Newsroom University of Manchester

The National Lottery Community Fund and #BeeWell join forces to champion young people’s wellbeing in new areas across England

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

James Robertson, National Director of #BeeWell, said:

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

Specifically, the investment will fund:

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

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

Experts use AI and satellite images to reveal vast damage to critical Amazon buffer zone

Tue, 26 May 2026 15:44:00 +0100

An international team of scientists has used artificial intelligence and 35 years of satellite data to uncover the shocking scale of environmental destruction in one of the world’s most important ecosystems.

The research, published in Biological Conservation, found that more than 493,000 square kilometres of land - an area larger than Spain - has been damaged by deforestation and fires in the vital transition zone between the Amazon rainforest and the Cerrado savanna in Brazil.

The team - led by Dr Chuanze Li from The University of Manchester - say the findings reveal a major conservation crisis in a region that helps protect the wider Amazon, stores huge amounts of carbon and supports exceptional biodiversity but has very little formal protection.

Key findings

Researchers mapped more than 35 years of environmental damage using AI and satellite imagery
At least 493,000 km² of land has been affected by deforestation or fire
Large areas damaged by fire still had not recovered even after a decade
Only around 2% of the study region currently has formal protection
Repeated human-caused fires may be permanently changing ecosystems

What did the study find?

The research focused on the Cerrado-Amazon transition (CAT) zone in Brazil, a vast area where rainforest and savanna meet.

Using decades of Landsat satellite images combined with artificial intelligence, researchers tracked how forests and vegetation changed between 1986 and 2020.

They found widespread damage caused by both large-scale forest clearing and repeated fires linked to farming expansion and cattle ranching.

Why this region matters

This area is one of the world’s most important ecological frontiers, and acts as a buffer protecting the Amazon while supporting unique wildlife and storing carbon that would otherwise contribute to climate change if released.

But despite its importance, the region has received far less attention and protection than the Amazon rainforest itself.

Fires leave long-lasting scars

One of the study’s most striking findings was how slowly vegetation recovered after fire. Researchers found that even ten years later, many affected areas had still not returned to their previous condition.

The damage was particularly severe in parts of the Cerrado, where repeated human-driven burning appears to be weakening the ecosystem’s natural ability to recover.

A hidden protection gap

The study also exposed a major lack of protected areas across the region. While around 28% of the Amazon biome overall is protected, only around 2% of the Cerrado–Amazon transition area studied falls within protected zones.

Researchers warn that large areas facing repeated destruction currently have little or no legal safeguard.

How AI helped uncover the damage

The team combined satellite imagery with advanced artificial intelligence tools capable of detecting different types of environmental disturbance over time.

This allowed researchers to distinguish between forest clearing and fire damage across an enormous area spanning more than one million square kilometres.

What the Manchester researchers said

“The tools we used enabled us to produce the first wall-to-wall, multi-decade picture of what has actually happened to vegetation across this entire area,” said lead author Dr Chuanze Li.

“We were particularly struck by the recovery data,” said Dr Angela Harris. “The conventional view is that Cerrado vegetation bounces back after fire. What this study shows - at a regional scale and across 35 years - is that it often does not, at least not within a decade.”

"Repeated fires are eroding the very resilience these ecosystems evolved to have - this is a warning that we cannot ignore."

"This study gives policymakers something they have not had before: a precise, long-term map of where the CAT has been damaged, how badly, and how well, or how poorly, it is recovering,” added Dr Polyanna da Conceição Bispo. “This is the empirical foundation that conservation planning in this region has been missing. The protection gap we document is not acceptable, and the tools now exist to close it."

Why it matters

Researchers say the maps created by the study could help governments and conservation groups identify areas most urgently in need of protection, fire prevention and restoration.

They also warn that continued destruction in the transition zone could have consequences far beyond Brazil, affecting biodiversity, climate stability and the future health of the Amazon rainforest itself.

Publication details

The study was conducted by researchers at The University of Manchester (UK), Professor Beatriz Marimon and Professor Ben Hur Marimon at UNEMAT – Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso (Brazil), and Dr. Ricardo da Silva at CTREES (USA). Field data from the Plant Ecology Laboratory at UNEMAT, a reference network spanning the CAT since 1994, underpinned the classification and validation of satellite-derived disturbance maps.

The paper was published in the Biological Conservation journal.

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The British General Election of 2024 two years on – Labours Wobbling Jenga Tower

Thu, 21 May 2026 16:20:13 +0100

Titled Labour’s Wobbling Jenga Tower: The 2024 general election two years on, the event brought together academics, students, and members of the public to explore how electoral strategy, political fragmentation and voter behaviour are reshaping the UK’s political system.

Opened by the Vice President and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Professor Fiona Devine CBE, the lecture formed part of the Faculty’s ongoing commitment to engaging wider audiences in understanding political and social change. Fiona highlighted in her opening remarks that research on democracy, elections and political behaviour “sits at the heart of what the Faculty does, helping to provide rigorous, independent insight into voter behaviour, political identities and electoral volatility.”

Understanding a landmark election

Drawing on the research undertaken by Professor Ford and his co-authors, Rob outlined how Labour’s 2024 victory combined a substantial parliamentary majority with relatively modest popular support, underpinned by what he described as an “electoral Jenga” strategy targeting key marginal constituencies while weakening traditional strongholds.

This approach delivered electoral success but as explored during the lecture, has left the party exposed to political volatility in the years since.

Fragmentation and volatility in modern politics

In a live interview recorded with Jack Dulhanty from The Manchester Mill, Professor Ford explained how British politics is undergoing a deeper structural transformation.

“The dominant theme of our politics, I think today is that you can’ get back to the box of two-party politics,” he said, noting that voters are now increasingly drawn to a wider range of political parties.

He added that this fragmentation reflects broader shifts in voter identities and expectations: “Voters have a bigger diversity of preferences, and they’re not willing to accept half measures in a big tent two party system. They want the full fat measures”

The discussion highlighted how emerging parties such as Reform UK and the Greens are reshaping electoral competition, challenging traditional assumptions about how votes are won and held.

A fragile governing position

While the 2024 election delivered a decisive parliamentary outcome, Professor Ford emphasised that the foundations of that victory may be less secure than the headline result suggests.

Reflecting on Labour’s time in office, he pointed to the consequences of early strategic decisions and messaging: “That first year was absolutely critical and the disaffection that set in really follows on from that.”

He also highlighted the risks of attempting to balance competing electoral coalitions, warning that efforts to appeal to diverse voter groups may ultimately prove unsustainable: “Their efforts to try and bridge a divide could end up being their undoing.”

Bringing research into public conversation

The event concluded with a Q&A session, giving attendees the opportunity to engage directly with the research and its implications for the future of British politics.

A continuous focus on UK politics at the University of Manchester with the British Election Studies.

The British Election Studies, which is currently based at The University of Manchester, are public opinion surveys done after every general election, were also started by David Butler and began in 1964 (with some earlier waves traced back to 1959 is run by Professor Ed Fieldhouse and colleagues from Manchester, Nuffield College, University of Oxford and Royal Holloway, University of London.

A podcast recording of the interview is available via Acast - or wherever you get your podcasts from.

Artist Provenance expert and CTO of Massive Attack visits University for collaborative activities exploring AI, copyright and creative authorship

Thu, 21 May 2026 11:02:14 +0100

Occurring at a pivotal moment in the debates around AI and intellectual property, the visit also highlights a number of timely developments in the artist provenance sphere. These include the appointment of Sir Robin Jacob, former Lord Justice of Appeal in Intellectual Property, to the Genotone Ltd. advisory board, a significant endorsement of artist provenance infrastructure.

is a British-German creative technologist with over 25 years at the intersection of music, technology, and art. As CTO of and founder of , he has spent his career building the infrastructure that connects creative practice to emerging technology, from pioneering work on one of the world's first artist websites with David Bowie in 1999 to encoding Massive Attack's Mezzanine into synthetic DNA with ETH Zürich.

Andrew advises the UK government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s Working Groups on AI and copyright, representing coalitions of over 30,000 artists through the Music Managers Forum, Featured Artists Coalition, and AFEM. He is a leading voice on artist provenance, AI transparency, and the future of creative rights in the age of generative AI.

At the heart of the visit was the major public lecture Proof of Human: AI, Copyright, and the Fight for Creative Authorship, which took place at the heart of the Innovation District at SISTER.

In this special lecture and discussion, Andrew Melchior presented a compelling case for strengthening creative authorship in the era of generative AI.

Drawing on his experience advising UK government technical working groups on AI and copyright, Melchior explored how large-scale AI systems trained on vast datasets of copyrighted material, often without consent or compensation are disrupting established frameworks for protecting creative work. He argued that the challenge facing artists today is not only legal but infrastructural: without reliable systems to verify authorship and trace creative lineage, existing rights regimes cannot be effectively enforced.

Following the lecture, he was joined in conversation by John McGrath, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Factory International, and responded to audience questions.

Earlier in the day, Melchior lead an interactive masterclass for undergraduate and postgraduate music and composition students.

The session focussed on practical workflows for producing and releasing music while maintaining provenance and control of intellectual property in a rapidly evolving AI landscape. Students engaged directly with Melchior and explored the real-world implications of emerging technologies on their creative practice.

The visit also included a roundtable discussion bringing together academic experts and policymakers. They examined the relationship between music, culture, technology, and Manchester’s creative heritage; the impact of AI and other technologies on the creative industries and mechanisms to protect the rights and livelihoods of creative practitioners.

This visit was part of Creative Manchester’s ongoing commitment to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and critical debate at the intersection of culture, technology, and society.

The Pennine hills are full of holes – here’s how they’re helping fight climate change

Tue, 19 May 2026 11:43:06 +0100

Thousands of holes are appearing in the Pennine hills, as part of efforts to by restoring damaged peatland.

Peat itself is carbon rich and so as it grows it will help to capture the CO₂ that is produced by that is .

Meanwhile, damaged or turn into a carbon source, releasing greenhouses gases themselves. About 15% of the world’s peatlands have been drained, making these kind of restoration projects essential.

But now a new project is attempting to bring these wetlands back to life. On Holcombe Moor in the West Pennines, , with a further 700 in 2024 as part of Natural England’s Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme. Improvements are already starting to be seen.

What’s the history here?

The hills of the West Pennines are no stranger to holes, with a long history of lead and coal mining stretching back to the .

Coal fired the mills nearby during the industrial revolution in cities such as Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield. Smoke drifted back to the hills, carrying the heavy metal impurities of lead and arsenic from coal burning.

The industrial legacy remains visible in the elevated near the soil surface, which made it difficult for most plants to survive. Areas were stripped of all vegetation, leaving expanses of exposed soil. In the most affected places, these cut deep into the surface, turning places like Kinder Scout into a moonscape.

What was exposed and eroded so quickly had taken over to form. Much of the Pennines are covered in blanket peatland, a type of bog made through the slow accumulation of partially decayed plant matter (the type of soil we call peat).

The , with the water table maintained high enough to limit the decomposition of plant matter, while still allowing plants to grow. Not just any plant can tolerate these harsh growing conditions. One species is truly specialised to bog life and forms the main building block of peat itself – Sphagnum.

Finding a super moss

Sphagnum moss is the key ecosystem engineer in peatlands, holding up to in water to maintain the saturated conditions needed for its growth.

When in a healthy state, new Sphagnum grows up through the older moss, raising the water table with it to leave the older moss submerged, partially decayed, which forms the peat itself. Bogs grow only millimetres per year, but over millennia this can build several metres of peat.

The organic nature of peat means it is carbon rich, so much so that UK peatlands store over , around ten times more than all .

Restored wetlands could also help protect the area from wildfires at the UK starts to see more .

Human pressure and pollution

With human pressures, including past industrial pollution, . Sphagnum has disappeared from these peatlands.

Now, peatland restoration efforts are under way. From the early 2000s organisations including Moors for the Future Partnership have spent decades blocking gullies to raise water tables, reseeding bare peat and , transforming the worst affected peatlands from dark .

Though blocking erosional gullies with stone or timber dams has in deeply eroded peat, restoring flatter moorland plateaux presents a different set of challenges. Namely, how to restore the wet conditions required to encourage more Sphagnum moss to grow. However, this hasn’t stopped restoration organisations from trying a novel restoration method which might work to restore flatter peatlands.

Five years on from the start of the project, the original bunds are covered with grasses and many pools are now brimming with Sphagnum moss, looking more like natural bog pools.

are crescent-shaped pools, created by digging shallow scrapes in the peat surface using special low impact excavators. The aim is to capture surface water which would otherwise run quickly off the hill after rainfall. The water stored in at the bog surface for Sphagnum moss to re-establish and grow on moorland plateaus.

The National Trust, in partnership with the University of Manchester, is undertaking long-term research to understand the potential for bunds as a peatland restoration method.

The followed one of the driest springs in England for over .

It provided the first test of extreme weather in this peat bund experiment. Preliminary monitoring during the 2025 drought suggests bunded areas remained wetter for longer than unrestored peat, helping to maintain wetter conditions near the peat surface for longer – the .

The excavator machines up on the hills today don’t signal a return to the industrial past, but an attempt to restore the damage it left behind.

, Honorary Research Associate in Peatland Hydrology,

This article is republished from under a Creative Commons licence. Read the .

Booking site crackdown failed to cut online hotel prices – but unlocked cheaper deals offline

Tue, 19 May 2026 11:27:14 +0100

A major French policy designed to make hotel prices more competitive online may not have worked as intended, but it did unlock cheaper deals for customers booking directly with hotels.

A new study of European hotel markets finds that banning ‘price parity clauses’ – rules which stop hotels from offering lower prices outside major booking platforms – had little impact on publicly advertised online prices.

Instead, savings appeared in less visible places – direct bookings made offline, where prices fell significantly and hotels saw a shift in bookings away from online platforms.

Key findings

·        Small and statistically insignificant drop in hotel prices on major online platforms and hotel websites
·        Prices fell by around 5% for bookings made directly with hotels offline
·        Customers shifted away from online travel agents towards direct booking
·        Offline bookings – the largest channel at the time – increased their relative sales share
·        Total consumer savings were meaningful, but modest relative to the overall market

Why this matters

Online platforms like Booking.com and Expedia play a major role in how people find and book hotels.

For years, many of these platforms used ‘price parity clauses’ to prevent hotels from offering cheaper deals elsewhere, including on their own websites.

Policymakers expected that banning these rules would lead to lower prices across the board. However, the study suggests the reality is more complicated, and that headline online prices may not tell the full story.

Hidden cheaper rooms

For most travellers, booking a hotel is simple - search the internet, compare prices and click - but this research suggests that the best deal may not always be the one you see.

Instead, customers willing to call, email or walk into a hotel directly were more likely to find lower prices after the policy change. In other words, the cheapest room may be the one that never appears online.

What actually changed

The study focuses on France, which in 2015 became the first country to fully ban price parity clauses in the hotel sector. Researchers analysed data from 166 hotels across Europe, comparing France with countries where the rules were still in place.

They found:

·        Online prices showed small decreases of around 1–2%, but these are not statistically distinguishable from zero
·        Offline prices dropped significantly, around 5% or €8.50 per booking
·        Bookings shifted away from online platforms towards direct offline channels

Why online prices didn’t fall

One reason may be that online platforms still have powerful ways to influence hotel behaviour. Hotels that offer lower prices elsewhere risk being pushed down search rankings, making them less visible to customers.

