Change the national curriculum in science to empower climate action

By Daniel Cottle Associate Professor of Secondary Education (Physics), University of Birmingham COP28 has come to a hopeful close with countries agreeing to “transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems”. One important energy system of relevance to all of us as we cope with high energy prices and the onset of winter is how … Continue reading “Change the national curriculum in science to empower climate action”

Health Day at COP28: The first, but surely not the last

By Dr Niheer Dasandi Associate Professor in Politics and Development in the International Development Department (IDD), University of Birmingham. Sunday 3rd December at COP28 in Dubai saw the first ever ‘Health Day’ at the annual UN climate summit. This focus on the health impacts of climate change is long overdue; as the World Health Organisation … Continue reading “Health Day at COP28: The first, but surely not the last”

The Autumn Statement or a New Political Game in Spotting the Politics of Tokenism

By Professor John Bryson Professor of Enterprise and Economic Geography, Birmingham Business School In 1777, Samuel Johnson proclaimed to James Boswell, his friend and biographer, “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life”. I must admit to being tired of Autumn Statements and of a British political system that is not … Continue reading “The Autumn Statement or a New Political Game in Spotting the Politics of Tokenism”

Reflections on the King’s Speech

King Charles has opened parliament for the first time as monarch in the first King’s Speech in more than 70 years. Academics from across the College of Social Science reflect on the government’s key priorities set out by the king. Crime & Justice Proposals for tougher sentences raise concerns about exacerbating the strain on an … Continue reading “Reflections on the King’s Speech”

Who gets a say in the future direction of AI?

By Dr Adam Matthews Senior Research Fellow, School of Education, University of Birmingham This week’s AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park hosted politicians, big tech and academics to come together to forge a shared understanding of AI to create national and international frameworks which ensure frontier AI safety through collaboration in research, evaluation and governance, … Continue reading “Who gets a say in the future direction of AI?”

Leading for fairness in Black History Month

By Steve Gulati Associate Professor, Director of Healthcare Leadership, Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham October is Black History Month. It’s also the month assertions have been made at the Conservative Party Conference that the UK is the ‘best country in the world in which to be black’. This provided a sharp contrast to … Continue reading “Leading for fairness in Black History Month”

Black History Month: Saluting Our Sisters in the health service

By Steve Gulati, Director of Healthcare Leadership at HSMC and Diane Phipps, Senior Learning & Development Business Partner at Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust This Black History Month, Steve Gulati invites Diane Phipps from Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust to share her experiences and reflections of her work in … Continue reading “Black History Month: Saluting Our Sisters in the health service”

Saluting Our Sisters: Voices from across the College of Social Sciences

October is an important opportunity to share and celebrate black history. This year’s theme is ‘Saluting Our Sisters’, highlighting the crucial role that black women play in shaping history, inspiring change, and building communities. As a College we have much to contribute and celebrate, be that the groundbreaking research of academics, student success stories, or … Continue reading “Saluting Our Sisters: Voices from across the College of Social Sciences”

Putting it Simply: What is decolonisation?

By Anita Lateano Research Fellow, Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham First, we must look at why colonialism is still an issue in today’s universities. Universities are rooted in colonialism. At the height of the British empire, over a quarter of the world’s land mass was covered by British rule. Much of what was taught … Continue reading “Putting it Simply: What is decolonisation?”

Empowering children and young people with vision impairment through PE and sport

By Hester Richardson Department of Disability Inclusion and Special Needs (DISN), School of Education, University of Birmingham The University of Birmingham is currently hosting the IBSA (International Blind Sports Federation) World Games. The IBSA World Games raise awareness of accessibility in sport and celebrate the skills and abilities of athletes with vision impairment. Vision impairment … Continue reading “Empowering children and young people with vision impairment through PE and sport”