the broad label of economic crime helps attract political attention and funding, it can also obscure important differences between offences that require very different responses.

Outdated systems slowing investigations

Participants in the study also highlighted concerns about the technological tools available to investigators. Some reported that basic collaboration and data-analysis capabilities lag behind those available in the private sector, with information-gathering processes that should take days sometimes taking months.

The researchers found that these limitations can make it more difficult to identify emerging threats, share intelligence and coordinate action across agencies.

What is needed

The researchers say the enabling conditions needed to tackle the problem are:

A shared definition of economic crime, clear enough to guide prioritisation yet flexible enough to serve both political and operational purposes
Data-sharing arrangements and intelligence infrastructure that allow partners to act and build understanding simultaneously
Clear incentives and dedicated resourcing that allow partners to commit meaningfully beyond their core organisational mandates
Clear delineation of roles and responsibilities across agencies, with recognised leadership
Formalised but flexible accountability arrangements that create soft mechanisms for ensuring participation without undermining partner autonomy

Why this matters

Fraud is now one of the most common crimes affecting people in the UK, while money laundering enables a wide range of serious criminal activity, from organised crime to corruption.

The findings also have wider relevance for governments around the world that are increasingly relying on multi-agency partnerships to tackle complex forms of crime that cross organisational and national boundaries.

What the researchers say

"The National Economic Crime Centre was created to bring together the many organisations involved in tackling economic crime, recognising the need for a collective response” said Professor Nicholas Lord. “However, coordinating agencies with different responsibilities, priorities and resources is not straightforward, and certainly needs more than goodwill.”

"What emerges from this study is a picture of a system that depends heavily on cooperation between organisations,” added Professor Elisa Bellotti. “The challenge is not simply understanding economic crime itself, but creating the conditions that allow different institutions to work together effectively in responding to it.”

Publication details

The study was published in the Journal of Economic Criminology.

DOI:

Creating a meaningful fellowship community in Humanities

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 12:06:43 +0100

Want to know more about the benefits the Humanities Fellowship Academy brings? Listen to a video interview featuring , Events Lead, alongside Dr and Dr , Simon Research Fellows in the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, as they reflect on the impact of the Academy's first year.

Since its launch in autumn 2025, The Fellowship Academy has offered Fellows dedicated time, space, and support to pursue ambitious research. It has also fostered new collaborations and innovative thinking about their future work.

The programme has brought together researchers from different parts of the Faculty, forming a dynamic community committed to sharing ideas, expertise, and experiences across disciplines.

reveal how the Academy has facilitated both professional growth and personal development, enabling Fellows to undertake pioneering research, broaden their networks, and gain new insights from colleagues. A key recurring theme is the importance of community, bringing talented individuals together to learn, address common challenges, and achieve excellence within the Humanities.

Recorded at the Humanities Fellowship Academy Conference in June 2026, the video captures the enthusiasm, teamwork, and optimism that marked the inaugural year of the Humanities Fellowship Academy.

ˮ��ർ�� Geography research informs OECD toolkit for adopting ideas from other cities

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 11:00:36 +0100

Cristina Temenos, Professor of Human Geography in the School of Environment, Education and Development, has contributed her expertise in policy mobilities and policy transfer research to the .

The toolkit is part of an OECD-Bloomberg Philanthropies project that supports city governments to identify, assess, adapt and implement policy innovations developed elsewhere. Professor Temenos was invited to contribute to a high-level workshop on “Adopting Ideas from Other Cities” at the OECD headquarters in Paris, bringing academic insight into how ideas, policies and practices travel between urban contexts.

Drawing on research in policy mobilities, urban governance and policy learning, her contribution helped shape discussions about how cities can make informed, place-based and context-sensitive decisions when adopting ideas from elsewhere. This included considering the conditions that support effective policy learning, how to assess whether an idea is suitable for a new setting, and the practical challenges involved in adapting and sustaining adopted policies.

Professor Temenos’ involvement highlights the international relevance of Geography research at ˮ��ർ�� and the value of critical urban scholarship for organisations working with city governments. Her contribution to the toolkit helped inform a practical resource designed to encourage more reflective and context-aware approaches to urban policy adoption.

Family courts must do more to hear children's voices, study says

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 09:56:17 +0100

Researchers say children's rights and wellbeing must be placed at the heart of family court proceedings

Children involved in private family law proceedings in England can experience serious harm to their mental and physical health because their voices are too often ignored or dismissed, according to new research led by the University of ˮ��ർ�� in partnership with members and .

The study argues that children are frequently treated as passive participants in family court proceedings, with their accounts of abuse, distress and fear often minimised or interpreted through adult assumptions rather than being given meaningful weight in decisions that affect their lives.

Researchers analysed the experiences of 77 children involved in private family law cases, based on interviews with 45 mothers. Using the concept of "childism" – prejudice and discrimination that devalues children's perspectives and how to challenge these prejudices – they found evidence of systemic failures that can leave children feeling unheard and exposed to further harm.

Serious impacts on children's health

The study found children experienced a wide range of psychological, emotional and physical impacts during family law proceedings.

These included anxiety, depression, trauma responses, suicidal thoughts, eating disorders, social withdrawal, disrupted schooling, developmental regression and other health problems.

Researchers found many children who expressed fear or reluctance to have contact with an abusive parent were viewed as unreliable or as having been influenced by their mother. Meanwhile, children who appeared outwardly compliant were often assumed to be safe, even though silence may itself have reflected fear or trauma.

The research also found some children became "aged" by the court process, taking on inappropriate caring responsibilities or feeling responsible for the consequences of court decisions, with some facing threats that their mothers would go to prison if they did not comply.

Children's voices often overlooked

The study identified examples of what researchers describe as "institutional silencing", where children's wishes were reportedly summarised in some cases without professionals speaking to them directly, or where children's views carried little influence over final court decisions.

The researchers argue that children's rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child are not consistently reflected in current family court practice and that children's participation is often more symbolic than meaningful.

The study also raises concerns that coercive control can continue after parental separation through the misuse of technology. Some participants described abusive fathers allegedly using access to children's medical information to monitor or intimidate them, which the authors describe as a form of technology-facilitated abuse that requires recognition by both legal and healthcare professionals.

Child-centred support can make a difference

Despite the challenges identified, the research also found examples of good practice.

Trauma-informed counselling, play therapy and healthcare professionals who prioritised children's privacy and wellbeing were all reported to help children recover, build resilience and regain confidence.

The researchers say these examples demonstrate that child-led approaches can improve both children's wellbeing and their ability to participate meaningfully in decisions affecting them.

What the researcher says

"Our findings suggest that children are often the least powerful people in proceedings that determine the course of their lives,” said Dr Elizabeth Dalgarno from The University of ˮ��ർ��. “Too often, their experiences of abuse, fear and trauma are filtered through adult assumptions rather than being heard on their own terms."

She added: "While I welcome the child-focused courts that the government has introduced, the family justice system has an opportunity to move from seeing children as passive recipients of adult decisions to recognising them as active participants. If children's voices are consistently heard, respected and acted upon, family courts will be better protect their safety, wellbeing and long-term health."

Recommendations

The researchers are calling for major reforms to private family law proceedings, including:

Ensuring children's voices are routinely and meaningfully heard throughout family court proceedings.
Embedding the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child more fully into domestic law.
Reforming family court practice so children's views genuinely influence decisions affecting them.
Providing specialist training for judges, legal professionals and safeguarding practitioners on children's rights, trauma, coercive control and child sexual abuse.
Introducing stronger safeguards against technology-facilitated abuse, including the misuse of children's medical information.
Expanding access to child-centred, trauma-informed interventions such as play therapy and specialist counselling.

The authors conclude that meaningful reform will require not only legislative change but also a cultural shift across the family justice system towards recognising children as equal rights holders whose lived experiences should guide judicial decision-making.

Publication details

The paper was published in the Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law.

This study was supported by a grant from the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Participatory Research Fund to Dr Elizabeth Dalgarno, Principal Investigator. The findings remain the responsibility of the research team.

DOI:

ˮ��ർ�� academic secures funding to raise profile of arts-based research across Europe

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 13:49:58 +0100

The University��of ˮ��ർ��and artists and cultural organisations from��across��the city are��playing an integral role in a��new��Europe-wide network which��is advancing��arts-based research��in��migration��and��heritage��studies��across the continent.�� Dr Saskia Warren��(Reader in��Human��Geography) is��a core member��of a cross-continent team of researchers who have��been awarded funding from��to��establish��a transdisciplinary European network of scholars,��artists��and cultural practitioners.��

��Justice, Arts, Memory, Migration��(JAMM): Creating Solidarities across Borders��will bring together��academics,��artists��and��cultural practitioners��to share experience and best practice across universities, cultural��institutions��and��community organisations.��

Dr Warren is a member of JAMM's management committee and is working group co-leader of the 'Urban Space, Creative Sectors & Social Cohesion working group. She is involved alongside��other ˮ��ർ�� participants:��postgraduate��researchers��Clare Courtney��and��Haoyue Gul��(University of ˮ��ർ��)��and��Mahboobeh Rajabi,��Founder��and��CEO��of ��an innovative, artist-led platform and cultural café.��

Dr Warren commented:

JAMM brings together 70 researchers from 27 countries and has been awarded €170,000 in the first year with an estimated €680,000 over four years (depending on the number of participating COST member countries). It was one of only 80 projects out of 1,090 applications selected for funding by COST.

Applications to join JAMM Working Groups are now open and academics, students and cultural practitioners are being encouraged to take part:

Professor Jackie Stacey elected Fellow of the British Academy

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 17:33:17 +0100

, Professor of Cultural Studies at The University of ˮ��ർ��, has been elected a Fellow of the British Academy, one of the highest honours awarded to scholars in the humanities and social sciences.

Professor Stacey is among 92 distinguished academics��made��Fellows��by��the��in 2026.��The��Fellowship��recognises��her��outstanding contributions to research and scholarship��in the field of gender and sexuality studies for more than four decades��and��reflects both her international influence in the field of cultural studies and The University of ˮ��ർ��'s continued excellence in humanities research.��

Since joining ˮ��ർ�� in 2007, Professor Stacey has built an internationally recognised body of work across cultural studies, gender and sexuality, film��theory and the visual arts. She��is��currently��Co-Director of the��in��the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures.��

Her academic journey began in the 1980s as a postgraduate student at the University of Kent, where she��studied��for��the UK’s first Women’s Studies MA, and later as a doctoral candidate at the Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies, University of Birmingham. During this period, she also co-taught adult education classes for the��Workers’ Educational��Association (WEA), including pioneering lesbian and gay studies courses.��

She has built a body of work influencing cultural, feminist and media��and��film��studies. Her key publications include��(1994),��(1997),��(2000), and��(2010). She has also co-edited important collections in feminism, screen��studies��and queer theory.��

Jackie has worked for��more��than��three decades��to��establish��interdisciplinary research centres and teaching programmes in gender and sexuality, forming��international��academic��collaborations and��partnerships��with��ˮ��ർ��’s��civic and arts��organisations. Her research in film and visual culture aims to link aesthetics and politics to social change using feminist and queer frameworks.��

Alongside her research, Professor Stacey has made a significant contribution to academic publishing and scholarly leadership.��She served as co-editor of the journal��from 1994 to 2024 and was co-editor of��between 2006 and 2012.��Having qualified as a Groupwork Practitioner, with Group Analysis North in 2018, she has introduced new pedagogic methods into the classroom and��the postgraduate annual��at ˮ��ർ��, which she has led since 2008.��

Speaking about her fellowship, Professor Stacey said:��

The British Academy is the UK's national academy for the humanities and social sciences. Fellowship is awarded to scholars who have achieved distinction in their field and represents one of the most prestigious accolades available to researchers in these disciplines.

Call for older people’s voices to be heard in major urban regeneration of North ˮ��ർ��

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 08:36:03 +0100

A range of regeneration projects are underway in North ˮ��ർ��, with over £6bn to be spent over the next 15-20 years. As the area starts to be transformed, researchers from the University of ˮ��ർ��’s Urban Ageing Research Group have been working with older residents and community groups across North ˮ��ർ�� to understand their thoughts and experiences of regeneration.

The ‘Ageing, inequality and urban regeneration: Collaborative research with older people living in North ˮ��ർ��’ report is being launched at a community celebration in Cheetham Hill next week. Findings from the research highlight the importance of major regeneration projects, like those in North ˮ��ർ��, being designed in collaboration with the area’s older population.

Dr Camilla Lewis, Senior Lecturer in Architectural Studies, who co-led the research explains:

As well as sharing first-person perspectives from over 40 older residents and a variety of community organisations, Ageing, inequality and urban regeneration has six overarching aims for policy makers to ensure the urban regeneration is inclusive for all ages and communities. The report will be shared widely with local and national decision-makers.

Read the full Ageing, inequality and urban regeneration: Collaborative research with older people living in North ˮ��ർ�� report and the executive summary .

New Faculty of Humanities Vice-Dean for Research and Innovation appointed at The University of ˮ��ർ��

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:03:00 +0100

Professor James Evans has been appointed as the new Faculty of Humanities Vice-Dean for Research and Innovation at The University of ˮ��ർ��. He will move from his current role as the Faculty’s Associate Dean for Research to take up the Vice-Dean position on 1 August 2026.

James is Professor of Human Geography in the School of Environment, Education and Development. His research explores how cities can become smarter and more sustainable through urban experimentation, helping governments and communities learn, innovate and respond to complex societal challenges.

In addition to being Associate Dean for Research, he has held a number of leadership roles across the University, including Head of the Department of Geography, Director of the ˮ��ർ�� Urban Institute and Academic Lead for Sustainability.

Professor Fiona Devine, Vice-President and Dean, said:

James said:

James will take up the Vice-Dean for Research role from Professor Maggie Gale, who will become the new Head of the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures in the Faculty of Humanities on 1 August.

New project to support fairer mangrove restoration in Malaysia

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 12:15:16 +0100

A new international research project led by The University of ˮ��ർ�� supported by the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, The University of Warwick, Cardiff University, National University of Singapore, and the Penang Inshore Fishermen Welfare Association, will fundamentally rethink the trade-offs and synergies between mangrove restoration and expansion through commercial value chains.

REVIVE, Just Restoration and Equitable Value Chains for Inclusive, Viable Mangrove Ecosystems, will look beyond tree planting to understand how restored landscapes can support communities as well as ecosystems.

Led by Dr Aarti Krishnan, Senior Lecturer in Innovation and Sustainability at Alliance ˮ��ർ�� Business School, the project will work across three Malaysian mangrove landscapes: Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve, Sungai Acheh and Sungai Chenaam in Penang, and Setiu Wetlands State Park in Terengganu.

Mangroves protect shorelines, store carbon, sustain fisheries and support local livelihoods, but restoration projects can sometimes leave communities in low-paid roles or exclude them from the wider benefits created by healthier ecosystems.

REVIVE will test a different approach, combining community governance, environmental evidence and fairer routes into higher-value markets.

The project is funded by the Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate/Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and runs from July 2026 to June 2029.

The project will bring together a multi-disciplinary team from geography, marine ecology, economics, management studies, data and decision sciences.