As a result, many hotels appear to have avoided cutting prices on visible online channels, even after the rules were removed. Instead, they offered discounts where platforms were less able to monitor - in direct, offline bookings.

What customers may be missing

The findings suggest that:

·        Not all price competition is visible online
·        Some of the best deals require extra effort to find
·        Consumers who rely only on platforms may miss cheaper options

At the same time, many users continue to use online booking tools for the convenience and additional services they offer – such as price comparison, guest reviews, and streamlined booking – even if it means paying slightly more.

A mixed success

The policy did lead to more competition between booking channels, lower prices for some consumers and a shift away from platforms.

But overall, the impact was smaller than expected, especially on the highly visible online prices policymakers hoped to change.

Why it matters now

The findings are particularly relevant as new regulations, including the EU’s Digital Markets Act, aim to curb the power of large online platforms.

Understanding how businesses respond in practice is crucial to ensuring these policies deliver real benefits for consumers.

Publication details

The paper was carried out by economists from The University of Manchester, the University of Oxford, the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre and partner institutions across Europe. It was published in The Economic Journal.

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Feeling connected at school aids pupil mental health and attendance, study finds

Tue, 19 May 2026 09:47:24 +0100

Strong relationships with school staff and a sense of belonging at school can protect teenagers’ mental wellbeing and help reduce absences, according to new findings from The University of Manchester’s #BeeWell programme. The large-scale study shows that while poor mental health can drive disengagement from school, positive day-to-day school experiences play a critical role in protecting young people.

About the study

The researchers tracked more than 25,000 students from Year 8 to Year 10 (age 12/13 to 14/15) across 154 secondary schools in England, using attendance records as well as three years of data from the #BeeWell programme. #BeeWell is a collaboration between The University of Manchester, The Gregson Family Foundation and Anna Freud who, together with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), launched the programme in 2019.

The study found that students who felt more connected to their school and had stronger relationships with staff experienced fewer emotional difficulties (e.g., worry, low mood) over time, while also supporting better attendance. The findings suggest schools should prioritise students’ experiences of connection and support, rather than focusing on attendance alone.

At the same time, increases in emotional difficulties were shown to predict later declines in school belonging and relationships with staff – which suggests that poor mental health can gradually erode students’ connection to school.

How are mental health and school experiences linked?

The study identified a clear pattern in which mental health and school experiences influence one another over time.  When young people experienced increased emotional distress, they were more likely to feel less connected to their school and report weaker relationships with staff in the following year. For some students, particularly girls, worsening mental health also predicted increased absence from school.  However, positive school experiences worked in the opposite direction, helping to protect later mental health.

Why do relationships with staff and belonging matter?

The findings show that supportive relationships and a sense of belonging are not just associated with better mental health - they can actively protect it.  For boys, stronger relationships with school staff drove later reductions in emotional difficulties. For girls, feeling a strong sense of belonging to the school community played a particularly important protective role.

Does attendance improve mental health?

The study found no evidence that simply improving attendance leads to better mental health.  While attendance is often used as a key indicator of student wellbeing, the findings suggest it is more a signal of underlying difficulties than a direct driver of mental health outcomes. In contrast, students’ subjective experiences of school were much more strongly linked to changes in their wellbeing.

What are the implications for schools?

The researchers say the findings point to the importance of strengthening everyday school experiences, and with the GMCA are working with the GM Local Action Attendance Alliance to develop a whole system response to attendance challenges facing schools  This includes building supportive relationships between staff and students, fostering a sense of belonging across the school community, and identifying emotional difficulties early before they lead to disengagement.

Researcher quotes

“Our findings show that how young people experience school on a day-to-day basis really matters,” said Dr Qiqi Cheng, lead author of the study. “While schools rightly focus on making progress on attendance, what happens once pupils are inside the school gates is equally crucial."

Professor Neil Humphrey, academic lead of #BeeWell, said: “Attendance matters, but these findings show that it should not be viewed in isolation. Young people also need to feel that they belong, that they are noticed, and that they have supportive relationships with adults in school. Through #BeeWell, we are working with partners across Greater Manchester to ensure that responses to attendance challenges also support young people’s mental wellbeing

Publication details

This research was published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

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Manchester academic’s personal homelessness story shortlisted for Orwell Prize

Wed, 13 May 2026 10:00:00 +0100

An academic from The University of Manchester has been shortlisted for one of Britain’s most prestigious awards for political writing after publishing a deeply personal account of his experiences of hidden homelessness as a teenager.

, a History researcher at the University, has been shortlisted for the 2026 Orwell Prize for Reporting Homelessness for his article The Shame of Britain’s Hidden Homeless, which was published in .

The article combined data and analysis on the scale of hidden homelessness in Britain with Dr Seaton’s own experiences of housing insecurity as a young person, including the impact it had on his education and wellbeing. The Orwell Prize judges praised the article for blending rigorous reporting with personal testimony.

Sarah O’Connor, judge for The Orwell Prize for Reporting Homelessness 2026, said: “Andrew’s piece was data heavy, rich with facts and explanation about hidden homelessness, but what really stood out to us was the way in which Andrew talked about his own experience of being part of that story, of being homeless as a young person, and all the effects which that had on him and his education - and how he ultimately overcame them.”

Dr Seaton’s research and writing focuses on inequality, welfare, medicine and the environment, with particular interests in using lived experiences in the past to inform our present. His Orwell Prize nomination places him alongside journalists from national organisations including the BBC, The Daily Mail and The Big Issue.

“It’s amazing to be shortlisted alongside these wonderful writers for a prize that draws attention to homelessness,” said Andrew.

The Orwell Prize for Reporting Homelessness was established to champion journalism that sheds light on one of Britain’s most enduring social challenges. The prize recognises reporting that is person-centred, data-driven or policy-focused.

Chair of judges Michael Gove said: “The Orwell Prize attracts some of the most powerful and most exciting journalism being produced in Britain today. Homelessness is a huge social evil, but it has also inspired some great reporting and fantastic analysis. It has been a joy to spend time both with this work and with my fellow judges, who have brought a huge amount of passion and authority to the business of sifting some brilliant entries.”

The Orwell Foundation, which runs the awards, promotes the values associated with George Orwell’s writing, including integrity, courage and fidelity to truth.

The winners of the 2026 Orwell Prizes will be announced on 25 June at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London.

Climate-ready countries attracting more international students, major study finds

Tue, 12 May 2026 14:47:17 +0100

Countries that are better prepared for climate change are becoming more attractive to international students while more vulnerable nations are losing their appeal, according to a major new global study involving researchers from The University of Manchester.

The research analysed 1.15 million international student flows, and found that climate resilience is now an increasingly important factor in where students choose to study abroad.

The findings suggest that alongside university rankings, jobs and living standards, students are also paying attention to whether countries appear ready for a warmer, more uncertain future.

Key findings

- Countries with higher climate vulnerability attract fewer international students
- Strong climate adaptation readiness significantly boosts student inflows
- Major climate summits such as COP15 and COP21 marked a turning point in student decision-making
- Economic factors still matter, but students increasingly weigh climate risk and resilience
- China, India and other emerging hubs could gain market share through stronger climate action and growing academic strength

What did the study find?

The study examined global student mobility patterns over two decades. Researchers found that a destination country’s climate vulnerability significantly reduced its attractiveness to prospective international students.

By contrast, countries with stronger climate adaptation readiness - meaning they are better prepared to respond to climate risks such as extreme weather, heat and infrastructure disruption - saw significantly higher student inflows.

Why climate now matters to students

Traditionally, international students have been drawn by factors such as prestigious universities, stronger economies, language links and career opportunities - but the study found this picture has changed.

Major global climate summits, including the Copenhagen Accord (COP15) in 2009 and the Paris Agreement (COP21) in 2015, acted as key turning points. After these moments, student choices increasingly reflected a country’s climate readiness and vulnerability, not just its economic strength.

A new competition for global talent

The findings suggest countries are now competing for students not only on education quality, but also on resilience, liveability and long-term stability. This could reshape the global higher education market in the years ahead.

Researchers found that proactive climate adaptation, combined with rising university capacity, could help emerging destinations such as China and India capture a larger share of international students.

Who could lose out?

The study suggests some traditional destinations could face growing pressure if climate vulnerability worsens or if progress on adaptation stalls.

Researchers say climate preparedness may increasingly influence how students judge future safety, quality of life and opportunity in a host country.

What the researchers said

“International students are making one of the biggest decisions of their lives when choosing where to study,” said Dr Haoyu Hu.

“Our findings suggest they are not only thinking about degrees and careers, but also about what kind of future a country offers - whether it feels safe, stable and prepared for climate change.”

Dr Hu is based at The University of Manchester, which has been recognised globally for its social and environmental impact and is the only university in the world to rank in the top ten of both the QS World University Sustainability Rankings and the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.

The rankings recognise universities’ contributions towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including research, teaching, public engagement and campus operations aimed at creating a healthier, fairer and more sustainable future.

Why this matters

International students contribute billions to economies, strengthen research systems and help fill skills gaps.

The researchers say governments and universities may need to treat climate resilience as part of their international education strategy - from greener campuses and better infrastructure to stronger public climate policy.

They also say support is needed for climate-vulnerable countries, so global talent flows do not become even more unequal.

Publication details

The study was published in the Nature Portfolio journal Communications Sustainability.

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Long-term study shows Manchester “sponge park” is still boosting health and wellbeing five years on

Tue, 12 May 2026 11:46:22 +0100

A major study by researchers at The University of Manchester has found that transforming a neglected park in West Gorton led to lasting increases in walking, social interaction and time spent outdoors.

Known locally as “Sponge Park” because of its flood-prevention design, West Gorton Community Park has become a symbol of the wider regeneration of the area.

Key findings

· Walking increased by around 70% in the improved park compared with similar nearby sites
· More people were spending time sitting, relaxing and socialising outdoors
· The biggest increases in park use were among young people and non-white residents
· Benefits were still evident five years after the park was redesigned

What did the study find?

The study tracked changes in how people used West Gorton Community Park over a seven year period in one of Manchester’s most deprived neighbourhoods.

West Gorton was once known for the kind of urban deprivation depicted in Channel 4’s Shameless, which filmed in the area and became synonymous with life on struggling northern estates. Researchers say the transformation of the local park shows how investment in green spaces can help reshape communities over time.

Compared with similar green spaces in Greater Manchester, the redesigned space saw sustained increases in walking, social interaction and outdoor activity. Researchers also found people were more likely to stop, sit and spend time enjoying the environment.

What changed in the park?

The park was redesigned in 2020 from a neglected open space into a greener, more welcoming environment. New features included play areas, walking routes, seating, planting and community spaces. The redesign also improved visibility across the park, helping residents feel safer.

The site became known as “Sponge Park” because it was designed to absorb excess rainwater and reduce flood risk while creating an attractive public space.

Local residents were involved in shaping the redesign to ensure the park reflected the needs of the community.

How did it affect everyday life?

The improvements appear to have made a tangible difference to how people use the space.

Residents were not only more active, but also more likely to spend time relaxing, meeting others and engaging with nature. Survey data showed a clear increase in how often people reported spending time outdoors in the area.

These kinds of everyday behaviours - walking, socialising, and noticing the environment - are all linked to better physical and mental wellbeing.

Who benefited most?

The largest increases in park use were seen among young people and non-white residents.

This suggests that improving local green spaces may help reach groups who are often underserved by traditional health interventions.

The findings also highlight the potential for parks to help reduce health inequalities, particularly in more deprived communities.

Do the effects last?

While the biggest increases were seen shortly after the park opened, the study found that many of the benefits were still present five years later.

Some effects had reduced over time, but overall activity and use of the park remained higher than before the improvements.

This makes the study one of the first to show that urban park redesigns can have lasting impacts, rather than just short-term boosts.

Why does this matter?

As cities grow, access to high-quality green space is becoming increasingly important for public health.

The findings suggest that relatively simple changes to the built environment - like improving parks - can make it easier for people to be active and connect with others, without requiring major lifestyle changes.

Because these interventions do not rely heavily on individual motivation or resources, they may be particularly effective in reducing inequalities.

What are the implications?

The researchers say the findings provide strong evidence for investing in high-quality, community-designed green spaces, particularly in disadvantaged areas.

They argue that urban park improvements could form a key part of strategies to improve public health, support wellbeing and create more equitable cities.

Publication details

The study was published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.

DOI:

Britain’s ‘accent bias’ revealed in new book by Manchester expert

Wed, 06 May 2026 17:09:02 +0100

If you speak with a Northern, regional or working-class accent in Britain, you may still be judged before you’ve even finished your sentence.

A new book by The University of Manchester’s Dr Alex Baratta has revealed how deeply ingrained accent prejudice remains in British society - from classrooms to job interviews - and why it’s time to challenge it.

Key insights

Accent bias remains widespread across British society, including in education
People are routinely stereotyped based on how they sound
No accent is inherently ‘better’, ‘worse’ or more ‘professional’ than another
Linguistic science contradicts many common assumptions about accents
Practical steps are needed to tackle accent bias

Why this matters

From the way we pronounce words like ‘bath’ or ‘bus’ to whether we use a glottal stop in ‘water’, accents continue to carry powerful - and often unfair - social meanings.

Baratta’s new book, Putting an Accent on British Accents, explores what he calls the ‘social reality’ of accents - the knee-jerk judgments people make about others based on their speech. These can include assumptions about intelligence, trustworthiness, class and even personality.

But the ‘linguistic reality’ tells a very different story.

“There is nothing inherent in any accent,” Baratta argues. “No sound can ever be ‘stupid’, ‘sexy’ or ‘unprofessional’ - these are social judgements we attach to speech, not properties of the speech itself.”

A hidden prejudice in plain sight

Drawing on a study of British teachers, the book uncovers striking examples of accent bias in professional settings.

One teacher reported that his interview for a PGCE course was nearly terminated unless he modified his Rossendale accent, which was deemed ‘unprofessional’ for teaching English.

A secondary school Art teacher from Croydon was instructed to write the word ‘water’ with a capital ‘T’ to discourage pupils from using a glottal stop - a common feature of many British accents.

Another teacher from Nottingham, working in primary phonics in the South of England, was told it would be ‘best to go back to where you come from’ if she could not adopt Southern pronunciation.

These examples, Baratta argues, show that accent bias is not only persistent, but can directly affect careers and opportunities.

The sound of inequality

At the heart of the book is the simple but powerful idea that we interpret accents rather than just hearing them. A particular pronunciation can trigger assumptions about class, education, behaviour and even lifestyle, and these assumptions can then shape how individuals are treated in everyday life.

In this way, accent becomes a form of social inequality that often goes unrecognised.

What needs to change

Rather than accepting accent bias as inevitable, Baratta calls for a more informed and inclusive approach - particularly within education.

The book outlines practical steps to challenge accent prejudice, including greater awareness of linguistic diversity, changes in teacher training, and a shift away from the idea that one way of speaking is more ‘correct’ than another.

Ultimately, the aim is to move towards a society where people are judged by what they say, not how they say it.

“Accent bias isn’t about language at all - it’s about the social meanings we attach to it,” said Dr Baratta. “When we hear an accent, we’re not just processing sounds - we’re making assumptions shaped by history, class and culture.”

