science wire

Class of 2013: Leaving UCL - now what?

What can the debates on Scottish independence learn from Slovakia?
Director of the Institute for Security and Defence Studies in the Slovak Republic and leading expert on Slovak independence, Dr Ivo Samson, will present a lecture assessing the implications of the Czecho-Slovak “velvet divorce” on Scottish independence.

Big business could learn survival lessons from family businesses
Family businesses are less likely to fail than big business because they are usually made up of a well functioning and diverse board of directors who are able to advise effectively.

More success for Manchester social entrepreneur

High-tech centre opens its doors to South West companies
Businesses in the South West are being invited to tour a Plymouth University research facility and see for themselves how it could benefit their manufacturing processes and enhance profitability.

Brazil ’still not a priority’ in the eyes of the media
Brazil ‘still not a priority' in the eyes of the media With nearly a year to go until the start of the 2014 World Cup, King's Brazil Institute hosted a panel discussion last night on the changing global perceptions of Brazil and the country's image in the eyes of the media.

Grassroots women’s groups could halve maternal death rate
Women's groups can dramatically reduce the number of maternal and newborn deaths in some of the world's poorest communities, according to a new meta-analysis published in The Lancet .

Universities rise to the efficiency challenge
Efficiency programmes at the University of Leeds are highlighted in a new report that shows how UK universities are saving billions by sharing high-value resources and using innovative technologies.

UK economy downgrades
New research by Cardiff Business School's Dr Vito Polito and Professor Michael Wickens has cast doubt on the timing of the recent downgrades of the UK.

Wikipedia’s early stock market warning signs
Our Location Where is WBS? » The University of Warwick » How to get here » Download a campus map » Our People The Dean, Professor Mark Taylor » The Board of WBS » The Senior Management Gro

Innovation rains supreme as entrepreneur reinvents the umbrella
An entrepreneur whose Eureka moment came at last year's wet and windy Grand National has reinvented the umbrella with the help of WMG at the University of Warwick.

Proposed exam reforms 'unlikely to drive up standards'
A report by Oxford University's Centre for Educational Assessment says there is little evidence to support government claims that standards of examinations have fallen in England, and argues that the government's proposed reforms in today's Queen's Speech are unlikely to drive up standards.

Did being a shareholder transform Shakespeare’s writing?
Shakespeare's experience as a shareholder in a theatre company transformed the way he wrote characters, an English literature expert has claimed.

University joins forces with Premier League giants

Living the ’Dream’ - University computer scientist at the BBC
What do you get if you mix a University computer scientist with the creative and technical power of the most famous broadcasting company in the world, the BBC?

Branded for life? Researchers examine impact of consumer culture on UK’s children
Branded for life? Researchers examine impact of consumer culture on UK's children Consumers of fashionable brands, the latest gadgets, and the coolest looks are getting ever younger. Yet, children who immerse themselves in consumer culture feel worse about themselves, not better, say researchers at the University of Sussex.

£5.25m project aims to reduce heating and cooling emissions
The University of Warwick is leading a £5.25m project to develop energy-efficient heating and cooling technologies that will reduce UK energy needs.

University of Sheffield appoints Mike Tynan as chief executive of Nuclear AMRC
Mike Tynan, currently chief executive of Westinghouse UK, has been appointed chief executive of the Nuclear AMRC by the University of Sheffield.

Pirate utopias: a history of digital distribution
How the 'Hacker ethic' almost killed the music industry, then helped save it, but might spell the end of ownership as we know it.

Sir Trevor McDonald presents talented engineers of the future with national awards

Power of cloud computing harnessed by Imperial collaboration
Realising the potential of cloud computing for businesses will be the focus of research carried out by Imperial College London and partners.

New website provides comprehensive picture of wave energy trials
Information collected during impact assessment activities at wave energy test centres across Europe is to be released through a new website.

’Mid-sized’ firms key to UK manufacturing
A new report suggests that global production shift to Asia may have "run its course" and points to "undervalued" mid-sized manufacturing firms as essential to UK economic regrowth It is imperat

Down but not out
Most business start-ups fail. But countless failed entrepreneurs go on to establish further enterprises.

New Chair of Council for the University of Sussex
New Chair of Council for the University of Sussex At a meeting today (Friday 26 April), the governing body of the University of Sussex appointed Chris Brodie as its new Chair, for three years from 1 August 2013.

New £25,000 scheme launched to boost skills in West Midlands firms
WMG at the University of Warwick has launched a new initiative to allow 25 West Midlands firms to take on a skilled intern to help them develop new products or services.