Planned Outputs include articles, policy briefs, open datasets and map packs (restoration maps, blue carbon), innovative trade-off forward Business Models, roundtables, a community-led “Mangrove Memory Archive” capturing local experiences of floods, fish, food, work, loss and restoration.

Congratulations to Dr. Aarti Krishnan, Dr. Mehebub Sahana, Dr. Ahmad Aldrie Amir, Dr. B. Satyanarayana, Dr Giovanna Wolswijk, Dr. Subhasish Dey, Prof. Daniel Gartner, Radhika Bhargava, Sandra Sampaio and Pakcik Ilyas (PIFWA) .

An advisory board of government, conservation, responsible business and international development specialists will support the project.

Researchers build skills and connections at Methods@ˮ��ർ�� Summer School

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 12:02:45 +0100

The annual Methods@ˮ��ർ�� Summer School returned last week, bringing researchers together to meet and connect with one another while exchanging ideas and gaining new social science and humanities methods skills. Delegates travelled from across the world to attend the School, coming from Germany, Latvia, Denmark, Algeria, Brazil, Spain, USA, Norway and the Netherlands.

Methods@ˮ��ർ�� is an initiative funded by the University of ˮ��ർ��’s Faculty of Humanities, showcasing the University’s strength in research methods across the social sciences. This year’s Summer School gave delegates the chance to learn from leading experts, explore innovative approaches and become part of a supportive research community that extends well beyond the week.

Attendees had the opportunity to join one of four specialised courses – Using NVivo for Qualitative and Mixed-methods Analysis, Creative Approaches to Qualitative Research, Digital Methods, or Qualitative Interviewing. Course content was developed based on expertise and approaches from across the University in a range of methodological areas.

During the event, delegates shared positive feedback on the Summer School, appreciating the support given to them by facilitators. One student commented:

Another attendee, who took part in the Creative Approaches to Qualitative Research course, said:

Delegates were also invited to take part in social activities throughout the week, including a walking tour around ˮ��ർ��, helping them build connections and continue conversations outside the course sessions.

Students came away from the week feeling inspired and invigorated, with another student noting:

Dr Łukasz Szulc, Senior Lecturer in Digital Media and Culture and course lead for Digital Methods, also shared his reflections on the week:

To find out more about the Summer School and the courses that were on offer, visit the Schools and courses section of the .

Netflix's Heartstopper sparked global book-buying boom, study finds

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 09:30:00 +0100

A Netflix adaptation helped transform Heartstopper from a popular graphic novel into a global mainstream publishing success, according to new research from The University of ˮ��ർ�� and Princeton University.

The study found that the release of Heartstopper on Netflix in April 2022 triggered a dramatic and sustained rise in book sales across eleven countries, introducing the series to new audiences and helping it break out of its original graphic-novel niche.

Researchers analysed international sales data, online reader and viewer reviews, and UK book-buying trends to understand how the adaptation reshaped the reach and cultural standing of Alice Oseman's bestselling series.

In the weeks following the first season's release, weekly sales across the countries studied rose by more than 76,000 copies.

The research suggests the Netflix adaptation did far more than boost sales. It helped move Heartstopper into mainstream young-adult fiction and encouraged readers, families and gift-buyers who may never previously have encountered the books.

Key findings

Weekly sales increased by more than 76,000 copies following the release of the first Netflix season.
Strong sales growth occurred across both English-speaking and non-English-speaking countries.
In Brazil and Mexico, around 99% of sales came from translated local-language editions.
UK buyers most commonly discovered Heartstopper through its television adaptation.
Nearly two-thirds of UK buyers were aged between 13 and 24.
Around a quarter of purchases were gifts or purchases made for other people.

"The Netflix series did not simply amplify an existing audience,” said Dr Francesco Rampazzo, Lecturer in Social Statistics and Demography at The University of ˮ��ർ��. “It brought in new readers and changed how the books travelled, from a specialist graphic-novel readership into mainstream young-adult, retail and family purchase contexts.”

A global success built through local book markets

The study found that the Heartstopper effect extended well beyond English-speaking audiences. Countries including Poland, Spain, Brazil and Mexico all experienced substantial increases in book sales following the Netflix release.

Researchers say this demonstrates the importance of local publishing, translation and retail networks in turning global streaming successes into sustained book-market demand.

"What is striking is that the same story travels across very different countries, but it does so through local infrastructures,” said Kristopher Velasco, Assistant Professor of Sociology at Princeton University. “Translation, retail channels and media visibility all matter for whether a screen adaptation turns into sustained book demand.”

More than a bestseller

The researchers also examined thousands of reader and viewer reviews to understand how audiences engaged with Heartstopper across different media.

They found that viewers discussing the Netflix series were far more likely to emphasise themes of LGBTQ+ visibility and personal recognition, while book readers more often discussed recommending, gifting and sharing the series with others.

According to the researchers, this suggests that adaptations can change not only who consumes a story, but how it is understood and discussed.

"The same story means different things in different media settings,” said Dr Rampazzo. “On screen, Heartstopper was often discussed as a moment of visibility and recognition. In book reviews and buyer data, it also appears as something to buy, recommend, gift and pass on.”

Shared across generations

The study found evidence that Heartstopper's success extended beyond its core young-adult readership.

Reader reviews frequently described parents, grandparents and other relatives buying the books for younger family members. UK consumer data also showed that gifting accounted for a significant share of purchases.

The researchers argue that this wider circulation helped establish Heartstopper as a mainstream cultural phenomenon rather than a niche publishing success.

Final chapter approaches

The findings are published shortly before two major milestones for the franchise: the release of the final Heartstopper book on 2 July, and the Netflix film adaptation on 17 July.

Researchers say the ending of the series offers a rare opportunity to examine whether audiences built through streaming platforms continue to drive demand for books.

Publication details

Turning Pages into Screens: Media Adaptation and the Reclassification of Cultural Objects can be viewed .

Bank of England authors discuss trust, inflation and the future of money at Faculty of Humanities event

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 12:47:48 +0100

More than 140 guests gathered at Alliance ˮ��ർ�� Business School on 30 June for a special event with economists and authors and , celebrating the publication of their new book, Hosted by Professor , Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, the event brought together business leaders, policymakers, students and members of the public for a lively discussion on one of the most important – and often misunderstood – forces shaping everyday life: money.

Interviewed by , Editor of , the authors explored the origins of the book, the economic challenges facing the UK, and the critical role that trust plays in the monetary system. The discussion also examined inflation, financial stability, digita006C payments and the impact of emerging technologies on the future of money

Drawing on their experience at the Bank of England, Patel and Leslie explained how money is created, what drives inflation and how the financial system operates behind the scenes. The book takes readers inside one of the UK's most influential institutions, revealing the surprising stories, decisions and mechanisms that underpin modern economies, while offering an accessible guide to how money works and why it matters.

The event attracted a sell-out audience and included more than 30 students from Loreto Sixth Form College and Pendleton Sixth Form College. Students took part in the audience Q&A and had the opportunity to meet the authors during a special book signing following the discussion.

The event formed part of the University's ongoing engagement with the Bank of England and reflected the Faculty of Humanities' commitment to creating opportunities for public discussion around issues that shape society, policy and everyday life.

Experts call for national connected data model to transform children's services and boost UK economy

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:01:00 +0100

A new shows how proven approaches already working in Northern England can be scaled nationally to address the urgent need for better data sharing across children’s services

Published by Child of the North and partners, the new ‘Connecting data: Intelligent and informed delivery to support every child to succeed’ report provides a clear case for a national devolved approach to connected data.

The report reflects consensus across researchers, policymakers, public service leaders and practitioners and warns that children are being left unsupported, unseen and exposed to avoidable harm because services do not safely and lawfully share and link the information they already hold. It argues that effective data sharing, enabled by connected data infrastructure, is “literally a matter of life and death”. The report identifies a major national opportunity to strengthen public services, accelerate research and drive economic growth whilst retaining data sovereignty.

The report builds on a ˮ��ർ�� held earlier this year, which brought researchers from across the North of England together with policy teams and scientists from across Whitehall to discuss connected data practices and opportunities, with a particular focus on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Challenges in children’s lives span health, education, social care and wider family circumstances, but services and systems continue to operate in silos. The report highlights how the disconnect makes it harder to identify vulnerability early, coordinate support, and prevent escalation.

The report highlights the urgent need for a new approach to connecting data, drawing on previous analyses conducted by Child of the North and the Children’s Commissioner:

● More than 2 million children in England live in families facing complex needs

● 760,000 vulnerable children were seen by children’s services but received no formal support, while another 830,000 were not even on the radar of services.

● In 81% of serious incidents where a child died or suffered serious harm, lack of coordination between services was driven by poor information sharing, delayed responses and fragmentation.

The report highlights that poor connection between public services remains a persistent challenge. It argues that the challenge is not a lack of data, but a lack of a firm political commitment until now to use the infrastructure, mandates, governance, and delivery models that would allow data to be used safely and meaningfully across organisational boundaries.

The report sets out a clear solution and calls on the government to adopt a national “Connected ICB (Integrated Care Board)” model, using NHS infrastructure to link data across health, education, social care and other services. Crucially, this is not a single central database, but a devolved model where local systems (and communities) retain control of their data while contributing to a connected national ecosystem that enables shared learning, improved services, and stronger evidence for improving the health of children.

The report concludes that:

“The goal is not a single central database, but an interconnected ecosystem in which trusted local systems generate insight, improve services, and support research and innovation at national scale.”

The report draws on real-world examples, including Connected Bradford, which has demonstrated how linked data across health, education, social care and policing can reveal patterns of need across populations, support earlier intervention, improve coordination between services, and enable research and evaluation at scale. These examples show that connected data can be delivered safely, lawfully and with public trust when a devolved model is adopted.

The report highlights a significant opportunity for the UK. Connected data infrastructure is described as “an asset for science, innovation, and economic growth.” A national model could strengthen the UK’s position as a leader in data-driven research and public service innovation, while improving outcomes for children and families.

The report stresses the current costs of treating symptoms late rather than addressing causes early and argues that connected data for connected services safeguards the sustainability of the state, the cohesion of communities, and the path to enduring national prosperity while retaining data sovereignty.

Its ten recommendations include a national mandate for lawful data linkage, a Connected ICB programme, long-term investment, trusted governance, practical frontline information sharing, education as a full partner, and stronger accountability for shared outcomes.

The authors urge the government to move from isolated local innovation to a nationally backed, regionally delivered model for connected data. This should begin with children and families, given the cross-cutting nature of their needs. The evidence, expertise and practical examples already exist; what is now needed is the leadership, investment and mandate to scale what works.

The report makes clear that connected data is not a technical upgrade but a foundational shift in how public services operate.

The report states:

“Connected data must be seen as core public-service infrastructure: essential if we are serious about prevention, earlier intervention, public trust and better outcomes.”

Without it, the report warns, the government will continue to respond to problems too late and with only partial visibility.

Haroon Chowdry, Chief Executive of the Centre for Young Lives, said:

“Children’s lives don’t fit neatly into the silos that services are built around. Whether it's education, healthcare or child protection, if services can’t see the full picture then children fall through the gaps, and opportunities to help them are missed. This means worse outcomes, wasted potential and sometimes devastating harm.

This report shows that the solutions already exist. Connected data can transform how we identify the needs of children and families, enabling better and earlier support - not just keeping children safe, but also delivering a better deal for children, public services and the economy.

If the next Prime Minister wants to ensure all young people can do well, they must seize this moment to break up the silos holding back public services. Now is the time to be much more ambitious about using connected data to boost life chances for all children, wherever they are growing up.”

Professor Steve Turner, President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said:

“The shift from analogue to digital is key to helping the Westminster government achieve their ambition to raise the healthiest generation ever. By connecting data safely across health, education and other children's services, we can identify need earlier, intervene sooner and help ensure every child, regardless of where they grow up, has the opportunity to thrive.”

Dr Mike McKean, Vice President for Policy, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said:

“Far too many children growing up in our most deprived communities experience worse health and poorer life chances simply because of where they live. Whether through an increased risk of obesity, tooth decay, respiratory conditions caused by poor housing and air pollution, or delayed access to the care and support they need, these stark health inequalities are unacceptable.”

Dr Camilla Kingdon, Paediatrician and former President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said:

“As an NHS paediatrician I have learnt that so much of children’s health and wellbeing lies beyond our health services. If we genuinely want to improve the life chances of all children in this country and put their futures onto a secure footing, it is imperative that we are able to see the whole picture – not just through one narrow lens. All the services involved in supporting our children need to be linked and we know from groups like Born in Bradford how this can be done safely and put to critically important use to help children flourish. Now is the time for action.”

Professor Mark Mon Williams, Director of the Born in Bradford Centre for Applied Education Research said:

“The UK has a remarkable opportunity to harness its data assets in an ethical way that directly benefits all children and young people and places the UK at the vanguard of the data and AI revolution sweeping the world. The Child of the North model shows how the UK can control its destiny and grow its economy by leveraging our existing assets, including the NHS, by adopting a regionally devolved approach to connecting data.”

Connecting data: Intelligent and informed delivery to support every child to succeed, is available

Celebrating longevity and connection in Cheetham Hill

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 16:21:13 +0100

A new publication sharing the life stories of a group of older south Asian men living in North ˮ��ർ�� has been published at a celebration event at the Guidance Hub in Cheetham Hill.

Khidmat: Our Stories has been co-produced by researchers from the at the University of ˮ��ർ�� and members of the Khidmat Group, a community organisation for older south Asian men. It features the first-person life stories of eight group members, alongside striking photographs of the men in their neighbourhoods in Crumpsall and Cheetham Hill taken by documentary photographer .

Members of the Khidmat Group were joined by 70 family, friends, community organisations and academics to mark the booklet’s launch on Friday 3 July. Councillor Shaukat Ali, Lord Mayor opened the event and commended the project:

“The booklet brings people together and creates opportunities for learning and understanding across generations and communities. Thank you to the members of the Khidmat Group. Your openness and honesty created something truly meaningful which can inspire and educate others. On behalf of the City of ˮ��ർ��, I congratulate everyone who made this project a real success. It is a wonderful example of when the university and communities work together.”

Dr Camilla Lewis is a researcher in the ˮ��ർ�� Urban Ageing Research Group who helped to co-produce the booklet. She explains:

The Khidmat Group was formed in recognition of a dearth of social opportunities for older south Asian men. The group meets regularly at the Guidance Hub in Cheetham Hill and also acts as a gateway to public services, with representatives from the health, housing, education and employment sectors regularly attending sessions to provide information, guidance and support.

Dr Mohammad Younas Perwaz, founder and chairman of Khidmat, said: “As I entered my later years, I recognised that many elderly individuals suffer from loneliness, isolation, and a lack of social engagement. Khidmat was established to address these issues and provide meaningful support and companionship. Today, the organisation continues to serve the community successfully.”

Khidmat: Our Stories was produced with support from Healthier Futures at the University of ˮ��ർ�� and the Guidance Hub community organisation. It is available to .