Publication details

Putting an Accent on British Accents by Dr Alex Baratta is published by and is available in hardcover and digital formats.

One of the world’s leading AI experts is visiting The University of Manchester

Wed, 06 May 2026 12:27:42 +0100

The University of Manchester is set to welcome internationally renowned journalist, author and broadcaster Karen Hao for a major public lecture on Thursday 28 May, offering a rare opportunity to hear directly from one of the world’s leading voices on artificial intelligence.

Hao, best known for her acclaimed book Empire of AI and her reporting on the global AI industry, has built a reputation for deeply researched, incisive journalism that cuts through the hype to examine the real-world impacts of emerging technologies.

Her work spans investigations into major technology companies, the geopolitics of AI and the societal consequences of rapid innovation, making her one of the most authoritative commentators in the field today.

Her lecture will explore the forces shaping the global AI landscape - from corporate power and data extraction to governance, ethics and the future of work. It is open to academics, students, industry professionals, policymakers and members of the public, reflecting the University’s commitment to fostering inclusive conversations about technologies that are reshaping society.

“It is a real privilege to welcome Karen Hao to Manchester. She is one of the most important voices on AI today - her work is not only groundbreaking but exceptionally rigorous and well-sourced, cutting through hype to address what actually matters,” said João C. Magalhães, Senior Lecturer in AI, Trust and Security and co-lead of the AI, Trust and Security Cluster at the University’s Centre for Digital Trust and Society.

Hao’s career includes reporting for leading global publications and producing widely respected analysis of artificial intelligence systems and their societal implications. She is also known for her work as a podcast host and commentator, bringing complex technical and political issues to wider audiences with clarity and nuance.

Her visit comes at a time of intense global debate around AI governance, safety and economic impact. As governments and industries grapple with regulation and deployment, events such as this provide a vital forum for informed public discussion.

The lecture will take place at 5.30pm in Lecture theatre G.003 of Alliance Manchester Business School. Tickets are available via , and early booking is encouraged due to anticipated high demand.

Manchester planning expert wins profession’s highest honour

Tue, 05 May 2026 11:47:00 +0100

The University of Manchester is proud to announce that Professor Cecilia Wong has been awarded the prestigious Gold Medal by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), one of the highest accolades in the global planning profession.

The Gold Medal, first awarded in 1953 and granted only at the discretion of the RTPI’s Board of Trustees, recognises exceptional achievement and international impact in town and country planning. Professor Wong becomes just the 17th recipient in its history, underlining the significance of her contribution to the field.

Professor Wong is Professor of Spatial Planning in the University’s Department of Planning, Property and Environmental Management, within the School of Environment, Education and Development. She is also Director of the Spatial Policy & Analysis Lab at the Manchester Urban Institute, where her work bridges academic research and real-world policy challenges.

Her research has played a major role in shaping contemporary planning thinking, with particular expertise in strategic spatial planning, urban and regional development, and housing and infrastructure policy. Her work focuses on developing innovative methods for spatial analysis and policy monitoring, helping policymakers better understand complex relationships between people, place and economic change.

Over a distinguished career spanning more than three decades at Manchester, Professor Wong has combined academic leadership with practical impact. She began her career as a professional planner in local government before moving into academia, bringing a strong applied focus to her research. Her work has informed national and international policy debates, including major contributions to discussions on regional inequality, infrastructure planning and sustainable urban development.

She has held numerous influential roles across the sector, including serving on the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Council and chairing the UK’s 2021 Research Excellence Framework sub-panel for Architecture, Built Environment and Planning. She is also a Fellow of both the Academy of Social Sciences and the RTPI, reflecting her standing as a leading voice in the discipline.

Professor Wong’s recent research includes major collaborative projects addressing the root causes of unhealthy urban development and exploring sustainable urbanisation in China. Her work consistently emphasises the importance of collaboration between academia, policymakers and practitioners to tackle pressing societal challenges.

She has previously been recognised by the University with the Distinguished Achievement Award for Researcher of the Year (Humanities), and continues to play a key role in shaping the next generation of planners through her teaching and mentorship.

Presenting the award, Jan Bessell praised Professor Wong’s significant contributions to the field, highlighting her leadership, mentorship, and influential body of scholarship. Her seminal publications and work on key planning texts were also recognised as shaping modern planning thought and practice.

"There is an urgent need for a national spatial vision to address entrenched spatial inequalities across the UK. Delivering innovative policy and practice is best achieved through close collaboration between research and professional practice, combining reflexive professional insight with emerging digital opportunities. We are living through a period of uncertainty, but it is also a moment ripe for creative and ambitious discussion.”

Children’s voices overlooked in research consent processes, experts warn

Fri, 01 May 2026 09:00:00 +0100

Researchers from The University of Manchester are calling for urgent changes to how children and young people are asked to take part in research, warning that current consent systems often fail to reflect their voices, experiences and rights.

The article highlights how traditional approaches - relying heavily on parents, schools and formal paperwork - can overlook children’s ability to understand and make decisions about research participation.

Instead, the researchers argue for a more flexible, inclusive and ongoing approach to consent that treats children and young people as active contributors, not passive participants.

Key findings

Traditional consent models often rely on adult “proxies” such as parents and schools
Children and young people’s ability to make informed decisions is frequently underestimated
Complex, legalistic consent documents can discourage participation
Schools play a central but under-recognised role in shaping access to research
Current systems can create “epistemic injustice”, limiting whose voices are heard
A more flexible, participatory and culturally sensitive approach is needed

Why consent isn’t working for children

The paper argues that gaining consent in studies involving children is often treated as a legal formality, rather than a meaningful process.

Current systems tend to prioritise institutional requirements such as ethics approvals and documentation over children’s own understanding and experiences.

Children are frequently positioned as needing protection, but this can come at the cost of recognising their competence. Evidence shows that many children and adolescents are capable of understanding research and making informed choices, particularly as digital literacy increases.

The hidden role of schools

Schools play a crucial role in research, acting as gatekeepers between researchers, children and families.

They are often responsible for sharing information, managing communication and enabling access - but their capacity to do this varies widely depending on time, resources and infrastructure.

In many cases, researchers have little direct contact with parents, relying instead on school systems to distribute information. While this helps with logistics, it can dilute communication and affect how well families understand what participation involves.

When paperwork puts people off

The article highlights how long, complex consent forms, often shaped by legal and data protection requirements, can discourage participation.

For families, particularly those from diverse linguistic or cultural backgrounds, these documents can be difficult to understand and may even create unnecessary concern about risk.

This can lead to what researchers describe as “epistemic injustice”, where children and young people are effectively excluded from contributing to knowledge because the process itself is inaccessible.

Children as active participants - not passive subjects

The researchers argue that children should be recognised as capable social actors, able to express views and make decisions about research participation.

Rather than relying solely on parental consent, approaches should support children’s own understanding, including their right to agree - or refuse - to take part.

This aligns with wider principles that children have the right to be heard in decisions affecting them.

What needs to change

The paper proposes a shift towards a more flexible and inclusive model of consent, built around real-world relationships and contexts.

Changes researchers are calling for

Consent as an ongoing process
Consent should be revisited throughout a study, not treated as a one-off decision
Better communication
Materials should be clearer, shorter and accessible to both children and families
Schools as partners
Schools should be supported as collaborators, not just intermediaries
Children’s voices at the centre
Processes should actively include children’s views, including opportunities to dissent
More culturally sensitive approaches
Consent models should reflect diverse social and cultural contexts

Why this matters now

The researchers argue that improving consent processes is not just an ethical issue - it directly affects the quality, inclusivity and impact of research.

When children and young people are excluded or disengaged, important perspectives are lost, particularly from underrepresented groups.

More inclusive approaches could help build trust, improve participation and ensure research better reflects the realities of children’s lives.

What the researchers said

“Current consent processes often prioritise systems and structures over the children they are designed to protect,” said lead author Dr Sarah MacQuarrie.

They add that consent should be seen as “an ongoing, relational process” rather than a one-time administrative step.

Final word

The article concludes that traditional, standardised models of consent are no longer fit for purpose in research with children and young people.

Instead, it calls for a reimagining of consent as a flexible, inclusive and participatory process - one which ensures that children’s voices are not just heard, but are central to research itself.

Publication details

The article is a part of a special issue within the Methods in Psychology journal.

DOI:

Co-Creation for Innovation in Creative Industries explored at MIOIR symposium

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 11:37:38 +0100

Held at the Alliance Manchester Business School on Thursday 16 April, this dynamic event brought together researchers, creative practitioners and industry stakeholders to map the co-creation landscape across the creative industries.

The symposium celebrated the variety ways in which collaborative approaches allow developing new products, services and experiences while addressing social and technological challenges. The discussions highlighted the growing importance of participatory innovation in enabling more inclusive and responsive creative practice.

Creative industries are increasingly experimenting with the co-creation approaches, including emerging technological solutions such as immersive media and generative AI, as well as diverse stakeholders. The symposium provided a space to reflect on these developments, derive some common insights, and explore their implications for research and practice.

The event was chaired and moderated by Dr Marianna Rolbina and Dr Tonny Kukeera (University of Manchester).

Programme highlights

The symposium featured lightning talks, a panel discussion and facilitated group sessions, bringing together academic and industry perspectives on co-creation in practice.

The participants explored current best practices, common barriers to implementation, and how co-creation can be scaled across different contexts. Discussions also highlighted the importance of trust, planning, shared ownership and effective collaboration between academia, industry and creative communities.

In the afternoon, participants took part in group discussions on the future of co-creation, focusing on how co-creation process can be improved to achieve new social, creative, and commercial outcomes.

Reflecting on the event, Dr Marianna Rolbina commented:

The symposium forms part of MIOIR’s ongoing research into innovation in creative industries and wider innovation systems. Insights from the event will inform future work on co-creation, collaboration and the evolving role of stakeholders in creative innovation.

Teenage girls and experts call for changes to tackle worsening mental health

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0100

Researchers from The University of Manchester have worked directly with teenage girls to uncover what they believe could help turn the tide on rising rates of anxiety and low mood.

From their early teenage years, girls are more likely to experience low mood and anxiety. They are twice as likely as boys to experience depression by age 15, and new evidence suggests this gap has been growing for more than a decade.

To find out what could make a real difference, a team of experts sat down with 32 teenage girls across England to ask a simple but vital question: What would actually help?

Key findings

Teenage girls want practical, long-term changes rather than quick fixes
Girls highlighted pressures from school, social media and gender expectations
They called for safer, more supportive schools and communities
Researchers worked with young women as part of the study team itself
The findings could help shape future policy and funding on girls’ wellbeing

What did the girls say would help?

The study found that teenage girls want practical, culture-changing solutions rather than quick fixes.

Their ideas were developed into some key approaches to improve mental health and wellbeing for girls in schools and communities.

Changes girls want to see

Better support and regulation around social media
Help recognising that what they see online is not always real, alongside advice on how to care for themselves digitally
Challenge gender stereotypes in schools
Training for teachers and changes in school culture to tackle stereotypes that shape girls’ daily lives
Zero tolerance on sexual harassment
Clearer, more consistent responses to sexual harassment in schools, with proper support for those affected
More places to relax and belong
More social hobby spaces in schools and communities where girls can relax, connect and have fun without pressure
Mental health to be valued as much as grades
Schools to become more caring and relationship-focused, where wellbeing is valued as highly as academic success

Why this matters now

The study’s insights come as schools and health services grapple with an unprecedented rise in mental health difficulties among young people.

The research team say they hope the findings will help shape future policy and funding decisions on girls’ wellbeing.

What the researchers said

“We talk a lot about girls’ mental health and why it might be worsening, but a lot of the available research does not engage with girls’ own views on this,” said Dr Ola Demkowicz, senior lecturer at the Manchester Institute of Education and co-lead author of the study.

“Here, we wanted to work with girls as a starting point to explore how we can approach this issue in ways that can meet their needs. The girls we spoke with made it clear that they don’t just want coping strategies - they want real changes in the environments where they live and learn.”

“The girls spoke powerfully about pressures from school, social media and gender expectations,” said co-author Dr Rebecca Jefferson, who helped to run the focus groups.

“They had thought-through, actionable ideas - not just for support, but for changing the systems that affect them.”

Girls helped to lead the research

The research also brought young women into the project team itself. Young researchers worked as a core part of the team to design the study, lead discussions and interpret findings - helping ensure the work stayed grounded in girls’ real experiences.

Publication details

The study was published in the NIHR Public Health Journal.

DOI:

Manchester Urban Ageing Research Group recognised with national Team Achievement Award

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:40:47 +0100

Led by Professor Tine Buffel, MUARG brings together researchers from across social sciences, architecture, geography, public health and the arts to explore the relationship between population ageing and urban change. Central to its work is a commitment to co‑production – working in long‑term partnership with older people, community organisations, policymakers and practitioners to ensure research is grounded in lived experience and leads to real‑world change.

Professor Buffel said the award recognises the collective effort that underpins MUARG’s work:

Research driven by partnership and lived experience

MUARG’s work is shaped by long‑standing collaborations with partners across Greater Manchester and beyond, including local and regional government, third‑sector organisations and older people themselves. A key part of this approach is MUARG’s Older People’s Forum, a diverse group of residents from across Greater Manchester who help to set research priorities and guide activity.

Elaine Unegbu, Chair of the Greater Manchester Older People’s Network and a longstanding MUARG co‑researcher, said:

Reflecting the University’s commitment to social responsibility, MUARG’s work focuses on tackling inequalities in later life and supporting people to age well in their communities. Projects span creative and participatory methods, from collaborative filmmaking and comics co‑created with older refugees and asylum seekers, to the co‑design of age‑friendly neighbourhoods and arts‑based interventions including exhibitions, films and zines.

Recognising collaboration across Greater Manchester

MUARG’s partnerships across the city‑region were highlighted by Paul McGarry, Head of the Greater Manchester Ageing Hub and Assistant Director for Public Service Reform at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, who represented the team during the award process:

Niamh Kavanagh, an urban sociologist in the University’s Department of Architecture and a core member of MUARG, added:

Celebrating 10 years of MUARG

The award comes at a landmark moment for the group. In April, MUARG celebrates its 10th anniversary with an interactive event in Manchester showcasing the creative, participatory methods that have defined its work over the past decade.

The event will also mark the launch of a new collective publication, Collaborative Research for Ageing in Place: Stories of Co‑Production in Practice, bringing together insights from 18 MUARG projects. The book shares practical learning on co‑producing research in communities shaped by inequality – highlighting partnership, trust‑building and experimentation as essential ingredients for impactful research.

“With this book, we want to be open about what co‑production looks like in practice — the challenges as well as the potential,” said Professor Buffel. “It’s about sharing learning that others can build on.”

Investing in people and future impact

Looking ahead, MUARG hopes to build on this recognition by developing as an international centre of excellence on urban ageing, rooted in Manchester but globally connected. Funding associated with the award will support three priority areas:

Co‑production and community leadership
Knowledge exchange and policy engagement
Team culture, mentoring and capacity‑building

At least half of the funding will be directed towards supporting community leadership, including paid roles for older people as co‑researchers.

Find out more: Read MUARG’s publication and learn more about the Manchester Urban Ageing Research Group on their .

RISE awards £450,000 to innovative projects addressing violence against women and girls

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:01:17 +0100

Nine interdisciplinary research and innovation projects have been awarded up to £50,000 each through , an accelerated programme tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) led by researchers at the University of Manchester.