Google search patterns reveal early signs of stock market movements
Patterns in Google searches for financial terms could have been used as early warning signs of stock market movements, according to a new study published in Scientific Reports . Researchers from UCL Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, Warwick Business School and the Department of Physics at Boston University highlight the insights large data sets can give into collective decision making.

From EDSAC to Raspberry Pi: 75 years of "computers that work"
Cambridge's Computer Lab marks its 75th anniversary this month, celebrating a spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship that has taken it from the age of vast mainframes to its modern day place at the heart of silicon fen.

Michael Palin at Brazil Institute
Broadcaster and travel writer Michael Palin spoke at King's Brazil Institute last night following his recent BBC documentary series profiling Brazilian culture and the country's rise as a global power.

Think you’re an entrepreneur in the making? It’s not as easy as it looks on TV
TV programmes like Dragons' Den and The Apprentice depict entrepreneurial activity unrealistically and set budding entrepreneurs up for a fall, according to a new report published in the International Small Business Journal .

University of Glasgow receives funding for world-leading stratified medicine Innovation Centre
The University of Glasgow is set to boost its contribution to global medical research and the Scottish economy following the announcement of funding to build a major research centre.

Innovation Centre set to boost sensor and imaging systems industrial engagement
The University of Glasgow has received funding to create a world-leading sensor and imaging systems centre which will offer major benefits to the Scottish economy.

UK Catalysis Hub opens
Scientists from Cardiff and other partner universities have launched a new centre for research into catalytic research - the study of materials which speed up chemical reactions.

Director of Sussex Innovation Centre receives Queen’s Award

Nottingham Potential opens its doors to the St Ann’s community
PA 123/13 The University of Nottingham will be officially launching its second IntoUniversity centre in St Ann's on Monday 22 April, helping some of the less advantaged young people in the area to reach university.

Sweet success for MBS graduates at top comp

State investment key to economic growth, argue experts at Sussex Conversation
State investment key to economic growth, argue experts at Sussex Conversation A panel of experts argued the case for state investment in enabling economic growth at this year's Sussex Conversation at the Royal Institution in London last night (Thursday 18 April).

Ennew ushers in new era for UNMC
Thirteen years since she was instrumental in setting up The University of Nottingham's Malaysia Campus, Professor Christine Ennew this month returns full-time to a country she loves to take up the helm as CEO and Provost at UNMC.

New system to combat online banking fraud
A security solution which protects against the most serious threat to online banking customers, responsible for millions in annual losses, is being rolled out across Europe by a Cambridge University spin-out.

New £743,000 study into whether after-school dance programme helps to increase physical activity and is cost-effective
Researchers led by principal investigator, Professor Russ Jago in the University of Bristol's School for Policy Studies have been awarded £743,000 of funding from the National Institute of Health Rese

How have young people’s experiences of unemployment changed since the 1980s?
Research teams from the University of Glasgow and the University of Leicester aim to explore unemployment, insecurity and vulnerability among young people during two key periods of economic instability.

University brings billion pound boost to Birmingham’s economy
The University of Birmingham contributes more than £1 billion to the West Midlands economy annually and supports almost 12,000 jobs, according to research by Oxford Economics.

Fall of diversity in UK's financial services is 'damaging'
A fall in the diversity of the financial services sector is potentially both damaging the resilience of the financial system and reducing effective competition for consumers, according to an Oxford University study for the Building Societies Association.

Imperial College Podcast - 10 April 2013
Dr Anna Andreou talks about her research on headaches and two business leaders discuss diversity in the corporate world.

Drop of academic expertise helps startup taste success
A startup company is on track to taste success after receiving a splash of expert help to bring their first product to market.

The softer side to the ’Iron Lady’
The 'Iron Lady' may have been more vulnerable and isolated than many people understood according to the Professor of Parliamentary Government and Governance at the University of Sheffield.

Demand for flexible working prompts growth in mobile technology
The desire for flexible working amongst staff has resulted in more businesses in the south west moving towards new mobile technologies, an IT study has found.

Sir Partha’s ’green’ report for Indian PM published
08 Apr 2013 The Prime Minister of India, has inaugurated a newreport on Green National Accounts for India.

Assessing the likelihood of rare and extreme events

From Exhibition Road to Hollywood Boulevard
Two Imperial alumni have won Academy Awards for their work in visual film effects. Last month some of biggest megastars on the planet picked up their iconic statuettes at the annual pinnacle of the film industry.

Enterprising infants show how taking risks in the classroom develops great learning
The University of Sheffield's Management School have been helping children transform their learning through an innovative enterprise programme.

Survey charts emergence of new class system
The traditional view of a Britain made up working, middle and upper class people is no longer accurate, according to one of the largest studies of its kind.