MIoIR welcomes global innovation community to R&D Management Conference 2026 in ˮ��ർ��

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 10:41:10 +0100

The (MIoIR), based at Alliance ˮ��ർ�� Business School, welcomed more than 600 delegates from across the world to the , hosted at The University of ˮ��ർ�� from 22–24 June.

Returning to its birthplace for the first time in 13 years, the conference marked a significant milestone for the global R&D Management community, bringing together leading academics, industry practitioners and policymakers working across research, technology and innovation.

Supporting the next generation of researchers

Ahead of the main conference, MIoIR also hosted the R&D Management Doctoral Colloquium on 20–21 June, bringing together around 30 PhD students from across the global research community.

The colloquium provided an opportunity for doctoral researchers to engage with leading scholars, gain insight into academic careers, and receive feedback on their work, while building connections with peers. Funded by RADMA, the programme was offered free of charge to all selected participants.

A global forum on creativity and resilience

Organised around the theme “Creativity and Resilience in an Era of Technological Disruption”, the conference explored how organisations, systems and societies are responding to rapid technological change.

Across three days, delegates participated in plenary sessions, parallel research tracks, panel discussions and workshops, alongside a vibrant programme of networking and social events.

The programme opened with institutional welcomes, including remarks from Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of ˮ��ർ��, and Professor Ken McPhail, Head of Alliance ˮ��ർ�� Business School, alongside senior leaders from the University.

International expertise and thought leadership

The conference featured keynote contributions from internationally recognised scholars and industry leaders, including Professor Tim Minshall (University of Cambridge), Professor Eva Niesten (SKEMA Business School), Professor Annabelle Gawer (University of Surrey), Professor Linus Dahlander (ESMT Berlin), Dr Peter Gallagher (former global R&D leader at Unilever) and Gemma Gratton (ˮ��ർ�� Fashion Week).

Their plenary sessions explored topics ranging from the links between R&D and manufacturing and climate resilience, to digital platforms, networks and the role of creativity in shaping future industries.

ˮ��ർ�� at the heart of innovation

Hosting the conference in ˮ��ർ�� provided a fitting setting for discussions on innovation and transformation. As the birthplace of the R&D Management Conference and widely recognised as the world’s first industrial city, ˮ��ർ�� offered a powerful setting, reflecting both its historic role in industrial transformation and its continued reinvention through digital, health and advanced manufacturing innovation.

The organisers also sought to embed a distinctive ˮ��ർ�� character throughout the conference, bringing local voices and experiences into the programme alongside international keynote speakers. Delegates were given opportunities to engage directly with the city’s innovation ecosystem, including visits to the University’s Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre and the Data Visualisation Observatory.

Events took place across key University venues, including the Nancy Rothwell Building, with social highlights such as the conference dinner at Victoria Warehouse showcasing ˮ��ർ��’s distinctive blend of industrial heritage and contemporary innovation.

Bringing together the global innovation community

Professor Silvia Massini, Conference Chair, said:

Co-Chair Dr Mabel Sánchez Barrioluengo added:

A collaborative effort

The conference was organised by a dedicated team from MIoIR and Alliance ˮ��ർ�� Business School.

The event was generously supported by the University’s Hallsworth Conference Fund, alongside partners including the R&D Management journal, RADMA, Elsevier and The Productivity Institute.

Universities must rethink how they prepare students for an AI-powered world, study argues

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:14:25 +0100

Universities need to rethink how they teach, assess and prepare students for employment as artificial intelligence becomes an increasingly important part of everyday life and work, according to a new study from The University of ˮ��ർ��.

The paper argues that AI is changing how people learn, work and make decisions, and that universities need to adapt to this new reality.

The study suggests universities should move beyond concerns about plagiarism and chatbot misuse, and instead focus on helping students develop the skills that AI cannot easily replace.

According to the research, graduates will increasingly need strong critical thinking, communication skills, ethical awareness and the ability to make sense of complex situations alongside an understanding of how AI works.

The paper, authored by Dr Kelechi Ekuma from The University of ˮ��ർ��'s Global Development Institute, argues that development studies is particularly well placed to respond because of its long-standing focus on power, inequality, governance and social change.

What skills will matter most?

The study argues that employability should not be seen simply as a list of skills that students need to learn. Instead, universities should help students develop the ability to adapt to changing technology and new ways of working.

The paper identifies five capabilities that are likely to become increasingly important:

· Understanding how AI works and where it can make mistakes

· Making good judgements in complex situations

· Thinking about the ethical consequences of decisions

· Communicating and working effectively with others

· Adapting to new technologies and ways of working

Rather than producing technical AI experts, the paper argues universities should prepare graduates who can question AI-generated information, recognise its limitations and apply human judgement to real-world problems.

Looking beyond plagiarism concerns

The study also argues that universities have focused too heavily on concerns about cheating and AI-generated coursework.

Instead of relying mainly on AI detection tools, the paper calls for assessment methods that better test students' thinking, judgement and understanding.

Suggested approaches include oral examinations, reflective accounts of how AI was used, collaborative projects and exercises based on real-world challenges.

According to the study, these approaches are better suited to assessing the skills that remain distinctly human and are increasingly valued by employers.

AI should be discussed across degree courses

The paper argues that AI should not be treated as a specialist topic limited to technology courses. Instead, universities should help students understand how AI is affecting issues such as government, public services, inequality, employment and international development.

The study warns that graduates entering careers in government, charities, international organisations, consultancy and public services are likely to encounter AI-powered systems throughout their working lives, regardless of whether they have a technical background.

What the researcher says

“The debate about AI in universities has often focused on whether students are using chatbots to complete assignments,” said Dr Kelechi Ekuma. “While those concerns are understandable, they risk missing a much bigger transformation. AI is changing how knowledge is created, how decisions are made and how many jobs are carried out - universities need to think carefully about how they prepare students for that future.”

"The skills that are likely to matter most are those that AI struggles to replicate, such as critical thinking, ethical judgement, communication and the ability to understand complex social issues."

Publication details

The paper was published in journal Frontiers in Education.

DOI:

ˮ��ർ�� accent study reveals the vowel that gives away your social class

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 16:54:20 +0100

The way people in ˮ��ർ�� pronounce a single vowel sound can reveal their social class, according to new research from The University of ˮ��ർ��.

The study examined the pronunciation of the final vowel in words such as happy, baby, city and chilly – known by linguists as the "happy vowel".

Key findings

The pronunciation of the "happy vowel" remains one of the strongest indicators of social class in ˮ��ർ��
Middle-class speakers tend to use a tenser vowel (more like “happee”) than working-class speakers (closer to “happeh”)
The feature has remained remarkably stable across generations despite major social and economic change
Researchers also identified differences linked to ethnicity among working-class speakers
Speakers showed little difference between formal and informal speech, suggesting they are largely unaware of the variation

A small sound with a big social meaning

Analysing recordings from people of different ages, genders, ethnicities and social backgrounds, the researchers found that pronunciation of this vowel remains one of the clearest markers of social class in the city's accent.

Middle-class speakers were more likely to produce a pronunciation closer to "happee", while working-class speakers tended to use the traditionally broader ˮ��ർ�� pronunciation, closer to "happeh".

The researchers also found differences linked to ethnicity, with working-class South Asian Mancunians generally producing a tenser vowel than their White and Black working-class peers.

A feature that has resisted change

Despite the dramatic social, economic and cultural changes ˮ��ർ�� has experienced over recent decades, the researchers found no evidence that this aspect of the city's accent is disappearing.

Instead, the pronunciation has remained strikingly stable across generations, making it an unusual example of a speech feature that has resisted change over time.

The study also found that speakers changed this feature very little between formal and informal speech, suggesting that many people are largely unaware they are using it.

What the researchers say

"Our findings show that one of the most distinctive features of the ˮ��ർ�� accent has remained remarkably resilient, even in a city that has undergone enormous social transformation," said Dr Maciej Baranowski, Senior Lecturer in English Sociolinguistics at The University of ˮ��ർ��.

"The way Mancunians pronounce the 'happy' vowel is influenced by factors such as social class and ethnicity, but interestingly not by age. That tells us it is a stable feature of the accent that has been passed from generation to generation, rather than one that is changing over time.

"Looking at how accents are distributed tells us a lot about society,” said co-author Dr Danielle Turton, Senior Lecturer in Sociolinguistics at Lancaster University. “Although people sometimes change aspects of their speech as they move into different social or professional environments, many retain strong connections to the way they grew up speaking.

"It's important because it shows that local working-class speech isn't simply being washed away by regeneration or social change. These local ways of speaking remain an important part of ˮ��ർ��'s identity."

What accents tell us about society

The researchers argue that accents continue to reflect wider patterns of inequality and opportunity, challenging the idea that social class has become irrelevant in modern Britain.

At the same time, they suggest growing exposure to different regional accents through podcasts and social media may be helping to reduce traditional prejudices about how people sound.

The study is based on acoustic analysis of recordings from 109 ˮ��ർ��-born speakers, making it one of the largest detailed investigations of this aspect of the city's accent.

Publication details

The paper was published in journal Language Variation and Change.

DOI:

‘Ragebait’ culture on social media exposed in new study

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:47:43 +0100

A new study has revealed how social media creators are turning anger into entertainment, and what that means for public debate.

Research by Dr Nicholas John from The University of ˮ��ർ�� and Dr CJ Reynolds from the University of Copenhagen has explored the rise of ‘ragebait’ - content deliberately designed to provoke anger - and how it is reshaping the way audiences engage with morality, accountability and online behaviour.

Key insights

‘Ragebait’ is an increasingly popular strategy for generating attention online
Content creators are engineering confrontations to provoke emotional reactions
Audiences are drawn to feelings of moral superiority and catharsis
Online ‘accountability’ is often reduced to spectacle rather than real change
The trend reflects a shift in how public shaming operates in digital culture

Why this matters

From callout videos to viral confrontations in public spaces, outrage has become a powerful currency in today’s attention economy.

Dr John’s research examines the widely viewed ‘Cart Narcs’ video series, where members of the public are confronted - and often provoked - for failing to return their shopping trolleys to storage bays in supermarket car parks.

While such content appears to promote accountability, the study argues that its real appeal lies in carefully staged conflict.

“Ragebait works because it blurs the line between entertainment and morality,” says Dr John. “It invites viewers to feel they are witnessing justice being done, while actually consuming a highly controlled and repeatable form of provoked outrage.”

Entertainment disguised as accountability

The study identifies a formula behind successful ragebait content - creators construct predictable scenarios, provoke emotional reactions, and then frame themselves as morally justified.

This allows audiences to experience what researchers describe as ‘accountability entertainment’ which stages wrongdoing and its punishment, but without any meaningful consequences beyond the screen.

Rather than encouraging broader social change, the research suggests this format focuses attention on individuals instead of systems.

“Viewers are encouraged to judge and condemn, but not to engage with the wider social conditions that shape people’s behaviour,” Dr John explains. “Accountability becomes something you watch - not something you do.”

The politics of outrage

The research also highlights how ragebait repurposes elements of callout culture – something which is originally rooted in social justice activism - into monetised entertainment.
In doing so, it shifts power dynamics - instead of challenging powerful figures, creators often target ordinary individuals, amplifying their mistakes for mass audiences.

This creates what the study describes as a form of ‘atomised politics’, where collective action is replaced by individual judgement and fleeting moments of online outrage.

What needs to change

The study calls for greater awareness of how emotionally provocative content is produced and consumed, particularly as platforms continue to reward engagement-driven formats.

Understanding the mechanics behind ragebait, says Dr John, is key to recognising its broader social impact.

Publication details

The research is published in Information, Communication & Society.

DOI:

Major discovery reveals untold story behind career revival of D. H. Lawrence

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:22:44 +0100

A previously unpublished letter by D. H. Lawrence, discovered by researchers from The University of ˮ��ർ��, reveals the crucial role played by a radical publisher in rescuing the future author of Lady Chatterley's Lover from one of the lowest points in his career.

The letter was uncovered in the archive of C. W. Daniel – a radical Tolstoyan who was also a pacifist and a vegetarian – which is held at the International Institute for Social History in Amsterdam.

Dr Ingrid Hanson, who was researching Daniel's anti-war publishing activities and his prosecution under the Defence of the Realm Act for publishing Rose Allatini's controversial 1918 novel Despised and Rejected, came across the unexpected correspondence while examining archival documents.

Recognising its significance, she shared the letter with colleague and D. H. Lawrence specialist Dr Howard Booth, who had previously highlighted Lawrence's connections with Daniel.

The discovery provides fresh insight into a crucial period in Lawrence's life, following the suppression of The Rainbow in 1915, his expulsion from Cornwall during the First World War and a period of financial hardship that left him relying on financial support from friends and his sister.

Key discoveries

The newly uncovered letter reveals:

The importance of publisher C. W. Daniel in helping relaunch Lawrence's literary career after the First World War
Previously unknown information about planned editions of Lawrence's work
Evidence of writing projects and publishing plans that have not previously been documented
New details about the professional relationship between Lawrence and Daniel – indeed it is the only known letter we have from Lawrence to Daniel
The extent of connections between prominent literary figures and Britain's anti-war and radical cultural networks

Crucial figure in Lawrence's comeback

D. H. Lawrence is today best known as the author of Lady Chatterley's Lover, Sons and Lovers and Women in Love. However, the newly discovered letter highlights the challenges he faced in the years before he became one of Britain's most influential twentieth-century writers.

After The Rainbow was prosecuted for obscenity in 1915 and withdrawn from circulation, Lawrence's literary career suffered a major setback. The discovery sees Lawrence acknowledging that Daniel played a far more important role in helping the writer rebuild his reputation and publishing career than has previously been recognised.

Dr Booth explained that Daniel published Lawrence's first prose book in nearly four years. It helped provide a route back into print and a £15 advance against royalties – a significant sum of money in those days.

What the researchers say

"The letter shows how important Daniel was to Lawrence's post-war relaunch after the suppression of The Rainbow in 1915, being ordered out of Cornwall under the Defence of the Realm Act in 1917 and wartime poverty," said Dr Howard Booth.

Dr Booth is currently completing a book on Lawrence and politics, and plans to explore the significance of the letter in further detail.

Revealing Britain's overlooked anti-war literary networks

Beyond its significance for Lawrence scholarship, the discovery also provides a new perspective on the networks of writers, publishers and activists involved in Britain's anti-war culture during and immediately after the First World War.

Daniel was a prominent pacifist and radical publisher whose activities brought him into conflict with authorities during the war. His archive offers a unique window into the literary and political communities that challenged mainstream attitudes towards war and conscientious objection.

Dr Hanson said: "It's exciting to have discovered it, and it shows the extent not only of C. W. Daniel's contacts and clients but also of the network of well-known writers contributing to Britain's radical anti-war culture, which is often depicted as marginal."

Why this matters

The discovery demonstrates the continuing value of archival research in uncovering new evidence about major literary figures.

More than ninety years after Lawrence's death, previously unknown documents are still emerging that can reshape our understanding of his life, work and professional relationships.

The letter also offers fresh evidence of how radical publishers and anti-war campaigners helped sustain literary culture during a turbulent period in British history, revealing connections that have remained hidden for more than a century.