Delivered between April and August 2026, the projects bring together VAWG researchers with partners such as police forces, local authorities and specialist charities.

Together, they will pilot evidence-based approaches focused on early intervention, structural drivers of harm, safer streets and parks, disability‑specific prevention, improving responses to repeat victimisation and mapping online misogyny ecosystems.

“Violence against women and girls is a complex challenge that demands collaborative, nuanced and evidence‑driven responses,” said Professor Mark Elliot, SPRITE+ Director and RISE Co-Investigator.

Funded teams will soon take part in a cross-sector event in June 2026 which will lay the foundations for sustained collaboration and future funding, as well as a showcase event in September to share overall findings and lessons learned.

List of successful projects

Safer Spaces, Stronger Voices: Co‑Creating and Evaluating a Learning Disability‑Specific VAWG Prevention Intervention
Proximal Risks: Understanding the Pathways from Socioeconomic Disadvantage to Intimate Partner Violence
Safer Parks: Improving Access for Women and Girls – Training for Professionals
Producing policy‑critical knowledge about the harms to women and girls caused by com‑networks: Accelerating beyond steps to strides in raising safeguarding awareness, risk prevention and reducing future victimisation
Adolescent TFVAWG: A Practice Framework for Early Detection and Response
HARMONY: Hidden Abuse Research and Mapping of Online Misogyny Ecosystem
BRAVO: Boys (as) Responsible Allies against Violence Online: The Future Digital Leaders Programme
SaferStreetsAI: AI‑informed pedestrian routing based on perceived safety
The Development of a Digital Repeat‑Victimisation and Attrition Dashboard: A Strategic Innovation for Rape and Serious Sexual Offences in Bedfordshire

Advice and support

(England): 0808 2000 247
(England and Wales): 0808 500 2222
(Northern Ireland): 0808 802 1414
(Scotland): 0800 027 1234

In an emergency call 999. If it’s unsafe to speak and you call from a mobile, press 55 and you will be transferred to a police call handler trained to deal with ‘silent calls’.

Education saves lives: new study reveals global link between learning and longevity

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:01:05 +0100

A major international study involving researchers from The University of Manchester has found that education is one of the strongest predictors of how long people live. Using a new statistical approach to overcome gaps in global data, the research shows that people with more education live significantly longer - even in countries where official records are incomplete.

Key findings

Higher levels of education are consistently linked to longer life expectancy
In some countries, the gap between education levels exceeds a decade of life
Women aged 20-49 show particularly large differences in mortality by education
New statistical methods allow researchers to estimate mortality even where data is missing
The study provides new evidence from under-researched regions including North Africa and Western Asia

What did the study find?

The study, funded by the Austrian Academy of Sciences analysed mortality patterns across 13 countries in South-East Europe, Western Asia and North Africa between 1980 and 2015.

Researchers reconstructed mortality rates by age, sex and education level using a new statistical model designed to work even where official data is incomplete or inconsistent.

The findings revealed a clear and consistent pattern: people with more education live significantly longer than those with little or no formal education.

How was the research done?

The research was carried out by Professor Arkadiusz Wiśniowski from The University of Manchester, alongside Dr Andrea Tamburini and Dr Dilek Yildiz from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Austria.

The team developed an innovative modelling framework that combines data from multiple international sources, including the United Nations, Eurostat and Demographic and Health Surveys.

This approach made it possible to estimate life expectancy differences even in countries where reliable birth and death records are limited.

Where are the biggest differences seen?

In some countries included in the study, the difference in life expectancy between people with higher and lower levels of education was equivalent to more than ten years.

The gap was particularly striking among women aged 20 to 49, where those with secondary education or higher experienced much lower mortality rates.

Why does education affect life expectancy?

The findings highlight the wide-ranging impact of education on people’s lives.

“Access to education means better health knowledge, better jobs, and better access to healthcare - but it also changes how people make decisions about their lives,” said Professor Arkadiusz Wiśniowski. “It’s a powerful social equaliser.”

Why has this been hard to measure before?

Until now, much of the global evidence linking education and life expectancy has come from high-income countries with strong data systems.

In many parts of the world, incomplete or inconsistent records have made it difficult to understand how education shapes health outcomes.

Why does this matter?

By filling these data gaps, the study provides one of the most comprehensive pictures to date of how education influences survival across diverse global populations.

The model could now be applied more widely to help governments and international organisations better understand population health and plan future services.

What are the implications?

The researchers say the findings strengthen the case for treating education as a key public health intervention, not just a social or economic priority.

“We hope this work helps policymakers see education not only as a path to better jobs, but as a key public health intervention,” said Professor Wiśniowski. “Investing in education is investing in life itself.”

Publication details

This research was funded by the Austrian Academy of Sciences and is published in Demographic Research.

DOI:

New Faculty of Humanities Vice-Dean for Teaching, Learning and Students appointed at the University of Manchester

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:19:47 +0100

Currently Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education Innovation and Enhancement, and Professor of Economics Education at the University of Bristol, Alvin will take up the Vice-Dean for TLS role on 1 August 2026. He will take over from Professor Fiona Smyth, who was appointed full-time to the role of Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the University in November.

Alvin is an alumnus of the University of Manchester, graduating with an undergraduate degree in Economics and Econometrics. He has previously held the positions of Director of Bristol Institute for Learning and Teaching, and Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor and Academic Director for Teaching and Learning at the University of Bristol. Alvin has also been Director of the Economics Network since 2012.

Mandelson vetting scandal: why Whitehall is the worst of all worlds when it comes to accountability

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 15:28:32 +0100

Keir Starmer’s decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US keeps coming back to haunt him. It has now emerged that Mandelson was granted security clearance by the Foreign Office, despite concerns raised during the . Top Foreign Office civil servant Olly Robbins was sacked over these revelations.

Mandelson was controversial long before Starmer appointed him in 2024. A New Labour figure known as the “prince of darkness” due to his reputation as an adept but often ruthless and underhand political operator, Mandelson had already been embroiled in a number of scandals involving allegations of corruption. He was also known to have had a close relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as well as close business links in China.

Starmer fired him in September 2025 after emails were released showing Mandelson offering supportive messages to Epstein, who faced charges of soliciting a minor at the time. Further emails released by US officials suggested that Mandelson might have passed privileged and market-sensitive information to Epstein during the fallout of the financial crisis. In February 2026, the former ambassador was on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has denied criminal wrongdoing and has not been charged.

Therefore, it is perhaps unsurprising that Mandelson did not pass the vetting process carried out by the Cabinet Office’s UK Security Vetting team. Almost all civil servants are required to go through some form of vetting. But as a top diplomat, Mandelson was subject to the most intensive form of scrutiny. From what is known about the process, red flags were probably raised about Mandelson’s links with Chinese and Russian business interests, though the exact details have not been made public.

Starmer and his allies have argued that Robbins did not tell the prime minister about concerns raised in the vetting process as he should have. , Robbins said that Number 10 took a “dismissive” approach to the vetting process. He also said that he was under “constant pressure” to approve Mandelson’s clearance due to this being a political priority for Starmer. Mandelson’s appointment was announced publicly before the vetting took place.

The opposition is piling on the pressure for Starmer to resign. But behind speculation about the prime minister’s future stands a deeper set of constitutional questions about accountability and standards in public life.

From Starmer’s perspective, the scandal has revealed a pressing need to improve the independent scrutiny of appointments. He has ordered a review into vetting procedures, and argued that failings lie with civil servants in the FCDO and with the robustness of vetting processes – not with him.

On one level, this defence is an effort to deflect blame. Yet the response also fits with Starmer’s approach to politics as a .

In arguing for a more robust independent process around vetting in their attempts to avoid blame, Starmer and his allies invoke a of Whitehall culture. This view treats independent, depoliticised scrutiny and checks and balances as key missing links in British politics. Building these would be vital for ensuring transparency and accountability around appointments and politics more broadly.

Since coming to office, Starmer has consistently argued for a rewiring of the British state to modernise the government. Like academics, thinktanks, journalists and former Whitehall insiders before him, Starmer’s view suggests that Whitehall and the centre of the British state operate in an antiquated way. When it comes to accountability and standards, the government arguably lacks proper independent scrutiny and constitutional checks and balances to hold decision-makers to account.

Instead, Whitehall is too reliant on a , which suggests politicians typically act with the best of intentions and therefore do not need to be subject to independent scrutiny.

Who is responsible?

Critics, echoing Robbins’ testimony, have argued that Starmer and his allies pressed Mandelson’s ambassadorship as a political priority, announcing it before vetting procedures had been completed in order to push through the appointment.

Many have pointed out that Mandelson’s reputation as a potentially suspect character was well known before the release of the Epstein files. Within this narrative, blame for the appointment of Mandelson lies squarely with Starmer.

In a sense, this approach offers a different view of British politics. In terms of appointments – both to top civil service positions and to more political posts – the UK’s approach has been argued to resemble . Here, the ruler decides their key advisers on the basis of their own preferences and objectives.

This too implies a lack of proper checks and balances around appointments. But one of the proposed advantages of such a system is that it places accountability and responsibility for decisions clearly in the hands of elected politicians. Britain has a longstanding tradition of individual ministerial accountability.

Starmer, however, is now seemingly weakening this tradition by deflecting blame onto the civil service and its processes. It is this notion of direct political accountability that Starmer’s opponents are invoking when they call for his resignation.

Overall, these two images of British politics are contradictory and indicative of the emergence of an . On the one hand, the state has failed to move towards modern and robust independent scrutiny of ministerial decision-making around appointments. On the other hand, politics has shifted away from a culture of clear, individual ministerial accountability.

This leaves Britain in a “worst of both worlds” scenario when it comes to accountability and standards in public life. It has neither robust independent scrutiny, nor clear lines of political accountability. More than anything, the Mandelson vetting scandal reveals the need to fix this broken system.

, Research Associate, Department of Politics, and , Research Associate,
This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .

Global appetite for beef is driving Amazon deforestation, new study finds

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:29:18 +0100

A major international study involving researchers from The University of Manchester has found that rising global demand for beef is a key force behind deforestation in the Amazon rainforest.

The research shows how consumer demand in countries around the world is directly linked to land clearing in Brazil, often through complex supply chains that are difficult to regulate. By combining economic and environmental analysis, the study reveals why current efforts to curb deforestation are struggling to keep pace with global demand.

Key findings

Growing global demand for beef is a major driver of deforestation in the Amazon
Up to 80% of cleared forest land is converted into cattle pasture
Higher land values after deforestation create strong financial incentives to clear forests
Gaps in supply chain oversight allow deforestation to continue
New framework identifies where interventions could have the greatest impact

What did the study find?

The research focuses on the Brazilian Amazon, where cattle farming is a leading cause of deforestation. It shows that decisions made by farmers are shaped by a powerful mix of global market demand, land prices and government policies.

In many cases, clearing forest actually increases land value, creating a cycle where deforestation leads to profit – and to more deforestation. At the same time, environmental rules and sustainability initiatives often fail to fully reach the people making land-use decisions on the ground.

Why does this matter to people?

Although the Amazon may feel far away, the study highlights how everyday consumption is connected to environmental change. Beef sold around the world in supermarkets and restaurants can be linked back to land-use decisions in the rainforest.

The consequences are global. The Amazon plays a vital role in storing carbon and regulating the climate. As forests are cleared, this contributes to climate change, biodiversity loss and more extreme weather patterns worldwide.

What makes this study different?

Most research looks either at economic systems or environmental systems, but rarely both together. This study introduces a new approach that connects global supply chains with local ecosystems, showing how they influence each other in real time. It reveals that environmental damage is not just an unintended side effect – it is built into how global production systems operate.

Where are the biggest challenges?

A key issue is that governance systems are fragmented. Governments, companies, and environmental organisations often work separately, with limited coordination.

For example, large meat companies may enforce sustainability rules for direct suppliers, but indirect suppliers — where much deforestation occurs — can slip through the cracks.

At the same time, smaller farmers often lack access to credit or technical support, making it harder for them to adopt more sustainable practices.

What are the solutions?

The study highlights several key opportunities to reduce deforestation:

Strengthening enforcement of environmental laws
Improving traceability across supply chains
Supporting farmers with finance and training
Rewarding conservation through incentives like payments for ecosystem services

Importantly, the research shows that no single solution will work on its own — progress depends on better coordination across global and local systems.

Why this research matters now

As global demand for beef continues to grow, pressure on the Amazon is expected to increase. The researchers say their findings provide a clearer roadmap for policymakers, businesses and organisations trying to balance economic growth with environmental protection, and offers a new way to tackle one of the world’s most urgent environmental challenges.

The study was conducted by an international team of researchers from The University of Manchester and Brazil’s Fundação Getulio Vargas São Paulo School of Business Administration, and is published in Competition & Change.

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Iran’s AI memes are reaching people who don’t follow the news – and winning the propaganda war

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:20:07 +0100

A Lego-style Iranian military commander : “Our inbox is flooded with Americans saying they don’t watch the news. They listen to our songs instead since your media is full of sh*t.”

This is the opening line of an AI-generated video which is part of Iran’s meme campaign – built around Lego-style animation and rap soundtracks, which have online. The line captures the strange reality of contemporary politics: news is often most effectively disseminated not through journalism but humour, memes and entertainment.

Since late February, pro-Iranian media groups – most notably, the – have flooded social media with AI-generated video content mocking Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu and US foreign policy. It has been dubbed – but the sophistication is striking.

These videos but do not look or feel like state propaganda – despite the spokesperson for Explosive Media admitting to the BBC that the . They capture the internet zeitgeist: fast, funny, visually familiar and designed for virality.

Trojan horses

The success of these memes lies in their audience strategy. They do not target people actively seeking news. Instead, they mimic the language of everyday internet culture to reach those who are not following events in the Middle East at all.

Humour is the mechanism they use to get reach. These videos function as Trojan horses, drawing viewers in with recognisable imagery, references and music – while communicating a narrative about American overreach, dysfunction and corruption.

As , a US-based expert in disinformation, notes, this kind of content reaches “politically uninvested people who otherwise wouldn’t have engaged with war-related content”.

The key insight here is not geopolitics but audiences. Conventional political communication, including press conferences, policy statements and traditional news coverage, reaches people who are already paying attention. These AI meme videos are designed to reach everyone else: the millions of people whose understanding of international conflict extends no further than what happens to appear in their social media feed.

Humour is the primary mechanism these videos have harnessed to conquer the social media algorithms. The joke is not the message – it is the delivery system. By packaging geopolitical arguments inside “diss tracks”, pop culture references and shareable clips, these videos communicate political ideas before audiences have even registered they are consuming political content.

What makes audiences receptive to ‘slopaganda’?

But this raises a deeper question. Why are people so receptive to receiving political information in this form? The answer is that they have been primed for it.

For two decades, a generation of Americans – and increasingly British and European viewers – have learned to process political news through satire. Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show became, for many younger viewers, a than the nightly news.

The likes of Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, Seth Meyers and Jimmy Kimmel also built enormous audiences by making politics funny, accessible and emotionally engaging in ways that conventional journalism often failed to do. The implicit message, repeated nightly, was that humour was not merely a gloss on political commentary. It was a .

This was largely a progressive phenomenon. The targets were politicians and large institutions, both government and private sector – and the satirists positioned themselves as holding power to account. But this created an expectation that , and that comedy is a legitimate vehicle for political understanding.