£1M Marie Curie Fellowships boost Cardiff’s research profile
As part of an initiative to help broaden Europe's knowledge base, five Marie Curie Fellowships worth a combined total of £1M have been awarded to international researchers to undertake new research projects in Cardiff University.

India Summer Schools 2013

The Poverty and Social Exclusion in the UK Survey 2012: Headline results for Scotland
The Poverty and Social Exclusion in the UK Survey 2012: Headline results for Scotland The Poverty and Social Exclusion report is the result of two surveys undertaken in 2012 that spoke to over 2700 individuals in Scotland (and 14,000 across the UK).

Largest study into poverty reveals extent of deprivation in the UK
Today 33 per cent of the UK population suffers from multiple deprivation - it was 14 per cent in 1983, and over 30 million people (almost half the population) are suffering some degree of financial insecurity. These are just some of the stark findings from the largest and most authoritative study of poverty and deprivation ever conducted in the UK. The Poverty and Social Exclusion [PSE] project , led by academics at the University of Bristol and funded by the Economic and Social Research Council [ESRC] , publishes its first report ' The Impoverishment of the UK ' today [28 Mar].

Manchester entrepreneurs crowned ‘Rising Stars of Europe’

Manchester Museum to share in Lottery grant success
IWM North, part of Imperial War Museums, working in partnership with Manchester Museum, part of The University of Manchester, are today celebrating the news of a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant of £528,700 for a ground-breaking volunteer and learning programme.

Combating cybercrime
Cyber Security and Cyber Crime experts in the University's Schools of Computer Science and Informatics and Social Sciences have been awarded £1.2M to study the human and technical factors in cybercrime.

UK nuclear strategy welcomed by Dalton Nuclear Institute
The University of Manchester's Dalton Nuclear Institute has welcomed today's publication of the UK's nuclear industrial strategy and research and development (R&D) roadmap.

Nottingham signs agreement with Fusion IP around £20 million spin-out fund
The University of Nottingham has signed an agreement with Fusion IP plc, which will allow the company to invest in the University's emergent spin-out companies.

Teenage and young adult cancer deaths almost halved
Teenage and young adult cancer deaths have almost halved in the last 30 years but the success masks lack of access to clinical trials.

Lessons from history: how Europe did (and didn’t) grow rich
The Industrial Revolution is seen as the spark that lit Europe's economic prosperity.  In her analysis of markets over many hundreds of years, economist Dr Victoria Bateman presents a compelling argum

Civic leadership in Bristol: what difference can a Directly Elected Mayor make?
The mayoral model of governance offers the opportunity to give a real boost to civic leadership in Bristol - according to the majority of respondents in an independent study of leadership in the city carried out just before the mayoral election last November.

World’s biggest study of food allergies gets underway
The world's biggest ever study of allergies - spearheaded by the University of Manchester - officially gets underway today.

£1.2m HAT project to create a personal data repository of digital life and a home platform for future services and products
Research led by WMG at the University of Warwick is creating a physical personal digital repository that will record and hold data on both a person's digital footprint and the physical patterns of their daily home life.

Origins of teamwork in our nearest relative the chimpanzee
Our Location Where is WBS? » The University of Warwick » How to get here » Download a campus map » Our People The Dean, Professor Mark Taylor » The Board of WBS » The Senior Management Tea

’Status quo bias’ affecting take up rate for bowel cancer screening
The NHS has to overcome people's ‘status-quo bias' if it is to increase the number of screenings for bowel cancer.

A portrait of a banking calamity
For many years Paul Kosmetatos worked in the City of London's financial sector, where he became fascinated by the unfolding of periodic crises.  Today he's doing a PhD at Cambridge University, looking

New forum uses Oxford research to connect Britain with South-East Asia
A forum that disseminates Oxford University research to policymakers and business leaders via the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has held its inaugural meeting.

Library awarded Customer Service Excellence certification

Behind the wheel of company profits
Small-car manufacturer Fiat beat its efficiency record in the 2008 recession while former high-achievers Toyota and BMW showed their worst results in 10 years, according to a new study. Sustainable Value in Automobile Manufacturing ranks 17 of the world’s leading car makers according to how efficiently they used environmental, social and economic resources from 1999 to 2010.

Huge funding boost for graphene Institute
This is the largest sum of funding awarded this year by the North West European programme, managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government , and allows the University to build the world's leading centre of graphene research.

EU and European careers event

Young women may reject feminism as marginal and old-fashioned
European women who reject feminism often see it as obsolete or associated with extreme views, according to research from King's College London.