University of ˮ��ർ�� partners with the Academy’s Nicholl Fellowships in screenwriting

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 14:21:29 +0100

The University of ˮ��ർ�� is proud to be among the global universities, screenwriting labs, film festivals and filmmaker programs partnering with the Academy’s Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting to help identify possible Nicholl Fellows in the 2026-2027 program cycle. The University of ˮ��ർ�� is one of only four partner institutions in the UK.

The Nicholl Fellowships, established by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, seeks to identify and encourage talented new screenwriters from across the globe. Partner institutions may recommend up to two screenwriters per year to submit a feature screenplay to the Nicholl Fellowships.

At the University of ˮ��ർ�� recommendations will be made by Gonzalo Maza and Jonathan Hourigan, screenwriters and lecturers in the Centre for New Writing. Gonzalo is the co-writer of Una mujer fantástica (A fantastic woman), winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2018. Maza, a member of the Academy, said:

If you would like to be considered, .

Hourigan notes that “We're confident of receiving some strong submissions from our MA Screenwriters but in this, the first year of our partnership, deadlines are tight and the criteria strict, so do read the guidelines and criteria carefully.”

Up to five US$35,000 Nicholl Fellowships are awarded annually. Fellows receive ongoing mentoring from Academy members and networking opportunities from the Academy.

Nicholl Fellows participate in pitch workshops, media training sessions, meet-and-greets and more. They also receive ongoing career advancement support through the Gold Alumni Network Program, which provides continued access, opportunity, professional development and education for alumni of the Academy’s global talent development programs.

All Nicholl Fellows' screenplays are archived in the Academy Collection and are accessible through the Academy’s Margaret Herrick Library.

The program was endowed by Gladys “Gee” Nicholl in honour of her husband, writer-producer Don Nicholl. The Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting program has awarded 191 fellowships since 1986.

For more information, visit the .

‘Blind ways of seeing’, embodied knowledge and the return of the polymath: Summer Solstice with Creative ˮ��ർ�� and Jodrell Bank

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 13:46:03 +0100

and were delighted to host as part of Creative ˮ��ർ��'s Solstice and Equinox series.

The panel event brought together leading physicists and artists underneath the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to explore the interactions between art and science, the positive friction and overlaps between their practice and the benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration.

The Solstice and Equinox Series brings innovative creative artists to The University of ˮ��ർ��'s four cultural institutions. Each of our unique cultural institutions – the Whitworth, the John Rylands Research Institute and Library, ˮ��ർ�� Museum and Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement – focus on building civic, national and international partnerships to advance the social, environmental and individual wellbeing of our communities.

The evening began with an opportunity for guests to view the , on display at Jodrell Bank until 7^th September 2026 as part of their ‘Curious Universe’ series. Cosmic Titans was co-developed by artists and physicists at The University of Nottingham’s , a dedicated space to encourage and study interactions between artists and physicists. Co-founded by and , physicists at The University of Nottingham, the space highlights the potential of creativity in accelerating innovation and the widening of scientific participation in the arts.

Following the exhibition viewing, attendees were invited to the Space Dome for the keynote panel discussion, ‘Interdisciplinary approaches to Quantum’. After an introduction by , Director of the Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement, the audience welcomed Prof David Olusoga OBE, Prof Weinfurtner, Dr Kuchner and renowned artist, to the stage.

Prof David Olusoga began discussions by mapping the division between the arts and science replicated in our culture and education system, which ignores the potential overlaps they share. Drawing on the historical figure of the polymath, Prof Olusoga established the historical and social significance of collaboration between the often-divided fields.

The panel discussion was centred around the shared collaborative experience between Prof Weinfurtner, Dr Kuchner and Conrad Shawcross. As co-founders of ArtLab at the University of Nottingham, Prof Weinfurtner and Dr Kuchner had invited Shawcross to become one of the first resident artists of their space.

The panellists discussed the cost of the division between science and art that is hard-wired into our culture and thought. The panel talked of the ‘catastrophic’ impact of STEM on the arts, and the narrowing specialisation of scientific careers with seniority. By bringing creative practice and art into science, the panel highlighted the two-way benefits of collaboration, not only in mediating abstract concepts to wider audiences but the benefit of artistic representation of scientists themselves.

The panellists then concluded with reflections of their experience collaborating, before opening the discussion up for questions from the audience.

Following the panel discussion, attendees were invited to enjoy a DJ set and multimedia performance by , another ArtLab resident artist and contributor to Cosmic Titans. Audiences were given a demonstration of the technology and science behind the piece, which used an interferometer, a device used to measure the interaction of light waves, to produce music and visual displays.

‘Cosmic Titans – in-conversation with David Olusoga’ was hosted in partnership with Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement as a part of Creative ˮ��ർ��’s Solstice and Equinox series. To find out more about future events in this series and many more, .

Creative ˮ��ർ�� appoints new Director

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 13:49:26 +0100

Currently a Professor and Head of Enterprise (Academic) at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), Michelle will take up her new roles on 14 September 2026.

As Director, she will lead the strategic direction and development of the University’s Creative ˮ��ർ�� interdisciplinary research platform, bringing together academics, cultural partners and communities to advance creative research, practice and innovation. She will also be responsible for fostering partnerships, strengthening external engagement and enhancing the University’s impact across the creative and cultural sectors.

Michelle brings considerable research and creative industry engagement experience to the role. Her research practice explores audience response to live and recorded music, neurological response to music listening, music and time, perception of contemporary music, entrepreneurship, and music and Parkinson’s disease.

Her research on ‘What makes live music special?’, in collaboration with the University of ˮ��ർ��, was featured in UK Research and Innovation’s ‘101 jobs that change the world’ series. She was Principal Investigator of the £1 million RNCM StART Entrepreneurship Project, exploring the most effective ways to train creative industries students in entrepreneurial skills.

She is a Fellow of Enterprise Educators UK (EEUK), chaired the subject association for music in higher education, MusicHE, and was a member of the Advance HE Aurora Advisory Group.

Her publications include multiple journal articles and book chapters, and a co-edited volume entitled Music and Time: Psychology, Philosophy, Practice. She is joint Editor-in-Chief of the journal Psychology of Music.

Michelle won the I Love ˮ��ർ�� Alan Turing Award in 2025 for innovation, creativity and smart thinking, and was a finalist in the Northern Power Women Awards in the People with Purpose - Public Sector category in 2026.

Professor Fiona Devine, Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of ˮ��ർ��, said:

Michelle said:

Tombs reveal Ancient Egyptian religion was constantly evolving, book reveals

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0100

Ancient Egyptian religion was not as fixed and unchanging as many people imagine, according to new research by ˮ��ർ�� Egyptologist .

His new book reveals that beliefs and funerary practices evolved even within a single generation, showing that ancient Egyptian religion was dynamic, adaptable and shaped by changing social priorities.

The study focuses on tombs at Saqqara, one of Egypt’s most important burial sites, and explores how tomb owners commissioned and decorated their burial spaces in ways that reflected both tradition and contemporary change.

Key insights

Ancient Egyptian funerary texts were not fully standardised during this period, and varied between tombs
Tomb decoration involved the choices and priorities of the tomb owner or commissioner
Religious practices and funerary fashions could change within a single generation
Local traditions shaped how beliefs were expressed in places such as Saqqara
Egyptian religion was flexible and evolving rather than completely fixed over time

Why this matters

Ancient Egypt is often portrayed as a civilisation governed by rigid traditions and unchanging religious beliefs lasting thousands of years.

However this research challenges that perception, revealing a society in which religious ideas and funerary practices adapted over time, even across the span of a single lifetime.

Rather than being rigid, Egyptian religious culture responded to changing tastes, priorities and local traditions.

A human story told through tombs

At the heart of the book is the idea that tombs were highly personal spaces.

The decoration, inscriptions and arrangement of funerary texts within tombs at Saqqara reflected the involvement of those commissioning them. While these tombs drew on established religious traditions, they also reveal changing fashions and evolving approaches to the afterlife.

Two tombs built only a generation apart could already show noticeable differences in style, emphasis and religious presentation.

What the research found

Drawing on archaeological evidence from Saqqara, the study shows that:

Funerary texts and images differed between tombs during this period
Tomb decoration reflected individual commissions rather than a single rigid template
Religious styles and practices evolved noticeably over relatively short periods of time

The findings challenge the long-standing image of Egyptian religion as static and entirely controlled from the top down by priests and kings.

Why Saqqara matters

Saqqara, the necropolis of ancient Memphis, provides an unusually rich record of religious and artistic change.

The book demonstrates how local traditions shaped tomb decoration and funerary expression, revealing how broader religious beliefs could be adapted differently within particular communities.

A different view of ancient religion

The research presents ancient Egyptian religion as:

Evolving rather than fixed
Influenced by local communities and changing fashions
Shaped through personal commissions and lived experience

In short, the study suggests that ancient Egyptians were not simply preserving ancient traditions unchanged - they were continually adapting them for new generations.

Publication details

The Transmission of the Book of the Dead in New Kingdom Tombs at Saqqara will be published in paperback by on June 25^th, but is also currently available to read online via .

UK urged to learn from EU deforestation law as study reveals global beef trade challenges

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 11:00:00 +0100

The UK could face significant challenges if it follows the European Union's lead and introduces tougher restrictions on imports linked to deforestation, according to new research from The University of ˮ��ർ��.

The study examines how the EU's landmark Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR) is likely to work in practice in Brazil's beef sector, which is one of the world's largest sources of beef exports and a major driver of tropical deforestation.

Researchers found that despite sophisticated monitoring systems and environmental regulations, major gaps remain between the EU's requirements and the way Brazil's cattle industry is governed, potentially limiting the effectiveness of the legislation.

The findings come as the UK considers strengthening its own approach to tackling imported deforestation. Environmental groups and policymakers have called for tougher measures on products linked to forest destruction, with the EU's legislation widely viewed as a potential model.

The EUDR requires companies importing products including beef, soy, cocoa, coffee, palm oil and timber into the EU to prove they are not linked to deforestation. Businesses that fail to comply could face fines and exclusion from the European market.

However, the researchers argue that regulations alone cannot solve the problem if they do not align with the governance systems in producing countries.

The study analysed how Brazil's public authorities, private companies and multi-stakeholder initiatives measure up against six key EU requirements, including deforestation-free sourcing, legality, traceability and transparency.

Three major barriers identified

The researchers identified three main obstacles to successful implementation:

- Differences in how forests are defined mean that large areas of Brazil's Cerrado savanna - an ecosystem under intense environmental pressure - fall outside the EU's definition of forest, creating what the researchers describe as a major loophole.
- Brazil's monitoring and traceability systems remain fragmented - although the country has extensive environmental and livestock databases, they are often poorly integrated which makes it difficult to track cattle throughout the supply chain.
- Changing global trade patterns may reduce the EU's influence - while Europe was once a major destination for Brazilian beef, China now buys around 60% of Brazil's exports, compared with around 5% going to the EU.

Risks of shifting rather than solving the problem

The researchers warn that regulations introduced by wealthy consumer markets can unintentionally shift compliance costs onto farmers and suppliers in producing countries, particularly smaller producers who may lack the resources to meet complex new requirements.

They argue that import regulations are most likely to succeed when accompanied by investment in traceability systems, technical support and cooperation between importing and producing countries.

Improving global cooperation

The researchers recommend closer cooperation between Brazil and consumer markets such as the EU, including better integration of environmental monitoring systems, support for small producers and greater harmonisation of definitions and standards.

They argue that such measures would help ensure that anti-deforestation policies deliver genuine environmental benefits rather than simply redirecting trade flows or shifting compliance burdens elsewhere.

What the experts say

"The EU's deforestation regulation represents a major shift in how sustainability is governed globally. But our findings show that regulations alone are not enough,” said lead author John James Loomis, a researcher at The University of ˮ��ർ��'s Global Development Institute and Fundação Getulio Vargas.

"The study highlights a wider challenge facing governments around the world – whether in the EU, the UK or elsewhere, efforts to tackle imported deforestation need to work with producer countries rather than simply impose new requirements on them,” said co-author Professor Khalid Nadvi, Professor of International Development at The University of ˮ��ർ��’s Global Development Institute and Head of the School of Environment, Education and Development.

"Effective environmental governance depends on cooperation, capacity-building and shared responsibility across global supply chains."

Publication details

The paper was published in journal Global Policy.

DOI:

University of ˮ��ർ�� recognised at national lifelong learning awards

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:35:15 +0100

The event brought together institutions from across the UK to share best practice, explore innovation in lifelong learning, and celebrate impactful partnerships that are widening participation and supporting learners at all stages of life.

The University was proud to be recognised on the national stage, receiving the Institutional Partnership Award for its collaboration with the Bank of England on the Teach Economics programme.

This flagship initiative is designed to support the teaching of economics in schools and colleges, equipping educators with the tools, resources and confidence to inspire the next generation of economists. A key ambition of the programme is to improve diversity within the subject, helping to broaden access and encourage students from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue economics through further study and into higher education.

The award recognises the strength of collaboration between academic, professional services and external partners, as well as the programme’s continued evolution and commitment to evaluation and impact.

Professor Ang Davies, University Academic Lead for Lifelong Learning, said:

The recognition reflects the University’s continued commitment to lifelong learning and to creating opportunities that enable learners from all backgrounds to engage with higher education.

New survey seeks women's experiences of travel and road safety in Greater ˮ��ർ��

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 13:34:24 +0100

Women across Greater ˮ��ർ�� are being invited to take part in a major new study exploring how safe they feel when travelling around the region, as researchers seek to know more about the unique challenges women face on and around the region’s road and transport networks.

The University of ˮ��ർ�� and Greater ˮ��ർ�� Combined Authority (GMCA) have joined forces to launch a new survey asking women about their experiences as drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users.

The research will help build one of the most detailed pictures yet of women's experiences of road safety in Greater ˮ��ർ�� and help identify practical ways to improve safety, confidence and inclusion across the region’s transport system.

The project is funded through the Vision Zero Innovation Fund and is informed by the Gender-Based Violence Strategy. It forms part of Greater ˮ��ർ��'s wider Vision Zero ambition to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on the region's roads.

Researchers Dr Caroline Miles and Professor Rose Broad are leading the study, which will examine inequalities faced by women road users and explore how experiences of safety can differ depending on how people travel.

The team is particularly interested in understanding barriers that may affect women's confidence when using roads and transport networks, as well as identifying opportunities to improve safety for current and future generations of road users.

Women living, working or travelling in Greater ˮ��ർ�� are being encouraged to complete the short online survey and share their insights and concerns.

The survey will explore issues including:

Experiences of travelling as a driver, passenger, pedestrian, cyclist or public transport user
Feelings of safety and confidence while travelling
Worries about road safety and personal security
Barriers that influence travel choices
Ideas for improving safety and accessibility
Evidence to support future changes

The survey is the first part of a wider research project being delivered by The University of ˮ��ർ�� on behalf of the Safer Roads Greater ˮ��ർ�� Partnership Board.

Alongside the survey, participants will have the opportunity to take part in follow-up focus groups to provide more detailed insights into their experiences.

The findings will be presented to the Greater ˮ��ർ�� Safer Roads Partnership Board later this year.

The researchers hope the project will help ensure women's perspectives are better reflected in future road safety policies, interventions and transport planning.

By capturing the insights of women from a wide range of backgrounds, ages and travel habits, the study aims to create a stronger evidence base to support safer, more inclusive streets across Greater ˮ��ർ��.

“It is vital that everyone feels safe travelling on foot, by bike or in a vehicle, and we need to understand specifically how women experience Greater ˮ��ർ��'s roads so we can continue to address barriers they may face,” said Dame Sarah Storey, Active Travel Commissioner for Greater ˮ��ർ��.

"Women use roads and transport networks every day, but their experiences are not always fully reflected in the evidence that informs road safety policy and planning,” said Dr Miles. “We know that concerns about safety can influence how, when and whether people travel, yet there has been relatively little research exploring these issues from women's perspectives.

“By listening to their experiences, we can build a clearer understanding of the challenges women face and identify where improvements could make the greatest difference.

"Road safety is about more than preventing collisions - it's also about ensuring people feel confident and secure when moving around their communities,” said Professor Broad. “The insights gathered through this research will help us understand what helps women feel safe, what creates barriers or concerns, and what practical changes could improve their experiences.

“We want the findings to support evidence-based action that makes Greater ˮ��ർ��'s roads and transport systems safer and more inclusive for everyone.”

Women interested in taking part can complete the survey by .

Lost & Found in Translation: From Methods Fair Workshop to a Global Research Network

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 11:24:54 +0100

Lost & Found in Translation (L&FIT) is a collaborative network of postgraduate researchers (PGRs) and early career researchers (ECRs) initially based across the four North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP) institutions. The network brings together researchers whose work involves qualitative interviews conducted across diverse languages, settings and disciplines.

The initiative was founded by , Lecturer in Arabic Cultural Studies (and scholar of Translation Studies) at the University of ˮ��ർ��. Recognising that many PhD researchers were engaging with issues of translation often outside of Translation Studies, she identified a gap: cross-language research practices vary significantly across disciplines, yet opportunities for shared reflection were limited.

L&FIT began as a small group of scholars from across the NWSSDTP which includes ˮ��ർ��, Liverpool, Lancashire, Lancaster and Keele Universities. These researchers initially came together to deliver a workshop at the Methods@ˮ��ർ�� 2025 Methods Fair. What followed was not a one-off event, but an ongoing conversation that continued well beyond the Fair itself.

Building on this momentum, the group secured a Catalyst Grant in summer 2025. This funding supported a programme of three workshops (February, April and May 2026) and a conference in June 2026. From the outset, the diversity of the network was striking, with participants drawn from disciplines including Biology, Human Geography, Business, Politics, Literature, IT and Translation Studies. Guest speakers from the supported the network by sharing their own expertise while signposting the group to the latest translation research publications.

By the second workshop, the network had already expanded beyond the NWSSDTP region, welcoming contributors from institutions in China and Morocco, alongside a visiting scholar from the United States. The third workshop deepened these conversations further, focusing on the role of the researcher within the research process, and on how to ethically represent the communities involved in cross-language research.

The L&FIT Conference

The conference programme reflected the breadth and ambition of the network. Originally planned as a one-day event, it expanded into a two-day format - including an online component - to enable wider participation.

Topics ranged from AI algorithms and idioms, speech recognition and sign language, to research in conflict zones and the emotional complexity of interviews that extend beyond words. Participants also critically examined broader structural challenges, including how the ‘big social sciences’ engage with cross-language production, interpreters being seen as a problem, not a help, when ‘money talks’ in different languages; academia ‘stuck’ in English.

A practising translator described the event as “diversified, well-structured and highly relevant to the current state of the Translation field”, highlighting the way it opened up new perspectives on both the challenges and possibilities of working across languages.

For those involved in organising the conference, the experience was equally significant. One Year 3 PGR reflected on the “professionalism and attention to detail demonstrated at every stage”, describing it as “the best experience I have had across no fewer than ten conferences and workshops this year.”

Why has L&FIT resonated so strongly?

Reflecting on the network’s success, Dr Abou Rached describes L&FIT as “academic community development in action”. Its impact, she suggests, stems from a combination of open collaboration, institutional support, and a shared recognition that translation is a vital component of academic research practice. Together, these elements have created “rich potential to become a sustainable hub of knowledge-sharing in the methods area and beyond.”

This sense of community is echoed by participants. One doctoral researcher noted that involvement in the network had encouraged greater reflexivity in their work, particularly in “keeping grassroots voices at the centre of research”. Another highlighted the personal significance of these connections, explaining that the network “made me feel less alone… and part of a community.”

Where next?

What began as a group of ten researchers across five North West universities has grown into an international network of around 50 scholars. Participants now span regions including North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Libya and Egypt), the Gulf (Qatar), China and beyond.

The network’s momentum has attracted strong support from the wider academic community. A guest speaker praised its success in “bringing together such a diversity of disciplinary perspectives” and emphasised the importance of sustaining this energy into 2026–27.

For many involved, the value of L&FIT lies not only in intellectual exchange but in the sense of belonging it fosters. As one Year 2 PGR reflected, being part of the network has been “truly inspiring” and has “renewed my enthusiasm for translation studies” another valued “how researchers from a wide range of fields are all, in different ways, contributing to language and cultural accessibility.”

Looking ahead, the network plans to first extend these conversations through a dedicated blog, continuing to create space for dialogue, reflection and future collaborations.

Where can I find out more?

You can read more about the workshops and conference , and while L&FIT does not yet have a LinkedIn page, you can explore posts from the conference, panel by panel, and post by post, !

University of ˮ��ർ�� appoints Professor Lei Chen to lead ˮ��ർ�� China Institute

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:28:37 +0100

This appointment is made possible through the generous philanthropy of Dr Lee Kai Hung, an Honorary Graduate of The University of ˮ��ർ��, whose exceptional support through his family foundation helped to establish the ˮ��ർ�� China Institute and the Lee Kai Hung Chinese Culture Gallery. Dr Lee’s legacy has created a lasting platform for advancing mutual understanding between China, the UK and the wider world.

The appointment of Professor Chen marks an important next step in realising that vision. As part of the University’s Challenge Accepted campaign, this support demonstrates how a global community of supporters is coming together to create opportunity, drive discovery and build a fairer future - enabling us to attract world-leading academics like Professor Chen and strengthen initiatives such as the ˮ��ർ�� China Institute for the benefit of society.

Professor Chen is an internationally recognised scholar specialising in comparative law, Chinese law and international dispute resolution. His research spans comparative private law, transnational commercial dispute resolution, and Chinese legal and regulatory development, positioning him among leading global experts in his field.

He was elected an Ordinary Member of Academia Europaea in 2026 and is also an Ordinary Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, as well as a Titular Member of the International Academy of Comparative Law. He has published extensively and serves on the editorial boards of several leading international law journals.

Professor Chen is an experienced international arbitrator and mediator, having acted in proceedings administered by major arbitral institutions worldwide. He currently serves as an International Commercial Expert Committee Member of the Supreme People’s Court of China and has been called to the Bar of England and Wales by the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple.

Welcoming the appointment, Professor Fiona Devine, Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities said:

Professor Chen said:

Can AI Bridge the Equity Gap in Higher Education? ˮ��ർ�� Institute of Education Conference Asks the Question

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:15:01 +0100

The conference, opened by University of ˮ��ർ�� President and Vice-Chancellor, Duncan Ivison, took place on Tuesday, 9 and Wednesday, 10 June 2026. The event brought together perspectives from across the sector to examine how AI is reshaping participation, inclusion and learning.

A series of standout sessions highlighted both the opportunities and challenges of AI in education. A student panel offered candid, first-hand perspectives on global AI inequalities, sharing lived experiences of access, bias and studying in different contexts - the discussion underscored how uneven access to AI tools continues to shape learning outcomes worldwide.

Plenary discussions also formed a central part of the programme. A panel chaired by Professor Khalid Nadvi, Head of the School of Environment, Education and Development, welcomed Mohamed Elrefai (Senior Director and Head of Worldwide Education, Adobe), Professor Mirjam Hauck (Academic Lead for AI in Learning, Teaching and Assessment, Open University) and David Raho (AI Design and Delivery Manager, HM Prison & Probation Service), exploring AI adoption among disabled and neurodivergent learners, alongside the structural barriers to equitable participation.

The opening plenary panel featuring Dr James Brooks, Professor Jenn Hallam, Sami Karamalla Gaiballa, Professor Rebecca Hodgson and Professor Juup Stelma focused on AI and inclusion at The University of ˮ��ർ��. The panel explored how institutional approaches can meaningfully embed inclusion within AI-enabled education, highlighting both progress and areas requiring further development.

Recent studies led by colleagues from the ˮ��ർ�� Institute of Education highlighted both opportunities and risks. Most recently, has found that students with disabilities were already using generative AI to overcome barriers in their learning, yet because these tools were not formally recognised as assistive technologies, their use remained ambiguous, uneven and often financially burdensome.

Dr Skye Zhao’s global research, involving more than 600 students and educators, highlighted persistent digital divides, alongside linguistic and cultural biases embedded in AI systems. These challenges were particularly acute in the Global South, where access and localisation remained uneven. The report can be accessed .

Drawing on the challenges identified in recent research, the conference was an opportunity to discuss the key priorities for advancing inclusion in AI-enabled education, including sharing these challenges, cross-sector collaboration, and future research directions.

Missed the conference? Listen to our , which captures some of the big debates with AI in Higher Education.

Professor Kunal Sen elected to the Council of the Royal Economic Society

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:34:12 +0100

, Professor of Development Economics at the Global Development Institute, has been elected to the Council of the Royal Economic Society (RES) following a competitive ballot process. The RES is one of the world's oldest and most prestigious economic associations, and Professor Sen will serve a five-year term lasting from June 2026 to June 2031. He plans to use this valuable opportunity to bring together communities of economists from around the world, creating stronger links between the RES and other professional associations of economics, especially in the Global South.

Professor Sen has over three decades’ worth of experience in academic and applied development economics scholarship, with expertise in the Indian economy, international finance, the dynamics of poverty, female labour force participation, and the informal sector. He has authored and co-authored a long list of publications, with recent books including (2023) and (2016).

Professor Sen has also served as the Joint Research Director of the research centre – a GDI-led project that worked to deepen the understanding of governance in the developing world. His research into the state’s role in underpinning has been particularly influential. He extended this work as lead for the .

In 2019, Professor Sen took research leave from GDI to serve as the Director of United Nations University – (UNU-WIDER), a UN agency and research institute producing economic analysis and policy advice that encourages sustainable and equitable development for all. After he completes his successful tenure, GDI looks forward to welcoming Professor Sen back this summer.

In response to his election, Professor Sen said:

Today's housing emergency is nearly 200 years in the making, says new report

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 16:52:24 +0100

Many of the problems facing the more than 134,000 households living in temporary accommodation in England today - including more than 176,000 children - are part of a pattern of failure stretching back nearly 200 years, according to a major new report.

The research reveals that poor conditions, lengthy stays, placements far from schools, work and support networks, fragmented responsibility and weak accountability have been recurring features of England's temporary accommodation system across generations.

Written by Dr Jessica Field from The University of ˮ��ർ�� and published by homelessness charity Justlife, the report traces the development of temporary accommodation from the Victorian Poor Law workhouse system to the modern homelessness system.

Drawing on extensive archival research, parliamentary records, case law and historical accounts, it argues that many practices often presented as contemporary policy failures are in fact longstanding features of temporary accommodation provision, challenging the idea that the current situation represents a sudden departure from an otherwise effective system.

Key findings

Temporary accommodation has existed in different forms for nearly two centuries
Many of the problems seen today have deep historical roots
Poor conditions, lengthy stays and placements away from communities have been repeated over time
Fragmented responsibility has consistently made accountability difficult
People living in temporary accommodation have often had limited opportunities to challenge poor conditions or unfair decisions
Temporary accommodation has frequently operated outside the standards expected of other forms of housing
A new enforceable framework is needed to ensure temporary accommodation is short, safe and healthy

A crisis with deep historical roots

The report identifies a long-running pattern in which certain groups have faced greater barriers to support than others, rooted in ideas about who is considered ‘deserving’ of assistance.

It argues that while major reforms have changed the legal framework around homelessness, longstanding patterns of exclusion, unequal treatment and poor-quality accommodation have repeatedly reappeared in different forms.

The research also highlights how fragmented responsibilities across government departments, local authorities and providers have often made it difficult to identify poor practice, enforce standards or learn from successful approaches.

Lessons from nearly 200 years of history

The report calls for three major reforms:

Make unequal harms visible - better monitoring is needed to understand who is being placed where, in what conditions and for how long, enabling policymakers to identify and address unequal outcomes.
End fragmentation - temporary accommodation requires clearer statutory coordination, stronger oversight and greater accountability across the system.
Create an enforceable framework - temporary accommodation should be subject to baseline national standards, backed by meaningful enforcement.

Better temporary accommodation is possible

The report also identifies examples showing that better temporary accommodation can be delivered when there is political will and investment.

One example is the 1944 Temporary Housing Programme, which funded more than 150,000 prefabricated bungalows following the Second World War. Designed with comfort, privacy and family life in mind, the programme demonstrated that temporary accommodation could provide safe and dignified housing rather than merely emergency shelter.

What the researchers say

"Many of the problems experienced by people living in temporary accommodation today have appeared again and again for nearly two centuries,” said Dr Jessica Field. “What emerges from this research is a story of recurring patterns rather than isolated failures - poor conditions, long stays, family disruption and displacement from communities have persisted across very different political and policy contexts. Understanding how these problems developed helps us see why piecemeal reforms have often struggled to deliver lasting change.”

"Temporary accommodation may seem like a current crisis, but it has been part of our lives for nearly 200 years - yet the experience for many people living in temporary accommodation today remains painfully similar to what it was in the nineteenth century,” said Simon Gale, Chief Executive of Justlife.

"Poor conditions, long stays, people being moved away from their communities, and families left in uncertainty are not new problems. Lifelines shows they are part of a much longer pattern. That matters because we cannot keep responding to temporary accommodation as if each problem is new, isolated or unavoidable.”

"If we are serious about ending the harm caused by temporary accommodation, we need a clear national framework, proper standards, stronger accountability and a housing policy that stops temporary solutions becoming long-term realities."

Publication

was authored by Dr Jessica Field and published by Justlife.

University of ˮ��ർ�� academic puts research into practice to reinvigorate culture in Southport

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:03:50 +0100

A University of ˮ��ർ�� academic whose research focuses on the long-term development of institutions, communities and places is putting his research into practice in one of England’s best known seaside towns.

For the past five years, Dr Eric Lybeck has been working with communities in Southport to develop The Arcade Project, a cultural programme and community space within the town’s historic Grade II Listed Wayfarers Arcade. A community café space called The Engine Room, located within the Arcade, has become the venue for music, arts, craft and heritage activities co-developed with local people.

Now the story so far of the development of The Arcade Project is being told in a comic play called ‘Best Practice’, exploring the challenges of trying to make things happen in an ordinary town. The performance takes place on Friday 19^th June and tickets can be booked . The play is part of a wider programme of cultural events continuing through the summer.

But, as Dr Lybeck explains, The Engine Room cafe and its cultural programme is just the start of reimagining the Wayfarers Arcade as the focal point of civic regeneration in Southport:

More information about the Arcade Project can be found .

Researchers, community organisations and entrepreneurs who want to get involved can contact Dr Lybeck.

New screening series explores how ‘global China’ is negotiated on the ground

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 10:42:47 +0100

, funded by the British Academy’s Chinese Global Orders programme, will present a series of five short audio-visual portraits capturing the lived experiences of individuals working at the intersection of China and diverse global contexts.

Rather than focusing on high-level geopolitics, the event highlights the role of brokers, translators and traders who operate in “contact zones” such as border markets, development projects, restaurants and cultural settings. Through these stories, the event aims to show how global processes are shaped through everyday encounters, negotiations and exchanges.

The screening will examine how these actors mediate communication, navigate cultural differences and shape understandings of “global China” on the ground. Organisers hope the event will prompt discussion on how power, knowledge and relationships are formed across borders in practice.

The event is open to researchers and those interested in global migration, China studies and the social dynamics of international engagement. You can register for remaining tickets .

ˮ��ർ�� warns unequal access to NHS social prescribing could reinforce inequalities

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:05:11 +0100

A major new study has found patients living in England’s most deprived communities are significantly less likely to be offered ‘social prescribing’, an NHS scheme designed to connect people with community support such as exercise groups, debt advice, arts activities and social clubs.

Researchers from The University of ˮ��ർ�� analysed primary care records from more than 12 million NHS patients, and found referrals to social prescribing services were disproportionately concentrated among people living in less deprived areas.

The researchers warn that the findings raise concerns that a programme intended to reduce health inequalities may instead risk reinforcing them unless access improves in poorer communities.

The study examined data collected between 2019 and 2024 following the national rollout of NHS social prescribing link workers across England.

Key findings

Just 4% of patients in the dataset were offered social prescribing between 2019 and 2024
Patients living in the least deprived areas were significantly more likely to be offered social prescribing than those in the most deprived communities
Women were substantially more likely than men to be offered social prescribing
Older patients and people with multiple long-term conditions were more likely to receive offers
More than three quarters (77.7%) of those offered social prescribing received a referral
Ethnic minority patients were generally as likely - or more likely - to accept referrals

What else did the study find?

The researchers analysed anonymised NHS primary care records from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD), one of the largest healthcare datasets in England.

The study explored which groups of patients were offered social prescribing and which went on to receive referrals after offers were made.

Social prescribing schemes aim to support people whose health may be affected by wider social issues such as loneliness, poor housing, financial stress or isolation by linking them with non-medical community services through dedicated NHS link workers.

Clear inequalities

Patients in more affluent areas consistently had higher odds of being offered social prescribing than those in deprived areas, despite evidence that poorer communities often experience worse health outcomes and greater levels of long-term illness.

Women were also more likely to be offered referrals than men across almost every age group examined.

The study found strong links between long-term illness and social prescribing access, with patients suffering multiple health conditions far more likely to receive offers and referrals.

Why it matters

Researchers say the findings are significant because social prescribing has become a major part of NHS plans to reduce pressure on healthcare services and improve public health.

Since 2019, thousands of social prescribing link workers have been recruited across England through the NHS Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme.

The researchers warn that unequal access to these services could risk widening existing health inequalities if patients in deprived communities are less likely to benefit. However, the study also found encouraging signs once offers had been made.

Patients from ethnic minority backgrounds were often more likely than white patients to accept referrals, while deprivation itself did not appear to reduce uptake after an offer was made.

Researchers say this suggests the key inequality may lie in access to offers rather than willingness to engage.

Men and older patients less likely to engage

The study also found important differences between being offered social prescribing and accepting referrals.

While older patients were more likely to be offered support, they were less likely to go on to receive referrals once offered. Male patients were consistently less likely than women to both receive offers and proceed to referral.

Researchers say more work is needed to understand why some groups may be underrepresented or less likely to engage with social prescribing services.

What the researchers say

“It is concerning that the patients most likely to benefit from social prescribing support appear to be among the least likely to be offered it,” said Research Fellow Anna Wilding. “People living in deprived communities are more likely to experience long-term illness, financial hardship, isolation and poor mental health - the very issues social prescribing is designed to help address.”

“Our findings suggest the biggest challenge is not whether people will engage with social prescribing once offered support, but ensuring disadvantaged communities are not left behind in the first place.”

Publication details

The study was published in journal PLOS One.

DOI:

Experts issue climate warning ahead of expanded FIFA World Cup

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 12:44:25 +0100

The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup could become the ‘most polluting ever’, according to a new report examining football’s relationship with climate change.

The study, released ahead of this summer’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, claims football’s governing bodies are prioritising commercial expansion over environmental concerns, saying the sport has become deeply tied to fossil fuel interests and unsustainable growth.

Delivered by The University of ˮ��ർ��, Loughborough University and the University of Bristol, the report states football’s carbon footprint is not simply caused by fan travel or stadiums, but is politically produced through decades of commercial growth, globalisation, ties to fossil fuel companies and Petrostates.

A Petrostate is a nation whose economy and political power are largely dependent on the extraction and export of oil or natural gas.

Key findings

Elite football increasingly relies on investment from fossil fuel-rich states and companies, including sponsorships and ownership models linked to Gulf nations and energy firms.
FIFA’s partnership with Saudi oil giant Aramco is singled out by the authors, who claim football has become central to a wider strategy of sportswashing by fossil fuel interests.
The expanded 48-team format for the 2026 Men’s World Cup will significantly increase emissions due to the greater number of matches and the vast travel distances across North America.
The tournament will feature 104 matches across 16 host cities spanning the entire continent. The last Men’s World Cup in 2022, Qatar, saw 64 matches played across the 32-team tournament.
FIFA’s environmental policies are scrutinised, with the research team accusing the organisation of promoting sustainability rhetoric while simultaneously expanding competitions and strengthening ties with fossil fuel sponsors.

The study highlights concerns over future tournaments, noting that Saudi Arabia is set to host the 2034 World Cup while the United States withdrew from the Paris climate agreement under President Donald Trump.

Why this matters

The researchers say the expanded 48-team format for the 2026 Men’s World Cup will significantly increase emissions due to the greater number of matches and the vast travel distances across North America.

The tournament will feature 104 matches across 16 host cities spanning the entire continent. The last Men’s World Cup in 2022, Qatar, saw 64 matches played across the 32-team tournament.

FIFA’s environmental policies are also scrutinised, with the research team accusing the organisation of promoting sustainability rhetoric while simultaneously expanding competitions and strengthening ties with fossil fuel sponsors.

The study also highlights concerns over future tournaments, noting that Saudi Arabia is set to host the 2034 World Cup while the United States withdrew from the Paris climate agreement under President Donald Trump.

What the researchers say

Lead researcher, Dr Mark Doidge, Reader in Sociology of Sport at Loughborough University, said: “Football is the world’s most popular sport, and probably the most popular activity. It is for this reason that football authorities, like FIFA, continue to exploit it for commercial profit."

“Football is also a cultural powerhouse with millions of fans, volunteers, and players trying to make the sport better. Football can, and should, use its influence to mitigate against climate change.”

Dr James Jackson, Lecturer at The University of ˮ��ർ��, said: “Despite the last World Cup offering a preview of what football would be like in a significantly warmer world, FIFA has remained indifferent to better regulation. Rather than being proactive and ensuring football helps mitigate against the worst impacts of climate change, they are - at best - pursuing meagre adaptation measures for things which affect fans and players."

Dr Oscar Berglund, Senior Lecturer in International Public and Social Policy at the University of Bristol, said: “FIFA has made elite men’s football the primary target of Petrostate sportswashing. This World Cup, with the ridiculous Trump Peace Prize and having Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest polluter, as its main sponsor, reaches new levels.

“It has been a key strategy of Petrostates to use football’s unrivalled cultural influence globally. They don’t need to convince us that fossil fuels are good, just that they are inevitable. So, as we watch and love our beautiful game, we come to accept the necessary evil of fossil capital.”

Club sustainability and commercial pressure

As part of the study, researchers interviewed sustainability managers working in football clubs across Europe, many of whom described tensions between environmental targets and the commercial demands of the modern game.

According to the report, sustainability initiatives are often only approved if they do not disrupt football’s core product, including the scheduling and broadcasting of matches.

Some interviewees said clubs remained more focused on increasing revenues than reducing environmental costs, despite the growing financial risks posed by flooding, heatwaves and fixture disruption.

Recommendations

The investigation proposes a series of recommendations aimed at reducing football’s environmental impact.

FIFA should stop awarding tournaments to Petrostates.
Restrictions should be placed on fossil fuel ownership of clubs.
Fossil fuel advertising and sponsorship should be banned in football.
Football authorities should halt the expansion of competitions.
Sustainability managers should be embedded into all levels of club decision-making rather than operating in isolated compliance roles.

FIFA response

FIFA has previously defended its sustainability strategies and said major tournaments can drive investment, infrastructure and development in host nations. The organisation has also said that expanding competitions increases global participation and opportunities for smaller footballing nations.

Publication details

To read the full report, . The findings will form part of Football and Climate Change: The Unsustainability of the Beautiful Game, due to be published in 2027.

University of ˮ��ർ�� have signed an MoU with Tokyo University of the Arts and National Center for Art Research, Japan

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 12:33:50 +0100

We’re delighted to announce that we’ve signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tokyo University of the Arts and The National Center for Art Research, Japan.

On Saturday, 23 May 2026 at The National Art Center, Tokyo (NACT), Japan, Prof John McAuliffe, Associate Vice President (Cultural Portfolio), signed a Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of Creative ˮ��ർ��, at The University of ˮ��ർ��.

This landmark agreement commits the University to collaborate in a three-way partnership with the “Arts-Based Communication Platform for Co-creation to Build a Convivial Society" at Tokyo University of the Arts (TUA) — commonly known as the ART-based Platform for Co-creation — and the National Center for Art Research (NCAR), part of the National Museum of Art, Japan.

As part of this MoU, the three partners (UoM, the ART-based Platform for Co-creation, and NCAR), will work collaboratively with the Greater ˮ��ർ�� Combined Authority (GMCA) GM Place Partnership, to strengthen international research collaborations

The formal signing ceremony took place following the

Prof John McAuliffe, Associate Vice President (Cultural Portfolio), Prof Sook-Kyung Lee, Director of The Whitworth, Dr Hannah Waterson, Research Associate – Knowledge Mobilisation and Julie McCarthy, Strategic Lead for Creative Health at the GMCA presented as part of the event exploring Creative Health initiatives from ˮ��ർ��.

The event drew 150 guests to The National Art Center, Tokyo, and over 700 registered for the online event. The afternoon focused on knowledge exchange around Creative Health and Social Prescribing, along with discussion around future collaboration and shared research opportunities.

Colleagues were also invited to speak at the Kyoto University International Social Prescribing Conference (ISPC 2026), alongside academics from TUA and NCAR. The conference brought together people from across the world interested in social prescribing and non-medical approaches to health and wellbeing. The University of ˮ��ർ�� and GMCA, joined Tokyo University of the Arts and NCAR for a joint session at the conference, exploring differences and similarities in the UK and Japan. They discussed supporting community-based groups to deliver the work and the role of museums and galleries.

Image Credit: Yumi Saito

ˮ��ർ�� professor named one of UK’s most influential environmental academics

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:42:20 +0100

The University of ˮ��ർ��’s Professor Jamie Woodward has been recognised as one of the UK’s ten most influential environmental academics for a second time.

The recognises leading figures who are shaping environmental science and policy across the UK. Professor of Physical Geography Jamie Woodward has been selected in the category of academics shaping environmental science and policy, in recognition of his major contribution to public understanding and policymaking on microplastic pollution, wastewater discharges and the health of Britain’s rivers.

Professor Woodward’s research has played a significant role in exposing the links between untreated wastewater, sewage discharges and the build-up of microplastics in river environments. His work with colleagues at ˮ��ർ�� demonstrated that riverbed microplastic contamination is closely connected to poor wastewater management, helping to shift public and political debate on the condition of the UK’s waterways.

He was one of the earliest academics to raise concerns about widespread discharges of untreated sewage, and he has worked extensively to communicate the science behind this issue to policymakers, regulators, environmental groups and the public.

Earlier this year, Professor Woodward addressed a Westminster roundtable organised by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Microplastics, where he presented evidence on microplastic pollution in riverbeds from wastewater discharges and biosolids. The event brought together parliamentarians, scientists, campaigners and industry representatives to consider how government, regulators and water companies can better limit microplastics entering river and marine environments.

His research has also informed parliamentary scrutiny of river pollution. Evidence from Professor Woodward’s work was included in a UK Parliament Environmental Audit Committee report which warned that English rivers were being polluted by a “chemical cocktail” of sewage, slurry and plastic, and called for urgent improvements to monitoring, regulation and enforcement.

Professor Woodward said: “It is a great honour to be included in the ENDS Power List alongside academics whose work is helping to shape environmental policy at such a critical time. The science is clear that the sewage scandal and the microplastic problem are closely linked - effective wastewater treatment is essential if we are serious about protecting public health, restoring river ecosystems and preventing plastic pollution from reaching our seas.”

Professor Woodward is a geomorphologist and geoarchaeologist whose research spans river systems, microplastics in river catchments, Mediterranean geomorphology, Ice Age environments and long-term environmental change. His work explores how landscapes and river systems respond to environmental pressures over timescales ranging from the deep past to the present day.

Therapy may be judged by the wrong standards, argues new analysis

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:28:27 +0100

Psychological therapies may be evaluated using research methods designed for drugs rather than talking treatments - potentially limiting patient choice and shaping mental health services in the wrong way - according to a new academic analysis from The University of ˮ��ർ��.

Based on analysing existing research, the article argues that Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs), widely seen as the gold standard of medical evidence, may be a poor fit for assessing therapy.

Rather than presenting new experimental findings, the editorial brings together and critiques the current evidence base, making the case that talking therapies are often personal, flexible, relationship-based and evolve over time - characteristics that are difficult to capture in standard trial designs.

The analysis suggests that relying too heavily on RCTs may favour short, standardised therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), while overlooking other approaches that may benefit many patients.

Key arguments

Psychological therapy is often assessed using research models originally developed for medicines
Unlike drugs, therapy is typically personalised, open-ended and shaped by the therapist–client relationship
Heavy reliance on RCT evidence may narrow treatment options in public healthcare and insurance systems
Short-term symptom measures may miss broader outcomes such as improved relationships, stability and self-understanding
A broader evidence base is needed, including real-world outcomes and patient experience

Why this matters

RCTs are commonly used to decide which treatments receive funding, policy backing and public provision.

The editorial argues that this has had significant consequences in mental healthcare, where therapies with strong trial evidence - particularly CBT - have become dominant in many systems.

In England’s NHS Talking Therapies programme, only a small minority of high-intensity practitioners offer non-CBT approaches, according to evidence discussed in the article.

Why therapy is different from drugs

The article highlights key differences between medicines and psychological therapies.

While drugs can typically be standardised and tested under controlled conditions, therapy is more fluid. Sessions evolve in response to the individual, progress can be non-linear, and meaningful change may include outcomes that are harder to quantify.

What current evidence may miss

The editorial argues that many therapy studies are relatively short, often capturing early symptom improvement but missing longer-term change, setbacks or deeper psychological development.

It also suggests that recovery is often more complex than a single score or endpoint, and may involve ongoing change over time.

To illustrate this, the author uses a fictional case study showing how different therapy models can lead to very different long-term outcomes, even where short-term symptom improvement appears similar.

Towards a broader understanding of evidence

Rather than rejecting trials altogether, the editorial calls for a more pluralistic approach to evidence, including:

Real-world service data from routine NHS and community settings
Research into how therapy works, including the role of relationships and context
Greater emphasis on patient perspectives and lived experience

What the researcher said

“We have become so used to treating Randomised Controlled Trials as the gold standard that we rarely stop to ask whether they are the right tool for every intervention,” said Dr Sahanika Ratnayake, philosopher of psychiatry at The University of ˮ��ർ��.

“This editorial is not based on a new experiment, but on analysing the strengths and limits of the existing evidence base. Therapy is not a pill - it is a human relationship shaped by trust, timing, context and individual need.

Why it matters now

Demand for mental health support is rising, while services face pressure over waiting times, staffing and budgets.

The article argues that policymakers need evidence systems that better reflect how therapy is actually practised, and what patients themselves value from care.

Publication details

The editorial was published in BJPsych.

DOI:

India gained 2.1 million hectares of dry woodland in a decade, major study finds

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:10:42 +0100

India gained around 2.1 million hectares of tropical dry woodland between 2014 and 2024 - an area larger than Wales - according to a major new study involving researchers from The University of ˮ��ർ��’s Global Development Institute.

The research found that large-scale tree planting, restoration schemes and expanding plantations have likely transformed woodland cover across parts of the country over the past decade.

But the study also warns that headline gains can hide a more complicated picture, with native woodlands still being lost in some areas even as overall tree cover increases.

Key findings

India gained around 2.1 million hectares of tropical dry woodland between 2014 and 2024
Government forest lands saw major gains linked to restoration and afforestation programmes
Many woodland increases outside government lands appear likely to be linked to timber and tree-crop plantations
Researchers also recorded continued woodland loss in some important native forest areas
Scientists say national tree-cover figures can mask important differences between natural forests and plantations

What did the study find?

The study mapped changes in India’s tropical dry woodlands - which cover vast areas of the country, but have received far less scientific and conservation attention than tropical rainforests - over a ten-year period using high-resolution satellite imagery.

The researchers found a large overall increase in woodland cover across the country, driven partly by major government-backed restoration efforts including the Green India Mission, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund and the National Afforestation Programme.

The findings suggest these schemes are having a visible impact on the landscape.

Where are the new woodlands appearing?

The study found contrasting patterns inside and outside government-managed forest land.

Within state-administered forest areas, researchers say gains are likely linked to restoration and conservation programmes aimed at increasing forest cover and meeting climate goals.

Outside government lands, however, many gains appear to come from commercial timber plantations and tree crops in agricultural landscapes.

Why this matters

India’s tropical dry woodlands are among the country’s most important but overlooked ecosystems.

They support wildlife, store carbon and provide livelihoods for millions of people, especially in poorer rural regions.

Researchers say understanding exactly what kind of woodland is increasing - and where - matters for biodiversity, climate policy and local communities.

Tree cover is not always the same as forest recovery

The researchers warn that national statistics showing rising tree cover do not always mean natural forests are recovering.

Some native dry woodlands inside protected or government-managed areas continued to experience losses during the study period.

Scientists say plantations can provide economic and climate benefits, but they may not fully replace the biodiversity and ecological value of long-established natural woodlands.

How researchers tracked the changes

The team used satellite imagery to reconstruct changes in woodland cover across India between 2014 and 2024 at very high detail.

This allowed them to identify where woodland was expanding, where it was being lost, and how those patterns differed across landscapes and land ownership types.

What the researchers said

“Our study shows that India has seen substantial gains in dry woodland cover over the past decade,” said lead author Dhanapal Govindarajulu. “A lot of this appears linked to major restoration and afforestation programmes, which demonstrates the scale of change that government policy can achieve - but we also found that not all woodland gains are the same.”

Why it matters now

Countries around the world are pledging large-scale tree planting and forest restoration as part of climate and biodiversity targets.

Researchers say the study highlights the importance of looking beyond headline numbers to understand whether restoration efforts are protecting natural ecosystems, supporting wildlife and benefiting local communities.

Publication details

The research was published in the journal Environmental Research Letters.

DOI:

Teen wellbeing improving after years of post-pandemic concern, major study finds

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:01:57 +0100

A major new study of more than 115,000 young people suggests teenage wellbeing may finally be recovering after years of concern over the long-term impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Researchers from the #BeeWell programme based at The University of ˮ��ർ�� found steady improvements in psychological wellbeing, life satisfaction and loneliness among secondary school pupils across Greater ˮ��ർ�� and Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton between 2021 and 2025.

The findings point to what the researchers describe as a ‘modest but sustained improvement’ in young people’s emotional wellbeing and social connection.

Key findings

• The proportion of young people reporting good psychological wellbeing rose from 51% in 2021 to 57% in 2025
• Average life satisfaction increased from 6.32 to 6.73 out of 10
• The proportion reporting elevated emotional difficulties fell from 17% to 14%
• Reports of feeling lonely always or often fell from 12% to 9%
• The amount of pupils reporting a strong sense of school belonging rose from 46% to 53%

What else did the study find?

Researchers analysed wellbeing trends among Year 10 pupils using five years of #BeeWell survey data collected from over 300 schools.

The study found evidence of gradual improvement in participating areas across several core indicators of wellbeing following years of widespread concern about young people’s mental health after the pandemic. These improvements may reflect a range of factors, including changes in local population composition.

Psychological wellbeing and life satisfaction both increased steadily over the period studied, while emotional difficulties and loneliness declined.

Researchers say the findings suggest many young people are beginning to feel more connected, supported and optimistic than they did in the immediate aftermath of Covid-19 disruption.

Why it matters

The findings are significant because they provide some indication of improvement in mental health indicators among young people in participating areas after years of concern about declining wellbeing.

Researchers say the results also reinforce the importance of school belonging, trusted adult relationships and positive peer environments in supporting wellbeing.

The report found that young people who felt more connected to school and supported by staff generally experienced better wellbeing outcomes and stronger attendance.

Teachers increasingly providing mental health assistance

The research also found growing numbers of young people are turning to teachers for mental health support.

The proportion reporting they had contacted a teacher about mental health at least sometimes rose from 17% in 2022 to 23% in 2025.

The researchers say this highlights the increasingly important role schools are playing in supporting young people’s wellbeing.

Inequalities remain

Despite the overall positive trends, the report warns that improvements have not been experienced equally across all groups.

Young people with special educational needs showed little sustained improvement in wellbeing across the five-year period.

LGBTQ+ young people also continued to report substantially lower wellbeing, lower life satisfaction and higher rates of bullying than their peers.

Researchers say these persistent inequalities underline the need for continued focus on inclusive school environments and targeted support.

What the researchers say

“More young people are reporting good wellbeing, loneliness is falling and emotional difficulties are reducing – which are encouraging findings – but the picture is not the same for everyone. Significant inequalities remain, particularly for LGBTQ+ young people and those with special educational needs, and that remains a major challenge.”

Report details

The latest #BeeWell findings report can be found .

Methods Fair 2026: A celebration of creativity, connection and care

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:43:45 +0100

The Fair has become a highlight in the research calendar with a strong sense of openness and curiosity. As one attendee reflected: “The atmosphere was really friendly and inspiring and I’ve come away with lots of thoughts on where to take my research.”

A keynote grounded in friendship and care

The day opened with a thoughtful and engaging keynote from Prof Sarah Marie Hall and Sally Bonnie, FRSA-Founder and Director of Inspiring Futures Partnership CIC, who shared their journey of working together over the past eight years. Their talk moved beyond traditional academic narratives, offering instead a story of care, friendship and collaboration.

Using the metaphor of weaving, they illustrated how relationships are not simply part of research practice, they are what holds it together. Threads of trust, care and shared experience ran throughout their reflections, setting a powerful tone for the rest of the day.

Getting hands-on with methods

Across the programme, participants had the chance to immerse themselves in a wide range of interactive and practice-based workshops, alongside lightning talks and poster presentations (including but not limited to sessions on drawing research, ethical practices in multiligual research, lived experience and co-production, more than human methods and Lego serious play). Attendees also had the opportunity to experience the University’s flagship Data Visualisation Observatory.

Interdisciplinary moments of exchange, their unplanned and conversational nature, and the way in which discussions extended well before the sessions themselves are a defining feature of the Methods Fair.

Bringing people together

One of the most distinctive aspects of the day was the bringing together of people who might not otherwise cross paths. This year’s event included community participants, creating a genuinely inclusive and collaborative environment.

Inspire Women Oldham’s collaboration on the zine-making workshop captured the spirit of the day: opening up research methods as a shared space for learning, creativity and connection.

As Professor Emma Banister, Director of Methods@ˮ��ർ��, reflects:

Leaving inspired

Our hope is that the Methods Fair can create a space where people feel able to experiment, connect and think differently about research. An aim that was not lost on this attendee who reported feeling: “Inspired, refreshed and rejuvenated to try out new methods and build them into my research design."

School of Social Sciences Research and Scholarship Showcase Highlights Teaching, Research and Real-World Impact

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 15:54:28 +0100

From oral exams in the age of AI to community-led research on public safety, healthcare, inclusion, and sustainability, the School of Social Sciences Research and Scholarship Showcase brought together academics, researchers, postdoctoral scholars, students, and external partners from across the School to highlight how teaching, research, and collaboration are shaping conversations far beyond the University.

The morning’s first session focused on inclusive and practice-based approaches to assessment. Dr Stephen Ingram discussed interdisciplinary group debates within the PPE programme, where students work across Philosophy, Politics, and Economics to tackle complex questions from multiple disciplinary perspectives, while also building a stronger sense of cohort identity and academic community.

Questions around assessment and emerging technologies continued in presentations from Dr Simon Rudkin who explored the use of generative AI within an MSc Data Science module. Students used tools including ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, and DeepSeek to co-create research reports while critically reflecting on AI-generated outputs and workflows.

Dr William Floodgate then examined the growing use of oral exams within Criminology. Their presentation explored how scenario-based oral assessment can support critical thinking, communication skills, deeper engagement with learning, and academic integrity in the context of increasing AI use, while also acknowledging challenges around anxiety, scalability, workload, and accessibility.

Questions of participation, belonging, and student partnership continued in the showcase’s co-creation session. Dr Cristina Masters, Dr Aoileann Ní Mhurchú, Izzy Shah and Miza Fatahillah presented the Politics Inclusive Classrooms Project, a student-led initiative developed through years of staff–student collaboration around decolonising the curriculum, neurodiversity, inclusive assessment, and student voice.

Dr Tatjana Kecojević, Dr Diego Perez Ruiz, Rishik Kalagara, Maan Mittal, Zhengyang Wu, Betty Lewis and Gavin Brady explored how student-led peer learning communities are helping widen access to data and digital skills through Data4All initiatives, mentoring, reproducibility workshops, GitHub portfolio development, and informal “data hangouts”.

The afternoon research sessions turned to questions of impact, public engagement, and collaboration beyond academia. Dr Caroline Miles and Professor Rose Broad shared research on the abuse experienced by women runners, including fear, harassment, and the extensive safety work many women undertake while running.

Dr Frederique Janssen-Lauret and Dr Ajinkya Deshmukh discussed outreach work introducing Indian and Buddhist philosophy to secondary school pupils, while Dr Alex Nunn explored how research on labour market governance has informed policy development and evidence-based approaches to employment practice through collaboration with governments and international organisations.

Professor Simona Giordano examined ethical questions surrounding the clinical management of transgender and gender-diverse young people, reflecting on engagement with clinicians, advocacy groups, policymakers, and guideline development bodies around evidence standards, harm reduction, and healthcare ethics.

Collaboration also sat at the centre of the “It Takes a Village” panel, where researchers and external partners reflected on the opportunities and complexities of co-produced research. Cath Bowden discussed a multidisciplinary radiotherapy project developed with patients, clinicians, and public contributors to better understand treatment experiences and evidence in healthcare settings. Torik Holmes explored collaboration across the plastics recycling sector, while Katie Smith shared research with Chester Cathedral examining volunteering, belonging, and service through ethnographic work and public engagement.

Across the discussion, speakers reflected on how collaboration can produce richer and more grounded research, while also raising important questions around trust, shared ownership, institutional pressures, and meaningful involvement. External contributors including Tony Mulhall, Brian Turner, and Lisa Hamrang also highlighted the importance of integrating professional expertise, patient perspectives, and public-facing engagement into research processes.

The final session, “Thinking Outside the Box”, explored how creative and participatory methods are reshaping research practice and public engagement. Dr Patty Doran discussed co-produced research on ageing in cities developed with older people, local authorities, and community organisations. Professor Hannah Knox presented the “Travelling Power Station”, a mobile exhibition and community energy project developed with grassroots energy groups.

Dr Chika Watanabe shared life-history research developed with a coastal community in Chile, including illustrated storytelling, intergenerational workshops, and documentary film exploring resilience and disaster experience. Professor Andreja Zevnik concluded with work addressing anti-Gypsyism through visual storytelling, including a competition featuring films, drawings, poetry, and creative submissions from young people, with the winning entry produced by Romani girls.

Across the day, a recurring theme emerged: research and teaching were most impactful when developed collaboratively — with students, communities, policymakers, clinicians, charities, and external partners helping shape not only outcomes, but the questions being asked in the first place. Together, the showcase reflected a School increasingly focused on inclusive learning, interdisciplinary thinking, creative practice, and research that connects directly with the communities and challenges beyond the University.

Pierre-Richard Agénor delivers joint Arthur Lewis and Vital Topics lecture on gender equality and economic growth

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:51:20 +0100

recently delivered a joint lecture hosted by the and , sharing insights from more than 15 years of research behind his upcoming book on gender equality and economic growth. Focusing on developing economies, the book uses overlapping generations models to examine the relationship between economic forces, gender inequality and growth, and the role public policy plays in shaping those outcomes.

The event was chaired by Vice-President for Research , with Professor , Head of Alliance ˮ��ർ�� Business School, contributing to the Q&A moderation. In her introduction, Professor Fagan highlighted the breadth of the University’s work on gender equality through centres including the Global Development Institute and the Work and Equalities Institute. She also emphasised the wider relevance of Professor Agénor’s research, noting that it was particularly fitting for the lecture to bring together two flagship University series: the Arthur Lewis lecture series, which celebrates the economist’s pioneering work on development, and the Vital Topics lectures, which explore the major issues shaping the world today. The full lecture is available to watch in the embedded video below.

Professor Agénor began by placing the book in a broader context through frameworks such as the and . He showed how economic modelling can help identify the structural challenges that continue to shape gender inequality.

He highlighted two core analytical contributions from the book. First, he suggested that increasing penalties for firms that violate equal pay laws can, in some cases, worsen the gender pay gap. Rather than changing behaviour, companies may pass those costs on to female employees, challenging conventional approaches and prompting a reconsideration of enforcement strategies.

Second, he explored the misallocation of female talent in innovation-driven sectors, arguing that closing pay gaps alone is not enough to maximise economic growth. Instead, targeted policies are needed to ensure high-ability women can contribute in areas where their skills can drive innovation and progress.

The Q&A session brought practical policy issues to the forefront, including the role of childcare support in enabling women’s participation in the workforce and wider questions around women’s agency in advancing gender equality. The discussion also highlighted opportunities to explore connections between emerging and developed economies through global supply chains, pointing to potential directions for future research.

Professor Fagan closed the lecture by encouraging attendees to reflect on how they might advance gender equality in their own professional and personal lives. The event underlined the continuing importance of rigorous research and effective policymaking in addressing one of the defining economic and social challenges of our time.

Watch the full lecture in the embedded video:

MIOIR welcomes international cohort to ˮ��ർ�� for science and innovation policy evaluation course

Fri, 29 May 2026 16:27:36 +0100

The ˮ��ർ�� Institute of Innovation Research (MIOIR) welcomed an international group of policymakers, researchers and practitioners to Alliance ˮ��ർ�� Business School for the 2026 Professional Development Course on the Evaluation of Science and Innovation Policies.

Delivered from 18–22 May, the course brought together 18 participants from 9 countries across Europe, Asia and Latin America, reflecting its global reach and reputation in the field of science, technology and innovation (STI) policy.

Over five days, participants explored key approaches to evaluating science and innovation policies, combining conceptual insights with practical application. The programme covered areas including theory of change, evaluation design, quantitative and qualitative methods, and emerging topics such as artificial intelligence in science policy.

The course was led by Kate Barker, with teaching contributions from leading experts in the field, including Professor Erik Arnold, Dr Effie Amanatidou, Professor Jakob Edler, Professor Maria Nedeva, Professor Raquel Ortega-Argilés and Professor John Rigby.

Participants also benefitted from guest sessions delivered by guest speakers including James Phipps (Innovation Growth Lab), Cristina Rosemberg Montes and Diogo Machado (Technopolis), Mike Thelwall (University of Sheffield) and Richard Waggott (Greater ˮ��ർ�� Combined Authority), offering insights into how evaluation is used in real-world policy settings.

A core feature of the course was its focus on applied learning. Participants worked in groups throughout the week to develop and present evaluation approaches to real-world policy challenges, drawing on the tools and frameworks introduced during the programme.

The diverse cohort included representatives from universities, research funding organisations, government bodies and innovation agencies, fostering exchange across different policy contexts and national systems. Participating organisations included the Japan Science and Technology Agency, SGInnovate, the Research Council of Finland and several UK-based institutions.

The course forms part of MIOIR’s professional development activities, which aim to strengthen evaluation capacity and support evidence-informed policymaking internationally.

To find out more about MIoIR’s executive education and training opportunities, contact Deborah Cox, Institute Manager, or .

A dangerous dam‑building race is threatening South Asia’s shared rivers

Fri, 29 May 2026 15:42:47 +0100

Bangladesh has just approved one of the largest river engineering projects its history: the Padma Barrage, a vast river-control project intended to restore water in the country’s drought-prone southwest.

It comes at a dangerous moment for South Asia’s rivers. China is building the upstream on the Brahmaputra, India is accelerating its own , and the treaty governing Ganges water-sharing between India and Bangladesh expires in December 2026.

Rather than easing regional water insecurity, the Padma Barrage risks adding to a cycle of unilateral river engineering across the subcontinent. South Asia is entering a regional dam-building race – without the institutions needed to share its rivers.

Bangladesh’s water crisis

Supporters say the barrage is a pragmatic response to chronic water insecurity in Bangladesh. The country sits at the end of the vast Ganges-Brahmaputra river system, where rivers that originate in the Himalayas spread into thousands of channels before they reach the sea. Despite all this water, the main river channels are and some smaller rivers are disappearing rapidly.

The Farakka Barrage in India, and the proposed Padma Barrage downstream.

Bangladesh did not create this problem alone. Since the 1970s, the Farakka Barrage, built across the Ganges upstream in India, has diverted water towards the huge city of Kolkata to flush sediment away from its port.

The consequences for Bangladesh are well documented. Its rivers have dried up and become less navigable. They have also become saltier, groundwater levels have declined, and severe riverbank erosion has occurred.

Farming has become more difficult and fish stocks have declined. These environmental pressures have forced many people to migrate out of the country.

Most critically, the reduced flow of freshwater has harmed — the world’s largest mangrove forest, shared between Bangladesh and India. There, elevated salinity has caused widespread among mangrove trees and significant biodiversity loss.

The promise – and risks – of Padma Barrage

When complete, the centrepiece of the Padma Barrage will be a huge dam more than two kilometres long. It is designed to store water during the monsoon season and release it in the drier months, helping reduce salinity intrusion by maintaining freshwater flows and pushing saline water further downstream during the dry season.

In theory, the barrage will revive a host of smaller rivers in western Bangladesh. The it will support irrigation across much of the country, while increasing rice and fish production.

The proposed Padma Barrage will span the Ganges river system’s largest channel in Bangladesh.

Yet the project raises a series of that deserve serious scrutiny.

The most immediate relates to silt, because the Ganges is an exceptionally sediment-heavy river. A dam or barrage causes the river water to lose speed and the energy required to carry sediment, which is dumped upstream.

This is already a severe problem . More than a million people have been displaced from over the past three decades, as banks have been eroded and floods have become more intense.

Constructing a second major barrier downstream – the Padma Barrage – risks compounding these effects, potentially trapping additional sediment loads between the two structures and intensifying flooding pressure.

The consequences downstream could be equally serious. The diversion of water into southwestern river channels — the stated objective of the project — implies reduced flows in the main river systems. If these flows aren’t strong enough to push back salty tidal waters, then parts of coastal Bangladesh, rather than benefiting from improved water security, could face accelerating salinisation.

There is a deeper irony here. Bangladesh is responding to the damage caused by India’s Farakka Barrage with a major barrage of its own.

Farakka was built to solve an economic problem upstream, but imposed major environmental costs downstream in Bangladesh. Those economic problems are still unsolved – Kolkata port still suffers from silt and needs constant dredging.

Critics fear the Padma Barrage could reproduce the same pattern: large environmental disruption without the promised benefits. In other words, the same engineering approach that damaged Bangladesh may soon be reproduced within that country.

A regional struggle over rivers

The project also depends on sufficient water continuing to flow into Bangladesh. But China – alongside planned hydropower projects across India, including plans to – could significantly reduce the volume of water entering Bangladesh in future. If that happens, the Padma Barrage may not have enough water to work as intended.

The timing also matters. The between India and Bangladesh expires in December 2026, and governs the same flows the Padma Barrage is designed to manage. Rather than strengthening Bangladesh’s position ahead of treaty talks, the project could weaken its case for demanding more water from India by signalling that it can cope with reduced flows.

Several rivers that the barrage aims to revive flow through both India and Bangladesh, meaning restoration will require cooperation between the two countries, rather than infrastructure alone.

That makes Bangladesh’s 2025 accession to the particularly significant. As the first South Asian country to join the treaty, Bangladesh now has a stronger legal basis to push for more equitable water-sharing, particularly as the Ganges treaty negotiations approach.

Dams cannot replace diplomacy

The Padma Barrage is not an inherently misconceived project. Bangladesh’s water crisis is real, and the political pressure to respond is genuine.

But without renewed water-sharing agreements and stronger cooperation with neighbouring countries, this new barrage risks repeating the pattern of unilateral river engineering that has already destabilised South Asia’s waterways.

Infrastructure that outpaces diplomacy is a familiar reason for failure in the region. The challenge for Bangladesh is to ensure the barrage becomes part of a strong legal and diplomatic framework for river cooperation – not another step in an escalating cycle of hydropolitical competition.

, Leverhulme Early Career Fellow, Geography, and , Associate Professor in Risk and Disaster Science,

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Get Involved: Shape the Future of Safer Work

Fri, 29 May 2026 08:00:00 +0100

Get involved: shaping the future of risk and regulatory research
At a time when the challenges facing health, safety and risk are becoming increasingly complex, collaboration has never been more important.

The Thomas Ashton Institute for Risk and Regulatory Research brings together the strengths of the University of ˮ��ർ�� and the Health and Safety Executive to do exactly that—combining academic excellence with regulatory insight to tackle real-world problems and deliver meaningful impact.

By working across disciplines, sectors and perspectives, the Institute creates a space where research doesn’t just sit in isolation, but actively informs policy, shapes practice, and improves lives.

A different approach to research
The Institute was established to respond to a clear need: traditional, siloed approaches are no longer enough to address today’s interconnected risks. Instead, we:

• Bring together academic, regulatory and technical expertise from across disciplines
• Co-produce research that is both rigorous and grounded in real-world need
• Translate evidence into practical solutions that make a measurable difference
• Use system-level insight to identify emerging risks and opportunities

This approach allows us to move beyond theory—ensuring research leads to action and impact at pace.

Join a growing community
We are building a collaborative community of colleagues from across the University of ˮ��ർ�� who are interested in risk, regulation, safety and wider societal resilience. There are many ways to get involved:

• Join one of our research themes or platforms
• Contribute to existing or developing projects
• Help shape future research priorities
• Connect your work to interdisciplinary and policy-focused activity

Whether your expertise lies in engineering, health, social sciences, policy, data, or beyond, there is a place within the Thomas Ashton Institute to collaborate and contribute.

Why it matters
Working with the Institute means becoming part of a partnership that:

• Tackles complex, real-world challenges
• Connects research with policy and practice
• Accelerates routes to impact through strong national networks
• Helps create safer, healthier and more resilient workplaces and societies

Get in touch
We are keen to hear from colleagues who would like to get involved or find out more.
• Contact us at: ashton@manchester.ac.uk
• Or explore our work online:

New guidance on violence and aggression in retail

Thu, 28 May 2026 08:00:00 +0100

New best practice guidance developed by researchers at the University of ˮ��ർ�� is helping retailers address the growing challenge of violence and aggression faced by frontline staff.

The Thomas Ashton Institute’s Violence and Aggression Research Network (VARN) has contributed to the development of new evidence-informed guidance aimed at helping retailers better prevent and manage work-related violence and aggression.

Developed in collaboration with the Retail Trust and researchers at Alliance ˮ��ർ�� Business School (AMBS), the guidance – – provides practical strategies to support organisations in protecting their workforce and improving workplace safety.

Addressing a growing challenge

Work-related violence and aggression is an increasing concern across the retail sector, with staff frequently exposed to verbal abuse, threats and physical harm in the course of their work. Recent research underpinning the guidance highlights the scale of the issue, with many incidents going unreported and a significant impact on staff wellbeing, safety and retention across the industry.

Evidence from the Retail Trust’s Let’s Respect Retail campaign shows that the problem is widespread, with a substantial proportion of retail workers reporting experiences of abuse, stress and anxiety linked to their work.

Evidence-based solutions for employers

The new guidance brings together academic research and industry insight to provide retailers with practical, flexible approaches to tackling WVA. It focuses on areas including:

• Improving reporting systems and encouraging staff to report incidents

• Strengthening training and prevention strategies

• Supporting colleagues affected by abuse

• Fostering a culture of respect and safety in retail environments

By equipping employers with actionable recommendations, the guidance aims to help organisations create safer workplaces while improving staff wellbeing and organisational resilience

The role of VARN

The work is underpinned by research led through the Violence and Aggression Research Network (VARN), which is hosted by the Thomas Ashton Institute for Risk and Regulatory Research.

VARN brings together researchers, policymakers and industry partners to better understand the nature and extent of violence and aggression in the workplace, and to develop strategies to improve reporting, prevention and response.

By creating a space for collaboration and knowledge exchange across sectors, the network plays a key role in translating research into real-world impact.

Driving safer workplaces through collaboration

This collaboration between the Retail Trust, AMBS and VARN highlights the importance of interdisciplinary research and partnership working in addressing complex workplace challenges.

Through initiatives like this, the Thomas Ashton Institute continues to support evidence-based approaches to improving workplace safety, health and wellbeing—helping organisations across sectors respond to emerging risks and create safer, more supportive environments for their people.

The National Lottery Community Fund and #BeeWell join forces to champion young people’s wellbeing

Wed, 27 May 2026 13:20:45 +0100

Thousands more young people across England could soon have a stronger voice in shaping their wellbeing support thanks to a £5.5 million grant from The National Lottery Community Fund to #BeeWell. Since 2021, #BeeWell has already listened to the voices of almost 200,000 young people across an working with over 320 secondary schools.

The partnership with The National Lottery Community Fund will last until spring 2030, enabling #BeeWell to expand into up to five new locations across England. The grant will also support #BeeWell to continue its work supporting young people in its current locations and build on its ground-breakinto understand more about essential topics such as how social media use, school attendance and discipline, teenage substance use, loneliness, and the positive impact of arts, culture, entertainment and sport are related to young people’s wellbeing and its drivers.

The youth-centred programme was developed in response to a growing concern for the wellbeing of young people in England and was founded by The University of ˮ��ർ��, The Gregson Family Foundation, and Anna Freud, who together with the Greater ˮ��ർ�� Combined Authority (GMCA) launched the programme in 2019. Usin#BeeWell listens to the voices of as many young people as possible; publishes the results privately to schools and publicly by neighbourhood; and aims to drive action across society to improve young people’s wellbeing.

For the last five years, #BeeWell has provided a platform for young people to voice how they are feeling and what affects their wellbeing and worked with partners to act on what young people say. During this time, in #BeeWell’s two locations, there has been a modest but consistent upward trend in the proportion of young people reporting good levels of psychological wellbeing and life satisfaction, while the number reporting elevated symptoms of emotional difficulties has declined.

Meera, A young person who has been involved with #BeeWell over several years highlighted the value of #BeeWell’s approach and the impact of feeling that someone is listening.

Councillor Roberts, Children and Young People Portfolio Lead for the Greater ˮ��ർ�� Combined Authority, commented:

Thanks to the support of National Lottery players, #BeeWell will expand its proven approach to measuring - and driving action to improve - young people’s wellbeing across England. The investment will help more local areas work directly with young people to understand the challenges affecting their wellbeing and take coordinated action across schools, services and communities.

James Robertson, National Director of #BeeWell, said:

Phil Chamberlain, England Director at The National Lottery Community Fund, said:

Specifically, the investment will fund:

Expansion of the #BeeWell programme into new areas across England
Continued delivery in Greater ˮ��ർ�� and Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton
Developing and delivering new research into the factors affecting young people’s wellbeing
Opportunities for young people to influence local decision-making and shape the support available to them

You can find out more about the #BeeWell programme, its research and the work it does supporting young people