Iran is copying populist strategy

Since 2008, many populists have recognised the in their election campaigns – none more so than Trump. His campaign appearances on comedy podcasts, his and stunts, and his endless memes are not distractions from his political strategy – they are his political strategy.

Trump reached, and mobilised, millions of who had long since stopped engaging with political news in any traditional form.

Iran has been paying attention. The American scholar of propaganda has that Iran is now “using popular culture against the No.1 pop culture country, the United States”.

The Lego aesthetic, the rap beats, the 1980s pop covers, the selection of jokes are not random choices. They demonstrate a precise calibration of what can effectively reach online audiences in the western attention economy.

The result is content that is not immediately visible as foreign propaganda, and instead looks like entertainment. For audiences already accustomed to learning about politics through comedy, the distinction barely registers.

There is a profound irony here. The cultural conditions that produced shows like The Daily Show and Last Week Tonight – the erosion of trust in mainstream political communication and the demand for authenticity and humour over formal rhetoric – have produced a media environment in which a foreign state can distribute propaganda to millions of Americans, and have it feel indistinguishable from domestic entertainment.

This is not to say that late-night satire and Iranian AI content is equivalent. But they are operating in the same media ecosystem – one in which humour has become a primary method of political communication.

The most unsettling thing about what is happening right now is what this means for our information environment.

If propaganda is indistinguishable from satire, and satire accumulates millions of views while news does not, the line between political entertainment and political persuasion has seemingly collapsed. And the people most affected are those who think they are not following the war at all.

, Early Career Researcher, Religions and Theology Department
This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .

How AI Is Reshaping Faith and Cultural Resilience

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:54:26 +0100

The Thomas Ashton Institute is pleased to highlight a new SALIENT‑funded research project led by Coventry University: . The work is funded through the Hub, which sits within the Institute and is supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

Running from June 2025 to February 2026, the project investigates how rapidly developing AI technologies—including generative and agentic systems—are influencing religious practices, pastoral care, cultural identity, and community resilience. These technologies now enable immersive simulations of religious experiences, AI‑generated interpretations of sacred texts, and even claims that AI can “speak in the voice of God”.

Led by Dr Adam J. Fenton and Professor Chris Shannahan, the project examines how leaders across the UK’s six major faith traditions are responding to the ethical, spiritual, and societal challenges posed by AI. The team is exploring questions around:

• How AI is reshaping or challenging foundational religious teachings
• The ways religious communities are adopting or rejecting AI tools
• The potential impact of AI‑driven job displacement on pastoral responsibility
• How cultural and doctrinal contexts shape perceptions of AI

The project contributes directly to ’s mission of strengthening national security and societal resilience by examining how emerging technologies can both support and disrupt community cohesion, trust, and wellbeing.

You can read more about the project on

Lane Lecture 2026 Now Open for Registration

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:13:19 +0100

The Thomas Ashton Institute is delighted to announce that registration is , taking place on Wednesday 21 October 2026 at the Kanaris Lecture Theatre, Manchester Museum.

This year’s distinguished guest speaker is Professor Gillian Leng CBE, Chair of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council and former Chief Executive of NICE. She will deliver a talk titled:

“The Evolution of Evidence and the Changing Nature of Employment: What this means for the work of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council.”

The programme includes:

4:00pm – In‑person registration (with complimentary tea and coffee)

4:30–6:00pm – Main Lecture & Q&A

6:00–8:00pm – Post‑lecture reception with refreshments

The event is free to attend and open to colleagues, researchers, policymakers, students, and the wider public. Both in‑person and online attendance options are available. Please note that online participants must complete both Eventbrite registration and the additional Microsoft Webinar registration link provided after checkout.

This annual lecture, delivered in collaboration with the Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, will explore how shifting evidence landscapes and employment patterns are shaping future approaches to worker health, policy, and regulation.

Doomscrolling or connecting? Study reveals social media’s complex effect on loneliness

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 11:24:44 +0100

Whether social media connects us or leaves us feeling isolated depends on how we use it, according to new research from The University of Manchester. A major review of global evidence has found that online interactions can either reduce or increase loneliness, which challenges simple assumptions about screen time and wellbeing.

Key findings

Social media can reduce loneliness when used to build or maintain relationships
Passive use, such as scrolling without interacting, is linked to higher loneliness
People with strong offline networks benefit more from social media use
User motivations - such as connection versus escape - shape outcomes
Platform design and online experiences influence whether users feel connected or isolated
More long-term research is needed to fully understand impacts on wellbeing

What did the study find?

Dr Rebecca Nowland assessed the latest global evidence on the relationship between social media and loneliness.

The findings highlight a complex picture. Social media can strengthen social connections when it is used to interact meaningfully - such as messaging friends, sharing experiences or receiving supportive responses.

However, simply scrolling through content without engaging - often referred to as ‘passive use’ - is consistently linked to higher levels of loneliness.

Why does how we use social media matter?

The study shows that the impact of social media depends heavily on how and why people use it.

People who go online to connect with others may experience reduced loneliness. In contrast, those using social media to escape difficult feelings or social situations may see the opposite effect.

In some cases, trying to replace face-to-face interaction with online activity can actually make loneliness worse.

Who benefits most from social media use?

Not everyone benefits equally.

The research found that people who already have strong social networks are more likely to gain positive experiences online, including support and a sense of belonging.

Those who feel isolated offline, however, may struggle to achieve the same benefits - even if they use social media frequently.

What role do platforms and online experiences play?

Platform design is also important.

Features that encourage direct interaction - such as private messaging or sharing images - can help create a stronger sense of connection. By contrast, platforms or features focused on broadcasting or passive consumption offer fewer emotional benefits.

Experiences themselves also matter. Supportive comments and meaningful exchanges can reduce loneliness, while being ignored, excluded or exposed to negative interactions can increase it.

What are the gaps in current research?

Despite growing interest in the topic, the study highlights important gaps in existing research.

Much of the evidence is based on snapshots in time rather than long-term studies, making it difficult to determine cause and effect. The paper calls for more robust research using real usage data and longer-term methods.

Why does this matter?

With loneliness increasingly recognised as a major public health issue, the findings suggest that improving how people engage online could play an important role in tackling the problem.

Encouraging more active and meaningful use of social media - and designing platforms that support this - may help maximise benefits while reducing harms.

This research was published in Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences.

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From Salford to Shanghai: how cities around the world are taking back control of housing

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0100

A major new international study led by The University of Manchester has revealed how policymakers around the world are becoming far more active in constructing affordable housing. Drawing on evidence from cities including Salford, Shanghai, Nairobi and Paris, the research shows how governments are stepping in where private markets have failed - reshaping housing systems, markets and state institutions in the process.

Key findings

Governments across the global North and South are increasing their role in delivering affordable housing
States are adopting new tools to influence housing supply, finance and land development
Public-private partnerships and new financial models are being used to support large-scale housing
Cities are experimenting with different ways to balance social need and market pressures
Salford and Shanghai highlight contrasting but equally interventionist approaches

What did the study find?

Led by Dr Tom Gillespie, the study provides one of the first global comparisons of how states are responding to a growing housing crisis affecting billions of people.

Drawing on research from Shanghai, Salford, Nairobi, Paris, Casablanca and Rome, it shows that governments are increasingly stepping in as private markets struggle to deliver adequate and affordable homes at scale.

While previous decades favoured light-touch state involvement, this is now changing, with governments taking a more active role in shaping housing systems.

How are governments responding?

The research shows that states are adopting a wide range of new approaches to influence housing supply, finance and land development.

In many cases, this includes experimenting with public-private partnerships, land value capture and new state-backed financial mechanisms to make large-scale housing programmes viable.

Across all six cities, the researchers identified common themes, including what motivates governments to intervene, how new financial and institutional tools are being used, and how risks in housing markets are being redistributed.

What is happening in Salford?

Salford is highlighted as one of the most distinctive examples in the study.

Within England’s market-driven planning system, the local authority has developed an unusually interventionist approach. While earlier regeneration focused on property-led development such as Salford Quays, more recent efforts have aimed to address the lack of affordable housing.

From 2016, the Council began redirecting developer contributions into a council-owned company to build new social housing. These homes are let at below-market “Salford rents” and are exempt from the national ‘right to buy’, helping to protect them from speculative pressures.

Although still relatively small in scale, the model is identified as an example of local state action designed to “de-financialise” housing while still working within a market-led system.

What about Shanghai?

Shanghai offers a contrasting but equally interventionist model.

After decades of market-driven housing growth, the city has shifted towards a more active role, using state control of land and developers to deliver affordable homes for different social groups.

Policies include shantytown renewal, shared ownership schemes and subsidised rental housing, aimed at tackling rising property prices while supporting social stability and inclusion.

Why is this shift happening?

The study highlights a broader global shift away from reliance on private markets alone.

As housing affordability crises deepen, governments are increasingly intervening to address gaps in supply and access. This marks the end of an era of minimal state involvement and the emergence of more active, experimental approaches to housing policy.

Researcher quote

“Our research shows that states are once again becoming central players in efforts to tackle the global affordable housing crisis, but this isn’t a simple return to old models of public housing,” said Dr Tom Gillespie. “Instead, we are seeing a wide range of new approaches emerging as governments try to balance social needs with the realities of financialised urban development.

What are the implications?

The researchers suggest that understanding how different cities are responding can help inform future housing policy.

By identifying shared patterns and innovative approaches, the study provides a framework for policymakers seeking to tackle housing crises in their own contexts.

Publication details

The study was published in journal Urban Studies.

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New book examines the rise of Africa's 'model nation' - and considers its future

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0100

A new book by The University of Manchester’s explores how Rwanda rebuilt its economy after the 1994 genocide to become one of Africa’s most frequently cited development success stories, while questioning whether its current growth model can deliver long-term prosperity.

Key findings

Rwanda has achieved rapid economic growth and built a reputation for effective state-led development, but the book argues that long-term prosperity may depend on deeper industrial transformation rather than continued reliance on service-led growth.

Why has Rwanda been described as Africa’s ‘model nation’?

Over the past two decades, Rwanda has often been portrayed as one of Africa’s standout economic success stories. The country has recorded strong GDP growth, expanded healthcare and education, increased tourism revenues and built an international reputation for effective state leadership.

Kigali has also positioned itself as a hub for finance, conferences and high-end tourism, helping Rwanda gain praise from international donors and policymakers.

What does the new book examine?

In , Dr Pritish Behuria offers one of the most in-depth accounts yet of how Rwanda has pursued rapid development in the face of major historical and structural challenges.

Drawing on nearly two decades of research, including extensive fieldwork and interviews with policymakers, business leaders and development partners, the book explores whether Rwanda has achieved genuine economic transformation or whether its growth masks deeper vulnerabilities.

Why might Rwanda’s future remain uncertain?

Dr Behuria argues that growth alone does not necessarily lead to long-term development.

Instead, sustainable prosperity typically depends on what economists call structural transformation: the shift from dependence on agriculture and raw materials towards higher-value manufacturing and productive domestic industries.

While this process underpinned the rise of many economies in Europe and East Asia, manufacturing remains limited across much of Africa, including Rwanda.

Has Rwanda relied too heavily on services?

Rather than prioritising manufacturing, Rwanda has focused heavily on services such as tourism, finance and international events.

The book examines whether this strategy can create enough jobs, technological learning and domestic business development to sustain long-term economic progress.

Rather than offering a simple verdict, the book presents a balanced assessment that recognises Rwanda’s achievements while exploring the risks and limits of its current model.

What does Rwanda’s experience say about development more broadly?

The book contributes to wider debates about whether African countries can build new pathways to development in today’s global economy.

“The space to experiment, protect industries and build domestic champions is much narrower. Rwanda’s experience shows what is possible - and how fragile success can be - in today’s globalised era.”

Publication details

will be published by Cambridge University Press on April 30th, and will be available open access.

Teen substance use linked to peer pressure and wellbeing, study finds

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:30:00 +0100

Researchers at The University of Manchester have identified a range of key risk and protective factors influencing whether young people vape, drink alcohol, smoke or use drugs. Based on data from more than 30,000 pupils aged 12-15, the study provides one of the most comprehensive pictures to date of adolescent substance use in England, highlighting the importance of social, emotional and environmental influences.

Key findings

Peer pressure, bullying and emotional difficulties are linked to higher substance use
Strong relationships with parents and teachers, and a sense of school belonging, are protective
Substance use increases with age, with alcohol the most commonly reported
Close friendships are not always protective and may increase exposure to substance use
Girls, LGBTQ+ young people and those from disadvantaged backgrounds report higher levels of use
Differences between schools explain more variation than differences between neighbourhoods

What did the study find?

The study analysed data from the #BeeWell programme, covering more than 30,000 pupils across 100 schools and over 1,500 neighbourhoods. #BeeWell is a collaboration between The University of Manchester, The Gregson Family Foundation and Anna Freud who, together with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), launched the programme in 2019.

It shows that teenage substance use is shaped by a combination of social, emotional and environmental factors. Young people who felt pressured by peers, experienced bullying or struggled with emotional difficulties were more likely to use substances.

In contrast, those with strong relationships with parents and teachers, a sense of belonging at school and positive perceptions of their academic performance were less likely to report substance use.

How does substance use vary by age and type?

The findings show that substance use increases with age, with older teenagers significantly more likely to report using alcohol or drugs.

Alcohol was the most commonly-reported substance, with around one in six young people reporting recent use. Vaping was less common but still notable, with around one in fifteen reporting use.

What role do friendships and peer relationships play?

The study highlights a complex role for peer relationships. While often seen as protective, close friendships were in some cases associated with higher substance use.

This may reflect increased exposure to social situations where substances are available, suggesting that peer influence can both increase and reduce risk depending on context.

Are there differences between groups?

The researchers found important differences between groups of young people. Girls and LGBTQ+ young people were more likely to report substance use than boys.

Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds were also more likely to vape, smoke and use drugs, indicating that inequalities play a role in shaping these behaviours.

How do different factors influence different substances?

The study found that different substances are influenced by different factors.

Stress and emotional difficulties were strongly linked to vaping, smoking and alcohol use, suggesting these behaviours may act as coping mechanisms. In contrast, illicit drug use appeared to be more strongly shaped by relationships with adults and broader school experiences.

Why does the school environment matter?

While a wide range of determinants were identified, the study found that differences between schools explained more variation in substance use than differences between neighbourhoods.

This suggests that the school environment - particularly peer relationships, social norms and support systems - plays a crucial role in shaping young people’s behaviour.

Researcher quote

“We often assume that where young people live shapes their behaviour most, but our findings show that a wide range of social and emotional factors are at play,” said lead researcher Dr Emma Thornton. “Experiences like peer pressure, bullying and mental health difficulties can increase risk, while strong relationships and a sense of belonging can be protective.”

What are the implications?

The research team hopes their findings will inform national policy and support the development of more targeted, evidence-based approaches to preventing substance use among young people.

Publication details

The study was published in the International Journal of Drug Policy.

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Back-to-basics approach can match or outperform AI in language analysis

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:55:01 +0100

A new study led by Dr Andrea Nini at The University of Manchester has found that a grammar-based approach to language analysis can match or outperform advanced AI systems in identifying who wrote a text. The method, called LambdaG, uses patterns in grammar and sentence construction rather than large-scale AI models, offering comparable accuracy with greater transparency and lower computational cost.

