Newsroom University of ��Թϱ��

Dharmi Kapadia becomes Director of CoDE

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:31:34 +0000

The Centre on the Dynamics of Ethnicity (CoDE) starts the new year with a new director: . Dharmi is Senior Lecturer in Sociology at ��Թϱ��. She joined CoDE in 2012 as a PhD student and has worked in CoDE as a Research Associate and as Co-Investigator on many CoDE research projects. Dharmi became Deputy Director in 2025 and from January 2026 is CoDE Director.

Dharmi’s research focuses on racism, health, mental health and older people. She is currently working on research looking at how adverse life experiences and negative experiences with state institutions impact upon mental illness and mental healthcare in collaboration with the NHS Race & Health Observatory. Dharmi is also Co-Investigator of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) and Co-Investigator of the WELL-Bradford study, which looks at end of life care in a diverse sample of frail people.

Our outgoing CoDE Director, , has swapped roles with Dharmi and now becomes Deputy Director. Bridget has recently been awarded a Major Research Fellowship from the Leverhulme Trust which will be starting later this year.

When Power Replaces Law: Venezuela, the United States, and the Fragility of the International Legal Order

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

This intervention is not merely controversial or politically debatable; it is unlawful under the core rules governing the international use of force. That conclusion holds regardless of arguments based on U.S. domestic law, moral claims about Maduro’s governance, or strategic interests in the region. If international law is to retain any meaning, it must be applied consistently — even, and especially, when doing so is politically inconvenient.

I. The Illegality of the Use of Force Against Venezuela

The prohibition on the use of force is one of the foundational principles of modern international law. Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter forbids states from using force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another state. Only two narrow exceptions exist: self-defence under Article 51, and authorisation by the UN Security Council.

Neither applies in the case of Venezuela. Venezuela did not attack the United States, nor was there an imminent armed attack that could justify anticipatory self-defence. Likewise, there is no Security Council mandate authorising military action. On that basis alone, U.S. strikes on Venezuelan territory constitute an unlawful use of force.

The same conclusion applies to the goal of removing Nicolás Maduro from power. International law explicitly prohibits intervention in the internal affairs of another state, including the forcible determination of its political leadership. Whether a government is unpopular, authoritarian, or widely regarded as illegitimate does not grant other states a legal right to impose regime change through military means.

The capture of Maduro and his wife therefore compounds these violations. Conducting arrests on foreign soil without the consent of the territorial state or authorisation by the Security Council constitutes an unlawful extraterritorial exercise of enforcement jurisdiction. Such actions also breach international human rights law, which prohibits arbitrary detention and requires adherence to established legal procedures. Kidnapping individuals across borders does not become lawful simply because it is carried out by a powerful state.

Arguments invoking benevolent motives do not alter this legal assessment. Claims that intervention is justified by drug trafficking, human rights abuses, or economic mismanagement do not create exceptions to the prohibition on the use of force. There is no recognised doctrine of a transnational “war on drugs” that permits military attacks on other states, nor does international law generally accept unilateral humanitarian intervention as lawful. Strategic or economic interests — such as access to oil — are even more clearly excluded as legal justifications.

II. Domestic Law Is Not a Defence Under International Law

Much of the defence offered for U.S. actions rests on domestic legal arguments: U.S. criminal indictments against Maduro, executive authority memoranda permitting extraterritorial arrests, or precedents such as the 1989 invasion of Panama to capture Manuel Noriega. These arguments misunderstand the relationship between domestic and international law.

International law is explicit on this point. A state may not invoke its internal law as justification for failing to comply with its international obligations. Even if U.S. courts permit prosecution following an unlawful apprehension, and even if U.S. executive branch lawyers conclude that such actions are permissible under domestic law, this does not erase the underlying violations of international law. The state remains internationally responsible for its conduct.

Historical precedent does not cure illegality either. The fact that the United States previously invaded Panama and prosecuted Noriega does not retroactively legalise that action, nor does it create a lawful template for future interventions. Repetition of unlawful conduct does not transform it into law.

III. Maduro, Accountability, and the Limits of Lawful Enforcement

None of this is a defence of Nicolás Maduro or his record in office. One may simultaneously believe that Maduro should not be governing Venezuela and recognise that foreign military intervention to remove him is illegal. His government has been credibly accused of serious human rights violations, repression, and corruption. These allegations matter and international law provides mechanisms to address them.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating crimes committed in Venezuela since 2018. Within the boundaries of international law, the ICC could have pursued accountability through arrest warrants, trials, and cooperation with states parties. Such processes are slow, imperfect, and politically constrained, but they are lawful. They preserve the distinction between justice and vengeance, between accountability and domination.

International law does not promise perfect outcomes. It does not guarantee that every abusive leader will be swiftly removed or punished. But its value lies precisely in its restraint: it channels power through rules, procedures, and institutions rather than raw force. Abandoning those constraints because they are frustrating or incomplete undermines the very conditions of international stability.

IV. The Cost of Disregarding International Law

The broader danger of the Venezuela intervention lies not only in its immediate consequences, but in the precedent it sets. If powerful states may unilaterally decide when international law applies and when it does not, the legal order collapses into selective enforcement and strategic convenience.

A world in which the use of force is justified by unilateral claims of necessity or moral superiority is a world of profound instability. If Venezuela can be attacked without condemnation nor consequence, there is no principled basis for objecting when other states do the same elsewhere—whether in Ukraine, Taiwan, Greenland, or beyond. Once “might makes right” replaces legal constraint, no state, however small or distant, is truly secure.

International silence or half-hearted responses exacerbate this risk. Vague expressions of “concern” or selective condemnation signal that violations will be tolerated when committed by allies or powerful actors. That erosion of consistency is itself corrosive to the rule of law.

V. Consistency as the Minimum Condition for Legitimacy

International law cannot survive as a menu of optional rules. Its legitimacy depends on consistent application without fear or favour. States cannot credibly condemn violations by adversaries while excusing or endorsing the same conduct by partners or themselves.

Respecting international law does not require believing it is flawless. It requires recognising that, despite its limits, it remains the only framework capable of restraining violence, protecting sovereignty, and reducing the risk of global anarchy. The alternative is not a more just world, but a more dangerous one.

The intervention in Venezuela is therefore not only about Venezuela. It is a test of whether international law remains a meaningful constraint on power, or whether it will be discarded whenever it becomes inconvenient. If the answer is the latter, the consequences will not be confined to one country or one region. They will shape the future of global order itself.

An earlier, simplified version of this analysis was published on the Substack

Lack of coordination is leaving modern slavery victims and survivors vulnerable, say experts

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 08:30:00 +0000

Researchers at ��Թϱ�� are calling for stronger, coordinated partnerships to tackle modern slavery and human trafficking, warning that gaps between organisations risk leaving victims and survivors without consistent protection and support.

Their appeal comes in a new review commissioned by , which examines how organisations across the city region work together to identify, safeguard and support people affected by modern slavery and human trafficking. The review focuses on partnerships involving local authorities, statutory services, law enforcement, housing providers and voluntary and community sector organisations.

The authors argue that tackling modern slavery depends on robust, long-term collaboration rather than ad hoc arrangements. While organisations across Greater ��Թϱ�� have developed innovative partnership approaches, the review finds that these are not always embedded consistently across the system. Among the review’s key recommendations, the authors are calling for:

- Clearer strategic governance to strengthen modern slavery and human trafficking partnerships at a Greater ��Թϱ��-wide level.
- More consistent roles and responsibilities across organisations, so victims/survivors do not fall through gaps between services.
- Improved information-sharing and referral pathways, ensuring concerns are acted on quickly and safely.
- Sustainable funding and resources to support partnership working, rather than reliance on short-term arrangements.
- Stronger links between safeguarding, housing, immigration advice and criminal justice responses, reflecting the needs of victims.

The review suggests that where partnerships are well established, outcomes for victims are more likely to be improved. Such embedded collaboration enables earlier identification of exploitation, better safeguarding responses and coordinated support to help individuals recover and rebuild their lives. Strong partnerships also support disruption of criminal activity by improving intelligence-sharing and joint working.

However, the authors highlight challenges which can weaken partnership arrangements including variations in local practice, capacity pressures and funding uncertainty. Frontline professionals reported that without clear structures and shared accountability, collaboration often relies on personal relationships, making it fragile and difficult to sustain.

The researchers also note that victims and survivors of modern slavery often face overlapping vulnerabilities including insecure housing, mental ill-health and immigration insecurity. Without joined-up working across sectors, these complexities can delay support and increase the risk of re-exploitation.

The authors stress that the findings have national relevance due to a relatively cohesive modern slavery partnership approach in Greater ��Թϱ��. As awareness of modern slavery grows, public bodies across the UK face pressure to demonstrate good quality partnership responses. The review positions Greater ��Թϱ�� as a potential leader, but cautions that this requires investment in governance, coordination and shared learning.

New Publication in Social Network Analysis and Mining

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 15:15:47 +0000

Philip Leifeld, Professor in Social Statistics at ��Թϱ��, together with Yuanyuan Shang, has published a new study in Social Network Analysis and Mining (2026): Applying a Panel Network Formation Model to Limited Partnership Matching in the Private Capital Market.

Abstract

In private capital investment, limited partners (LPs) and general partners (GPs) frequently encounter the challenge of finding suitable counterparts amid limited information, a process often hindered by market inefficiencies. This article addresses this issue by exploring the micro-level mechanisms that shape private capital networks, employing temporal exponential random graph models. Our findings uncover activity and popularity effects, persistence mechanisms, and homophily in preferences concerning region, strategy, and industry. These factors jointly shape the dynamically evolving network structure across asset classes and the hybrid network with all asset classes, revealing a shared network formation process. This article offers practical insights into the matching problem within the private capital market.

Read the article in

Konger FC: How Football Is Helping ��Թϱ��’s Hong Kong Community Find Home and Voice

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 12:17:25 +0000

A Saturday morning football club in ��Թϱ�� is doing more than just scoring goals - it’s helping a community rebuild its identity.

Founded in 2021, Konger FC is a football team made up of Hong Kongers who have relocated to ��Թϱ��, many on British National (Overseas) passports. Their move was prompted by increasing restrictions on activism and cultural expression in Hong Kong. Now, through football, they’re finding new ways to connect, integrate, and express themselves.

The club is at the heart of a new research project which received Community Partnership funding from the , led by University of ��Թϱ�� academics, from the and from . The project, which includes short films and a multimedia documents the 2024/25 season of Konger FC and lays the foundation for a full documentary film.

But this is more than just a sports story. The researchers have embedded themselves in the club’s activities - attending matches, training sessions, and interviewing players, sponsors, and fans. Their goal is to amplify the voices of Hong Kongers in ��Թϱ��, showcasing how they preserve their culture, build community networks, and contribute to civic life.

The project also taps into resources at the University of ��Թϱ��’s , offering the Konger FC community tools and expertise to share their story with wider audiences.

Through everyday activities like football, the Hong Kong diaspora in ��Թϱ�� is practising a quiet form of activism - championing democratic values and human rights while resisting the pressures of political repression back home. The upcoming documentary and website aim to shine a light on their journey, highlighting both the challenges and triumphs of starting anew in Britain.

Konger FC is proving that football can be more than a game—it can be a lifeline, a platform, and a powerful way to say, “We’re still here.”

Inspiring global careers in international politics

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 13:29:11 +0000

The Politics Department is excited to share the success of their inaugural event on careers in international politics, which attracted an impressive student turnout, highlighting the growing interest in global career opportunities among our students.