The Bartlett announces £110k worth of masters scholarships

Imperial launches major new research and translation campus
Leaders from business, research and government joined Imperial College London staff last night (6 March) for the launch of the vision for Imperial West, a new seven acre campus in White City, west London, which will become London's first major research and translation quarter.

Imperial seeks partners to join new west London research and innovation campus
Imperial College London will today launch its vision for Imperial West, its new seven acre research and translation campus in White City, west London, at an event attended by David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science, and Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London .

Hollywood visual effects producer endorses new film course
A leading Hollywood visual effects producer says a new and unique film course just launched at The University of Nottingham will fill a gap in the market for training in the competitive world of the film and television business.

Durham University plays leading role in equipping the world’s largest telescope
Durham is leading two pivotal projects to provide instruments for the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT), one of the biggest science collaborations in history.

Imperial academic onboard to help realise London’s global ambitions

£1.33m donation for poverty research at the University of Manchester

Independent investigation reveals communities’ thoughts on Government’s Green Deal
Implications and challenges surrounding the Governments energy-efficiency flagship programme the Green Deal have been raised by University of Sheffield researchers following an investigation into what low income communities in the Yorkshire and Humberside region think of the scheme.

Manufacturing: Technologies for Future Smart Factories
PA 60/13 Research at The University of Nottingham that could help the UK manufacturing industry to remain competitive by evolving to meet future challenges is in line for a multi-million pound funding boost.

Changing tack
In the wake of the financial crash of 2008, many scientists have found themselves working in an environment of squeezed budgets in which they must increasingly make the case that their research adds value to the wider economy.

Engineering scholarship aims to boost UK industry

EIB and UCL to cooperate on new infrastructure finance course

IP Group signs flagship agreement with The University of Manchester
The University of Manchester, a member of the Russell Group, is one of the country's major research universities.

Economic issues of an independent Scotland discussed at the University
One of the UK's leading economists, Professor John Kay, will deliver a lecture entitled ‘An independent Scotland: the economic issues' at the University of Glasgow on Thursday 21st February.

New project will transform city’s talent into resource for young people in Bristol
An ambitious new project compiled by the people and institutions of Bristol to help young people thrive and flourish in the context of changing environmental, technological and economic times will lau

Governing pollution from ships
A new University research report has raised concerns about the effectiveness of current international regulations to control air pollution from ships. An associated report also looks at possible enforcement issues associated with suggested future controls on ships' carbon emissions. Funded by the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC) the research was carried out by the Seafarers International Research Centre (SIRC), an internationally-renowned research centre based at the Cardiff School of Social Sciences.

Assessing the needs of small businesses
The needs of small businesses are at risk of being overlooked by the Welsh Government's Economic Renewal Plan, according to new research undertaken by Cardiff Business School.

Improvement in child cancer survival threatened by lack of new drug development
A series of studies published today, led by some of the world's most eminent cancer experts, including Richard Sullivan at King's College London, outline some of the biggest challenges to the improvement of cancer care for children and young people.

Major campus redevelopment announced

‘Most wanted notice’ marking Machiavelli’s downfall found
Stephen Milner came across the 1513 proclamation which led to the downfall of Niccolò Machiavelli, known as the Italian Prince of Darkness, buried in the state archives in Florence.

Cracking the semantic code
Half of a word's meaning is simply a three dimensional summary of the rewards associated with it, according to an analysis of millions of blog entries undertaken by researchers from the University of Bristol and published today in PLoS ONE. We make choices about pretty much everything, all the time  - "Should I go for a walk or grab a coffee?";  "Shall I look at who just came in or continue to watch TV?" - and to do so we need something common as a basis to make the choice.

39 new US Gates Cambridge Scholars selected

New strategy needed to fight non-communicable diseases
Learning lessons from the fight against HIV and Tuberculosis and addressing social and economic inequalities amongst the world's most vulnerable groups could help tackle the rise in non-communicable diseases (NCD), according to researchers from Imperial College London.

Global Ocean Commission launched
The Global Ocean Commission, an independent body of international leaders based at Somerville College with the aim of reversing the degradation of the ocean, is launched today.

Dame Nancy in Woman’s Hour power list
A panel of judges compiled a list of the country's 100 most influential females for Radio 4's Woman's Hour.

Understanding the risks of high-carbon assets
The University of Oxford will today launch a new research programme to help businesses and policy-makers future proof against investments in assets that might become devalued or written off, otherwise known as 'stranded'. Assets become stranded for a number of different reasons: they can be supplanted by greener alternatives or technological innovations, or in sectors experiencing change due to new regulations or resource constraints.

University of Glasgow project taps plasma power to protect products and people
Scientists at the University of Glasgow have developed a new method to make packaged food safer for consumers and more long-lived on the shelf by harnessing the germ-killing power of ozone.

Global economic institute creates partnership with Cambridge economists
The support which went into the setting up of the institute is recognition of the quality and importance of our research." —Sanjeev Goyal Economists at the University of Cambridg

Earth League assembles at Imperial to take on global sustainability challenge
The inaugural meeting of the Earth League, a voluntary alliance of leading scientists and institutions addressing earth science and sustainability challenges, took place at Imperial College London yesterday, 7 February 2013.

Plymouth University brings popular One Stop Ideas Shop to Cornwall
A popular regional advice clinic that provides specialist information and guidance to potential entrepreneurs and inventors is being launched in Cornwall.

New economic forecasting unit finds West Midlands is worst hit region
A new economic forecasting unit set up to give an up-to-date picture of the West Midlands economy has found that it has been one of the worst hit regions by the UK's ongoing economic downturn.

The Prince of Wales opens Saïd Business School's new wing

Researchers tackle audience reaction to being Liverpool
The University of Nottingham has been working with the FOX Soccer network to help it understand the British audience's reaction to their ground-breaking programme, BEING: Liverpool. The programme, a fly-on-the-wall documentary about Liverpool FC, was screened on Channel 5 last year, and also around the world to an estimated audience of 500 million viewers.

Honorary Degree nominations for 2013

University scientists help food firms fight Listeria
PA 36/13 East Midlands food businesses that make, distribute and sell chilled, ready-to-eat products are to be given help and advice to help them keep their products safe from a dangerous food-poisoning bacteria.

Future looks green for British construction
Cardiff University's School of Engineering has developed a unique web platform set to boost the profile of sustainable building solutions across the UK.

Analysis of billions of Google searches shows Germany is the most forward-looking country
The UK has been knocked off its perch as the most forward-looking country by Germany. A new analysis of millions of Google queries found that in 2012 Germany searched for the future on the internet more than any other country. The UK held the number one spot in 2011, but slipped to fourth in 2012.

New research centre will investigate copyright in a digital world
A new centre dedicated to examining the changing nature of copyright and the need for new business models in the digital age is being launched today (Thursday 31 January) at the University of Glasgow.

Boost for Wales’ innovation culture
A new initiative to transfer more of Wales' cutting-edge university research into business to support the Welsh economy and build an 'innovation culture' has received a funding boost from the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW).

Business School baker’s recipe for success
Recession — what recession? Armed with the knowledge gained during his MBA at Nottingham University Business School , Julian Anthoney and has wife Jelena have set up their own artisan bakery business Le Pain à la Main.

Imperial College Business School forges ahead with new partnership in India

The future of digital money: Business School academic shares his thoughts
The technological, social and economic future of digital money will be discussed at a symposium led by an Imperial College Business School academic.

Universities Minister tours chemical labs
State-of-the-art facilities for chemistry and chemical engineering at the University of Leeds were showcased this week during a visit by the Minister for Universities and Science. The Rt Hon David Willetts MP was given a tour of the Institute of Process Research and Development (iPRD), which aims to bridge the gap between academic research and its application in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries.

Sussex Chair of Council bows out on a high note

Games workshop: new design software paves way for more immersive video games
The video games industry is big business now and developers are constantly looking to push the boundaries in terms of graphical prowess and immersive gameplay.

Imperial alumni gather in India

Survival of Euro is critical to UK dragging itself out of depression
James Mitchell says today's GDP figures show that the European Central Bank's promise to save the Euro is critical to the UK's hope that it can drag itself out of the longest "depression" in living memory.

Indian alumni join forces with Imperial to launch new scholarships

Welsh Crucible in Europe
Promising research leaders from across Wales are visiting Brussels this week to showcase the benefits of their personal, professional and leadership programme to the European Parliament.

£2.4 million to connect communities in key decision making
A research programme that aims to develop new ways of engaging communities in decision making with businesses and policy makers will begin thanks to funding of £2.4 million from the Economic and Socia

Sarah Montague

Business Secretary Vince Cable praises Sussex Innovation Centre

Managing change successfully: Business School Prof talks on book launch today

Supporting leadership development in primary schools

Austerity Britain: it’s déjà vu all over again
The size of the current task most closely resembles that of 1931, when the cuts fell principally on the unemployed." —Duncan Needham, Centre for Financial History In May 2010, Br

Dr Alan Reece 1927 – 2012

Natural disasters, infrastructure and the “new normal”
The talk will examine the threat posed by potential future earthquakes to the water supply of Southern California, or that of hurricanes to New York City." Some of the worst natural disast

The next generation of plastic electronics