Key findings

A grammar-based authorship analysis method matched or exceeded leading AI systems across most test datasets
The approach outperformed several neural network-based authorship verification models
Researchers tested the method across 12 real-world writing datasets including emails, forums and reviews
The system is more transparent than many AI models because it shows which grammatical patterns informed decisions
Researchers say the findings challenge assumptions that more complex AI always produces better results

What did the study find?

Researchers found that a relatively simple, linguistically grounded method can perform as well as - and in some cases better than - complex artificial intelligence systems in identifying authorship.

The study suggests that increasingly sophisticated AI is not always necessary for high-performing writing analysis, particularly when methods are designed around established principles of how language works.

How does the LambdaG method work?

The method, called LambdaG, analyses patterns in grammar rather than relying on large-scale machine learning models.

It builds a statistical profile of how an individual writes by measuring features such as function word usage (words like it, of and the), sentence structure, punctuation patterns and other grammatical habits.

The researchers say these features create a distinctive behavioural signature for each writer.

Why is this different from AI-based authorship analysis?

Many current authorship verification systems rely on complex AI models trained on vast datasets. While effective, these systems can be difficult to interpret, computationally expensive and hard to explain in high-stakes settings such as legal investigations. By contrast, LambdaG provides a transparent explanation of which grammatical features influenced its conclusions.

How accurate was the method?

Researchers tested LambdaG across 12 datasets designed to reflect real-world writing scenarios, including emails, online forum posts and consumer reviews.

In most cases, the method achieved higher accuracy than several established authorship verification systems, including neural network-based approaches.

Why does grammar reveal authorship?

The researchers argue that grammar acts as a behavioural signature, like how we write our signature or how we walk.

Over time, individuals develop unconscious habits in how they structure sentences and use language. These habits create identifiable linguistic patterns that can distinguish one writer from another.

What are the potential applications?

The researchers say the method could support work in:

Forensic linguistics
Criminal investigations
Online abuse detection
Academic integrity monitoring

The study was published in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications.

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University signs Memorandum of Understanding with Tokyo University of the Arts and National Center for Art Research, Japan

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:43:08 +0100

The University of Manchester, through Creative Manchester, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the “" at (TUA) — commonly known as the ART-based Platform for Co-creation — and the (NCAR), part of the National Museum of Art, Japan.

This notable three-way partnership is centred on creative health and will help to foster a deeper academic and cultural exchange between Japan and the UK in this area of research. It will form the basis for future research collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Greater Manchester (GM) is recognised as a national and world reference for creative health. Building on a long history of arts and health work, GM launched its Creative Health Strategy in 2022, with ambitions for GM to become the world’s first Creative Health City Region. The GM Creative Health Place Partnership continues to support the development and delivery of creative health activity across Greater Manchester.

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

The agreement will be formally signed in Tokyo on 23 May 2026, following the , at The National Art Center, Tokyo, where colleagues from The University of Manchester will present on creative health initiatives in Greater Manchester.

Whilst in Tokyo, The University of Manchester and GMCA colleagues have been invited to speak at the , alongside academics from TUA and NCAR.

The University of Manchester is proud to work collaboratively with a number of renowned teaching institutions across the globe, with several partners located in Asia including Manchester-Chinese University of Hong Kong, Manchester-Ashoka University, Manchester O.P. Jindal Global University, Manchester-IISC Bangalore and Manchester-Manipal Academy of Higher Education.

The University collaborates with other institutions around the world at a faculty level through impactful MoUs, ensuring colleagues can collaborate with global peers in their field and access the resources they need to co-create cutting-edge research.

The Faculty of Humanities was a founding member of the Global Humanities Alliance, a partnership that includes the University of Melbourne, University of Toronto, University of Nairobi, Ashoka University, Mahidol University, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Universitas Gadjah Mada and The University of Manchester.

The University of Manchester 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 44,300 students, 12,800 colleagues and 585,000 alumni.

Evidence on racism and ethnic inequalities in the pandemic presented to the Covid-19 public inquiry

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:30:39 +0100

Professor James Nazroo and Professor Laia Becares recently presented evidence on ethnic and racial inequalities during the pandemic to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.

Their testimony draws on their which found that there have been clear and stark ethnic inequalities in infection and mortality rates, testing, monitoring, and vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 infection, and health, health behaviours and healthcare.

People from ethnic minority groups also experienced detrimental impacts of the pandemic in other ways, such as on their finances, housing, social networks, experiences with the police, and education. These factors are important social determinants of health and wellbeing. The unequal impacts of the pandemic on these factors have led to ethnic inequalities being exacerbated as a result of the pandemic.

James and Laia’s expert report shows how ethnic inequalities result from historical and ongoing racism, which meant that before the pandemic hit, people from ethnic minority groups were more likely to be poorer; have poorly paid and insecure employment; live in overcrowded housing; and live in deprived neighbourhoods with high rates of concentrated poverty and increased pollution. All of these social and economic factors contributed to inequalities in Covid-19 infection and mortality.

The report also criticises the ‘colour blind’ approach taken by political and administrative decision-makers, which meant that they did not take into account the extra social and economic vulnerabilities experienced by ethnic minority groups. This resulted in unequal impacts experienced as a result of social distancing and lockdown measures introduced to control the spread of the pandemic. This included impacts on mental and physical health, in part as a result of limited access to necessary healthcare, in part as a consequence of poorer housing conditions, the greater likelihood of living in deprived areas with limited access to green space and exercise, and in part as a result of the disruption of social and community sources of support. The more vulnerable employment and financial situation of some groups of ethnic minority people prior to the pandemic also meant that they experienced greater negative financial impacts from lockdown measures.

AI study reveals England’s productivity divide is far more complex than North-South

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:48:23 +0100

Researchers at The University of Manchester have used artificial intelligence to uncover a complex picture behind England’s long-running productivity puzzle, challenging the idea that the country’s economic performance can be explained by a simple North-South divide.

In a major study published in the journal, and applied ‘GeoAI’ techniques - combining geography and artificial intelligence - to analyse how productivity varies across local authorities in England between 2010 and 2022.

Productivity, measured as Gross Value Added (GVA) per hour worked, is a key driver of wages and living standards. Since the 2008 financial crisis, UK productivity growth has lagged behind other major economies, fuelling debate among economists and policymakers.

The research shows that the national picture hides a complex local story. While London and the South-East still contain many of the highest-productivity areas, performance within the region varies. Some traditionally strong local authorities have experienced stagnation or decline over the past decade - and several lower-productivity areas in the Midlands and northern England have recorded faster growth, albeit from a lower starting point.

The study found that nearly half of England’s local authorities performed below the national average on both productivity level and growth rate between 2010 and 2022. Fewer than one in five achieved both high productivity and strong growth.

Using GIS and machine learning models, the team identified factors most strongly linked to high productivity - a high concentration of information and communication sector jobs, higher wages, and proximity to other high-productivity areas known as “spillover effects.” The findings show being near a productive neighbour can boost performance, but only once certain thresholds are reached. Agglomeration effects are real, but not automatic or evenly shared.

The study also found that some widely cited drivers, including regional R&D investment and infrastructure, were less influential in explaining productivity differences than expected.

The researchers classified England’s 296 local authorities into 12 productivity types, ranging from vulnerable labour markets with weak industrial bases to specialised information and finance centres with very strong output per hour worked. The results show no single policy solution will work everywhere. Some places need to strengthen their industrial mix, others would benefit from stronger links to economic hubs, and in some areas improving health and workforce resilience could make a difference.

The findings come as debates around devolution, regional growth, and the future of the UK economy intensify. The researchers argue that national productivity strategies must take local spatial dynamics into account, as policies designed at broad regional scales may overlook variations within them.

“The usual headline story of a ‘North-South divide’ is too simplistic - when we look closely, we see a patchwork of places moving at different speeds,” said Professor Wong. “The productivity puzzle can be interpreted as a new ‘hare and tortoise story’ - many high performers are losing ground in the race, when some poor performers are trying hard to catch up.”

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Generous gift from the niece of Law alumna Nancy Rigby funds extra Lemn Sissay Bursaries

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 10:43:53 +0100

Nancy graduated in 1945, one of only a handful of women studying law at the University at that time. Her great niece, Jen Gibbons, Clinical Legal Education Supervisor at the University’s made the generous gift using her inheritance from Nancy.

Established in 2017 and named after the University’s former Chancellor, , the bursary aims to address the disproportionately low numbers of Black and Black-mixed heritage individuals from socio-economically underrepresented backgrounds entering the legal and criminal justice professions.

At the time of the donation, Professor Carolyn Abbot, Interim Head of The University of Manchester Law School said:

Nanjing Hydropolis: Broadening horizons together

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 10:35:48 +0100

The Nanjing Hydropolis Spring School took place between 22-31 March and was organised by the School of Architecture and The Confucius Institute at the University of Manchester. It aimed to offer an insight into the historic city of Nanjing and people’s life through its water infrastructure to help participants’ understanding of relationships between urban space, ecological processes and social activity.

The programme, which was open to students and recent graduates of the University of Manchester, took 16 participants into the deep ends of water infrastructure in the historic city of Nanjing. Students observed and discussed water infrastructure with planners, designers, government officials and NGOs for an exploration of the relationship between water, the city and its people.

The group was taken to many sites designed by faculty of the hosting institution, Southeast University. This included drainage pump stations on Jiangxin Island, renovation projects on Qinhuai River in Nanjing, Little Qinhuai in Yangzhou and a café on top of the pump station that allows the public access to an important infrastructure of the island. The renovation projects along the Little Qinhua River also provide public spaces like an exhibition hall, a hotel and office buildings.

Prior to the site visits, participants had the chance to hear from the designers about their design concepts and the consideration of the historic landscape and eco-system. They also visited ecological sites such as the Apricot Blossom Lake from the recycled water from Nanjing Iron and Steel Works and a small animal farm on-site. The Jiangbei Water Source Heat Pump station uses river water to provide heating and cooling to thousands of households and businesses. Seeing the river dolphins (known as Finless Porpoise) returning to the world’s third largest river, the Yantze, after extinction was the highlight of the trip for many.

Inspired by these innovative projects with the smart design and humanistic approach to water infrastructure, participants, together with their Chinese teammates, created models to reflect their observations and presented their analysis to the expert panel on the final day.

The programme attracted the attention of local media and received coverage in the Nanjing Express and the Nanjing Morning Post – with millions of views on Chinese social media.

Nanjing Hydropolis was funded by , China and the .

Economics, Football and the Future

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 10:10:52 +0100

Young people in the North West are significantly less likely to study economics than their peers in London, despite the subject opening doors to high‑value careers and essential life skills. Research commissioned by the Bank of England shows that students in London are more than twice as likely to take economics at A‑Level as those in the North West, raising concerns about the region’s future representation in the economists and policymakers who shape the UK’s economy.

To help close this gap, the University of Manchester, in partnership with Discover Economics, The Bank of England and the Office for National Statistics, hosted an engagement event, The Economics of Football, on 31 March, bringing over 100 Year 10 pupils from widening‑participation schools across the region onto campus for a hands‑on introduction to economics.

Using Football to Bring Economics to Life

The one‑day event used the universal language of football to show how economics connects directly to everyday life. Pupils rotated through three interactive sessions linked to the 2026 Men’s World Cup:

Pricing the World Cup: A dynamic workshop where pupils learned about supply, demand and price elasticity before setting real ticket and merchandise prices based on fan demand and stadium capacity.

Football and the National Economy: Students explore how football contributes to the UK economy and debate economic concepts behind footballer wages, taxation, productivity and broader social value.

The day concluded with a panel discussion featuring University of Manchester alumni, economists and current economics students.

Creating Aspirations and Broadening Participation

Economics is one of the fastest‑growing subjects in the UK, with A‑Level entries rising 60% between 2012 and 2023. Yet participation remains uneven. The recent Understanding Trends in the Study of Economics report highlights persistent inequalities by region, gender and socio‑economic background, with disadvantaged students and girls consistently underrepresented.

As part of a new three‑year partnership, the University of Manchester and the Bank of England are working to tackle these gaps by co‑creating the Teach Economics initiative, which supports teachers in delivering high‑quality economics in more state schools, starting in the North West.

Teach Economics is delivered by the University of Manchester and co-created by the University of Manchester, and the Bank of England.

Manchester researchers shape major parliamentary report on Women, Peace, and Security

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:16:11 +0100

Professor Toni Haastrup, Chair in Global Politics, University of Manchester, played a central role in the inquiry, advising the Committee on its terms of reference, providing written and , and helping shape the lines of questioning used with ministers and senior officials. Her research on feminist foreign policy and the limitations of current WPS implementation forms a core part of the Committee’s conclusions.

Professor Haastrup said: “I am pleased to see the Committee acknowledge both the importance of the Women, Peace and Security agenda and the urgent need to strengthen its implementation. Our research at Manchester shows that while the UK has made strong rhetorical commitments, meaningful progress requires sustained resources, genuine cross government ownership, and a more inclusive understanding of whose security counts."

The report makes recommendations based on written evidence submitted by Dr Laura McLeod, Senior Lecturer in International Politics at the University of Manchester, and Dr Georgina Holmes (Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Studies at the Open University). They provided expert drawing attention to the need for more robust monitoring and evaluation of the UK’s WPS implementation.

Dr Jamie J Hagen, Lecturer in International Politics, University of Manchester, also provided expert written evidence, drawing attention to gaps in cross-government implementation and the need for the WPS agenda to better protect LGBTQ rights.

Many of the recommendations made by the Committee, including the call to review and strengthen the UK’s National Action Plan on WPS, reflect arguments advanced by the Manchester academics who collectively offer breadth and depth of expertise on the WPS agenda. In addition to Haastrup, McLeod and Hagen, the WPS-focused research is delivered by Dr Hannah Wright, Lecturer in Global Politics, and several PhD students.

The publication comes amid ongoing cuts to the Overseas Development Assistance budget. The Manchester team has warned that diminishing resources may further undermine the UK’s ability to lead on gender equality, conflict prevention, and inclusive peacebuilding.

You can read the full report and evidence submissions on the .

References:

report
Written evidence from Dr Georgia Holmes (Open University) and Dr Laura McLeod (The University of Manchester):
Written evidence from Professor Toni Haastrup (The University of Manchester:
Oral evidence from Professor Toni Haastrup at the International Development Committee, House of Commons, Tuesday 18 November 2025:
Written evidence from Dr Jamie J Hagen (The University of Manchester):

Overstretched councils ‘set up to fail’ in SEND crisis, report reveals

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000

As the government considers future reforms to services for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in England, a has highlighted the pressures facing overstretched councils trying to deliver this support - and warns that many are being ‘set up to fail’ by the system.

Funded by the Nuffield Foundation, the research - led by The University of Manchester’s - examines how local authorities respond to recommendations from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO), which investigates complaints from families when SEND provision goes wrong. It also sets out a range of recommendations to help strengthen the system.

Behind the statistics are families navigating delays, uncertainty and missed opportunities. The study highlights how waits for assessments and gaps in support can have a huge impact on young people’s education and wellbeing.

Professor Thomas, an expert in public law, led the research using interviews with SEND professionals across England alongside analysis of Ombudsman cases. His work reveals a system under huge strain, where demand has surged but resources have not kept pace with the increase.