The event featured inspiring speakers from the United Nations, Amnesty International, the FCDO, Chatham House, Global Weekly, EY, and the Department for Education. Most of these speakers are proud ��Թϱ�� alumni, a testament to the quality of education they received here, which helped them thrive in competitive international roles.

This initiative reflects the University’s commitment to having a global impact as part of its 2035 strategy. Dr Jasmin Ramovic, organiser of the event, said:

Given the overwhelming response, the Politics Department will be making this an annual event and looks forward to expanding it even further in the future.

Justice Hub wins ‘Educational Institution of the Year’ award

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 10:08:48 +0000

The at the has won ‘Educational Institution of the Year 2025’ at the recent Greater ��Թϱ�� Pro Bono Awards. Through partnerships with students from across the , academics, lawyers and local charities, the Hub delivers free legal support to those most in need.

Around 650,000 people in the region fall into the ‘justice gap’ because they cannot access legal aid or afford private representation.

The Justice Hub’s important work exposes lawyers of the future to the injustices faced by many and the importance of access to justice and helps to transform lives across Greater ��Թϱ��.

The Awards, now in their second year, celebrate the regions’ lawyers, law students and legal professionals who are transforming lives through free legal advice and representation.

Hidden bias gives ‘swing state’ voters more influence over US trade policy

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 13:08:02 +0000

Americans living in political “swing states” have a significantly louder voice in national trade policy - effectively making their votes worth more than others - according to a new study published in the .

Professor Karim Chalak from ��Թϱ��, Professor John McLaren from the University of Virginia and Professor Xiangjun Ma from Liaoning University found that US governments of both parties tend to shape their trade policies to favour industries based in states that could decide presidential elections.

Using decades of economic and political data - from the Clinton years through to the Trump trade wars - the team found that US tariffs are consistently biased toward industries located in swing states such as Florida, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

According to their estimates, the welfare of a voter in a non-swing state is treated as being worth just 82 percent of that of a voter in a swing state when national trade decisions are made.

“Our research reveals the extent to which US policymakers cater to the welfare of swing-state workers relative to others with similar jobs elsewhere,” explains Professor Chalak. “This bias is a byproduct of the US’s electoral system - economic policies are shaped partly by political geography.”

The researchers describe how this pattern was illustrated clearly in the 1990s, when the Clinton administration negotiated special tomato trade protections for Florida ahead of a tight election. Similar patterns reappeared during later trade disputes involving steel and manufacturing tariffs.

“People often claim that the Electoral College protects small states, but the evidence is that it just penalizes people for not living in a swing state,” said Professor McLaren, “and even for swing states, the best evidence is that small states do not benefit from the bias.”

By combining theoretical modelling with real-world data on tariffs, industries, and voting patterns, the team developed what they call the “Swing-State Theorem.” The theorem predicts that in majoritarian systems like the US, policy naturally tilts toward the interests of swing regions - even without explicit lobbying.

The findings shed light on how political incentives can distort economic policy in ways that are both inefficient and hard to justify as fair, and they may help to explain why trade wars and protectionist measures often appear inconsistent with broader national welfare. The authors suggest the same logic could apply to other areas of policy, from infrastructure spending to defence contracts.

First global study finds young people redefining sexuality around the world

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 13:24:58 +0000

A major new global study led by a researcher at ��Թϱ�� has found that younger generations around the world are embracing a more diverse and fluid understanding of sexual identity than ever before.

The research - which analysed data from over 900,000 users of the queer women’s and nonbinary dating app Zoe - offers one of the first truly global pictures of how people identify their sexuality in 122 countries, from the UK and the US to Brazil, South Africa and Taiwan.

The study, published in , found that lesbian and bisexual are the most common identities - but it also shows that younger users are far more likely to describe themselves using newer or broader terms such as queer, pansexual or asexual, suggesting that traditional labels are evolving rapidly.

“Younger generations are showing us that sexuality is not a fixed category - it’s a spectrum,” said Dr Francesco Rampazzo, lead author and Lecturer in Social Statistics at ��Թϱ��. “Across the world, more young people are comfortable describing their identities in diverse and fluid ways.”

The research highlights how openness about sexuality often depends on cultural and social context. Countries in Europe, North America and Oceania show the greatest diversity of identities, while users in some parts of Africa and Asia were less likely to share information about their sexuality - likely reflecting differences in social acceptance or legal protection.

“Where people feel safe, they are more likely to express who they really are,” said Dr Canton Winer, co-author from the Northern Illinois University. “In places where LGBTQ+ identities remain stigmatised or even criminalised, that freedom is much narrower.”

The team emphasises that the study is not just about numbers - it’s about visibility. Behind each data point is a real person choosing to be seen.

The findings also show a small but visible proportion of users identifying as asexual, an often-overlooked orientation that’s now appearing beyond Western contexts. This hints at a growing global recognition of lesser-known identities.

By working directly with Zoe, which shared anonymised, aggregated data for research, the study marks a new frontier in demographic research. Rather than relying only on national surveys - which often miss sexual minorities - digital data from dating apps can help paint a more inclusive global picture.

“At Zoe, we have always believed that responsible collaboration between industry and academia can produce insights that genuinely benefit LGBTQ+ communities,” said Milan Kovacic, the former CEO of Zoe. “Studies like this show how data, when handled with care and respect, can deepen our understanding of people’s experiences and help create safer, more inclusive digital spaces. We are proud to support research that contributes to that goal.”

The study was conducted by researchers from ��Թϱ��, Northern Illinois University and the Zoe App, and is part of ongoing efforts to build a more global understanding of LGBTQ+ identities.

University of Amsterdam Visit by PhD Student Bahrul Nasution

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 17:17:44 +0000

During the research visit, Bahrul worked on flow matching applied to tabular data synthesis—a critical challenge in producing high-quality synthetic data while preserving privacy. Bahrul collaborated with Dr. Christian A. Naesseth and Floor Eijkelboom whose expertise in flow matching contributed significantly to this research direction.

Flow matching is a generative modelling technique that learns to transform random noise into meaningful data by following smooth trajectories. Think of it as a more flexible and efficient cousin of diffusion models. This approach has become a backbone for many modern generative models across different domains - from image generation to, in this case, synthetic tabular data.

The collaborative environment at AMLab fostered innovative discussions that refined the methodological framework and strengthened the international research network between the Department of Social Statistics and the University of Amsterdam. Working at one of Europe's leading machine learning research labs provided a unique environment to engage with cutting-edge computational and quantitative research, especially in synthetic data generation.

The findings from this work are now available as a preprint on , representing a significant milestone in advancing generative models for tabular data, especially to provide privacy-preserving and high-quality synthetic data. This collaboration exemplifies the Department's commitment to fostering global academic partnerships and contributing methodological advancements to the broader machine learning and statistical community.

PhD Student Isabella Thomas awarded Colonel Russell Mann Military, Veteran and Public Safety Families Research Award

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:38:27 +0000

Isabella's master's thesis from Queen’s University in Canada focused on how peer support levels and problematic social media use of youth in military families differed from non-military-connected youth. This project used the largest Canadian dataset with responses from military-connected youth themselves, the HBSC survey. Youth in military families have unique experiences that can shape their health outcomes, which is why this research is important.

Isabella was awarded the Colonel Russell Mann Military, Veteran and Public Safety Families Research Award for my research “Online communication and problematic social media use among military-connected youth in Canada”. This award recognises high-quality Canadian research that deepens the understanding of the health, resilience and lived experiences of military, Veteran and public safety families.

Humanities Academics Celebrate Business Engagement Success at inaugural event

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 12:09:18 +0000

Opening the event was Dr Louise Bates, Director of Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange for the University of ��Թϱ�� who highlighted the depth and breadth of the collaborative partnership work undertaken by academics from across the University and how her team supports academic colleagues in establishing such partnerships. Vice Dean for Research, Professor Maggie Gale welcomed guests and highlighted the breadth of expertise and collaborative innovation taking place across the faculty within key areas including AI, climate resilience and sustainability, legal and social justice including investigating racial bias on the bench, age-friendly communities, and supply chain innovation.

Associate Dean for Business Engagement, Civic & Cultural Partnerships , Professor Richard Allmendinger introduced the nominees from each school.

The winners, announced by Maggie Gale, were:

Alliance ��Թϱ�� Business School

Prof Jian-Bo Yang & Prof Dong‑Ling Xu, for their KTP with Kennedys to develop and embed an intelligent data driven fraud prevention and detection service for insurance claim handling, utilising modern machine learning, text analytics and semantic technologies.

School of Arts, Languages and Cultures

Prof Eithne Quinn, for work on racial bias in the judicial system enabled through a Simon Industrial & Professional Fellowship project undertaken by Keir Monteith KC, which has received significant media coverage and follow-on projects in related areas.

School of Social Sciences

Prof Emma Barrett for a Simon Industrial & Professional Fellowship with Limina Immersive “Building a safer Metaverse: Exploring the challenges faced by industry in developing safe, secure and ethical immersive experiences”. The project supported a successful £80K SPRITE+ funding bid for a deep dive expected to result in a step change in our industry engagement around XR and fostered new cross-disciplinary and external collaborations.

School of Environment, Education & Development

Dr Emma Shuttleworth For collaborating with key stakeholders, including the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Groundwork Greater ��Թϱ��, to lead KTPs that have developed a data-driven framework for innovative sustainable water management in the Irwell catchment and optimised the long-term financial health of the Groundwork Trust.

At the end of the Awards ceremony Richard Allmendinger announced the launch of a seed-funding call for academics across the faculty to submit bids for up to £7k to support early-stage development of collaborative projects with partners. Full information on the call available .

The full list of nominated projects:

Alliance ��Թϱ�� Business School

Dr Arijit De, Associate Professor in Management Science For his work in establishing Maritime Engineering and Management as a new cluster theme at UoM, including work with Port of Dover, DFDS, Ship & Bunker, Sealand and Smart Green Shipping building a substantial portfolio of research in maritime, port, and freight logistics with these partners, a REF Impact Case Study in freight and maritime logistics is in development.
Prof Yu-wang Chen, Professor of Decision Sciences and Business Analytics KTP – - the largest KTP awarded by Innovate UK.
Dr Pedro Sampaio, Senior Lecturer in Information Systems KTP – - to design, develop and embed an Industry 4.0 inspired data driven business model and management information framework which will support the company's strategic vision of expansion.
Prof David Hughes, Professor of Personality and Organisational Psychology & Nadia Papamichail, Professor of Decision Systems & Management Sciences KTP - to create sustainable growth and productivity improvement by combining behavioural psychology profiling and emotional regulation with advanced data science techniques to tackle complex work processes and transform the way JLG engages, supports its clients and staff through the legal frameworks. DH was shortlisted for Academic of the Year at the 2025 KTP Awards.
Prof Brian Nicholson, Professor of Business Information Systems & Dr Sung Hwan Chai, Lecturer in Accounting KTP: - To develop, embed and exploit advanced smart data driven technologies to deliver digital transformation within the audit function significantly increasing quality, productivity and capacity to deliver additional insight and value to clients.
Prof Judy Zolkiewski, Professor of Marketing KTP projects - . To create a smarter business that is both client-driven whilst also enhancing improved employee interactions, within a unified customer-centric framework that can support product and service innovation.
Prof Jian-Bo Yang, Professor of Decision and System Sciences & Prof Ling (Dong‑Ling) Xu, Chair Professor of Decision Science and Systems KTP - AMBS & Kennedys to develop and embed an i and detection service to support insurance claim handling utilising modern machine learning, text analytics techniques and semantic technologies, that can shape and add value to business.

School of Arts, Languages and Cultures

Prof Eithne Quinn, Professor of Cultural and Socio‑legal Studies For work on racial bias in the judicial system enabled through a undertaken by Keir Monteith KC which has received significant media coverage and led to a follow-on project on mis-use of lyrics in rap music in criminal court cases.
Prof Steve Scott-Bottoms, Professor of Contemporary Theatre and Performance - Finding the Story ARC: Engaging businesses with climate resilience in Yorkshire’s Aire valley IAA 496 Advance - The Rivalry Project: Extending Stakeholder Engagement with Climate Resilience in the Catchment of the Aire
Dr Kostas Arvanitis, Senior Lecturer in Museology - Therapeutic Impact of Physical, Digital and Virtual Collections of Trauma.
Dr Kostas Arvanitis, Senior Lecturer in Museology & Dr Andy Hardman, Senior Lecturer in Creative and Cultural Practices KTP - SALC & Port Sunlight Village Trust - creating and embedding a framework and tool-kit underpinned by museological and critical heritage research to transform the ways in which PSVT manages and interprets its history, site and collections.
Prof Sasha Handley, Professor of Early Modern History Salford Community Leisure - - Sleeping Well Salford: Using Historic Sleep Practices to Support Health and Social Care Pathways.

School of Environment, Education & Development

Dr Emma Shuttleworth, Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography Working collaboratively with a number of key stakeholders on environmental sustainability projects including Environment Agency, and leading on KTPs with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Groundwork Trust to create and embed a data driven catchment management framework that will drive innovative evidence-based sustainable water management within the Irwell catchment and optimise long-term financial health for Groundwork Greater ��Թϱ��.
Dr Sophie van Huellen, Senior Lecturer in Development Economics - Why Ghanaian farmers have been unable to capitalise on record cocoa prices with Fuad Mohammed Abubakar, Managing Head of the Ghana Cocoa Marketing Company (UK) Ltd.
Dr Joanne Tippett, Lecturer in Spatial Planning ��Թϱ�� UNESCO Creative City of Literature IAA 425 Secondment - Imagining sustainable futures: self-facilitated learning from heritage through art and play in UNESCO-designated sites. Shortlisted for ‘Transformative Social Venture of the Year’ award at the KEUK Awards 2024.

“The RoundView is a powerful way to activate and build capacity in UNESCO’s core competencies for sustainability leadership”. James Ömer Bridge, Secretary-General of UNESCO UK.

“The Secondment demonstrated that the RoundView learning toolkit offers great promise to address a key challenge we experience as UNESCO sites, of linking our work to sustainable development… and enabling us to translate SDG 13 Climate Action into an accessible activity. A key finding from the Secondment was that the ‘poetry as pedagogy’ incorporated into the toolkit helps encourage sustainability learning through literature, a key need for both us as Cities of Literature and our library partners.” Ivan Wadeson, Executive Director of ��Թϱ�� UNESCO City of Literature.

Dr Nuno Pinto, Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning and Urban Design For demonstrating exceptional leadership and innovation through the establishment and continued development of the MSc Data Science student industry-project programme. His dedication has transformed the initiative into a thriving platform for student engagement and real-world impact, with its success growing year on year. Nuno’s commitment to expanding the programme is evident in his active collaboration with fellow academics, fostering the creation of similar opportunities across other schools. His work exemplifies the spirit of business engagement and makes him a worthy nominee for the Faculty of Humanities Business Engagement award.
Prof Sarah Marie Hall, Professor in Human Geography with ��Թϱ�� Central Foodbank IAA 468 Relationship Development - Developing community-led, anti-poverty research capacity. IAA 503 Proof of Concept - Developing ��Թϱ��’s Anti-Poverty Research Community: Co-Producing Grassroots Collaborations for Positive Social Change. Winner of UoM in the Outstanding public engagement initiative: Local/civic engagement category
Prof Nicola Banks, Professor of Global Development - Activating citizen philanthropy for community-centred social justice: piloting a One World Together Global Citizenship curriculum for secondary schools.
Prof Alison Browne, Professor of Geography - the project brings together data analytics and social science insights to develop a Water Practices Analytical Toolkit for use in the water industry, offering a unique approach for managing the sustainability of water and influencing the UK’s long-term usage, average and peak water demands.

School of Social Sciences

Prof Tine Buffel, Professor of Sociology and Social Gerontology Age Friendly ��Թϱ�� ( ��Թϱ�� City Council) IAA 401 Secondment - Developing age-friendly communities to support healthy ageing: Exploring the potential of a policy innovation partnership between public agencies and faith-based organisations in Greater ��Թϱ��.
Prof Emma Barrett, Professor of Psychology, Security and Trust Simon Industrial & Professional Fellowship with Limina Immersive “Building a safer Metaverse: Exploring the challenges faced by industry in developing safe, secure and ethical immersive experiences”. The SIF project supported a successful £80K SPRITE+ funding bid for a deep dive expected to result in a step change in our industry engagement around XR and fostered new cross-disciplinary and external collaborations. The work also informed EB’s presentation at the Home Office Digital Forensics Conference in June 2025, alongside Innovate UK.

School of Social Sciences awarded Advanced HE Athena Swan Silver award

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 12:49:43 +0000

We are proud to announce that the has been awarded the Athena Swan Silver award, by , for advancing gender equality, improving senior representation, and embedding inclusive practices in teaching, research, and leadership. The award is testament to the school’s commitment to equality and inclusivity and to building a diverse, inclusive and supportive environment in which students and staff can thrive.

The is a framework which is used globally to support and transform gender within higher education and research. The school will now build on this to make even greater progress towards equality and inclusivity.

Claire Fox, Director of EDI reflects “To be honest, it was about time SoSS applied for this award, given the progress and achievements we’ve made in recent years. Achieving Silver is a real credit to all our colleagues who have put in the unglamorous work behind the scenes. I’m delighted the awarding panel recognised this.”

Claire Alexander, Head of School stated: “This is a prestigious award, which recognises a commitment to advancing gender equity in Higher Education and a tremendous achievement. The Award is also a stepping stone on a longer journey to embed gender equity throughout the School of Social Sciences”.

Study highlights rise of ‘authoritarian peacemaking’ and its implications for Ukraine

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000

As Donald Trump’s White House places huge pressure on Ukraine to sign a peace deal, a team of experts has published a new study examining what they describe as a worldwide shift towards “authoritarian peacemaking” - a model of conflict resolution shaped not by international institutions or liberal democracies, but by authoritarian and semi-authoritarian states whose interests lie in control, influence and geopolitical advantage rather than long-term solutions.

The study, set to be published in journal Washington Quarterly, traces how traditional peacemaking - rooted in international law, rights and negotiated compromise - has been eroded over the last two decades. According to the authors, the Iraq War, the post-9/11 security paradigm and growing global competition have weakened the norms that once governed international conflict resolution. This has opened space for powerful states to broker deals that prioritise strategic gain over accountability or the wishes of the affected population, as seen in the Ukraine peace plan drawn up by the USA and Russia.

The research draws on the concept of “Revisionist Conflict Management,” a framework relying on transactional bargaining, economic incentives and top-down deals that freeze conflicts rather than resolving their causes. The authors argue that these patterns are increasingly visible in conflicts across the Middle East and Africa - and now in Europe too.

The findings have particular resonance for the current efforts to end the war in Ukraine. The proposals floated by the USA give greater weight to Russian territorial “realities on the ground”, and involve conversations where Ukraine’s role is more limited than expected for a state whose sovereignty is at stake. This reflects concerns highlighted in the research - that peace deals in the current climate risk being shaped by external actors, not those living with the consequences.

The study compares this dynamic to earlier conflicts where authoritarian or centralised governments acted as mediators while pursuing their own agendas. In the authors’ view, this risks creating “victor’s peace” arrangements that halt fighting but entrench dominant states’ interests, leaving questions of justice, accountability and democratic legitimacy unresolved.

The researchers note that public opinion in Ukraine remains strongly opposed to ceding territory, and that Ukrainian society continues to insist on a settlement that restores borders and addresses wartime abuses. The tension between these expectations and geopolitical pressure, they argue, is emblematic of the broader global transition their study describes.

“By examining the Ukraine case through this lens, our research offers a wider warning about the international system - as global power becomes more fragmented and traditional norms weaken, the nature of mediation itself is changing,” said Oliver Richmond, Professor in International Relations, Peace & Conflict Studies at ��Թϱ��.

New commissioned report calls for national strategy for older prisoners as numbers reach record high

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 11:00:00 +0000

A major , in partnership with , is calling for an urgent national strategy to support the rapidly expanding population of older prisoners in England and Wales. With people aged 50 and over now representing 24% of the prison population according to the most recent report of the Chief Medical Officer (), and four times as many people over 60 in custody compared with 2002, the report highlights the vital need for age-responsive practice across the prison estate.

These findings come as growing evidence shows that older prisoners are often assigned unsuitable activities or excluded from them altogether, resulting in disengagement from the prison community and long periods spent in their cells. As sentencing patterns mean more people are ageing behind bars, the report emphasises that the structure and purpose of daily activities have become central to maintaining wellbeing, dignity, and a sense of meaning to the time spent in prison.

The report stresses that improved staff awareness and training with respect to older prisoners must underpin any system-wide response. With a greater understanding of age-related health conditions, mobility limitations, and psychosocial challenges, prison staff can play a crucial role in enabling access to what the report emphasises as ‘meaningful’ activities. The report includes a practical toolkit designed to support officers and managers in adapting to the distinct needs of an ageing population.

Drawing on diaries, interviews, and ethnographic research with prisoners aged 50 and over across Category A, C, and D prisons, report co-authors, , , and , of the , The University of ��Թϱ��, explore what makes activities meaningful to older people in custody. The report sets out practical, evidence-based recommendations for prisons nationwide.

Across the study, participants highlighted that learning new skills and activities supporting autonomy would foster personal growth and a sense of control. Exercise, especially spaces dedicated to ages 50+, would benefit physical and emotional well-being. Being given responsibility through meaningful roles would add to a sense of value, and supportive peer conversations were seen to be crucial to countering isolation and maintaining community. Many participants also expressed concerns about reduced interaction with staff as a result of high turnover and increasing administrative pressures.

Building on these findings, the report outlines recommendations across five core principles:

Recognition: Develop regular forums for older prisoners to share insights, and create structured pathways, such as peer mentoring, skills banks, and volunteering programmes, allowing them to contribute to prison life in meaningful ways.
Responsibility: Expand opportunities that build autonomy and purpose, including gardening schemes, animal-assisted programmes, self-catering initiatives, and facilitated group cooking sessions.
Recreation: Reframe social and recreational engagement as essential to a healthy prison regime. This includes establishing designated age-friendly spaces, weekly clubs, shared memory activities, and carefully designed intergenerational events.
Stimulation: Provide more opportunities that foster curiosity and dialogue, such as guest speaker events, prisoner-led seminars, and reading groups.
“Staying in the Game”: Equip older prisoners to remain connected to the modern world through IT literacy training, budgeting workshops, and tailored exercise programmes that promote long-term wellbeing.

These findings make clear that meaningful activity is not a luxury for older prisoners; it is a lifeline and something essential for reintegration and resocialisation upon release. By embedding recognition, responsibility, recreation, stimulation, and connection at the heart of prison regimes and interactions, the system can ensure that growing old in custody does not mean growing invisible. These changes are essential because they offer not just a novel perspective on old age, that is not just linked to health and vulnerabilities, but also gives emphasis to the importance of nourishing those features which are so essential to reintegration into society, thus building continuity rather than rupture between the time spent in prison and release.

This study is part of funded by the .

Access the full report:

Why China’s central bank is quietly leading the world on climate action

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 13:04:20 +0000

While Western central banks such as the Bank of England, the European Central Bank and the US Federal Reserve often talk about the dangers of climate change, new research has shown that China’s central bank is the only one that has actually taken major, concrete steps to shift money toward green industries.

The findings come from an in-depth project led by Dr James Jackson from ��Թϱ�� and Mathias Larsen from London School of Economics (LSE).

Their research - which has been published by LSE’s - involved 93 interviews across China’s financial system, including with staff inside the People’s Bank of China (PBoC), the country’s central bank.

Their conclusion is striking: China’s central bank isn’t independent from its government, and this may be the key reason it has been able to act faster and more boldly on climate change than its Western counterparts.

“There’s a common belief that central banks should stay out of politics and focus only on inflation. But climate change affects everything including food prices, energy bills and economic stability,” said Dr Jackson.

The study found that the PBoC uses its financial tools in very practical ways to support China’s green industries. For example, it offers cheaper loans for renewable energy projects and allows banks to borrow more easily when they invest in approved green sectors. Since 2021, one programme alone has supported more than £120 billion in green lending.

By contrast, the Bank of England and European Central Bank have focused mainly on encouraging banks to think about climate risk, rather than shifting financial markets directly. The researchers describe this as an “indirect” approach that has little real-world impact.

What makes the Chinese case unique is how the government sets the direction - such as its pledge to reach carbon neutrality by 2060 - and then expects the central bank to help deliver it. The PBoC still has technical freedom to design its own tools, but its mission is clear. One PBoC staff member told the researchers: “The government sets the goal. We decide how to get there.”

Dr Jackson says this offers an important lesson for the climate era. “We’re not saying countries should copy China’s political system, but we are saying that central banks around the world may need to rethink how they work with governments. In order to tackle climate change and adapt to its impacts, we need financial systems that can move quickly - not slowly.”

New report calls for comprehensive overhaul of UK counter-terrorism policies

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 17:06:22 +0000

The University’s is among 14 experts who compiled the of the Independent Commission on Counter-Terrorism Law, Policy and Practice, which was published today by the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law.

The report is based on extensive research and evidence from over 200 experts, practitioners, policymakers, academics and community representatives.

Professor Pilkington’s remit was to scrutinise the evidence around the Government’s Prevent programme - which aims to identify and rehabilitate people at risk of radicalisation - drawing on her research expertise in youth engagement and the societal drivers of extremism.

Referrals to Prevent increased markedly after 2015, when it became a legal duty for teachers, social workers, nurses and other frontline professionals to report people they believed to be at risk of being drawn into terrorism or extremism. Referrals jumped from a few hundred a year before 2015, to an average of 6,458 per year since 2015 and to a record number of 8,517 in 2024-25.

More than two thirds of these referrals were for concerns that had no - or no clear - ideological dimension, meaning that a counter-terrorism intervention was not an appropriate response. Almost half of referrals were for children aged 11-17, and a third had at least one mental health or neurodivergence condition.

“We have lost a lot of trust in communities over the Prevent programme,” said Professor Hilary Pilkington. “The whole of society has to live better together, and that requires social cohesion for all communities.”

“It should constitute one element of a broader, more holistic and better resourced multi-agency safeguarding approach that addresses diverse drivers of violence and to which individuals are referred via a ‘big front door’,” Hilary added.

The Commission sets out 113 recommendations to modernise the UK’s counter-terrorism framework and strengthen its fairness, focus and accountability.

The report concludes that while the UK’s counter-terrorism system remains world-leading, it has grown complex and overbroad. Key reforms are needed to ensure it remains effective, proportionate, and rooted in democratic values. As well as the recommendations concerning the Prevent programme, it also recommends that the government:

Narrow the legal definition of terrorism, ensuring clarity and proportionality.
Reform proscription powers, introducing time-limited reviews and stronger parliamentary and judicial oversight.
Tighten terrorism offences, ensuring prosecutions are fair, proportionate, and grounded in clear intent.
Restore equality in citizenship law, limiting deprivation powers and ensuring fair treatment under the law.
Invest in social cohesion, recognising that inclusion and trust are vital to long-term security.

Social gender norms deepen elderly care burdens for Thai women

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 12:45:08 +0000

As Thailand has experienced a rapid increase in its elderly population, a new study published in has found that “social gender norms” - shared beliefs about how “altruistic” women or men should be in society - are overburdening women in the country with elderly care.

Alongside Dr Minh Tam Bui from Srinakharinwirot University in Thailand and Professor Ivo Vlaev from the National University of Singapore, ��Թϱ��’s Dr Katsushi Imai analysed national time-use survey data covering over 70,000 Thai adults to see how men and women care for their elderly family members. The study shows that women offering elderly care spend 2 to 2.5 hours on unpaid elder care each day - far more than men.

This imbalance is partly due to the social norm about how “altruistic” women or men should be in society. In many communities in Thailand - particularly in rural areas - this social norm often forces women to be more altruistic than men as caregivers, because men are supposed to work outside. In areas with stronger gender norms, men spend much less time on elderly care than women do. Dr Bui emphasised the importance of digging deeper into the roots of caregiving inequality:

“We all know that there is a persistent gender care gap - women carry more of the burden in childcare, elder care and household work nearly everywhere in the world - but the underlying reasons for this are often understudied. We wanted to find out why and how this happens by looking at social gender norms around altruistic behaviour.”

“We found that women swap paid work for elderly caregiving, but men do not. This unequal division of care responsibilities can lead to gender gaps in employment and wellbeing, and is worrying in terms of achieving both equality and efficiency in Thailand,” she added.

The research team urges policymakers to recognise the value of unpaid elderly care, allocate more budget for long-term care insurance, and introduce nationwide campaigns to encourage men to engage in family care duties. This would help the country achieve UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality by offering critical insights for building more equitable care systems and behavioural change in ageing societies.

The study informs a process that takes place in many countries worldwide where women are overburdened with care responsibilities. As populations age and family structures change, how societies value and share care work may become one of the defining social issues of the century.

The authors also raise concerns over the discontinuation of the Thai national time-use survey by the National Statistical Office. They advocate for its urgent resumption, stressing that time-use data is critical for understanding gender inequality, strengthening the care economy, and helping the government monitor its progress toward the SDGs. Without such data, key dimensions of unpaid care work remain invisible in policy design and economic planning.

Professor Toni Haastrup shares expertise on Feminist Foreign Policy

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 16:20:00 +0000

, Chair in Global Politics, at ��Թϱ��, recently moderated a plenary session on regional perspectives and participated in an expert panel at the (FFP) in Paris.

The event aimed to identify strategies to strengthen and expand international coalitions to preserve the rights of women and further progress gender equality.

Whilst in Paris, Toni was also invited, by the , to contribute to a side-event focusing on localisation in FFP contexts.

Toni’s expertise on FFP includes recent publications ( and ). This work is also being developed as an online archive FFP, in a collaboration with academics at the Universities of Birmingham and Bath as an essential research and policy tool, which will be the first of its kind.

Outdated Westminster rules undermine democracy by excluding smaller parties

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 15:48:26 +0000

The 2024 General Election was one of the most dramatic in British history, as voters turned away from the two traditional giants - Labour and the Conservatives - in record numbers. Thirteen different parties and six independents won seats in the House of Commons, making this the most fragmented Parliament ever.

This trend has continued in the recent Caerphilly byelection, where the Labour and Conservative votes collapsed - but while the ballot box is reflecting a new era of multi-party politics, inside Westminster it is still business as usual for the main parties.

New research published in by Dr Louise Thompson from ��Թϱ�� shows how outdated rules in the House of Commons shut smaller parties out of key decisions, leaving millions of voters effectively unheard.

“Parliament is still operating as if it were the 1950s, when two big parties dominated,” Dr Thompson explains. “Smaller parties are treated unfairly in parliament’s rules, even though their MPs represent a growing share of the electorate. That creates a real democratic deficit.”

Currently, only the government, the official opposition and the third-largest party enjoy guaranteed speaking time, committee chairs and opportunities to hold the government to account. Everyone else - from the Greens and Reform UK to Plaid Cymru and the DUP - has no such rights.

That means these MPs often spend hours waiting in the chamber for a chance to speak, sometimes never being called at all. Even when they represent national movements like the Greens, or entire regions like Northern Ireland parties, they remain sidelined.

The problem isn’t just symbolic. Without a seat on select committees, smaller parties cannot properly scrutinise new laws. Without guaranteed debate slots, they cannot speak to issues that matter to them. In Dr Thompson’s words, “All MPs are elected equally, but inside Westminster, some are definitely more equal than others.”

At present, smaller parties rely on handshakes and goodwill to be heard. The Speaker sometimes makes space for their questions, and on rare occasions, bigger parties share their committee or debate time - but these arrangements are inconsistent and can be withdrawn at any moment. This patchwork system also favours parties that have good relationships with the big players, while leaving others with nothing. It is, Dr Thompson argues, no way to run a modern democracy.

Her study recommends that Westminster should modernise its rulebook to reflect today’s multi-party politics. She calls for formal guarantees in the Commons’ Standing Orders, giving smaller parties fair speaking rights, seats on committees and access to debates.

She also suggests borrowing ideas from devolved parliaments, such as minimum thresholds for party rights, and promoting more guesting” on committees so small party MPs can contribute where they have expertise. These reforms, she stresses, wouldn’t overhaul the system but would make it more transparent, consistent and fair for all MPs - regardless of their party.

University of ��Թϱ�� academics co-lead international legal education in Southern Italy

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 10:21:13 +0000

In July 2025, Dr Emma Luce Scali and from the University of ��Թϱ�� Law School co-led two major international academic events in Southern Italy: the and the .

Co-organised alongside Professor Raffaella Nigro (University ‘Magna Graecia’ of Catanzaro), the events brought together over 70 participants – including students, researchers and practitioners – to explore urgent questions of international law, justice, and political economy. The Roccella Summer School in particular, is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive space for people from all backgrounds to reflect critically on international law’s relevance to the peaceful coexistence and the thriving of humanity. Its core mission is to promote wider public engagement with international law, fostering dialogue beyond traditional academic boundaries.

A highlight of the programme was the keynote address, on the Day of International Criminal Justice (17 July), by HE Dr Fatou Bensouda, former Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and current Gambia High Commissioner to the UK. Her address offered a powerful reminder of the importance of perseverance in making international law work for justice and the world’s most vulnerable.

Participants engaged in accessible workshops, collaborative writing sessions, and open discussions that encouraged peer learning and critical reflection across cultures, disciplines, and lived experiences – all set against the backdrop of Roccella’s historic architecture and stunning coastal landscape.

As one student reflected:

View the full programme on the .

��Թϱ�� hosts leading experts to explore the power of dangerous writings

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 13:20:52 +0100

Led by ��Թϱ��’s in partnership with the the (30 September 2025) brought together leading academics, archivists, and curators to examine how texts - from prisoners’ letters, politicians’ and military men’s diaries during wars, missionaries’ photographic pictures and reports, blogs and tweets, and anatomy controversial books - can empower, unsettle, and endanger in equal measure.

By fostering cross-disciplinary dialogue, the symposium, co-organised by , and , encouraged participants to share diverse perspectives, uncover new insights, and explore the ethical responsibilities of engaging with these powerful writings.

Across panels and performances, participants grappled with questions of care, responsibility, and solidarity: How do we preserve and share texts that are powerful but can be painful? What duties do researchers and curators hold towards their participants? What about audiences and the broader community – can they be traumatised by what they read too? And how can the voices of the marginalised be honoured without causing further harm?

The programme ranged from suppressed memoirs to protest theatre, to prison blogging and the fragile preservation of refugee diaries. Presentations by and (University of ��Թϱ��) explored prisoners’ diaries and the ethical complexities of engaging with them, while international contributors highlighted struggles faced by writers across Europe.

Emphasising the ethical challenges at the heart of the discussions, event organiser, Dr Marion Vannier, Senior Lecturer in , shared:

Research shows that land can’t buy security for young Kenyans

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 10:30:12 +0100

An anthropologist from ��Թϱ�� has uncovered the hidden struggles of young men on the edges of Nairobi, who inherit land but lack the means to turn it into the financial security they desperately need.

Published in , Dr Peter Lockwood’s research reveals how land ownership in Kenya’s booming peri-urban areas provides young men with a vital safety net - but also traps them in a cycle of dependence and uncertainty.

Through long-term fieldwork in Kiambu County, Dr Lockwood followed the lives of men like Cash, a 28-year-old who inherited three acres after his father’s death. Cash dreams of becoming a landlord, imagining apartment blocks rising from his family land. Yet without money to build, he admits: “I have the land, but it’s not money.”

The research highlights a dilemma faced by many young Kenyans. On one side, inherited land offers security - a place to live, a potential asset and a symbol of adulthood. On the other, without access to credit or investment, it becomes what Dr Lockwood calls a “dead asset” - valuable on paper, but unusable in practice.

Some young men choose to break away from their family land altogether, pursuing work in Nairobi’s informal economy as a way of proving independence. Others remain at home, clinging to their inheritance in the hope it will one day transform their lives. Both paths are fraught with difficulty.

The study also reflects a global concern. As house prices rise faster than wages in cities across the world, young people from ��Թϱ�� to Nairobi are being told that property is their route to security. Yet many find themselves excluded from ownership or holding assets they cannot make use of.

“This research shows how property has become both a promise and a trap,” Dr Lockwood added. “It offers the illusion of escape from precarious work - but for many young people, it never delivers.”

The findings shed new light on how land, property and housing shape the futures of young people in rapidly urbanising regions, and they raise urgent questions about inequality, opportunity and the future of work worldwide.

Criminology Lecturer recognised for study on confrontational policing

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0100

, Lecturer in Policing at the of ��Թϱ��, has been awarded the Early Career Prize of the European Society of Criminology (ESC) . The award recognises outstanding research by early career scholars contributing to the study of policing.

Thiago received the prize for his article “Aggressive policing and undermined legitimacy: assessing the impact of police stops at gunpoint on perceptions of police in São Paulo, Brazil”, published in the (2024). The study examines the effects of aggressive police encounters on public attitudes toward the police in São Paulo, Brazil.

Using a three-wave longitudinal survey of residents, the findings reveal that while general police stops had no clear impact on public attitudes, police stops involving officers pointing a gun significantly reduced public perceptions of police procedural fairness, increased concerns about over-policing, and harmed perceptions of police legitimacy.

These results highlight the social costs of confrontational policing tactics, particularly in disadvantaged urban areas, and underscore the need for policing practices that prioritise community trust alongside crime control. The award panel noted that “this article exemplifies Dr Oliveira’s influential research on police misconduct and attitudes towards the police in São Paulo, Brazil, using longitudinal survey data”.

A graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science (PhD, 2021), Thiago previously held research and teaching positions at the Universities of Oxford and Surrey before joining ��Թϱ�� in 2023. His work on police misconduct and legitimacy has been widely published in leading journals, including Law and Society Review, Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, Journal of Quantitative Criminology, and The British Journal of Criminology.

The award was presented during the 25th Annual Conference of the European Society of Criminology, held in Athens, Greece.

New publication in Comparative Population Studies

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 12:05:44 +0100

Examining how young people across Europe imagine and plan their path to adulthood, the article, “,” draws on data from the Generations and Gender Survey and the European Social Survey to explore young adults’ ideal ages, intentions, and actual behaviours across 33 European countries.

The study provides a comparative picture of when young people expect to leave home, form partnerships, marry, and become parents; and how these expectations align, or fail to align, with reality.

Findings show that while young Europeans tend to view their twenties as the ideal period for key life transitions, they often experience these events later than intended. The mismatch between ideals and outcomes highlights persistent gender and regional differences, suggesting that cultural norms and structural barriers continue to shape the pathways to adulthood across Europe.

What you study in school can shape your politics, study finds

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 10:30:46 +0100

Groundbreaking new research led by ��Թϱ�� has uncovered a significant and lasting link between the subjects young people study in secondary school and their political preferences.

The study, led by Dr Nicole Martin from ��Թϱ�� alongside Dr Ralph Scott from the University of Bristol and Dr Roland Kappe from University College London, uniquely tracked thousands of English students from adolescence into adulthood.

It revealed that studying arts and humanities subjects such as History, Art and Drama during their GCSEs makes students more likely to support socially liberal and economically left-wing parties like the Green Party or Liberal Democrats.

In contrast, students who studied Business Studies or Economics at GCSE level showed increased support for economically right-wing parties like the Conservative Party. Technical subjects also influenced views, leading to greater support for socially conservative and economically right-wing parties.

Crucially, these relationships between subjects and political support were found to persist into adulthood.

Published in the journal , the research marks the first time such effects have been observed within compulsory secondary schooling, moving beyond studies that traditionally focus on university education.

By combining English administrative school records with a unique panel of adolescents, the study provides compelling evidence on the importance of secondary school subjects for political socialisation during the 'impressionable years' of adolescence.

“Our research demonstrates that education’s influence on our political beliefs is far more nuanced than simply the level of education attained,” said Dr Martin. “The specific subjects that young people take in school - particularly at GCSE - plays a profound role in shaping their political compass. This might be because of the content, or because of different peer groups or role models.”

Madeleine Rees OBE delivers powerful 40th International Peace Lecture at ��Թϱ��

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 10:27:59 +0100

, Secretary General of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, addressed a packed Roscoe Theatre and online audience with a lecture titled The Continuous Struggle: Women’s Rights in the Last Four Decades and the Backlash Against Progress. Drawing on her work with women from Argentina, Bosnia, Syria, and Ukraine, Rees explored how gender justice has evolved in conflict-affected regions and how progress is increasingly threatened by rising authoritarianism, legal rollbacks, and cultural resistance.

Her talk highlighted the urgent need to protect hard-won rights, confront structural violence, and reimagine peacebuilding through a feminist lens. Rees’s reflections were rooted in decades of frontline advocacy, legal reform, and international diplomacy, “We insert ourselves into what we see and learn from existing structures. Male and female binary. History matters, but it’s biased; it’s mainly not women’s views. It’s not that women were written out of history but it’s that women were never written in.”

The lecture examined the pushback against gender and its negative impact on accessing justice, understanding conflict, and addressing its consequences. Rees argued that binary approaches, especially regarding gender, hinder the structural changes needed to end exclusion, inequality, and violence.

The lecture explored what interdisciplinary research is required to shift from a Hobbesian dystopia characterised by perpetual competitiveness and individualism, and to rebuild or establish a shared human connection.

The event marked forty years since former Psychology lecturer formally launched the lecture series. Inspired by staff protests against nuclear weapons at Greenham Common, the series was founded to create space for public dialogue on peace and the future.

, Lecturer in Peace and Conflict Studies and organiser of this year’s lecture, said:

The lecture was followed by a Q&A and networking reception, bringing together students, researchers, activists, and members of the public.

The International Peace Lecture is hosted annually by the Department of Politics in the School of Social Sciences. It remains a vital space for critical reflection, civic engagement, and global dialogue.

The Lost Decade: why Australia is playing climate catch-up

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 10:12:21 +0100

For ten long years, Australia earned an unenviable reputation as one of the world’s climate change ‘laggards’. From 2013 to 2022 its governments weakened environmental rules, cut renewable energy funding and fought against international climate agreements - climate scientists and activists dubbed it the nation’s ‘Lost Decade’.

Now, new research by a group of experts from ��Թϱ�� and the University of Melbourne has revealed how Australia went from that era of inaction to passing its most ambitious climate law in a generation - and why its transformation still hangs in the balance.

The study published in the tracks how the election of a centre-left government in 2022 sparked big changes. Within months, Australia passed the Climate Change Act, promising to cut emissions by 43% by 2030 compared with 2005 levels and reach net zero by 2050.

The government launched plans for 82% renewable electricity by 2030, and pitched Australia as a ‘Renewable Energy Superpower’ thanks to its rich reserves of minerals like lithium and cobalt, which are essential for electric cars and solar panels.

But the researchers warn that this transformation is far from complete. Australia, they argue, is stuck on a ‘dual track’: expanding green energy on one hand, while doubling down on fossil fuel exports on the other. In fact, in 2024 the government unveiled a new ‘Future Gas Strategy’, signalling plans to keep supplying global gas markets well past 2050.

The research highlights that rather than setting bold new directions, the country copies climate policies from elsewhere (like the UK and New Zealand) and has to accept the prices set by bigger economies for its critical minerals. By waiting so long to act, Australia missed the chance to shape the global market.

It also demonstrates the human cost - experts interviewed described how climate scientists and renewable energy experts left the country in frustration, a ‘brain drain’ that left Australia short of skilled workers just as the green economy began to boom.

“Australia’s story is a warning for all countries, especially those heavily tied to fossil fuels,” said co-author Dr Paul Tobin. “Delay now means paying the price later, not only in rising climate impacts like bushfires and floods, but also in lost opportunities for jobs, innovation and global influence.”

“If countries want to shape the future rather than scramble to catch up, they need to act boldly and early. Climate change isn’t just an environmental issue - it’s about economic competitiveness, national identity and fairness to the next generation.”

Professor Todd Hartman part of team awarded Wellcome Discovery Award for research on mental health and administrative justice

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 13:55:21 +0100

Professor Todd Hartman (Social Statistics) part of interdisciplinary team awarded Wellcome Discovery Award for research on mental health and administrative justice.

Primary health services are the first point of contact for those seeking support for common mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression. These services form an essential part of the response to the UK’s mental health crisis.

Engagement with those accessing and navigating primary care pathways for common mental health problems has highlighted that accessing and engaging with support frequently involves struggling with complex and burdensome bureaucratic processes at an already difficult time. These experiences can leave people with a profound sense of unjust treatment that continues throughout their journey through the system.

Research across different disciplines has suggested that perceptions of ‘just’ treatment can also significantly impact treatment outcomes by affecting engagement with services, deterring individuals from seeking support in the future, and exacerbating existing inequalities within the system.

A research programme, led by Professor Joe Tomlinson and funded by a £2.5 million Discovery Award, will pioneer the application of the theory of ‘bureaucratic justice’ in primary mental health services. By deploying an innovative combination of a longitudinal quantitative and qualitative study with participatory storytelling methods, the programme will develop a new understanding of the nature and relevance of just treatment in the context of how people interact with frontline administrative processes in primary care mental health services.

The programme will also build an interdisciplinary community of researchers, while providing a platform to embed lived experiences of seeking mental health support into research practices in innovative and engaging ways.

The programme formally launches in January 2026 and will run for six years. Alongside Professor Joe Tomlinson, The Dickson Poon School of Law and King’s College London, the programme will benefit from the expertise of co-investigator Head of the and Deputy Director of the at ��Թϱ��. Co-investigators are also based at the University of York (including Dr Jed Meers, Dr Simona Manni, Dr Annie Irvine, Dr Aisling Ryan, and Professor Lina Gega).

A Legacy of Courage and Conversation: 40 Years of the International Peace Lecture

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 15:08:59 +0100

This October, the at ��Թϱ�� celebrates 40 years of its International Peace Lecture. This landmark series has brought global changemakers and urgent conversations to campus since 1985.

The idea of a peace lecture at ��Թϱ�� dates back even further. Records show that the first such lecture was proposed on the eve of the Second World War, in 1939, at the University. However, it was not until much later, when former university lecturer and his colleagues secured institutional support and funding, that the series was formally established. The inaugural lecture was delivered by former Prime Minister , setting the tone for decades of thought-provoking contributions from speakers such as , and .

Churcher, a psychology Lecturer at the University, formed the Peace Lecture Appeal committee to raise the funds needed to launch the series. Prior to this, he had worked with colleagues to establish the ��Թϱ�� University Nuclear Disarmament Group (MUND), which collaborated with Greater ��Թϱ�� Council to assess and communicate the potential impact of a nuclear attack on the region.

Reflecting on the legacy, Churcher said:

The will take place on Wednesday, 8 October, featuring Madeleine Rees OBE, Secretary General of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. The latest lecture, organised by , Lecturer in Peace and Conflict Studies, will centre on Rees’s talk titled The Continuous Struggle: Women’s Rights in the Last Four Decades and the Backlash Against Progress, exploring the evolving fight for gender justice and the global forces resisting change.

Speaking on the series, Ramovic said:

Over four decades, the International Peace Lecture has become a cornerstone of ��Թϱ��’s public engagement, amplifying voices from conflict zones, social movements, and international diplomacy. It continues to challenge audiences to think critically about the conditions for peace and the courage it takes to pursue it.

Tickets are available for the hybrid event on .

Research shows cities must do more to support older residents

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 12:17:13 +0100

To mark the upcoming , a new study from ��Թϱ�� is calling for cities to do more to support older people who want to stay in their own homes and communities as they age.

The research published in the looks at the idea of ‘ageing in place’ - the policy focus on enabling older adults to live well in their own home and neighbourhood of choice for as long as they wish. While this approach is often seen as positive, the study highlights that many urban areas do not provide the necessary supports to make this a reality.

According to the research team, the pressures of rising inequality, cuts to public services, and the privatisation of spaces in cities mean many older people struggle to access the support they need. Poorer neighbourhoods in particular face declining facilities such as libraries, community centres and affordable housing – resources that are crucial for wellbeing in later life.

“Most people want to stay in their homes as they grow older, but this is only possible if the communities around them are supportive,” said lead author Dr Tine Buffel. “At the moment, too many older residents are left isolated or feel invisible in their own neighbourhoods. We need new ways of organising community life so people can rely on each other, rather than just on families and/or overstretched services.”

The study looked at innovative examples from around the world that could help tackle the problem. These include:

The Village model – neighbourhood organisations run by older people themselves, pooling resources to provide services like transport, home repairs and social activities.
Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities – areas where large numbers of older people already live, supported by tailored health and community services.
Cohousing – intentionally created communities where residents share spaces and provide mutual support.
Compassionate Communities – grassroots networks that help people facing illness, end of life or bereavement.

Each model has benefits, from reducing hospital admissions to strengthening social ties, but also face challenges such as funding pressures and a tendency to leave out more disadvantaged groups.

The researchers argue that the next step is to think about ageing in place as a collaborative venture – something built on collective action, shared resources and planning with the direct involvement of older people themselves. They also call for urban planning to be less ageist, pointing out that too many urban regeneration projects prioritise young professionals over older residents.

The study concludes that ageing in place can only succeed if communities, councils, charities and older residents work together. Without this, many people risk not being able to live independently, or being “stuck in place” in unsuitable housing and unsupported communities.

Tackling Extremist Misogyny in the Digital Age

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0100

As misogynistic ideologies gain traction online, , Philosophy lecturer at ��Թϱ��, is calling for UK policymakers to recognise gender-based ideological violence as a form of extremism under the the UK’s counter-extremism policy.

Dr Popa-Wyatt, who contributed key evidence to the advocating for gender as a protected characteristic, warns that dangerous gaps remain. Her research shows extremist misogyny is not only harmful but organised, aiming to reverse gender equality through coercion, violence, and radicalisation of disaffected young men.

In , Popa-Wyatt defines misogynistic extremism as “content, acts, and practices that enforce patriarchal control through male supremacy, often via dehumanisation, intimidation, and violence.” Her findings distinguish this from everyday misogyny, emphasising the ideological, systematic nature of male supremacy, which uses the rhetoric of domination and coercion to reassert patriarchal control.

Online platforms, particularly incel forums, the manosphere, and influencer ecosystems, were found to have amplified this extremism. Recommender algorithms and generative AI enable the spread of hate content, while figures like Elliot Rodger and Andrew Tate shape a dangerous narrative of male dominance.

To counter this, Dr Popa-Wyatt urges reform of the Prevent strategy to address radicalisation in digital spaces, invest in interventions that offer positive alternatives, and support young people with empowering narratives. This involves developing digital infrastructure and partnerships capable of tackling radicalisation in less-visible online environments.

“When misogyny becomes ideological and appeals to violence, it qualifies as a form of extremism,” states Dr Mihaela Popa-Wyatt. “Failing to address the rise of extreme misogyny with a holistic approach could risk further alienating men and boys into incel spaces.

These recommendations arrive ahead of ’s October 2025 review, which will consider new obligations for tech companies. Dr Popa-Wyatt stresses that gender-based violence must be central to those discussions.

Read more about Dr Mihaela Popa-Wyatt’s and recent research, .

Stitching at the End of the World: Rethinking Privacy Through Textile Practice at ��Թϱ�� Museum

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 11:13:31 +0100

Written by Lydia Donohue with photographs by Tom Longstaff.

On the top floor of ��Թϱ�� Museum, participants gathered for “Stitching at the End of the World,” a workshop that paired hands-on textile making with discussion of privacy, surveillance, and autonomy in the digital era.

Led by , a PhD researcher in Social Anthropology, and part of the open-source artwork Kill Your iPhone, the session guided attendees in creating phone pouches from Electromagnetic Shielding fabric. This material blocks the device from communicating with the technological infrastructure. Once inside, they are cut off from the mobile network and effectively become a “dead phone.”

Supported by funding and , the workshop was not only about making a practical tool. As participants stitched their pouches, conversations unfolded about cybersecurity, personal autonomy, and the role of ‘smart textiles’ in shaping everyday life. Sewing became a way to reflect on how digital systems structure our choices, and how creative practices can open space to challenge them.

The session bridged STEM research, future-fabric technologies, anthropology, and creative education, showing how textiles can serve both as functional objects and as critical methods of inquiry. By linking material practice to large-scale debates on surveillance and digital dependency, the workshop demonstrated how interdisciplinary and material methods can address pressing social questions surrounding civil liberty and privacy.

Textiles, with their slowness and tactile qualities, stand in sharp contrast to the invisible speed of digital infrastructures. Making a shielding pouch thus became more than a technical exercise: it was an invitation for participants to imagine how they might reclaim agency in a hyper-connected world, offering them the choice to connect or to disconnect.

Through its blend of craft, theory, and public dialogue, “Stitching at the End of the World” offered a fresh perspective on how we can reimagine autonomy in an increasingly connected world.

Empowering Youth, Transforming Futures: Reducing Teenage Pregnancy in Akatsi North

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 09:49:14 +0100

A recent follow-up study in the Akatsi North District, Volta Region, Ghana, reveals promising progress in the fight against teenage pregnancy. A collaborative program by and , which included children's clubs, health workshops, and vocational training, has successfully shifted attitudes and provided valuable skills for young people.

The research, funded by Good Neighbors (in 2022-23) and ��Թϱ�� - International Science Partnerships Fund (in 2024-25), was led by a joint team from the School of Social Sciences and , University of ��Թϱ��, including Dr Jihye Kim, Professor Wendy Olsen, Dr Mohammed Ibrahim, Harshada Ambekar, Sonny McCann and Mindy Park.

They conducted both surveys and focus groups, finding that students who participated in the programme showed a shift in their attitude about early pregnancy, such as postponing the expected age of having their first child. The programme’s success is attributed to its emphasis on education, future development, and mutual respect among peers, rather than solely focusing on negative outcomes.

Community leaders have observed a . This progress is encouraging, but the report emphasises the need for continued support and a long-term strategy. Misunderstandings about family planning still need to be addressed at a community level to achieve a sustainable reduction in teenage pregnancy.

The study concludes that social engagement is a potent tool for empowering young people and improving sexual and reproductive health knowledge.

The baseline and follow-up study reports are available on the . The paper on the results from the baseline study has been released in .

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Good Neighbors Alliance, known globally as Good Neighbors International, a federation of independent but affiliated Non-Government Organisations operating in over 50 countries.

Humanities researchers recognised at 2025 Research Staff Excellence Awards

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 08:00:00 +0100

Opening the ceremony, , Associate Vice-President for Research, praised the “dedication, innovation, and collaborative spirit” of this year’s winners, highlighting their role in driving forward research that resonates both within academia and across wider society.

Research Staff of the Year

From the , was named Research Staff of the Year. A leading voice in urban feminist geographies, Kapsali’s work has introduced new frameworks such as transversal solidarities and critically examined philanthrocapitalism’s role in urban governance. Alongside securing major research grants and publishing in top journals, Kapsali has nurtured a thriving research culture by founding a Feminist Reading Group and mentoring colleagues through collaborative workshops.

Best outstanding contribution to research impact

from the received the award for Outstanding Contribution to Research Impact. Doran’s leadership in organising the brought together over 300 policymakers, practitioners, activists, and researchers from 20 countries. Their work has strengthened links between research and public policy, advancing global debates on age-friendly cities.

Reflecting on the award, Doran shared:

Best outstanding interdisciplinary research

School of Environment, Education, and Development researcher, was recognised for Outstanding Interdisciplinary Research for their innovative work on green infrastructure. Li’s NERC-funded project, ‘’, has been cited over 700 times and shaped urban greenspace policy through collaborations with local councils and international partners.

Speaking on the award, Dr Lei Li, noted:

Best outstanding output

Also, from the School of Environment, Education, and Development, received the Outstanding Output award for his publication record and contributions to urban health research. With 21 peer-reviewed articles in just four years, Benton’s work has informed both academic debate and policy, including the ’s evaluation framework for health interventions.

Benton credited ��Թϱ��’s collaborative research environment for his success:

From advancing feminist geography to shaping age-friendly policies, influencing urban health frameworks, and integrating ecology with planning, the Faculty of Humanities awardees demonstrated the breadth and societal relevance of ��Թϱ�� research.

New publication in Politics and Governance

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 10:49:23 +0100

You can read the paper, “”, online.

Political elites in the US are ideologically divided over climate change. We identify two perspectives:

The intrinsic view on ideological climate polarisation views climate beliefs as entrenched parts of an actor’s identity and posits that ideological positions have factually shifted towards ever more extreme positions over time.
The instrumental view, in contrast, emphasises that polarisation entrepreneurs mobilise their constituency to participate in the climate policy debate by amplifying ideological differences over climate-related focusing events when they arise, leading to fluctuations in visible polarisation, rather than a steady trend.

This study examines which of the two perspectives holds in US Congressional and subnational media debates by analysing time trends of polarisation and phases of structural stability. We distinguish between endogenous events, which can be attributed to the political process, and exogenous focusing events, such as extreme events or those related to the international climate regime, and investigate which type of event tends to be associated with changes in polarisation.

Applying two novel time series measures for discourse networks - structural polarisation and the detection of phases of structural stability - to the climate debate during the 112th to 114th Congress (2013–2017) and subnational print media in four swing states, we find that exogenous events are largely irrelevant while endogenous political dynamics increase the polarisation of the debate considerably.

We find ups and downs of polarisation corresponding to distinct structural phases in which polarisation is linked to participation. This temporal fluctuation of polarisation around endogenous political events is consistent with the instrumental perspective.

When AI breaks your heart

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 13:35:12 +0100

Dr Jennifer Cearns is a digital anthropologist, specialising in AI and algorithms in social life. Her research focuses on how people relate to one another through emerging intelligent technologies and she is currently conducting researching into Human-AI relations, looking at intimacy and how trust and empathy forms between humans and AIs.

As people increasingly search for connection in an often-isolated modern world, the line between technology and companionship is blurring. By examining what happens when those bonds with AI falter, Dr Cearns’ work sheds light not only on the ethics of human-machine intimacy, but also on the wider human search for belonging.

In her most recent project, she has used digital ethnography and interviews to examine how users emotionally invest in AI ‘soulmates’ – AI chatbots that become romantic partners to humans – and the grief that follows their malfunction or shutdown. This research is critical for highlighting new forms of kinship and ethical care in human-machine relationships.

Meet the researcher

Jennifer Cearns is Lecturer in AI Trust and Security, in the Department of Social Anthropology. Her research explores how people form emotional, romantic, and therapeutic relationships with AI, focusing on kinship, ethics, and cultural understandings of personhood.

Read her papers

University of ��Թϱ�� appointed as UN Academic Impact Vice-Chair for SDG10 research

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 16:22:39 +0100

��Թϱ�� has been appointed as the new United Nations Academic Impact Sustainable Development Goals Hub Vice-Chair for Research for SDG10 (Reduced inequalities) by the (UNAI) initiative.

��Թϱ�� will play an essential role in advancing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by leading research initiatives for the UNAI SDG10 Hub, from September 2025 to December 2027, as part of the larger UNAI network, which comprises over 1,700 universities and colleges across more than 150 countries.

and Professor from the , , will play a leading role in shaping and advancing the work of the UNAI SDG 10 Hub, contributing to global efforts to promote equality and reduce inequalities.

Speaking of the appointment, , Vice-President for Research at ��Թϱ��, shared:

“This important appointment is in alignment with the University’s longstanding commitment to tackling inequalities and transforming lives. This is an exciting new chapter in our journey toward advancing collaborative research and real-world solutions that make a difference here in ��Թϱ�� and across the globe.”

Supporting the 10, Reduced inequalities, ��Թϱ�� already brings together over 650 academics across disciplines to address disparities in health, food security, living conditions, social justice and workplace equality, working side by side with communities to create lasting change locally and worldwide.

“I am delighted ��Թϱ�� has been selected for this role and look forward to working with colleagues and partners to build on the University’s outstanding research and engagement," Colette added, "Together, we can drive forward practical, sustainable solutions that reduce inequalities and improve lives both locally and internationally.”

UNAI SDG Hub Network

UNAI SDG Hubs are designated institutions of higher education within the UNAI network that actively work to promote the SDGs by leveraging the power of academia to create positive social, economic, and environmental change. Each Hub is designated to focus on a specific SDG, fostering research, education, and global collaboration to advance that goal, while respecting the strong interdependencies across all 17 SDGs.

For more information about the new UNAI SDG Hub cohort and their activities, please visit:

New research finds that ‘Levelling Up’ left many southern areas behind

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 13:18:44 +0100

Communities in the South of England were systematically underfunded in the government’s flagship ‘Levelling Up’ programme, according to new research using a Community Resilience Index (CRI) developed at ��Թϱ��.

The study, published in , analysed how £8.64 billion of Levelling Up funding was distributed across 307 local authority districts in England. Using a new Community Resilience Index (CRI) to measure need, researchers discovered that while many northern and coastal areas received more than their “fair share” of investment, the South of England was consistently underfunded.

The findings challenge the dominant narrative of a simple “north-south divide” and reveal that southern communities - particularly in inland areas - were frequently left behind in funding allocations.

Only 36.2% of local authorities received support proportionate to their need - the research shows that 30% of Levelling Up funding would have needed to be reallocated to ensure an equitable distribution across the country

“Levelling Up was designed to help all places build on their strengths and reach their potential - yet our resilience-based analysis shows that many southern communities were overlooked in funding allocations,” said Dr Christine Camacho, lead author of the study. “These areas face significant challenges but did not receive the support needed to strengthen their resilience.”

Among the starkest cases was Havant, in the South East, which received just £12.45 per person in Levelling Up support - 94% less than the £200 per person it would have received under a fair allocation model.

By contrast, several northern districts received far more than their modelled “fair share”. Redcar and Cleveland, for example, secured £469.70 per person - more than double its needs-based allocation. The researchers argue that this unevenness highlights deep flaws in the competitive, ministerial-driven allocation process.

The study emphasises that competitive bidding and ministerial discretion meant funding often flowed to areas with stronger institutional capacity, rather than those with the greatest social and economic need.

The researchers argue that without systematic, needs-driven allocation of investment, future regional policies risk repeating the mistakes of Levelling Up - leaving vulnerable communities in both the North and the South behind.

The authors stress that as the new Labour government moves beyond the Levelling Up brand, future place-based policies must adopt transparent, needs-based criteria. The Community Resilience Index, they argue, offers a robust tool for ensuring resources go where they are most needed.

Not white, not seen: study uncovers France’s racial blind spot

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 16:20:34 +0100

A groundbreaking new study from ��Թϱ�� has challenged traditional ideas of race and national identity in France, revealing how French citizens of Indian descent are navigating their identities in a society that often ignores them.

The research, led by Dr Manuela Latchoumaya from the University’s Department of Sociology and published in leading journal , explores the lived experiences of French people whose families come from former French colonies in India and the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe via the system of Indian indentured labour in the 19^th century.

Despite holding French passports and speaking fluent French, many of these citizens feel excluded from what it means to be “truly” French.

Using interviews with 21 people, the study paints a powerful picture of what it feels like to be treated as invisible in your own country - and how people push back.

“It’s not just about being seen as different,” said Dr Latchoumaya. “It’s about being completely left out of how the French think about who belongs.”

The study found that many French Indians are misidentified as Black or North African, two established categories in France that covertly operate to minoritise people with roots in the French Empire. Others are judged by outdated stereotypes - like being overly traditional or even exotic - based on ideas left over from colonial times. These experiences often begin in childhood and continue into adult life, especially in education, work and healthcare.

But rather than staying silent, many people are speaking up and taking control of their identity. Some proudly reclaim the label Black as a category of visibility, while also identifying as South Asian. Others challenge people who use offensive or outdated terms, and several participants said they now openly name ‘whiteness’ - the idea that being white is the default or “normal” in France - as part of the problem.

The study also highlights the deep impact of colonial history, showing how the French Empire shaped today’s ideas about identity, and how some communities - like those with Indian roots - have been left out of the national story.

This research is one of the first studies to centre the voices of French citizens of Indian descent, a group rarely studied in academic or public discussions about French imperial history. It is especially relevant today as France - and many other countries - grapple with their colonial past and while having increasingly diverse populations.

This research was published in the journal .

Full title:

DOI:

Three ��Թϱ�� experts become Academy of Social Sciences Fellows

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 11:05:39 +0100

Three academics from ��Թϱ�� have been recognised as leading experts in their fields by being named as Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences.

New Fellows are named in recognition of their excellence and impact, and their advancement of social sciences for the public good. Through leadership, research and policymaking, they have deepened understanding of major societal challenges. The Academy comprises over 1,700 Fellows from academia, the public, private and third sectors as well as 46 societies and affiliates, forming a 90,000-strong network that cements the UK’s global leadership in social sciences.

Academy Fellows - who are selected through an independent peer review which recognises their excellence and impact - are elected for their excellence in their fields and their substantial contributions to social science for public benefit.

Joining them is Professor of Public Administration and Head of Politics Liz Richardson, an expert who advances democratic and inclusive policymaking through her knowledge of participatory urban governance, local politics, public services and innovative research methods. Recognised among the Local Government Information Unit’s Top 25 Thinkers, Liz bridges academic insight and civic practice to tackle complex local and global policy challenges. She has co-authored pivotal reports in the UK’s Public Design Evidence Review, shaping how design thinking can reinvigorate public services.

“I am delighted to be an ambassador for social science,” Liz said. “Academic research has the potential to create a more equitable society - such potential is greater when knowledge fosters scientific rigour as well as respect for the experiential expertise of participants.”

Also named as a new Fellow is Professor of Public Policy David Richards, an internationally recognised scholar who specialises in British politics, governance, democracy and institutional reform. His research investigates the relationship between political institutions, public policy and democratic accountability. He has co-authored influential works, including Institutional Crisis in 21st Century Britain, and leads major projects on Treasury–Whitehall financial relations and productivity governance. Widely published and frequently cited in national debate, he bridges academic insight and public discourse, shaping critical conversations about the challenges facing British democracy and the future of effective, accountable government.

Our third new Fellow is Professor of Urban Economics & Real Estate Anupam Nanda, an award-winning expert in the economics of property markets, urban and regional dynamics, real estate finance, investor sentiment, cross-border investment, ESG issues, and the role of technology in real estate. A prolific researcher, his papers feature in top journals such as Journal of Urban Economics, Real Estate Economics, Regional Studies, and Energy Economics. Alongside his academic research, he works with policymakers and industry to develop solutions for sustainable, resilient and fair urban and housing systems.

“I am pleased to be nominated to join the Academy and contribute to its crucial work in promoting the role of social sciences in my field and across other related fields,” said Anupam. “I look forward to working with other fellows of the Academy.”

President of the Academy, Will Hutton FAcSS, said, “It’s a pleasure to welcome more leading social scientists to the Academy’s Fellowship. Their research and practical applications have made substantial contributions to social science and wider society in a range of areas, and we look forward to working with them to promote further the vital role the social sciences play in all areas of our lives.”

UK Data Service expertise helps government listen to researchers on the future of health data

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 10:39:49 +0100

Work led by Professor Vanessa Higgins (Professor of Data Literacy in the Social Sciences and Service Director of Training and User Support, ) and (Professor of Social Gerontology and Deputy Director, UK Data Service) has made headlines in following the UK Data Service in June, which brought national attention to the future of the (HSE).

Drawing on their expertise in population data, large scale social surveys, and the use of data to inform fair and effective health policy, the ��Թϱ�� academics highlight the vital role of robust evidence in ensuring policy keeps pace with societal change.

Launched in 1991, the Health Survey for England, has been the backbone of health policy evidence for more than three decades, providing annual, nationally representative data to monitor the nation’s health and guide healthcare delivery. At the June 2025 conference, the government confirmed that NHS England would no longer run the survey. While details of any replacement are yet to be confirmed, discussions are under way on the future of population health surveys in England.

Since the conference, The UK Data Service has acted swiftly to ensure researchers’ voices are heard in the national debate:

Boosting consultation responses – negotiating with (DHSC) and the (ONS) to re-open a user consultation on the future of population health surveys for three weeks in July, generating a further 140 responses from health survey users.
Showcasing impact – collaborating with a key health survey user to publish a Data Impact blog highlighting the importance of the survey: .
Supporting decision-makers – at DHSC/ONS’s request, preparing a written summary of the Health Survey for England’s value and impact, including user testimonies, to feed into their internal report (due end of September), and advising on an expert peer-reviewers.

Through this work, ��Թϱ�� academics and the UK Data Service are playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of the Health Survey for England, influencing how health data will be collected to meet the challenges of a changing world.

Major new book asks whether addressing climate change requires stability or conflict

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0100

A landmark new book is set to change how we think about tackling the climate crisis. It asks a big question: when it comes to climate change, is it better to ‘lock in’ steady, long-term policies, or do we need dramatic political conflict and protests to force real change?

Stability and Politicization in Climate Governance is co-edited by and - both leading politics experts from ��Թϱ�� - alongside from the University of Massachusetts Boston (USA). The book highlights that the debate between ‘stability’ and ‘politicisation’ isn't as simple as it seems.

For a long time, many policymakers believed that ‘stability’ was the key to successful climate action. This stability meant creating predictable rules that encourage businesses to invest in green solutions, or making laws that are difficult to roll back in the future.

However, the book reveals a significant problem: often, trying to keep things stable just means nothing really changes, which can actually slow down efforts to cut carbon. Studies in the book also show that a focus on stability can perpetuate existing inequalities, making it harder for marginalised communities to participate in climate action.

On the other hand, "politicisation" means bringing climate issues into the public spotlight, challenging powerful interests and sparking debate. The book shows how social movements like the Fridays for Future school strikes in Germany have successfully pushed governments to adopt more ambitious climate strategies. This kind of public pressure can show who really has the power and lead to significant policy changes, like demanding deadlines for phasing out coal.

However, building pressure isn't equally easy or safe for all communities. For some groups, like Muslim climate activists in the UK, engaging in protests can be risky because of existing unfairness in society. As one Muslim climate campaigner noted, "when you think about climate change, it is a social justice issue".

The book’s main message is that stability and politicisation aren't always opposites - they often interact in complex ways. What appears stable may hide underlying conflicts which eventually burst out, while political conflicts can sometimes lead to new forms of stability.

The book covers examples from around the world - from Brazil to China and South Africa to Norway - across all levels of society from grassroots street activists in California right up to global negotiations. The volume also tackles a wide range of policy areas and sectors including the fossil fuel industry, financial and insurance businesses and electricity companies.

It is available now, and free to read and download from .

80 Years of Occupational Health at ��Թϱ��

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 10:33:00 +0100

Registration ! Join us to celebrate 80 Years of Occupational Health Research at the University of ��Թϱ��.

The and the are delighted to invite you to a landmark event marking eight decades of research, training, and impact in Occupational Health at ��Թϱ��.

Date: Wednesday 1st October 2025
Venue: 18th floor, Hyatt Regency, 55 Booth St W, ��Թϱ�� M15 6PQ
Time: 13:00 – 20:00 BST (multi part event - see important info below)
Register: Register on Eventbrite

From lightning talks and panel discussions to the prestigious Lane Lecture — delivered this year by Professor Malcolm Sim on The Artificial Stone Silicosis Epidemic: Lessons Learned for More Effective Prevention, and introduced by Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of ��Թϱ�� — this is a unique opportunity to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and shape the future of occupational health.

Secure your free place now: (registration closes 24/09/2025)

Important:

The event is divided into multiple sessions. Please ensure you select tickets for each part that you wish to attend.
Due to capacity, attendees without a valid ticket for a specific session may be asked to leave that part of the event.
View the Full Programme (PDF):
Accessibility & Queries: If you have any queries, or need to discuss a PEEP (Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan) or other adjustments to support your attendance, please email: ashton@manchester.ac.uk

Innocence success in the United Nations

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 09:39:49 +0100

Since its inception, the Task Force has submitted over 15 reports to the United Nations Human Rights Commission (HRC), with further work actively underway.

At ��Թϱ�� Law School, , Suzanne Gower, and Nicola Campbell, along with volunteer students from the , have contributed pro bono research to support the Task Force’s efforts. Their briefing materials recently informed a report submitted to the HRC in August against the treatment of incarcerated individuals in Vietnam.

The HRC report strongly reflects the Task Force’s central message: international law requires a mechanism to prove innocence and secure exoneration, alongside the right to appointed legal counsel and access to essential resources for pursuing such claims. Additionally, compensation must be provided upon exoneration.

As more experts encourage UN bodies to endorse these principles, the case for recognising them as universal human rights grows stronger. A critical mass of support is steadily taking shape. The ��Թϱ�� Innocence Project is helping lead the way as part of the Task Force.

Claire McGourlay reflects:

��Թϱ�� is globally renowned for its pioneering research, outstanding teaching and learning, and commitment to social responsibility. We are a truly international university – ranking in the top 50 in a range of global rankings – with a diverse community of more than 44,000 students, 12,000 staff and 550,000 alumni from 190 countries. Sign up for our e-news to hear first-hand about our international partnerships and activities across the globe.

You can listen to our Talk200 podcast with Nazir Afzal on the limits to equality – access to justice and scandal here.

How one man’s life is reshaping criminological thinking

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0100

��Թϱ��’s will officially launch next week, a powerful new book set to redefine how criminology is taught and understood. The book offers a fresh take on academic theory, told through the compelling story of William ‘Billy’ Mahaffey, a former soldier, prisoner, and now, community role model.

Through Bringing Criminological Theory to Life, we’re taken on a journey that spans a troubled childhood, through addiction and incarceration, military service, to education, athletic achievement, and community leadership. A powerful mix of expert insight and real-life experience conveys the challenges of crime, the impact of punishment, and the potential for change.

Each chapter explores a key turning point in Billy’s life to interrogate criminological concepts, including the long-term impact of childhood experiences, the military-to-prison pipeline, and the role of education, sport, and networks supporting journeys out of crime and identity transformation.

“This book is a new kind of criminology,” said , Senior Lecturer in Criminology at ��Թϱ��. “It breaks down barriers between academic theory and human experience, and makes the case for a more compassionate, context-aware understanding of crime and change.”

Hosted by the at ��Թϱ��, the launch event will continue these conversations, featuring contributions from Billy himself, co-editors Dr Emily Turner, , (University of ��Թϱ��) and (University of Liverpool), as well as chapter authors from leading institutions across the UK.

Inspired by teaching methods that embed real-world experience into theory, this book is a call to rethink traditional approaches to education and criminal justice. Billy, now a father of two and active in his community, has rebuilt his life after years of instability, addiction, and imprisonment. His story is one of persistence and personal accountability, offering a powerful reminder that change is possible, even in the face of overwhelming adversity.

“I never imagined that my life story would be used in this way,” said Billy.

From policymakers to practitioners, academics to support workers, these insights aim to challenge assumptions and inspire change across the justice system and beyond.

Join us for the ‘Bringing Criminological Theory to Life: A Lived Experience Approach to Crime and Desistance’ launch event, which includes contributions from leading criminologists at ��Թϱ��, University of Hull, Anglia Ruskin University, Royal Holloway University of London, and the Prison Reform Trust.

New report highlights how UK asylum system can distort memory through trauma

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 09:36:17 +0100

The report, based on a peer-reviewed paper in the Journal of Social Philosophy, is authored by , Lecturer in Political Theory within ��Թϱ�� , and Associate Professor of Philosophy at Durham University. It explores how social and political institutions, particularly the asylum system, can disrupt people’s autobiographical memories. This can lead to inconsistencies in their accounts, which may be unfairly interpreted as dishonesty during asylum interviews.

Read the or access the .

The authors use the UK asylum system as a case study to show how institutional stress can affect memory. They argue that the system itself—through long waiting times, hostile environments, and public protests—can cause or worsen trauma, which in turn affects how people recall and communicate their experiences.

The report recommends reforms to reduce stress and improve fairness, including better living conditions, trauma-informed interview practices, and training for officials to understand how trauma affects memory. The authors stress that these changes are essential to ensure that people seeking asylum are treated with dignity and that their rights are respected.

KOSTAT-UNFPA Population Seminar 2025

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 13:12:50 +0100

Held in Seoul, the seminar brought together 30 international scholars for a week of intensive workshops. The training was methodologically rigorous and highly relevant to Rahul's PhD research on migration dynamics in the Global South.

Practical sessions included the implementation of Cox Proportional Hazards models and Kaplan-Meier estimators using R. A highlight was a constructive meeting with Professor Yabiku and colleagues concerning future work and collaboration on research on migration.

KOSTAT-UNFPA Summer Seminar on Population

The Summer Seminar on Population was first launched by the East-West Center (EWC) in 1970 and quickly gained recognition as a leading population seminar series. In 2013, responsibility for population activities was transferred to Statistics Korea (KOSTAT), which hosted the first KOSTAT Summer Seminar on Population in 2014.

Since 2017, the seminar has been co-hosted annually by KOSTAT and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), continuing its mission to advance population studies and statistical capacity building.

The seminar serves as an international platform for government statisticians, graduate students, and population experts to exchange ideas, share research, and strengthen statistical capacity in population-related fields. Over the years, participants from more than 20 countries have taken part in the programme.

Economics student among top three in UK for placement performance

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 11:48:24 +0100

Niamh Walsh, BA (Hons) Economics student, was recognised as the third best-performing intern across the nation during her year in industry with Enterprise Mobility.

Niamh was selected as the best performer in the South East, representing the region at the company’s Intern of the Year Finals 2025 where she came third.

Over 450 students took part in the scheme nationwide.

Niamh said:

The competition involved Niamh pitching her business improvement ideas to a panel of senior leaders at the company’s European Head Office.

She was celebrated for her achievement earlier this summer, with a member of the School’s Curriculum and Programmes team accompanying her to the awards ceremony.

Niamh added:

��Թϱ�� experts join national project to combat NHS fraud

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 11:26:53 +0100

Two leading criminologists from ��Թϱ�� are playing a key role in a groundbreaking national research project designed to tackle fraud in the NHS, which costs the UK taxpayer an estimated £1.3 billion each year.

The initiative, known as Project SCAN (Strengthening Counter-Fraud Across the NHS in England), is led by Northumbria University and brings together experts from across the UK to improve understanding and responses to fraud within the health service.

Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the 32-month study will generate robust evidence on the nature and organisation of counter-fraud strategies in the NHS in England, and how these strategies can be strengthened.

It will explore multiple dimensions of fraud risk in the NHS, from procurement and payroll to patient identity and prescription fraud. It will also look at how data and technology can support prevention efforts and how public sector institutions can be better equipped to respond to emerging threats.

The project will involve collaboration with NHS bodies, frontline counter-fraud professionals and other academic partners across the UK. Results will be disseminated through public reports, practitioner briefings, academic publications, and policy engagement events.

By generating evidence-based recommendations, Project SCAN aims to inform national policy and practice, ultimately helping to safeguard public money and ensure NHS services remain sustainable and fair for all.

��Թϱ��’s Professor Nicholas Lord and Dr Katie Benson, both from the University’s Department of Criminology, have previously led and contributed to high-profile studies into economic and white-collar crime, working with varied public and private organisations. In Project SCAN they will focus on the practical delivery of local counter fraud provision across NHS organisations.

“Understanding how counter fraud work is carried out is important for improving its effectiveness," added Dr Benson. ”Our research will better understand the experiences of those delivering these services, identifying what challenges they face and what support they need. This insight is vital for shaping a more strategic and joined-up approach to tackling fraud across the NHS."

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