The study found SEND complaints make up 27% of the complaints received by the LGSCO and 48% of the cases that it upholds. Common issues include delays in carrying out Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) assessments, and failures to deliver the support children are legally entitled to.

Despite these challenges, the research also points to the impact of the Ombudsman’s work. Its recommendations can help councils identify problems, strengthen accountability, and push for improvements that benefit families.

In some cases, the findings have empowered local officials to argue for more resources or rethink how services are delivered - however, the report also highlights limitations including the time and capacity required to respond to investigations, and repeated recommendations on issues councils recognise but lack the means to resolve.

A key gap identified is that the Ombudsman cannot investigate complaints directly against schools - even though they play a central role in delivering SEND support - which can leave families without clear routes to resolve issues.

The report sets out recommendations to strengthen the system, which include extending the Ombudsman’s powers to cover schools, raising awareness of joint investigations with health bodies, and improving communication between councils and the Ombudsman. Crucially, it emphasises that meaningful reform must address underlying pressures on the SEND system, including funding shortages and workforce gaps.

“This research comes at a key moment for SEND system reform,” said Ash Patel, Programme Head for Justice at the Nuffield Foundation. “The Government’s intention to improve complaints and mediation processes - enabling faster and more collaborative, resolution of disagreements and reducing the need for appeals to the SEND Tribunal - is welcome. However, the proposals are silent on the role of the LGSCO, and it remains frustratingly unclear how disputes will be avoided or how routes for appeals and complaints will operate.”

“The report points to high levels of tension between the education system and families of children with SEND; without greater attention to minimising these conflicts, it is difficult to see how existing pressures on complaints and appeals will ease.”

Attorney General makes case for international rules-based order during Harry Street Lecture

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:04:01 +0000

The University of Manchester was honoured to welcome Attorney General The Rt Hon Lord Hermer KC, an esteemed alumnus, to deliver the 38th Annual Harry Street Lecture on Monday 23 March 2026.

The Attorney General used his speech, titled ‘The Harry Street Legacy: Defending Rights in a Changing World’, to highlight the importance of upholding the international rules-based order as essential for the UK’s interests and security, and how human rights deliver everyday protections to working people.

The lecture series, organised by the School of Social Sciences and Department of Law, continues Harry Street’s legacy as a distinguished Manchester academic, inspiring lively debate, challenging the status quo and prompting reflection on law’s role in shaping society.

Opening the event, Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Fiona Devine reflected on the legacy of legal scholar Harry Street and the significance of the lecture series. Head of Law, Professor Javier Garcia Oliva, introduced Lord Hermer, emphasising his advocacy for vulnerable groups and his crucial role in defending rights amid current political and social challenges.

In his compelling address, Lord Hermer underscored Britain’s commitment to human rights and the value of a rules-based international order. He warned against the current shift by some into an age of power dictating outcomes and stressed the importance of legal frameworks in protecting all citizens, not just the privileged few.

Lord Hermer used his speech to reflect on his student days in Manchester, while sharing Manchester’s long history in advancing fundamental rights.

He discussed the importance of the European Convention on Human Rights, emphasising real-life examples where international protections have supported vulnerable communities and the vital role of personal stories in driving change.

He made the compelling case that the robust and thoughtful leadership generated by a rules-based approach, combined with a distinct British sense of fairness and justice that is fundamental to international law, serves to enhance Britain’s reputation as a cooperative and tradable nation.

The Attorney General’s speech concluded with an appeal for principle and pragmatism, reiterating his belief in the convention as a reflection of national values and a means of enabling cooperation with 46 other countries.

The evening concluded with Lord Hermer engaging with staff, students and members of the public, encouraging lively debate on the enduring importance of rights and international cooperation.

The Rt Hon Lord Hermer KC: “Shared rules make Britain more prosperous, allowing us to trade with confidence. They make us more just by underpinning protections for our citizens. And they make us more secure, by enabling cooperation with allies.”

Young people’s wellbeing is improving in Greater Manchester, major survey finds

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 12:08:50 +0000

A major survey of tens of thousands of school pupils has revealed a welcome boost in wellbeing among young people across Greater Manchester.

The latest findings from pupils in years 7, 8 and 10 show that more young people now report good levels of wellbeing than in previous years, continuing a positive trend that has developed steadily over the past five years of the programme. In 2025, 59.1% of Year 10 pupils reported good levels of wellbeing, up from 55.1% in 2024. Among younger pupils the trend is similar, with 67.7% of Year 7 pupils reporting good wellbeing compared with 64.2% last year.

The #BeeWell programme at The University of Manchester has now heard from more than 143,000 young people in Greater Manchester since it began, making it one of the largest studies of young people’s wellbeing of its kind anywhere in the world. It provides a powerful insight into how teenagers feel about their lives, schools and communities.

While the overall picture is encouraging, young people involved in the programme say the results also highlight areas where change is still needed. Each year the #BeeWell Youth Steering Group - made up of young people from across Greater Manchester - chooses the issues they believe matter most in the survey results. This year they highlighted three themes they felt were especially important: loneliness and the role communities play in tackling it, relationships with teachers and a sense of belonging at school, and whether young people feel they are gaining the skills they need to be prepared for life.

The survey shows that loneliness among young people has begun to fall since the early years of the programme, when more than half of Year 10 pupils said they felt lonely at least occasionally. By 2025 that figure had dropped to around four in ten young people. Despite this improvement, loneliness remains a significant issue for many teenagers, and the findings suggest that communities have a key role to play in helping young people feel more connected.

Only around half of young people say there are people in their local area they can trust, and just over half say they have an adult outside their home or school who listens to them. Young people involved in the programme say that having welcoming places to spend time, trusted adults nearby and stronger community connections could make a real difference to how supported young people feel.

Relationships within schools also emerged as an important theme in the data. The survey suggests that positive relationships with teachers and staff are closely linked to whether young people feel they belong at school and whether they attend regularly. Just under a third of Year 7 pupils say they have the strongest relationships with staff at school, but this falls as young people get older, dropping to around one in five by Year 10.

At the same time, the number of young people who say they feel they belong at school has risen slightly over the past year. Young people say strengthening relationships between staff and pupils could help improve both wellbeing and attendance, as feeling supported and understood at school plays a key role in whether students feel comfortable and engaged in the classroom.

Young people also wanted the report to explore whether schools are helping them prepare for life beyond education. The findings show that four in five young people believe they will have the skills and knowledge they need when they finish school, a figure that has increased since the programme first began collecting data.

Levels of hope and optimism among young people are also high, with most saying they feel positive about the future. However, only around two thirds of young people say the careers education they receive is useful. Young people involved in the programme say they would like clearer guidance about the wide range of opportunities available to them, including modern careers and different pathways after school.

#BeeWell was launched in 2019 through a partnership between The University of Manchester, The Gregson Family Foundation, Anna Freud and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Each year the programme asks tens of thousands of secondary school pupils about their wellbeing, their schools, their communities and their hopes for the future. By sharing the results with schools, local organisations and decision makers, the programme aims to ensure young people’s voices help shape the support available to them.

“It is incredibly heartening to see this steady climb in wellbeing across our city region - the figures represent thousands of young lives trending toward a more positive future,” said Professor Neil Humphrey from The University of Manchester. “These important gains likely stem from a combination of enhanced local provision and broader population shifts, but the data offers a sobering reminder of the work ahead.”

“Thank you to the 57,000 young people who shared their views this year, and to the 161 schools who made it possible,” said Councillor Mark Roberts, Greater Manchester’s portfolio lead for children and young people. “Over five years #BeeWell has now heard from more than 143,000 young people, making this the biggest exercise of its kind.

“In Greater Manchester, we have committed to improving the wellbeing of young people across the city region, and it is through #BeeWell that we can track our progress. As this year’s results show, there is a need to continue strengthening relationships in schools to improve attendance, ensuring young people remain involved in the development of our Live Well approach, and working so that every young person has a clear line of sight to good jobs, through programmes like the MBacc and Beeline.

“We will continue to act on the views of young people across our city region, and be guided by our excellent Youth Steering Group, so that every young person in Greater Manchester can thrive.”

"This is just the start. It's encouraging to see wellbeing improving, but we are at the beginning of a long journey and we’re excited to see how things continue to improve,” said Daniel & Ayisha from the #BeeWell Youth Steering Group. “There are still worrying signs in the data, particularly in the inequalities we see. There are a lot of young people worried about these topics and a lot of work to be done. It's important young people are leading the next steps and actions following the results."

You Ought To Know: Simon Industrial Fellow Karen Gabay releases podcast series about Black British music histories

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 17:09:24 +0000

From January to July 2025 broadcaster and producer Karen Gabay carried out research as part of a Simon Industrial Fellowship with the and the at The University of Manchester.

As part of the fellowship Karen Gabay produced a podcast series entitled ‘You Ought To Know’ that will be published across various platforms, with the first episode premiering on 23 March 2026. Each podcast captures a conversation with musicians that have had and continue to have a significant impact on British popular music. These conversations were recorded at public engagement events as well as in intimate one-on-one settings across Manchester.

You can listen to and watch the podcast episodes on various platforms. To be notified of new episodes subscribe to Karen Gabay’s and the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures’ channel.

The first podcast is a recording of Karen Gabay’s panel event on Reggae and Dub-Poetry in the UK with Lovers Rock legend , Dub Poetry great and Reggae and Hip Hop artist in the Manchester Museum in June 2025. This episode will premiere on 23 March 2026 at 3pm.

The second episode explores the history of Black British Gospel Music and was recorded in in Deansgate in May 2025. Manchester musician , gospel pioneer , Mancunian vocalist and Kingdom Choir member and founder of Manchester Inspirational Voices star in this episode to be released a few weeks later.

The third podcast episode features a conversation with renowned Soul singer-songwriter and former Ikette known for her work with Paul Weller, Peter Gabriel, and Jimmy Cliff. The recording took place across three sessions at The University of Manchester and , the iconic home of Granada Television in July 2025.

The final episode of this series was recorded in July 2025 and features Manchester singer-songwriter It explores how the musician’s alternative soul and R&B sound is influenced by Black British musicians and led him to pursue collaborations with soul great Jill Scott and UK artist Marsha Ambrosius of Floetry.

These episodes form the beginning of a series of conversations around the unsung legends and influential artists in the UK music industry. Future episodes will be released on Karen Gabay’s channels in the coming months. This bonus content includes in-depth conversations with the Queen of Northern Soul (Tainted Love) and earlier podcast guests Sylvia Tella and Luke Smith on their lives and work in the Black British music industry. It also features an intimate one-on-one discussion with who is considered a musician’s favourite and trailblazer in redefining Soul for British audiences.

Throughout her fellowship, Karen was able to build on her interest in uncovering and showcasing forgotten artefacts of Black music history and gained access the in the for further archival research. This allowed her to amplify the voices of those working within the UK music sector, in particular Black vocalists, and industry professionals, who have heavily impacted popular music in the UK and globally. She explored how different cultural spaces in Manchester have played a significant role in the lives of these musicians and their path in the music industry over the decades.

Secondary outputs of the project include Karen Gabay’s reading list and a playlist providing the musical soundtrack for exploring the recent past and present of Black British music and its influences, which can be accessed .

This Simon Industrial Fellowship laid the foundations for documenting alternative music histories in the UK. It explored and applied ethical and collaborative methods of archiving personal stories of a demographic, who have suffered from experiences of institutional exclusion, absence of fair accreditation and missing commercial opportunities due to their race or geographical location. It is taking steps towards righting wrongs of the recent past and gives talented but previously overlooked creatives a platform to tell their stories on their own terms.

As such it reasserts the relevance and significance of the John Rylands’ British Pop Archive and is adding more diverse and nonetheless equally relevant archival artefacts to its catalogue. This work aligns with the University’s renewed strategic focus on archives and just archival practices to celebrate, document and bring to the fore the stories that make Manchester the city we know today.

Rt Hon Lord Hermer KC to deliver 38th Annual Harry Street Lecture

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 09:53:33 +0000

, established in 1985, has featured an impressive roll call of distinguished figures, including prominent judges and policymakers. Richard Hermer KC was appointed Attorney General in 2024 and acts as chief legal advisor to the Crown, as well as overseeing Law Officers' departments. Called to the Bar in 1993 and taking silk in 2009, Hermer has spent his career championing justice, most notably representing Grenfell families and serving on the Task Force on Accountability for Crimes Committed in Ukraine in 2022.

The Attorney General, a proud alumnus of the University of Manchester, returns to a city shaped by a long tradition of citizens standing up to power – from the reformers of Peterloo to the fierce campaigners of the suffrage movement.

In his upcoming lecture, he will argue that Britain’s commitment to human rights and international law are lynchpins of the UK’s national security and our personal security as human beings. Lord Hermer will draw inspiration from the legacy of Harry Street and the pioneering post-war architects who shaped the modern legal order.

At a time when conflict and instability are testing the rules-based international system, the Attorney General will make the case that the answer is not retreat, but renewal: to modernise and strengthen the institutions that safeguard our rights.

, Vice-President and Dean of Faculty of Humanities, will be giving the opening remarks alongside chair Head of Law.

Harry Street, a well-known British jurist and legal scholar, spent much of his time at the University of Manchester where he developed a keen interest in civil liberties and the law of torts. This annual lecture series celebrates the contributions of leading figures in legal and political spheres, encouraging attendees to engage with contemporary issues.

To attend, please register via the for full event details. The lecture will begin promptly at 5pm, with a networking reception following at 6pm for those attending in-person.

The University is delighted that Lord Hermer will join us, inspiring both students and academics, and looks forward to an insightful and thought-provoking evening.

Look Back: Unlocking Historical Archives with AI: Opportunities and Challenges

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 18:26:48 +0000

were delighted to host , an event addressing the opportunities and challenges that AI presents to researchers and practitioners working with archives, how AI can drive greater accessibility and utility of archives for new groups of users, and what future archives might look like as a result of further developments in AI.

Hosting speakers from The University of Manchester, the , and , the event aimed to generate interdisciplinary and cross-institutional conversations about AI’s place in the present and future of the archival sector.

With the University celebrating 75 years since Alan Turing’s seminal paper Computing Machinery and Intelligence this academic year, Creative Manchester also hosted the in the Samuel Alexander Glass Corridor. Attendees of ‘Unlocking Historical Archives with AI’ were invited to attend a private viewing of the exhibition, which spotlighted 20 early career researchers from across the University exemplifying creative research approaches to AI.

The event began with an introduction by Creative Manchester Deputy-Director, . A round of lightning talks commenced with (Senior Lecturer of History and Library & Archive Studies), who provided an overview of how AI-powered tools such as , a cooperatively run transcription tool, are transforming the accessibility of archives, though with significant consequences for climate, data scale and research practice.

Subsequently, (Senior Lecturer in Text Mining and Creative Manchester Theme Lead for ) presented her research on how natural language processing (NLP) can help to make ‘community-generated digital content’ (CGDC) more searchable and queryable. Focusing on the , Dr Batista-Navarro presented an approach to CGDC which uses NLP to recover valuable information often lost in its metadata.

(Professor of British History) then gave a historian’s perspective by highlighting the work of the OHOS/Manchester Histories . The ongoing project seeks to reinstate Moss Side’s Champs Camp, the UK’s first Black-led boxing gym, as a significant chapter in Black British history. Prof Barker highlighted the ethical considerations of using AI in approaching CGDC, with there being both opportunities to uncover hidden histories alongside ethical risks regarding copyright and data protection. Overall, Prof Barker concluded that researchers must take an informed, empathetic approach to using AI in archives.

An interdisciplinary perspective was once again provided by (Creative Manchester Research Associate), who gave a demonstration of the methodological approach used in the Creative Manchester-supported . Dr Flavel gave insight into how AI models can be used to annotate multimodal data in the form of TV shows. By analysing audio, video and subtitles, researchers can conduct large-scale analysis of on-screen representation (such as Bechdel tests) with greater accuracy than simply analysing screenplays.

The round of presentations was concluded by (Professor of Italian and Director of the John Rylands Research Institute and Library), Principal Investigator of ‘’. Prof Armstrong presented takeaways from this ongoing project, which uses cutting-edge machine learning computational technologies and image matching to study the material features of the early printed page for almost the entire body of prints of Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy’.

The lightning talks were followed by a panel discussion featuring Dr Ben Wiggins, Dr Riza Batista-Navarro, Prof Hannah Barker, Prof Lorna Hughes (The University of Glasgow) and Rachel Hetherington (Manchester Histories), chaired by Dr Constance Smith. The panellists responded to some of the provocations raised in the lightning talks and further discussed what the future of archives might look like. An audience Q&A followed the panel discussion.

(Head of ) concluded the day’s programme with a talk on how the Library’s digital archives and digitisation services could enable further research innovation in this rapidly developing interdisciplinary field.

To stay informed about Creative Manchester’s work in the CreaTech theme and our other events and activities please .

New Music Takes Centre Stage as Sir John Tomlinson Performs with Hallé Youth Orchestra and Choir

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 18:15:43 +0000

and , Lecturer in Composition at the University of Manchester, both spent their formative years in rural East Lancashire, Oswaldtwistle and Bacup respectively, and their shared Lancastrian heritage and dialect inspired them to work together on new music that celebrates this region. The Wanderer – the commissioning of which was funded by the Vaughan Williams Foundation – is a song cycle for bass soloist, orchestra, and choir setting four poems by 19th century writer Edwin Waugh, who was often referred to as the .

Edwin Waugh wrote poetry in the distinct dialect of East Lancashire. Each song paints a picture of a wandering figure reflecting on first love, city versus rural life, the pain of loss, and the healing power of nature.

Sir John Tomlinson and the Hallé Youth Orchestra and Choir, conducted by Euan Shields, will premiere The Wanderer at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester on Sunday 22 March.

Information about the upcoming premiere can be found here:

Find out more about Josh Brown’s works here:

Ethnic land rights fail to provide Afro-Colombians with economic security

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:00:39 +0000

The legal rights designed to protect Afro-Colombian communities are not lifting them out of economic precarity - and are leaving them vulnerable to the illegal drug trade and illicit mining as a result - according to new research from The University of Manchester.

For decades, Colombia’s Pacific coast has been a battleground for ‘extractive capitalism’ - a world of illegal gold mining, industrial palm oil and drug smuggling. In 1993, a landmark law granted these communities collective property rights, celebrating them as ‘guardians of the forest’ and defenders of a traditional, sustainable way of life.

However, after four months of fieldwork and interviews with community leaders and activists, researcher Caroline Cornier found that the identity politics that help to secure these rights tend to create a ‘conceptual and practical dead end’.

According to the study - published in the journal - by defining Afro-Colombian identity solely through traditional practices like subsistence fishing and small-scale farming, the rights ignore communities’ effective entanglement with the global capitalist economy as agricultural producers, providers of primary goods, wage labourers and consumers.

"I’m black, I need a territory...it is on the territory where we become what we are," said one community leader in Yurumangui, a village in the Colombian Pacific region that has fought fiercely to remain a bastion against coca and mining. Yet, even in such resilient places, the pressure is mounting - the article finds that the rights’ prioritisation of environmental protection over communities’ economic survival has been creating disillusion among community members.

As a result, to buy necessities - such as medicine, clothes or the powerful boat engines required to navigate the region's rivers - many are driven towards coca cultivation and illegal mining. As one local priest in the violence-torn region of Tumaco noted, "there would be no 200-horsepower motors without cocaine".

The study compares the peaceful but struggling Yurumangui with the ‘culture of fear’ in Alto Mira y Frontera, where community leaders have been forced into exile or assassinated for resisting the encroachment of palm oil and paramilitary groups. In these ‘entangled landscapes’, the legal title to the land offers little protection against firmly established resource flows and armed control.

"Conceived as a conservation mechanism, ethnic land rights have become a bit of a Faustian bargain," said Caroline Cornier. “While the rights have helped to mobilise communities along their cultural ‘inside world’, they struggle to provide them with a sustainable bridge to the ‘outside world’ of the global economy.”

DOI:

The University of Manchester becomes lead UK-based coordinating institution for UK-China Humanities Alliance

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:27:54 +0000

The University of Manchester has been appointed as the UK-based Coordinating Team for the , a unique forum of ten British and seven Chinese universities with outstanding reputations in the Arts and Humanities.

The Secretariat is housed at the Institute for World Literatures and Cultures (IWLC), Tsinghua University where the Dean of IWLC, Prof YAN Haiping, serves as the Director of the Executive Council and the Secretary-General and Prof YANG Bin, Vice President of Tsinghua University, serves as the Chair of the Alliance. The University of Manchester will coordinate UK-based activities and work closely with the British Council to support UK-China Humanities collaborations.

The announcement was made at the UKCHA Executive Council on 7 December 2025. The President of the UKCHA, Professor Yang Bin welcomed the University of Manchester as the new UK-based Coordinating Team, following a recommendation from Deputy Director, Professor Wong Suk Ying (Chinese University of Hong Kong) and the endorsement of Professor Yan Haiping.

She added: “Separate from the UKCHA, the University of Manchester has research partnerships with Tsinghua University, Peking University, Fudan University, Wuhan University and Chinese University of Hong Kong. Becoming the lead UK-based Coordinating Team reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting high quality, impactful research between world-leading Humanities academics.”

Established in 2016, The UKCHA’s aim is to intensify international cooperation in Humanities. This includes joint work on research and publication, staff and research exchanges, and connections with specialist arts and cultural institutions.

The announcement has been made as part of a high-level delegation from The University of Manchester to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Led by Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor and including a delegation of academic and university staff, the visit is connecting with alumni, donors, partners and universities.

The visits are in conjunction with the University of Manchester China Centre and the East Asia Centre, based in Hong Kong and will also include a graduation ceremony in Shanghai and launch events for the University’s fundraising and volunteering campaign, Challenge Accepted.

Leading Public Procurement Innovation Expert Rikesh Shah Appointed Simon Industrial & Professional Fellow at University of Manchester

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:37:05 +0000

The Manchester Institute of Innovation Research (MIoIR) at Alliance Manchester Business School is delighted to announce the appointment of Rikesh Shah as a Simon Industrial & Professional Fellow. Shah, who serves as Head of Innovation at the Connected Places Catapult, which hosts the Innovation Procurement Empowerment Centre (IPEC), will work with MIoIR to strengthen the bridge between academic research and the practical transformation of public procurement across the UK.

The fellowship comes at a crucial moment as government seeks to leverage its £400 billion annual public procurement spend to drive growth across the eight Industrial Strategy sectors. Shah brings extensive experience translating innovation policy into practice, having previously served as Head of Open Innovation at Transport for London, where he created TfL’s first Innovation Hub and oversaw its globally recognised open‑data programme partnering with some of the best innovators, generating an estimated £130 million per year in economic value.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Rikesh to MIoIR,” said Professor Elvira Uyarra, who leads research on innovation policy and public procurement at the Institute.

At IPEC, Shah leads national efforts to transform how public procurement drives innovation, working directly with local authorities and public bodies to upskill buyers in innovation‑friendly approaches. The fellowship will deepen connections between this practitioner network and MIoIR’s research on demand‑side innovation policy, procurement, and regional development.

Shah has already begun contributing to teaching, delivering a lecture on the “Innovation and Place” module (MSc Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship), offering students firsthand insight into how public agencies can shape markets, support scaling firms, and stimulate innovation.

“The University of Manchester has been at the forefront of research on public procurement as an innovation policy tool for over two decades,” said Shah. “I’m excited to contribute practitioner perspectives and help translate research insights into tools that public sector buyers can use immediately. The combination of MIoIR’s analytical rigour with IPEC’s practitioner networks creates a powerful platform for impact.”

Reluctance to rely on China for green technology could slow climate action

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000

New research suggests that concerns about relying too heavily on Chinese manufacturing are shaping climate policy - and could even delay the adoption of green technologies around the world.

The study by Dr James Jackson from The University of Manchester, working alongside Dr Mathias Larsen from the London School of Economics, examined how China’s rapid rise as a clean-technology powerhouse has transformed the global energy transition.

While Chinese investment and industrial policy have helped reduce the cost of renewable energy technologies, the research - published in the journal - found that geopolitical tensions are increasingly influencing how governments respond.

For households and businesses, the impact of China’s manufacturing boom has been clear - solar panels, electric vehicle batteries and other low-carbon technologies are far cheaper than they were a decade ago. According to the researchers, this is partly because China has built enormous production capacity through long-term industrial planning, state investment and support for domestic manufacturers.

Those policies helped create the global supply chains that many countries now rely on to roll out renewable energy systems, making the technologies needed for climate action more accessible worldwide - but the study argues that this success has also created new political tensions.

As Chinese firms dominate key sectors of the clean technology economy, governments elsewhere are increasingly concerned about dependence on overseas supply chains for critical infrastructure. Solar panels on rooftops, batteries in electric cars and components used in renewable energy systems often trace back to factories in China.

According to the researchers, this has changed how climate policy is debated. Instead of focusing only on environmental targets, policymakers are also asking where the industries of the green transition will be located - and which countries will benefit economically.

The result is a push in some countries to build domestic clean technology industries, including batteries and electric vehicles. Governments in Europe and North America are investing heavily in new factories and supply chains to try to compete with China’s industrial strength.

While these policies aim to boost economic security and protect local jobs, they can also create tensions in climate policy. Producing technologies domestically can be more expensive and slower than importing them from established global suppliers, creating a difficult balancing act.

“The fastest way to cut emissions may be to deploy the cheapest technologies available, many of which are produced in China - however, political pressure to reduce reliance on foreign manufacturing may encourage governments to prioritise local production, even if this delays deployment” said Dr Jackson. “As the world works to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy, the success of climate action may depend not only on technological innovation, but also on how countries manage growing competition over the industries that power the transition.

DOI:

Infected Blood Inquiry Memorial goes to University of Manchester

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 13:43:40 +0000

The formal handover of the Inquiry Memorial to the University of Manchester will take place on Tuesday 24 March. The University is providing a permanent home for the Inquiry Memorial.

The Inquiry Memorial is located in a central location that has limited space so we will livestream the formal handover for Inquiry participants who would like to follow online or watch the recording afterwards.

The livestream will begin at 14.00 on Tuesday 24 March. Sir Brian Langstaff will make remarks as part of the event. If you wish to watch the livestream, please go . The recording will be available on the Inquiry website.

From Wednesday 25 March, it will be possible to visit the Inquiry Memorial at the University of Manchester. The Inquiry Memorial is in the Old Quadrangle of the University of Manchester, on the ground floor of the Whitworth Building which is open weekdays 7am – 5:30pm. The Inquiry Memorial is also visible from the Old Quadrangle without entering the Whitworth Building.

Five Manchester academics become Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 12:34:02 +0000

The Academy of Social Sciences has elected five experts from The University of Manchester as Fellows in recognition of their significant contributions to social science, highlighting the relevance of the social sciences in understanding and addressing the many varied societal challenges facing the UK and the world today.

Professor Lucy Frith is a leading bioethicist whose work spans socio-legal studies and health research. She is internationally recognised for her work in empirical bioethics and her research on the social and ethical implications of reproductive donation, and the governance of emerging reproductive technologies.

Lucy is Co-Director of the University’s Centre for Social Ethics & Policy, and she serves on the Executive Committee of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). She has held visiting professorships at the Centre for Medical Ethics and Law at The University of Hong Kong and at Charles University, Prague, and is Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Medical Ethics.

“I am delighted to be elected a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, and I am grateful to the Society of Socio-Legal Studies for the nomination,” said Lucy. “I am looking forward to working with colleagues across disciplines and further integrating bioethical analysis into the social sciences, as such interdisciplinary research is increasingly vital to addressing complex global challenges.”

Professor of Politics James Pattison is an international political theorist specialising in ethical issues relating to peace and conflict. His research examines moral responsibility in war, including humanitarian intervention, private military force and economic sanctions, with his current work focusing on ethical responses to rising global authoritarianism and the challenges posed by a shifting international order.

James is the author of several influential books that have shaped both academic scholarship and policy debates on global peace and security. His work is widely recognised across political theory and international relations, contributing significantly to contemporary debates on war and intervention.

“I’m delighted and honoured to receive this award,” said James. “It means a lot to me to become a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences and I look forward to working to promote the social sciences further in my work, highlighting the vital role of social science in shaping the ideas and ethical frameworks that guide global responses to war, authoritarianism, and mass atrocities.”

Professor of Innovation Studies Elvira Uyarra is a leading expert on innovation policy, regional development, and public procurement. Her research examines how public policy can foster innovation, support economic transformation, and enable sustainability transitions.

Elvira has played a key role in major interdisciplinary research programmes and contributed extensively to academic and policy debates on innovation and regional growth. Her work has helped inform government strategies on innovation-led development and strengthening regional innovation systems.

“I’m honoured to be elected a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences,” said Elvira. “This recognition reflects not just my own work, but the value of collaborative research on innovation, place, and public policy. I look forward to continuing to contribute to the social sciences community.”

Professor of Politics and Development Sam Hickey is a leading scholar of the political economy of development. His research examines how political institutions, governance and elite incentives shape poverty reduction, social protection and inclusive growth, particularly in Africa.

Sam has played a major leadership role in international research programmes, including the Effective States and Inclusive Development Research Centre, and has advised organisations such as the World Bank and UNICEF. He has also contributed to influential books and policy debates on governance and development, helping shape contemporary approaches to inclusive development.

Professor of International Relations Oliver Richmond is a leading figure in peace and conflict studies. His research focuses on peacebuilding, international intervention, and post-conflict political order, and he is known for developing critical approaches that emphasise local agency and “hybrid peace.”

Oliver has authored numerous influential books which have helped reshape scholarly and policy understandings of peacebuilding. His work has had a major global impact on debates about how sustainable peace is formed and maintained.

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References:

report

Written evidence from Dr Georgia Holmes (Open University) and Dr Laura McLeod (The University of Manchester):

Written evidence from Professor Toni Haastrup (The University of Manchester:

Oral evidence from Professor Toni Haastrup at the International Development Committee, House of Commons, Tuesday 18 November 2025:

Written evidence from Dr Jamie J Hagen (The University of Manchester):

Overstretched councils ‘set up to fail’ in SEND crisis, report reveals

Attorney General makes case for international rules-based order during Harry Street Lecture

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Reluctance to rely on China for green technology could slow climate action

Infected Blood Inquiry Memorial goes to University of Manchester

Five Manchester academics become Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences