Newsroom University of Manchester

Manchester conference to re-examine Falklands/Malvinas conflict nearly 45 years later

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 11:44:05 +0000

On Thursday 16th April and Friday 17th April, The University of Manchester is hosting a major conference about the Falklands/Malvinas conflict.

44 years have passed, but the conflict still resonates deeply in both the UK and Argentina. Once a little-known far-flung archipelago for the British, the islands became emblematic of the UK’s pride and military strength in the face of declining post-imperial influence. For Argentines, the islands remain a unifying symbol of national identity under ‘la causa Malvinas’.

Now, as the 45th anniversary approaches, it enables us to pose and address histories, legacies and a number of questions through multiple lenses: What is the importance and legacy of the conflict forty-four years on? How have scholarly and popular works regarding the conflict and the continued territorial dispute been represented since? What is the current shape and future scope of a nascent Falklands/Malvinas scholarship?

This conference will be particularly interested in, but not limited to, media coverage and military aspects of the conflict and thereafter.

The event hopes to build upon the success of the last conference held at The University of Manchester in 2019, and provides an opportunity for veterans from both sides, experienced and independent scholars, early career academics and postgraduate students, to share their ideas and present their research in a supportive and interdisciplinary environment.

The event seeks to draw upon researchers from across the North-West and beyond, and possibly to initiate a ‘Falklands/Malvinas Network’ that might consider further projects and publications as the 45th anniversary of the conflict draws near.

Presenting the conflict from both sides, the conference has keynote speakers including Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies at King’s College London, who is a leading authority on strategic theory, international history and nuclear policy, and has served as the official historian of the Falklands Campaign and adviser on major UK defence inquiries.

Also speaking will be Professor Virginia Gamba - a senior United Nations official and Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict who has more than three decades of global experience in disarmament, peacebuilding, and human security - and Rear Admiral Jeremy Larken DSO, a Cold War submariner and senior Royal Navy commander who played a key operational role in the Falklands Campaign as Captain of HMS Fearless and Chief of Staff to Commodore Michael Clapp, the amphibious Maritime Force Commander, bringing firsthand expertise in crisis management and high-level military leadership.

Together, they represent an exceptional breadth of insight into warfare, diplomacy and strategic decision-making at the highest levels.

The full conference programme and ticket information can be found at , or you can follow @fm44conference on X (Twitter) and @fm44conference.bsky.social on Bluesky.

Conference sponsors: British Commission for Military History (BCMH), Society for Latin American Studies (SLAS) and The University of Manchester’s Student Enhancement Fund.

Why community voices could make or break world’s forest restoration plans

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 10:19:54 +0000

A new study has revealed a critical gap between global promises to restore forests and what is happening on the ground for the communities who depend on, manage and care for them.

The research, led by researchers from The University of Manchester and published in the journal , is based on a detailed assessment of national policies in Mexico. It found that while governments are increasingly committed to restoring ecosystems and tackling climate change, indigenous peoples and local communities are recognised in policy but rarely given any meaningful decision-making power in restoration projects.

Forest Landscape Restoration is seen as a key solution to biodiversity loss, climate change and environmental degradation worldwide. Yet the study shows that even when policies acknowledge the importance of community participation and rights, they often lack the institutional mechanisms needed to translate these commitments into real authority on the ground.

The researchers reviewed 24 government policies created between 1988 and 2024 to see how well they support forest restoration and whether local communities are truly involved in decisions. They found that while many policies talk about protecting nature and improving people’s lives, far fewer actually give communities a real say in what happens. Only a small number - less than 30% - treat them as equal partners, and just one gives them full control over restoration decisions.

This gap matters because communities already manage large areas of forest globally. In Mexico alone, around 60% of forests operate under community-based land tenure, but relatively fewer than 6% of documented restoration projects report meaningful participation beyond consultation. Without community leadership, restoration efforts risk being less equitable and less effective.

The study also identified structural barriers that limit progress, including fragmented coordination between government agencies, limited institutional capacity, short-term funding cycles, and insufficient guidance for implementation at local level. These factors make it difficult to turn ambitious national commitments into practical action within communities and landscapes.

At the same time, the research highlights opportunities. Many policies increasingly recognise Indigenous rights, traditional ecological knowledge and the potential for restoration to support livelihoods and climate resilience. Strengthening cross-sector collaboration, funding and governance could help bridge the gap between policy ambition and real-world outcomes.

“You can recognise indigenous rights in policy, mandate consultation, and still never transfer decision-making power to the people who manage these forests,” said lead researcher Mariana Hernandez-Montilla. “Our research shows this is exactly what's happening - consultation is treated as participation, but it's not the same as authority.”

Although focused on Mexico, the findings have global relevance as countries accelerate restoration pledges and international initiatives led by organisations such as the United Nations. The researchers hope their work will help policymakers to design fairer, more effective restoration strategies, ensuring that efforts to restore nature also strengthen communities and deliver lasting benefits for people and the planet.

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‘The Plastic Divide’ - how carrier bag bans impact the poorest communities

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:11:00 +0000

A new study from The University of Manchester has shed light on an unexpected consequence of plastic bag bans in East Africa, and why well-intentioned environmental laws may actually be making life harder for the people they aim to protect.

Anthropologist Dr Declan Murray spent nine months in Tanzania’s capital city Dar es Salaam, following the everyday journeys of plastic bags from small shops and street food stalls to people’s homes and workplaces. Tanzania banned plastic carrier bags in 2019, joining more than 120 countries around the world attempting to tackle plastic waste – but six years later, the ban has produced surprising results.

Despite the law, small thin plastic pouches - used to package everyday essentials like flour, oil and cooked snacks - remain a lifeline for millions of residents. For many families who live day-to-day, buying small amounts of food is the only affordable option. Without these cheap pouches, there is no practical way for shopkeepers to portion out food.

The research - which has been published in the - shows that the ban has removed large plastic bags from supermarkets and wealthier neighbourhoods, but the poorest communities have been left with few real alternatives. Paper, cloth and woven bags are too expensive, too big, or not suited to carrying wet or hot foods. As a result, small plastic pouches continue to circulate quietly, helping people to manage the daily “search for life” - a Swahili phrase many Dar es Salaam residents use to describe the struggle to earn enough money each day.

The study introduces the idea of “The Plastic Divide” - the gap between those who can easily switch away from plastics, and those whose livelihoods depend on them. Well-off residents can afford reusable bags and buy pre-packaged goods from supermarkets, but low-income families rely heavily on small shops, street food vendors and local markets - all of which depend on these plastic pouches to function.

It also highlights how many people make a living from plastics. Small-scale manufacturers, market sellers and bicycle-riding wholesalers all depend on selling the pouches. Others reuse plastic creatively - as fuel for cooking fires, rain protection, or even as a way to keep insects away from food. For these groups, plastics are not simply waste - they are tools for survival.

“Plastic pollution is a real problem, but these findings show that bans which don’t consider everyday life can hit the poorest communities hardest,” said Dr Murray. “People aren’t using plastic because they want to harm the environment - they’re using it because it’s the only option that works for them.”

The study raises important questions for governments, charities and environmental groups worldwide. It suggests that reducing plastic waste must go hand-in-hand with supporting people’s daily needs - whether through affordable alternatives, changes to food supply systems or involving low-income communities in designing solutions.

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Northern researchers and Whitehall unite to tackle the SEND crisis through connected data

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 12:22:39 +0000

On the day the government published its Every child achieving and thriving white paper on reforms to the schools and SEND systems in England, policymakers, researchers, clinicians and frontline practitioners gathered in Manchester to demonstrate how connected data can turn that ambition into reality.

The Child of the North Data Showcase, held at the Whitworth Art Gallery at The University of Manchester, brought together nearly 100 delegates from NHS trusts, local authorities, universities, and the voluntary sector to examine how linking data across education, health, and social care can get children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities the support they need earlier, and more effectively.

The event was convened by Child of the North, the N8 Centre of Excellence for Computationally Intensive Research, and the Northern Health Science Alliance, in partnership with the Centre for Young Lives and in collaboration with the Department for Education, the Department for Health and Social Care, and the Ministry of Justice.

Child of the North has spent several years convening researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to analyse the evidence on children’s outcomes across the North of England. That evidence has played a significant role in shaping national SEND reform. The Independent Neurodivergence Task and Finish Group (NDTFG) report published alongside the white paper draws heavily on Child of the North analyses, and informs both the Schools white paper and the government’s SEND reform consultation, Putting Children and Young People First. The Child of the North Data Showcase builds on this momentum by demonstrating how connected data can now deliver the practical change the system needs.

Professor Mark Mon-Williams of the Child of the North Leadership Group said: “The Schools White Paper has set a bold ambition as we seek to build a country that works for all children and young people. Today's event brought together a coalition of academics, clinicians and policymakers to explore how we can support these ambitions through effective use of connected administrative data. The day was truly inspirational and will ensure that government can rely on the best possible evidence as it addresses the SEND crisis.”

Presentations came from major northern data programmes including Born in Bradford, ��ýAPP��ed Bradford, #BeeWell, and the Children Growing Up in Liverpool cohort, alongside research collaborations funded by NIHR and the ESRC, including the Health Determinants Research Collaborations, and the ESRC Vulnerabilities and Policing Futures Research Centre, whose involvement underlines that unmet SEND need has consequences reaching well beyond education into the criminal justice system. Clinical perspectives came from NHS trusts including Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.

For too many children with SEND, needs go unidentified until crisis point. Families describe battling complex, fragmented systems. Support arrives too late. The evidence-backed argument made today is that when services can see a fuller picture of a child's life, they can intervene earlier, reduce crisis responses, and improve outcomes that last a lifetime.

Haroon Chowdry, Chief Executive of the Centre for Young Lives, who chaired the event, said: “We were delighted to support this data showcase. It pulled together a vast array of ground-breaking initiatives to show that data linkage and connected public services are increasingly prevalent, and are already generating rich insights to inform SEND and other policies."

A short report for national government will be produced following the event, drawing on the insights of all participants. It will set out what linked administrative data can achieve, what infrastructure already exists across the North to support it, and what policy action is needed to scale it nationally.

What the economic impact of Hurricane Katrina means for businesses today

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 12:19:10 +0000

When Hurricane Katrina struck the USA in 2005, nearly 2000 people lost their lives and the cost of the catastrophe exceeded $100 billion. Now, 21 years later, new research from The University of Manchester has found that Katrina left another, less visible legacy long after the storm clouds had cleared.

The study, published in the , has revealed that in the months and years after Katrina, many businesses in affected areas began paying their suppliers later than usual. These delays had real consequences – fewer jobs, more business closures and financial stress spreading from one company to the next.

Using detailed data on individual business locations across the Gulf Coast region of the USA, Professor Viet Dang, Professor Ning Gao and Dr Hongge Lin from Alliance Manchester Business School tracked how payment behaviour changed after Katrina. They focused on whether companies paid their bills on time - something that matters deeply to suppliers operating in competitive markets who rely on steady payments to cover wages, rent and materials.

The results were notable - businesses located in counties hit hardest by Katrina were significantly more likely to delay payments to their suppliers. On average, payment reliability fell by more than four percent, which may not sound dramatic, but delays of this magnitude can tip the balance for businesses with tight margins and weekly payrolls.

Companies that delayed payments were more likely to cut jobs or shut down entirely. Their suppliers – often businesses located far from the hurricane zone – also suffered, reporting weaker cash flow and poorer financial health. In other words, a storm in Louisiana could hurt a supplier in another state, simply because money arrived late.

The findings highlight payment delays within supply chains as a key cause of Katrina’s widespread and lasting economic footprint. They also underscore the importance of corporate financial management across the supply chain.

“In a fast-moving economy, companies must manage their cash flows effectively,” said Professor Gao. “Punctual payment not only enables companies to meet their bill-payment obligations but also directly affects their credit scores and borrowing capacity, as suppliers and lenders closely monitor payment behaviour to assess financial health.”

The lessons are especially relevant today. Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and more severe, from hurricanes along the US coast to wildfires and floods elsewhere. Modern businesses are deeply interconnected, meaning that disruption in one place can quickly spread to many others, affecting even workers and communities that never experienced the events directly.

“Faster access to emergency funding, more resilient supply chains and better disaster planning could help prevent payment delays from turning into job losses and business failures.”

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AI could rebalance power between people and the services they use

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 16:39:53 +0000

Artificial intelligence could help people who feel overwhelmed, excluded or disadvantaged when dealing with everyday tasks like paying energy bills or booking healthcare appointments, according to a new study involving researchers from The University of Manchester.

The research - published in the - explored how “personal AI agents” could work on behalf of individuals, helping them to navigate complex systems, make better decisions and gain more control.

Vulnerability or overwhelm can affect almost anyone, whether through illness, financial pressure, language barriers or difficulty interpreting complex information.

The research team - including experts from The Universities of Manchester, Queensland, Oxford, Cambridge and Heriot-Watt - argue that advances in AI create an opportunity to rebalance power between organisations and the people who rely on their services. Instead of technology being used mainly by companies, personal AI tools could act in individuals’ interests, making purchases and helping them to compare options and understand information.

In the cases of an older person choosing an energy tariff, a patient managing multiple appointments or a parent navigating the benefits system, a personal AI assistant could interpret information, suggest choices and communicate decisions with service providers on the user’s behalf.

The study brings together research on customer experience, vulnerability and emerging AI technologies to show how this could work in practice, proposing a framework for designing systems that support people when they feel they lack control.

Researchers say the key is not just smarter tools, but ones that genuinely represent users’ interests. Personal AI agents could improve access to services, reduce stress and simplify everyday decisions.

Four possible roles for personal AI are outlined, from a “service organiser” coordinating everyday tasks to a “protective” system safeguarding users’ interests and flagging risks. Together, these approaches could help ensure fairer treatment and clearer information when interacting with companies and public services.

“As digital systems increasingly shape daily life, the real promise of AI may lie not in enabling large organisations to make incremental efficiency gains, but in helping individual people achieve greater confidence and control in their lives,” said Dr Jamie Burton, Professor of Marketing at Alliance Manchester Business School.

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Nature as therapy: research shows how the outdoors can help us to heal

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 16:33:36 +0000

Nature-based therapy may help people to find hope, meaning and a deeper sense of connection, according to new research from The University of Manchester.

The study - published in journal - examined a form of outdoor therapy called ‘ecotherapy’ which includes activities such as walking in woodland, spending time near water, gardening or sitting quietly in nature with a trained therapist. By reviewing studies from around the world, the researchers explored how people described their most meaningful moments during these experiences.

Many people spoke about moments in nature that helped them process pain, let go of the past and rediscover a sense of purpose. Rather than techniques or theories, participants described simple experiences - watching trees grow and decay, feeling the wind on their face or sitting quietly in a forest and feeling part of something larger.

Some described nature as a mirror for their own lives. Seeing natural cycles of growth and renewal helped them accept difficult experiences and feel more present. Others spoke about a strong sense of connection and belonging which brought comfort and made personal problems feel more manageable.

Importantly, these experiences were not linked to religion - people from different backgrounds described spirituality in their own words, focusing on connection, awe and meaning rather than belief.

The study suggests these moments can have lasting effects, helping people accept themselves, release emotional pain and find new direction. At a time of widespread anxiety about the future, the study highlights how connecting with nature may support mental health and foster hope.

Ecotherapy does not replace traditional talking therapies, but the researchers say it may offer something different - space, perspective and a reminder that people are part of a wider living world.

“At a time when many people feel overwhelmed or anxious about the future, these experiences often helped people reconnect with hope and a sense of purpose.”

“This research shows that therapy doesn’t always have to happen in a room,” said co-author Professor Terry Hanley. “For some people, being outdoors creates the space they need to reflect, heal and move forward. As mental health services face growing demand, nature-based approaches could be a valuable part of a wider, more humane response to wellbeing.”

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UK expert in energy and climate governance joins The University of Manchester

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 11:04:51 +0000

The University of Manchester has appointed Professor Rebecca Willis as Chair of Energy and Climate Governance – a role which bridges the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Science and Engineering through the and the for Climate Change.

A leading academic and thought leader in environment, climate, energy policy and politics, Rebecca will also bring a team of highly regarded researchers and academics to join her at the University. Rebecca leads the Climate Citizens research group, which investigates public engagement and citizenship. She is a co-investigator for the Centre for Joined-Up Sustainability Transitions (JUST), the Energy Demand Research Centre, and a new initiative, PACT (Production and Consumption Transformations) which provides decision support to government departments.

Rebecca Willis has previously been a professor at Lancaster University and is an expert advisor to the Climate Change Committee and Innovate UK’s Net Zero Living Initiative.

Speaking on her appointment, Rebecca said: “The wealth of expertise based here at Manchester is highly valued around the world. I am excited to be part of a community working on global challenges with practical outcomes for people, planet and society.

Professor Claire Alexander, Head of the School of Social Sciences added: “We’re delighted to be able to welcome Rebecca and her team to the University of Manchester. Rebecca brings significant insight and expertise in terms of applying policy to innovation in the challenging fields of energy and climate governance. She will be working closely with colleagues in the Sustainable Consumption Institute, a collaboration between the School of Social Sciences and Alliance Manchester Business School, who are leading the way in terms of the economic and social and policy dimensions of climate justice and environmental sustainability.”

Professor Sarah Cartmell, Head of the School of Engineering said: “Through the Tyndall Centre, Rebecca will strengthen our capacity to link cutting-edge engineering, climate science, social science and governance insights with policy that works in practice. Her expertise will help accelerate the impact of our work, deepen our partnerships and enhance Manchester’s role as a leading contributor to the UK and global climate policy landscape.”

Radical measures needed to close arts class gap in Greater Manchester, inquiry finds

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Working class creatives are struggling to break into and are leaving the arts, a new inquiry has warned.

, led by Chancellor of The University of Manchester Nazir Afzal OBE and Avis Gilmore, former Deputy General Secretary of one of Europe’s biggest trade unions, found that barriers preventing working class talent from succeeding included class-based discrimination, low pay, a lack of connections and exploitative practices.

Less than half of creatives surveyed (44%) said they earned enough to make a living, with many requiring second jobs; 51% of respondents said they had experienced bullying, harassment or bias based on their social class; just 18% of respondents said they saw their lived experiences widely represented in the art form they practice and only 22% said they personally knew anyone working in the arts when they were growing up.

Featuring over 150 hours of interviews with artists ranging from teenage musicians and mid-career arts workers to globally recognised playwrights and BAFTA and Emmy winning screenwriters, the Inquiry found anger, despair and seeds of hope in the voices they heard.

Co-Chair Nazir Afzal OBE, who is also the Chair of the Lowry theatre, said this was an opportunity for Greater Manchester to lead the way on a national challenge and build a better sector “where talent is discovered everywhere, nurtured properly, paid fairly and allowed to rise.”

Among the Inquiry’s 21 recommendations are measures to include class as a protected characteristic, the appointment of a Class Champion, a drive to increase apprenticeships, measures to decasualise labour and a co-ordinating body led by the GMCA to marshal resources, spot gaps and join up best practice.

Although the Equality Act does not recognise class as a protected characteristic, Afzal said that Manchester should look to unilaterally recognise people from working class backgrounds as having protected characteristics. “As a former prosecutor, I have seen our region do this before,” he said. “When Sophie Lancaster was killed, Greater Manchester Police broke new ground by offering people from alternative sub-cultures hate crime protection – and other police forces eventually followed suit. This was the right thing to do and we need to be equally bold. Because we are not going to break down barriers that are crushing creativity until we build an arts sector that treats class as a core inclusion issue.”

But as well as highlighting structural failings, the Inquiry also shines a light on many changemakers who are working hard to widen participation and make a difference. Co-chair Avis Gilmore said she was particularly inspired by institutions like the Co-op stepping up on the back of the report to campaign for more apprenticeships. “I’m thrilled that the Co-op has agreed to lead a campaign to significantly boost creative apprenticeships in our region,” she said.

Claire Costello, Chief People and Inclusion Officer at Co-op explained: “Our Co-op believes everyone, whatever their background, should be able to access opportunities in the arts and creative sector throughout Greater Manchester. Apprenticeships can provide a ‘stepping stone’ for future careers, that’s why Co-op is encouraging Greater Manchester employers to share unspent apprenticeship levy funds to raise £3 million over 3 years to support 200 new apprenticeships in the arts and creative sector throughout Greater Manchester.”

The inquiry’s findings are being launched on January 26^th at an event at the Whitworth Art Gallery at The University of Manchester in collaboration with research platform Creative Manchester, where the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, is due to speak.

The report can be downloaded .

��ýAPP�� finds strong link between teacher wellbeing and pupil achievement

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 12:34:55 +0000

A new study from The University of Manchester has found that happier teachers help create happier pupils - and better learning - as ten schools across the UK embrace a groundbreaking approach to wellbeing.

The research, led by Dr Alexandra Hennessey and Dr Sarah MacQuarrie from the Manchester Institute of Education, explored how the schools adopted the Well Schools framework - a national movement run by the Youth Sport Trust that puts wellbeing at the heart of education.

The Well Schools project, which began in 2020, has grown into a thriving community of more than 2,000 schools across the UK. This focused on ten schools that took part in a detailed evaluation of how the framework supports wellbeing among both staff and pupils.

Their findings, published in , show that when schools focus on the health, happiness and connectedness of both pupils and staff, classrooms become more positive, productive places to learn and teach.

The report highlights inspiring examples from schools that have introduced everything from daily “active learning” sessions and outdoor lessons to staff recognition schemes, mental health first aid training and after-school wellbeing clubs. These initiatives, tailored to each school’s needs, are helping teachers feel valued and pupils more engaged.

One headteacher told the research team: “If staff are happy and relaxed, the lessons they teach are better. You can feel the buzz in the building - it just feels different.”

Schools involved ranged from small primaries to large secondaries and special schools across England, Scotland and Wales. Despite their differences, all shared a commitment to supporting wellbeing as part of their school culture - and saw real benefits in attendance, focus and morale.

The study found that wellbeing programmes worked best when led by senior school leaders but shaped collaboratively by staff and pupils. Initiatives such as ‘keep, tweak or ditch’ reviews helped teachers cut unnecessary workload, while pupil wellbeing ambassadors and parent workshops extended the benefits beyond the classroom.

“This research highlights the power of schools working as communities - not just institutions that deliver lessons, but places that nurture people,” added Dr MacQuarrie. “The schools we studied created a sense of belonging, where staff and pupils alike feel heard and supported.”

Dr Hennessey concluded: “Wellbeing and learning go hand in hand. Schools that invest in the health and happiness of their staff and students aren’t just improving education - they’re shaping stronger, kinder communities.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

India shows how urban forests can help cool cities – as long as planners understand what nature and people need

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 13:48:24 +0000

For many years, I lived in the Indian city of Chennai where the summer temperatures can reach up to 44°C. With a population of 4.5 million, this coastal city is humid and hot.

Its suburbs are home to 600 Hindu temples and there’s a wildlife reserve called Guindy national park in the heart of the city. of the streets but green parks are few and far between – as is the shade.

As and the rest of , urban forests become more vital. These clusters of trees in parks, gardens, public spaces and along roads and rivers have multiple benefits – from cooling the surrounding air to providing homes for wildlife and creating space for people to enjoy nature. Yet they are often overlooked by city developers.

shows that, in Chennai, there are 26 square miles of tree and other vegetation cover, mainly accounted for by formal green spaces such as Guindy wildlife reserve. On the outskirts of this city, an area of nine square miles of unused land is ideally suited to creating more urban forest. Similarly, there is more potential space for urban forests in other fast urbanising Indian cities like Coimbatore and Tiruchirapalli.

recommend having at least 30% tree cover in urban areas. suggests that cities should allow for nine square metres of urban tree cover per person. Most Indian cities .

Improving urban forests in India has been a challenge for many years due to high land prices, lack of urban planning and little public participation .

Policies introduced by the Indian government to “green” urban areas often equate tree planting with cooling cities and building climate resilience. But it’s not that simple. The success of urban forests depends on factors such as rainfall, understanding interactions with local wildlife and people’s needs.

A warns that in hot, dry cities with limited water availability like Chennai, trees slow the cooling process by water evaporation from leaves and instead contribute to urban heat. Urban heat comes from the reflection and absorption of sunlight by buildings and land surfaces. This is particularly high in smaller Indian cities with populations of 1 to 5 million.

Planting trees with the sole aim of cooling cities could negatively affect wildlife too. Not all birds, bugs and mammals depend on trees for food or shelter. A from researchers in Bengaluru, India, shows that non-native tree species contribute little to bird richness. Meanwhile, urban grasslands and marshlands that are often misclassified as “waste land” support wildlife and help regulate flooding.

In India, cities and villages have open “common” land where people graze their cattle or harvest fuelwood from trees that grow naturally there – tree-planting initiatives in these open land areas can displace poorer communities of people who rely on open lands for grazing and fuel wood collection.

Design with nature

Urban forests can be planned to meet the needs of people, birds and other wildlife.

In 1969, Ian McHarg, the late Scottish landscape architect and urban planner came up with the concept of “design with nature”, where development has a minimal negative effect on the environment. His idea was to preserve existing natural forests by proposing site suitability assessments. By analysing factors such as rivers and streams, soil type, slope and drainage, to identify which areas suit development and which are best preserved for nature.

This approach has advanced with new technology. Now, geographic information systems and satellite imagery help planners integrate environmental data and identify suitable areas for planting new trees or conserving urban forests.

Using the principles of landscape ecology, urban planners can design forest patches in a way that enhances the connectivity of green spaces in a city, rather than uniformly planting trees across all open spaces. By designing these “ecological corridors”, trees along roads or canals, for example, can help link fragmented green spaces.

Planting native tree species suited to dry and drought-prone environments is also crucial, as is assessing the local community’s needs for native fruit-bearing trees that provide food.

Growing urban forests

By 2030, one-third of India’s electricity demand is expected to come from cooling equipment such as . Increasing urban forests could help reduce this .

National-level policies could support urban forest expansion across India. In 2014, the government of India released its urban greenery and flagship urban renewal programmes such as the have tried to increase tree cover. But guidelines often overlook critical considerations like ecological connectivity, native species and local community needs.

In 2020, the government of India launched (a scheme to improve tree cover in cities) with a budget of around US$94 million (£70 million). It aims to create urban forests through active participation of citizens, government agencies and private companies. But there is little evidence that urban forest cover has improved.

Urbanisation reduced tree cover in most Indian cities, and much of it was rather . But by protecting and planting more trees, citizens can live in greener, cooler cities. By shifting urban forest policy from counting trees to designing landscapes, plans that enhance climate resilience, nature conservation and social equity can be put into practice.

, Postgraduate Researcher, Climate Adaptation,
This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .

Time spent on gaming and social media not to blame for teen mental health issues

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

A major new study from The University of Manchester has found little evidence that social media use or video gaming are causing mental health problems in young teenagers, challenging one of the most widespread concerns among parents and teachers today.

The research - published in the - is based on the experiences of more than 25,000 pupils across Greater Manchester, and is one of the largest and most detailed studies of its kind. The team followed young people aged 11-14 over three school years as part of the #BeeWell programme, which focuses on understanding and improving young people’s wellbeing.

For several years, headlines have warned that time spent on TikTok, Instagram or gaming platforms could be driving a rise in anxiety and depression among teenagers - but the Manchester researchers say their findings paint a much more nuanced picture.

“We know families are worried, but our results do not support the idea that simply spending time on social media or gaming leads to mental health problems - the story is far more complex than that,” said lead author .

The study tracked pupils’ self-reported social media habits, gaming frequency and emotional difficulties over three school years to find out whether technology use genuinely predicted later mental health difficulties. The researchers found no evidence that heavier social media use or more frequent gaming caused increases in symptoms of anxiety or depression over the following year - for boys or girls.

However, the study did uncover other interesting patterns. Girls who gamed more often went on to spend slightly less time on social media the following year, and boys who reported more emotional difficulties were more likely to cut back on gaming in the future - a pattern the researchers suggest could be linked to losing interest in hobbies when feeling low, or parents limiting screen time when they notice their child is struggling.

The research team also explored whether actively chatting on social media or just passively scrolling made a difference, but the overall picture remained the same - technology habits alone did not appear to drive mental health difficulties.

The authors emphasise that this does not mean online experiences are harmless. Hurtful messages, online pressures and extreme content can all have real impacts on wellbeing, but they argue that focusing simply on screen time misses the bigger picture.

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Manchester research reveals how global laws can give workers real power

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

A new study in the has revealed that European ‘due diligence’ laws designed to make multinational companies accountable for labour and environmental abuses are beginning to give a voice to some of the world’s most vulnerable workers.

Focusing on South Africa’s wine industry, the research - led by Professor Matthew Alford from The University of Manchester’s Alliance Manchester Business School, in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Cape Town, University of Wurzburg and TIE Germany - found that farm workers and local unions are using Germany’s Supply Chain Due Diligence Act to push for better working conditions and corporate accountability.

The 2023 law requires German companies to ensure human rights are respected throughout their global supply chains - from vineyards in the Western Cape, to supermarket shelves in Berlin.

The research team discovered that South African trade unions and community organisations have started invoking this legislation to open direct talks with farm owners and European retailers. In one case, the Commercial, Stevedoring, Agricultural and Allied Workers Union (CSAAWU) used the new law to press a local wine farm to address dangerous working conditions.

“Workers were suffering back injuries, lacked clean drinking water and were exposed to pesticides,” said Dr Alford. “By referencing the new German law, local organisers were able to secure regular meetings with management - something that hadn’t happened before - and win concrete improvements.”

These changes included safer equipment, better sanitation and running water for workers’ homes. According to one union organiser interviewed for the study, “For many of the workers, it is the first time ever that they sat at the table and had a discussion with a white person…in the beginning, the workers were a bit shy but once they saw that the management would actually listen to them and even respond to their demands, they got very confident.”

The research also highlights how South African campaigners are using the same laws to challenge European chemical companies which export pesticides to the country that are banned in the EU. The Women on Farms Project has joined forces with German partners, including Oxfam Germany, to explore using the legislation to seek compensation and push for stricter oversight.

The study demonstrates that the laws are opening up new possibilities for workers thousands of miles away from Europe to hold powerful companies to account, but it also shows how their effectiveness depends on awareness, solidarity and cross-border cooperation. It also warns that while Europe’s new regulations hold promise, they are still at an early stage and risk being weakened by political pushback.

Announcing the launch of the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Innovation

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) is delighted to announce the launch of the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Innovation (CTLI), a new hub dedicated to advancing educational excellence and innovation across our community.

Under the leadership of Professor Ali Owrak, the CTLI will serve as a catalyst for transformative education at AMBS, supporting both educators and learners through a wide range of services and opportunities. The Centre’s mission is to foster pedagogical excellence, drive innovation, and champion inclusive partnerships that empower our academic community.

Empowering Educators and Students

The CTLI offers practical support for academic staff seeking to enhance their teaching and student engagement. Services include tailored workshops, one-to-one consultations, and access to resources for course design, assessment strategies, and the effective use of digital tools in the classroom.

Educators can also benefit from interactive workshops, peer observation training, and the pedagogical innovation series. The voluntary peer observation scheme will provide a supportive environment for sharing feedback and learning from colleagues.

Values

At the heart of the CTLI are the values of Excellence, Partnership, Inclusivity, Curiosity, and Trustworthiness. The Centre is committed to developing equitable learning environments, accessible teaching practices, and forward-thinking approaches that support staff and students.

Professor Ali Owrak:

“This marks an exciting new chapter for AMBS. Our vision is to create a collaborative hub where colleagues can explore innovative approaches to teaching, share ideas, and engage in reflective practice. I look forward to welcoming colleagues and working together to shape the future of education at AMBS.”

Professor Ken McPhail:

“At a time of rapid change, it is vital that we continue to innovate in how we teach, learn, and collaborate. The Centre will embody our commitment to educational excellence, inclusivity, and partnership—ensuring that our staff and students are equipped to thrive.”

For more information, visit the CTLI page on the AMBS intranet or contact the team (based on the sixth floor at AMBS, room 6.030) or by emailing CTLI@manchester.ac.uk.

Iran protests have put the country’s political system on trial

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 18:51:01 +0000

Protests that began in late December over rising prices and a collapsing currency have now spread to most of Iran’s 31 provinces, with demonstrators taking aim at the country’s rulers. The demonstrations signal a deep challenge to a political order that many Iranians see as incapable of delivering stability, dignity or a viable future.

The unrest poses the most serious challenge to since 2022. That year, nationwide protests erupted over the death of 22-year-old in police custody after she was arrested for violating hijab rules. Those were ultimately suppressed through force.

Iran’s political establishment has for decades defined itself through permanent confrontation on multiple fronts: with , the and what it sees as global imperialism. This posture has reshaped domestic life by subordinating the economy, governance and social stability to ideological resistance.

What the latest protests reveal is not simply frustration with the hardship that has accompanied this political stance. They seem to reflect a growing consensus among Iranians that this order into something functional and must therefore be replaced.

This has been apparent in the language used by the protesters. Many demonstrators have linked their daily hardships to the regime’s foreign policy priorities, expressed perhaps most clearly that has echoed through the streets of various Iranian cities in recent days: “Not Gaza, not Lebanon, I sacrifice my life for Iran.”

The slogan is a rejection of the regime’s official stance that sacrifice at home is necessary to fulfil ideological goals of “resistance” abroad. Iran has long pursued a policy of supporting militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah to counter the influence of the US and Israel in the Middle East.

Chants of – a reference to Iran’s ageing supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – are yet more evidence of the broad rejection of the political order among the Iranian population. They signal that many Iranians now view their economic survival as inseparable from fundamental political change.

The protests have spread across wide sections of Iranian society. What began as strikes by bazaar merchants and shopkeepers in Iran’s capital, Tehran, quickly drew in students, professionals and business owners elsewhere in the country. Protests have in Qom and Mashhad, cities whose populations have traditionally been loyal to the state.

The state’s initial response to the protests was muted. The government recognised the protests and to the “legitimate demands” of the demonstrators. However, despite a warning from US president Donald Trump of US intervention should security forces “kill peaceful protesters”, at least 36 people have . Over 2,000 more people have been detained.

Donald Trump posts on his Truth Social media platform in response to the protests in Iran.

Post-war paralysis

The protests come six months after Iran’s brief but destabilising war with Israel. This conflict severely strained the state’s capacity to govern, with Khamenei largely withdrawing from public view since then due to heightened fears over his safety. Major decisions in Iran require Khamenei’s approval, so his absence has slowed decision-making across the system.

The effects of this have been felt nationwide. Universities and schools have been hampered by repeated closures, shortened schedules and the sudden suspension of in-person classes. Transport networks have faced repeated disruption and economic planning has become nearly impossible.

Prices are . The official annual inflation rate stands at around 42%, with food inflation exceeding 70%. The prices of some basic goods have reportedly risen by more than 110% compared with a year ago, and are further in the coming weeks.

Iran’s authorities have also intermittently suspended routine daily and weekly activities since the end of the war, such as school days, public office hours, transport services and commercial operations. They , pollution or security concerns as the reasons for doing so.

Underlying these disruptions is a governing system braced for the possibility of renewed war, either with Israel or possibly the US. The regime is operating in a prolonged state of emergency, which has pushed Iranian society itself deeper into crisis.

Iran’s governing paralysis has been strained further by intensifying competition within the ruling elite. The war with Israel led to the deaths of several senior Iranian military and security figures, which has created gaps in networks of power.

With authority fragmented, rival political, military and security factions have sought to position themselves for influence in a post-Khamenei order. Networks associated with figures such as former president Hassan Rouhani, former foreign minister Javad Zarif and current president Masoud Pezeshkian are pursuing negotiations with western powers to address Iran’s foreign policy challenges.

But others appear to be engaging in talks aimed at securing backing from ideological allies such as Russia and China. These include people in security and intelligence circles, along with figures ideologically aligned with Khamenei like his second-eldest son Mojtaba, current speaker of parliament Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf and conservative clerics such as .

These rival strategies have not produced coherent governance. Instead, they have reinforced perceptions among the Iranian public that the system is preoccupied with survival rather than addressing everyday breakdowns in basic administration, public services and economic coordination.

Iran stands at a crossroads. One path leads toward deeper militarisation, elite infighting and prolonged paralysis. The other points towards a reckoning with a political order that large segments of Iranian society no longer believe can deliver stability or welfare.

The protests suggest that the central question for many Iranians is no longer whether the system can be repaired, but whether continuing to live under it is viable at all. What is clear is that Iran is at a critical political moment, with significant changes likely to unfold in the weeks and months ahead.

, Research Fellow at the Global Development Institute
This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .

2025's news highlights from the Faculty of Humanities

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 15:10:00 +0000

2025 has been another great year for The University of Manchester's Faculty of Humanities, and has again seen some significant achievements and initiatives. Here are some of the key highlights:

January

The year started with research from Professor Jamie Woodward which revealed that England’s major water and sewage companies are misleading the public and Government by using strategies which mirror those of the tobacco and fossil fuel industries. His study uncovered widespread use of greenwashing and disinformation tactics by England’s nine major water and sewage companies, and was covered extensively in the national media.

January also saw the launch of a major new study to assess the impact of smartphones and social media on young people, and research which found that vast areas of the UK’s peatlands are under threat due to climate change. It also brought the news that The University of Manchester ranks in the top 50 globally for Social Sciences, Business Economics, Engineering, Arts & Humanities and Medical & Health.

February

In February, one of the world’s largest school-based trials found that an intervention to help students normalise their everyday emotions is the ‘most promising’ of several approaches for supporting mental health in children and young people. The Education for Wellbeing trial involved 32,655 students in 513 English primary and secondary schools, testing five interventions.

Research launched in February also found that polling in Ukraine contradicted Donald Trump, who claimed that Volodymyr Zelensky’s approval rating stood at 4% - the study put his approval rating at 63%, making him the most popular politician in the country. This story received widespread media coverage.

March

Internationally acclaimed novelist and short story writer Sarah Hall joined The University of Manchester in March as a Professor of Creative Writing. Sarah joined a prestigious teaching team at the University’s Centre for New Writing made up of novelists, poets, screenwriters, playwrights and non-fiction writers, including Jeanette Winterson, Ian McGuire, Jason Allen-Paisant, Beth Underdown, Horatio Clare, Tim Price and John McAuliffe.

Also during this month, experts called on the government to make urgent changes to the UK’s bus network in an appearance at a Transport Select Committee inquiry. The group – including Professor Karen Lucas, Head of the Transport and Mobilities Group at The University of Manchester – spoke about the detrimental impact of poor bus connectivity and the need for immediate government action. A new research centre was also launched to promote socially just, people-centred sustainability transformations by collaborating with communities, governments and businesses to develop low-carbon living initiatives.

April

In April, The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) - the UK’s largest funder of economic, social, behavioural and human data science - appointed Manchester’s Professor Cecilia Wong as a member of its Council. Professor Wong brought a wealth of expertise and an exceptional track record to her role - her extensive research encompasses strategic spatial planning, policy monitoring & analysis, urban & regional development and housing & infrastructure planning.

The month also saw the launch of a new report from , which has surveyed 130,000 young people since 2021, which highlighted the experiences of pupils in mainstream schools with Special Educational Needs (SEN). The study found that across a range of headline metrics – mental wellbeing, life satisfaction, self-esteem and emotional difficulties – young people with SEN experience worse outcomes.

May

May saw the launch of a major new partnership with the Bank of England which will see existing teachers offered free training to deliver A Level economics alongside their core subject. The three-year programme, which will be piloted in the North West before eventually being rolled out across the UK, aims to make the subject more accessible to students from a wider range of backgrounds.

Also in May, the Government announced changes to the Winter Fuel Payment after being presented with research from The University of Manchester which found that their plans were going to leave many more older people in poverty, putting their health and wellbeing at risk. The month also saw Manchester being officially recognised as one of the UK’s new Policing Academic Centres of Excellence (PACE), as part of a national initiative to embed world-class research into frontline policing and community safety.

June

June brought two major archaeology stories - firstly, experts from Manchester played a leading role in the rediscovery of the ancient city of Imet in Egypt’s eastern Nile Delta, uncovering multi-storey dwellings, granaries and a ceremonial road tied to the worship of the cobra goddess Wadjet. This story received widespread coverage. The month brought news of a new project to explore the discovery of Wales’ first complete ancient chariot.

The same month also saw the launch of two reports into children's mental health - one found that while teens from disadvantaged neighbourhoods do face lower life satisfaction, they don't actually face more emotional problems. The other found that physical activity is critical for children's happiness.

July

July brought the extremely sad news that Lord David Alliance CBE had passed away. Lord Alliance’s belief in the power of philanthropy, education and research to drive positive change inspired generations of students, staff, alumni and partners. The renaming of Manchester Business School to Alliance Manchester Business School in 2015 stands as a testament to Lord Alliance’s transformative impact and support for The University of Manchester and its students over many years.

The month also saw Alliance Manchester Business School's Professor Timothy Michael Devinney being elected as a Fellow of the British Academy, the UK’s leading national body for the humanities and social sciences.

Also during this month, several Humanities academics were leading policy conversations about major issues - including Professor Jamie Woodward who spoke at Westminster about the impact of microplastic pollution on our environment, and Professor Pamela Qualter who co-authored a World Health Organization (WHO) report calling for urgent action to tackle loneliness and social disconnection around the world.

August

During August, an historian from The University of Manchester was named as one of six authors shortlisted for the 2025 Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize, which celebrates the best popular science writing from across the globe. Vanished: An Unnatural History of Extinction by Professor Sadiah Qureshi was named as one of the finalists at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Two leading criminologists from The University of Manchester also joined a groundbreaking national research project designed to tackle fraud in the NHS, which costs the UK taxpayer an estimated £1.3 billion each year.

There was also media interest in a study which found that a single sheet of 1,100-year-old parchment may have been used to heal a dangerous royal rift in Ancient England.

September

The start of the new academic year was marked by the appointment of three academics from The University of Manchester as Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences. Professor Liz Richardson, Professor David Richards and Professor Anupam Nanda were named in recognition of their excellence and impact, and their advancement of social sciences for the public good.

The month also saw The University of Manchester being appointed as the UN's Academic Impact Vice-Chair for SDG10 research, meaning the University will play an essential role in advancing the implementation of the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Some major research was also launched in August which found that ‘Levelling Up’ left many southern areas behind, a mentoring programme was giving a big mental health boost to LGBTQIA+ teens, and cities needing to do more to support older people who want to stay in their own homes as they age.

October

October saw three major pieces of research into schools - studies were published into school isolation rooms damaging pupil wellbeing, a third of new teachers quitting within five years of qualifying and the discovery of a significant and lasting link between the subjects young people study in school and their political preferences.

Also during October, a study was launched by Dr Louise Thompson which found that outdated rules in the House of Commons shut smaller parties out of key decisions, leaving millions of voters effectively unheard. This led to several of those parties - including the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Reform - raising the issue, as well as media coverage across the UK.

November

The University’s Professor Hilary Pilkington was one of the authors of the final report of the Independent Commission on Counter-Terrorism Law, Policy and Practice, which in November called for a comprehensive overhaul of the UK's counter-terrorism policies. This received widespread media coverage across the country.

The University also launched new research as part of the N8 Child of the North campaign in November, which found that the post-Covid school attendance crisis is hitting disadvantaged children hardest - the story led to regional and national media coverage.

The month also saw studies into Buddhism in mental health care, stronger communities being linked to better health, and the rise of ‘authoritarian peacemaking’ and its implications for Ukraine.

December

The final month of the year saw the launch of a major new collaboration with the University of Oxford which will bring together an expert team of textual scholars, book historians, computer scientists, library data experts and research software engineers to explore whether computers ‘see’ books and prints the same way as people do, and asks whether the AI algorithm can be made to see in the same way as humans.

A major global study led by Dr Francesco Rampazzo also found that younger generations around the world are embracing a more diverse and fluid understanding of sexual identity than ever before. The research - which analysed data from over 900,000 users of the queer women’s and nonbinary dating app Zoe - offered one of the first truly global pictures of how people identify their sexuality in 122 countries, from the UK and the US to Brazil, South Africa and Taiwan.

These stories reflect the Faculty's commitment to addressing global challenges through its research, education and social responsibility.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Exhibition celebrates works of Manchester City Architect’s Department

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 10:17:36 +0000

A new landmark exhibition has opened in the first floor gallery of Manchester Central Library which celebrates the contribution that the City Architects made to Manchester and its citizens over the 101 years of the Department.

The first City Architect, Henry Price, was appointed in 1902 – between then and 2003, only six others held the prestigious post. Price oversaw the design and construction of many of the city’s wash houses and baths, including the Grade II* listed Victoria Baths of 1906 on Hathersage Road.

It is worth remembering how much of the city’s operations were governed from the town hall. Manchester Corporation once controlled gas and electricity undertakings, tramways and trolleybuses, schools, police, fire and ambulance services, waste collection, parks and recreation, housing, libraries and more. The City Architect’s Department designed for all of these.

Over 350 images of plans, adverts, brochures, press clippings official and amateur photography, are on display and show the incredible breadth of the Departments influence, as well as their geographic reach. The exhibition focuses on the city and its suburbs, not just the centre.

Much of the show features buildings constructed between 1945 and 1974 – the end of the Second World War and the creation of Greater Manchester Council – and illustrates the incredible transformation of the city in that period.

Celebrated schemes, like the restoration of the Free Trade Hall in the 1950s, sit alongside more macabre utilitarian buildings, such as the City Mortuary, reminding us of the things a city needs to function.

The latter days of the Department were characterised by the upkeep of existing estate, libraries, schools and housing, and renewed attention on the public realm – the creation of Castlefield Urban Heritage Park, the pedestrianisation of Market Street, pocket parks along the River Irwell and in China Town.

Finally, as commissions increasingly fell to the private sector, the City Architect became an instrumental figure in the stewarding of large investments that saw Olympic bids and the delivery of the Commonwealth Games.

"This exhibition celebrates the work of City Architects who made their mark on the city skyscape and its suburbs from 1903," said Councillor John Hacking, Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure. “It is a fascinating look back at how instrumental they were in shaping the city and showcases their vision in making Manchester the city that we live in today.”

“It is easy to forget the wonderful, weird and sometimes straightforward contributions that local authority architects made to the city and the lives they shaped,” said Professor Richard Brook from Lancaster University. "To get this research out in public and in partnership with Archives+ hopefully casts new light on the city and the collections.”

The exhibition runs until 28 February 2026. The curators, Dr Martin Dodge and Professor Richard Brook, have created a dynamic composition to which they will continually add material during its run.

First global study finds young people redefining sexuality around the world

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

School of Social Sciences awarded Advanced HE Athena Swan Silver award

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

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

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

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

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

New study exposes how conspiracy theories go mainstream across Europe

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 09:00:00 +0000

New pan-European research has shown that the spread of conspiracy theories across the continent is driven by a continuous feedback loop between media reporting, political rhetoric, protest movements and social media algorithms - not any single cause.

The involves 14 researchers from across Europe, and it has examined how conspiracy theories take shape differently in the UK, German-speaking countries, the Balkans, the Baltics, Slovakia and Poland. Their findings highlight that conspiracy narratives reflect the political cultures, histories and social tensions of each region, meaning that approaches to tackling them must be tailored rather than imported wholesale from elsewhere.

A key theme across the reports is the feedback loop that enables conspiracy narratives to circulate. Even when politicians or media outlets refer to a conspiracy theory to debunk it, the resulting attention helps it spread further via social media amplification and mainstream exposure. This blurring of online and offline spaces allows fringe ideas to influence political rhetoric, as seen in Europe-wide variations of the “Great Replacement” narrative.

The research also explores how conspiracies evolve in response to local concerns. In the UK, anxieties around Covid-19 restrictions fed into narratives about “15-minute cities”. In German-speaking countries, stigma around conspiracism has pushed much of it to the online sphere. In the Baltics and the Balkans, the legacy of foreign occupation, conflict and surveillance shapes suspicion of elites and fuels a sense of victimhood. Conspiracy theories in Poland and Slovakia frequently target gender and LGBTQ+ rights, often influenced by US culture-war narratives.

The reports identify a lack of evaluation of initiatives designed to counter disinformation. Some fact-checking and NGO efforts themselves become targets of conspiracist suspicion, undermining trust and the stability of their funding. Nevertheless, media literacy campaigns, debunking and fact-checking each have a role to play when adapted to national contexts.

In the UK, the REDACT team argues that the current Online Safety Act does not go far enough. Unlike the EU’s Digital Services Act, it does not explicitly address health misinformation, election-related disinformation or AI-generated content, leaving gaps in the regulation of systemic risks.

Ultimately, the project concludes that tackling conspiracy theories requires more than closing individual online channels. Efforts must address the structural political and social conditions that allow conspiracist narratives to flourish, as well as the business models that incentivise sensational content. The researchers urge a move away from simply asking why the public lacks trust, towards making institutions genuinely worthy of trust.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

HCRI Anthropologist Recognised with Top Feminist Scholarship Award for Groundbreaking Work on Kashmir

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 15:49:38 +0000

, Lecturer in Disasters and Climate Crisis at the , has won the Gloria Anzaldúa Book Prize for his monograph,

Widely regarded as one of the highest honours in the field of feminist studies, the prize is named in tribute to renowned Chicana poet, feminist theorist, and writer Gloria Anzaldúa. It is awarded annually to groundbreaking monographs that significantly advance multicultural feminist research, particularly within Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

The National Women’s Studies Association announced the award at its annual conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in November.

The jury described the book’s contributions as follows:

“Atmospheric Violence: Disaster and Repair in Kashmir offers incredible insights and invitations as we take up [the author’s] question: ‘how we can operate in ways that warp the distance between the academy and community, expert and subject, story and theory, life and poetry’? [The] generous, incisive, beautifully written and visual work informs a lyrical and generative text that is disobedient to the colonial disciplines of extraction normalized in the infrastructure of knowledge production. Atmospheric Violence enriches the depth of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality studies in [its] offering of rich and complex ethnographic scholarship that continually asks readers pause and reframe the role of the researchers, modalities of living and erasure, and the ever-present question of the politics of our location before we can even fathom a response to ‘Who Can Stand with Kashmir?’ [We] thank [the author] for inviting us to pause and delve into these rich scenes of an otherwise.”

This is the fifth international award the monograph has won since its release last year.

Research calls for “sportswashing” rethink amid FIFA Peace Prize rumours

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000

As global attention turns to rumours that FIFA may award a new “Peace Prize” to US President Donald Trump later next month, new research has argued that public debates about politics and sport need far more nuance than the familiar narratives of “sportswashing” allow.

Two new open-access journal articles by Dr Vitaly Kazakov have challenged popular assumptions about how political actors use sport to shape global opinion - and, crucially, how media and audiences participate in that process. Taken together, the studies offer a timely rethink at a moment when sport’s symbolic power is again colliding with international politics.

The first article, published in , revisits the now-ubiquitous term used to describe attempts by authoritarian governments or international organisations to launder their reputations through sport. Dr Kazakov argues that the concept is often taken for granted, treated as a straightforward description of elite and always effective narrative manipulation rather than a complex, contested and historically recurring phenomenon.

The research identifies what Dr Kazakov calls a “normative trap” - a tendency for public commentary, policy analysis and even some academic work to embed moral judgements into the concept of “sportswashing” omitting important aspects of analysis. This, he suggests, can obscure the very dynamics the term is meant to illuminate.

“As debates continue about how meaningful FIFA’s new Peace Prize will be, and who it might be awarded to, it’s more important than ever to understand how narratives about sport take shape and impact political and social life around the globe,” Dr Kazakov said. “If we treat ‘sportswashing’ as a fixed label rather than a process involving media coverage and audience interpretation, we risk misunderstanding why these stories resonate - and who they actually influence.”

His second article, published in the , goes further by examining how information is circulated, authenticated and emotionally charged through sport. Using Qatar’s 2022 FIFA World Cup as a case study, the article applies a five-part “disinformation lifecycle” model developed by The University of Manchester’s Professors Vera Tolz and Stephen Hutchings alongside Dr Kazakov and Dr Sofia Tipaldou from Panteion University, Greece.

The model highlights how political messaging around sport evolves over time, crosses borders and adapts to different languages and cultural contexts. It also emphasises the active role played by journalists and global audiences, whose emotional investments in sport can amplify both criticism and celebration.

“These studies show that sport doesn’t just transmit political messages - it transforms them,” Dr Kazakov added. “Media organisations, fans, NGOs and policymakers all contribute to how ideas about politics, morality and identity circulate around major sporting events.”

The research offers a pointed reminder that, in an era where symbolic gestures from global sporting bodies can carry enormous political weight, understanding the mechanics of narrative formation is essential. Debates around sport, reputation and political power are set to continue - and this work provides a crucial framework for interpreting them.

Post-Covid school attendance crisis is hitting disadvantaged children hardest

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 12:00:01 +0000

Experts from The University of Manchester are warning that school attendance across England still hasn’t recovered for many children since the pandemic - and the gap between rich and poor pupils is growing.

Their findings are the latest in the , which calls for urgent action to help every child stay in school and thrive.

The data shows that:

- Children with Education Health and Care Plans are seven times more likely to miss more than half their school sessions.
- Pupils on Free School Meals are four times more likely to have severe absence.
- Suspensions are nearly four times higher for pupils with special needs or living in poverty.

“Too many children are being failed by a system that doesn’t meet their needs,” said Professor Caroline Bond, who co-led the research alongside Dr Luke Munford.

The researchers say progress on attendance since the pandemic has been slow - and for some children, things are getting worse. They’re calling for a joined-up approach that brings together schools, families and community services. This could include:

- Family Hubs which offer early help, advice and activities to support school readiness
- More flexible routes through education, like apprenticeships and internships
- Enrichment activities, mental health and careers support to support pupil’s broader engagement with learning
- Stronger relationships between teachers, pupils and parents
- Involving young people in decisions to increase their sense of belonging and safety

“Every missed day of school means a missed opportunity,” said Baroness Anne Longfield, founder of the Centre for Young Lives. “This research shines a light on the urgent need to fix attendance and make sure every child gets the education they deserve.”

The Child of the North campaign is a partnership between the N8 Research Partnership and Health Equity North which brings together universities across the North of England - including Manchester, Leeds, Durham, York, Lancaster, Liverpool, Sheffield and Newcastle - to push for fairer futures for children across the North of England.

“If we want to give every child a fair start in life, we need to fix attendance - and that means fixing the barriers that stop children from feeling they belong in school,” said Professor Mark Mon-Williams, who leads the campaign.

University of Manchester hosts unveiling of 2026 BRIT Awards Trophy

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 13:28:59 +0000

The University of Manchester proudly hosted the unveiling of the official 2026 BRIT Awards trophy design at the University’s , marking a major cultural moment as the BRITs prepare to be hosted in Manchester for the first time in their history.

The trophy, designed by internationally acclaimed Manchester-born designer was unveiled during a special event celebrating both the city’s creative heritage and the University’s role as a hub for arts, design, music and performance. The University of Manchester’s , home to the renowned - the UK’s first large-scale, dedicated collection for the preservation and study of popular, counter- and youth culture - helped frame the significance of the occasion.

At the event, attended by fashion, music and drama students from across the University, guests witnessed the first public reveal of the iconic trophy and took part in an in-depth Q&A with Williamson. The conversation, led by , Head of Collections, Teaching and Research at the John Rylands Library, offered students and attendees unique insight into the designer’s creative process, his career journey, and what it means to see the BRITs come to his home city.

Williamson’s design draws deeply from Manchester’s identity. Crafted in amber-toned resin reminiscent of the golden honey of the worker bee, the city’s enduring symbol of resilience, the trophy sits atop a globe representing the global reach and influence of British music.

Heather Cole from the John Rylands Research Institute and Library added: “It was a privilege to host Matthew Williamson and introduce our students to the creative thinking behind this year’s BRITs trophy.

At the John Rylands Library, and through the British Pop Archive, we are committed to preserving and celebrating the cultural movements that shape British identity. Seeing a Manchester-born designer lead this new chapter of the BRIT Awards resonates strongly with our mission, and it was inspiring to give students direct access to such an influential figure.”

, taking place on Saturday 28th February at Manchester’s , marks the first time the ceremony will be hosted outside London. This year’s trophy places Manchester and the University, firmly at the centre of the BRITs’ new era.

Matthew Williamson joins a distinguished list of creatives who have shaped the BRITs trophy, including , , , , , , , . Each year, the BRITs commission a leading artist to reinterpret the iconic statue, ensuring it remains a dynamic symbol of British creativity.

As the BRIT Awards begin their first-ever chapter in Manchester, the University’s involvement underscores its commitment to celebrating and fostering the city’s rich cultural landscape while offering transformative experiences for its students.

Scientists learn to see the hidden world beneath our feet - from the sky

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000

A new study by Dr Angela Harris from The University of Manchester and Professor Richard Bardgett from Lancaster University has revealed that scientists can now detect the hidden world of microbes living in the soil - from the air.

Published in , the research shows that detailed airborne images capturing many parts of the electromagnetic spectrum can be used to predict the abundance and diversity of microbes that live in the soil beneath plant canopies. This offers a new way to monitor soil health and biodiversity.

Soil is the most biodiverse and complex habitat on Earth, and the microbes that live in it - tiny bacteria and fungi that recycle nutrients, store carbon, and keep ecosystems healthy - are fundamental to a healthy planet. Yet, because they live underground, they are notoriously difficult and expensive to measure across large areas.

Recent research shows that the types of plants growing in an area and their traits - such as how fast they grow or what their leaves are made of - can strongly influence soil microbes. What was not known until now was whether these relationships hold up to predict the abundance and diversity of microbes across different ecosystems.

In this study, researchers used airborne sensors that record light far beyond what the human eye can see. Because these sensors capture hundreds of narrow wavelength bands, they reveal fine details about plant leaves and canopies, such as their chemistry, structure, and overall health.

By combining this rich spectral information with field measurements of soil microbes and plant traits collected across the continental United States through the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), the team found strong links between plant canopy reflectance and the types and diversity of microbes living in soil.

“The chemistry and structure of plant leaves, which determine how they reflect light, are tightly linked to the conditions of the soil they grow in,” said Dr Harris. “Because plants and microbes often respond to the same environmental factors - like soil nutrients or climate - we can use what’s happening above ground to predict what is happening below.”

Importantly, the study showed that full-spectrum hyperspectral data - which captures far more detail than traditional satellite imagery - performed far better than simpler vegetation indices such as NDVI. This suggests that upcoming hyperspectral satellites, including the European Space Agency’s CHIME and NASA’s Surface Biology and Geology (SBG) missions, could transform how we monitor soil health on a global scale.

Beyond advancing ecological science, the research could provide vital tools for tracking soil carbon storage, monitoring land degradation, and supporting sustainable land management in the face of climate change.

“This research opens up a powerful new window into Earth’s hidden biodiversity, providing a way to map and monitor soil biodiversity at large scales in a cost-effective way,” said Professor Bardgett.

New study questions the success of town’s billionaire-led revival

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 00:11:00 +0000

Once known to locals as “Bish Vegas” for its bustling pubs, bars and nightlife, Bishop Auckland in County Durham is now at the centre of a very different story.

New research from Dr Saskia Warren at The University of Manchester has revealed how the town’s economic decline and cultural transformation have been shaped by an unusual form of philanthropy - and why this raises pressing questions about power, accountability and fairness.

Dr Warren’s study, published in the journal, investigates the multimillion-pound regeneration led by City of London financier Jonathan Ruffer. Through his charities The Auckland Project and 11 Arches, Ruffer has poured private wealth into the town, launching attractions including the Spanish Gallery, the Faith Museum and the large-scale historical pageant Kynren. His vision is to reinvent Bishop Auckland as a heritage-driven tourist destination.

But Dr Warren’s findings suggest this approach, while headline-grabbing, has not solved the deep problems faced by local people. Bishop Auckland’s town centre remains in visible decline, with shuttered shops and limited job opportunities.

Young residents told local consultations they wanted affordable restaurants, music festivals and free access to Auckland Castle. Instead, much of the investment has been directed into cultural assets that charge entry fees and appeal to visitors from outside the region.

The research highlights a critical tension - philanthropy can bring money and attention to struggling towns, but it also risks concentrating power in the hands of wealthy individuals whose interests may not align with community needs. In Bishop Auckland, Ruffer owns or controls many central buildings, from pubs to heritage sites, effectively reshaping not only the landscape but also the town’s identity.

This model - described by Dr Warren as “evangelical philanthrocapitalism” - mixes religious values with capitalist investment. While it promises moral renewal and economic revival, it echoes a Victorian-style paternalism where elites decide what is “good” for society.

Residents are encouraged to volunteer in cultural projects, but in an area facing poverty and unemployment, unpaid labour can deepen inequalities rather than resolve them.

Dr Warren also points to risks of instability. Disputes between Ruffer and Durham County Council over control of government “levelling up” funds have made headlines, with the philanthropist even threatening to withdraw his estimated £50,000 a day of financial support. This raises fears about what happens if such private investment is suddenly pulled from a town that has come to rely on it.

Her research challenges the idea that philanthrocapitalism alone can fix the social and economic damage caused by austerity and industrial decline. Instead, it calls for more democratic decision-making, fairer regional distribution of cultural funding, and careful scrutiny of how wealthy donors shape public life.

Stronger communities linked to better health, new study finds

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 08:30:00 +0000

New research from The University of Manchester has found that areas with higher community resilience experience better health - including lower rates of drugs, alcohol and suicide deaths - even when those areas face significant deprivation.

The study tested a new “Community Resilience Index” which measures how well local areas can withstand long-term pressures such as economic hardship, poor housing and inequality. Unlike traditional deprivation scores, it focuses on the strengths of a community - things like local infrastructure, social connection, opportunities and stability.

The team analysed data from 307 local authorities across England. They looked at five health measures - deaths of despair (including alcohol-specific deaths, drug-related deaths and suicide), cardiovascular disease, COVID-19 mortality, excess deaths during the pandemic and people’s self-rated general health.

Their findings, published in the , showed that areas with higher resilience scores had lower rates of deaths of despair, lower cardiovascular disease mortality and more residents reporting good health. These patterns remain even after accounting for deprivation, meaning that resilience offers extra insight into why some communities stay healthier than others.

One of the most striking discoveries was how resilience interacts with deprivation. In the poorest areas, resilience appeared to make the biggest difference. For deaths of despair in particular, communities with higher resilience had lower rates compared to equally deprived areas that lacked the same local strengths.

Interestingly, the index did not predict COVID-19 mortality or pandemic-related excess deaths - the researchers say this may reflect that some aspects of resilience – such as good transport links, mobility and strong social connectedness – can increase exposure risk during fast-moving infectious disease outbreaks.

The team believes their findings could help shape future public health policy. While deprivation measures like the Index of Multiple Deprivation will remain key tools, resilience-based measures may help councils and national bodies identify communities that need support - not just because of what they lack, but because of the assets they can build upon.

The researchers hope the index will be used alongside deprivation indices to guide investment in social infrastructure, voluntary sector capacity, community spaces and local connectivity.

Innovating inclusion: Creative methods for non-speaking communities

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 15:53:39 +0000

I was absolutely delighted to welcome a diverse and engaged group of researchers and practitioners to our recent event, where we explored innovative and effective ways to research with non-speaking autistic individuals. The day was expertly put together by Freddie Jones, a second-year SEED postgraduate researcher, and supported by (a partnership between Universities in the region).

Lightning talks

The day kicked off with a series of lightning talks that really set the tone for the day.

First up was (University of Cambridge), who shared her research involving autistic people with high support needs. Holly introduced us to the ethnographic methods she uses - what she beautifully described as “hanging around in a particular place, with the goal of understanding that place, and particularly the people in it.”

Her work highlights a big issue: the systems we work within and our over-reliance on spoken language. Holly reminded us how hard it can be to access training on adapting research methods and tools, and the lack of expertise and support networks in this area. She described ethnography as a “tender” approach - one that allows us to produce close, attentive accounts of people’s experiences and create ways for them to be seen and heard.

Next, we heard from (Leeds Beckett University) whose work was equally fascinating. Verity uses digital stories - short videos that convey the perspectives of autistic children and young people. Her approach centres on creating space for different voices to emerge, especially those who don’t fit traditional data collection methods. We were treated to examples of digital stories, including powerful “I am” and “we are” narratives that captured both individual and collective perspectives.

Freddie then shared insights from his PhD research and plans to foster creative approaches to inclusion, tailoring, and empowerment within non-speaking communities. A key concern that emerged was whether the wider academic community is always truly welcoming of these innovative methods — and the associated challenges of publishing such work in traditional disciplinary spaces. Freddie also raised important ethical questions, such as how to adapt consent processes when methods are necessarily responsive and flexible.

Rolling up our sleeves

After the talks, we moved into a more hands-on session. Participants worked together to develop a set of practical guidelines - a hallmark of Methods North West events, which always aim to combine theory with action.

What struck me most during this workshop was the sheer creativity required to involve people who are so often spoken for, rather than listened to. That creativity was on full display when Professor Jill Bradshaw introduced us to , a visual communication tool that helps people express their feelings and views. Meanwhile, Verity guided participants through making their own digital stories — a brilliant way to experience these methods firsthand.

Why this matters

The day reinforced something vital: if we want to include non-speaking people in research, we need to embrace creativity and treat individuals as, well, individuals. This event was a wonderful example of research and practice coming together, and it was inspiring to see so much energy and commitment in the room.

A huge thank you to Freddie for leading such an engaging session. We wish him every success with his PhD and can’t wait to hear more about his, and others, work in this space soon!

The arts can transform young people’s wellbeing and deliver big economic returns, study finds

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 12:50:25 +0000

A new study led by The University of Manchester’s #BeeWell team and PBE (formerly Pro Bono Economics) has found that artistic activities can dramatically improve young people’s wellbeing - with effects equivalent to the happiness boost that unemployed adults experience when moving into work.

, based on the Factory International Schools Programme (FISP), compared students who took part in a creative intervention with a control group who did not. It found that creative pursuits like poetry, photography and music composition can help teenagers express themselves, build confidence and reconnect with learning - all while offering significant value for money.

The findings come at a critical time. The UK has the lowest levels of youth wellbeing in Europe, with one in four young people reporting mental health difficulties by the age of 19. However, school funding for arts subjects continues to decline, leaving many children - especially those in disadvantaged areas - without any access to creative opportunities.

FISP, run by Factory International, worked with 181 pupils across five Greater Manchester schools, including those facing barriers such as low attendance or financial hardship. Over ten months, professional artists led workshops in schools, using different art forms to help pupils explore big themes. Examples include collaging to examine 'What is power?' and photography to explore 'My stomping ground.'

The results speak for themselves - the study found that taking part improved young people’s life satisfaction scores by 0.6 points on a 10-point scale, a change comparable to one of the most powerful wellbeing boosts possible – a move from unemployment to employment. Using Treasury-approved methods to put a monetary value on wellbeing, this is worth almost £10,000 per young person.

The programme delivered an estimated £7 in benefits for every £1 spent, which shows that arts engagement is as good for the economy as it is for the mind.

Behind these figures are some powerful personal stories. Alexa, a Year 9 student who moved to the UK recently, used to shy away from sharing her ideas. Through the programme, she found her voice - writing poetry, mentoring younger students and dreaming of becoming a writer.

Brian, another participant, faced a turbulent year after his mother’s illness. Through music, photography and collage, he found a safe space to express emotion and rebuild confidence. He’s now on a scholarship studying Sports Science, and is determined to use his creativity to help others.

With arts subjects continuing to decrease in school timetables, the research provides compelling evidence for policymakers to rethink how creativity is valued.

“This analysis meaningfully contributes to the body of evidence on investing in arts and culture as an investment in young people’s future,” said Dr Maliha Rahanaz, author of the report. “Every young person deserves the chance to imagine, create and belong.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Social gender norms deepen elderly care burdens for Thai women

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Buddhist spirituality could transform modern mental health care, study finds

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 15:06:46 +0000

A new study from an expert at The University of Manchester has found that ancient Buddhist wisdom could help address growing social and emotional challenges created by modern life and the pressures of today’s mental health systems.

The research by trainee counselling psychologist Minwoo Kang, which has been published in , calls for a re-thinking of how spirituality can be understood and used in psychotherapy.

Kang’s work suggests that Buddhism offers much more than meditation or mindfulness - it provides an ethical and spiritual framework that can help counter the individualism and stress often driven by neoliberalism.

“Mindfulness has become popular in workplaces and therapy rooms, but it is often stripped of its deeper spiritual roots,” Kang explains. “When used only as a productivity tool, it risks becoming part of the very system that causes people distress. Buddhism, in its full context, reminds us of compassion, interconnection and humility - qualities that modern mental health care needs more than ever.”

Kang’s paper proposes a new approach he calls “Buddhism as method.” This framework uses Buddhist teachings such as impermanence, conditionality and relativity to critically examine the ways mental-health practice can unintentionally reinforce social injustice and individual blame.

Drawing on his own experiences of growing up in South Korea and training in the UK, Kang explores how spirituality can serve as both a personal and social force for change.

“Spiritual growth isn’t just about inner peace,” he says. “It can also inspire collective action - challenging racism, materialism and the climate crisis by helping people recognise their deep connection with others and with the natural world.”

The study highlights that Buddhist principles - like the understanding that everything is interconnected and constantly changing - can encourage psychological therapists and researchers to adopt greater self-awareness, compassion and ethical reflection in their work.

It also argues that spirituality can empower individuals to resist the sense of isolation and competition fostered by consumer culture.

Kang hopes his research will inspire future psychologists and psychotherapists to look beyond Western, medicalised approaches to therapy and to embrace more holistic, inclusive perspectives.

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NGOs can serve communities better by listening more, researchers say

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 09:15:00 +0000

A new study has shed light on how international charities and non-governmental organisations can better serve some of the most marginalised people in the world - by learning to truly listen to them.

Dr Sofia Yasmin from The University of Manchester’s Alliance Manchester Business School and Professor Chaudhry Ghafran from Durham University looked at how a major international NGO delivered a clean water and sanitation project in two of Pakistan’s poorest urban communities - one Christian, and one Muslim.

The team spent time on the ground, talking with local residents, community leaders and NGO staff. Their aim was to understand how accountability - the idea that organisations should answer to the people they serve - works in practice in places where poverty, religion, gender and social class all intersect.

“What we found was that even within poor communities, people don’t experience aid in the same way,” said Dr Yasmin. “A Christian minority neighbourhood, for example, faced a deeper level of exclusion and was grateful simply to be seen, while another Muslim community - though still poor - felt able to challenge and question the project. These differences really matter if we want development to be fair and inclusive.”

The study - published in the - revealed that while NGOs often talk about “community participation,” decision-making can remain tightly controlled by donors and distant managers. Projects are frequently governed by strict budgets and performance targets, leaving little room for flexibility or for local people to shape outcomes.

Yet the study also uncovered moments of hope. In one community, trust between residents and NGO workers grew not through slogans or workshops, but through the visible arrival of clean water systems and working infrastructure. “People believed what they could see,” said Dr Yasmin. “Trust was built when promises turned into pipes.”

The paper introduces the idea of “fluid responsiveness” - a call for NGOs to treat accountability not as a tick-box exercise, but as a living, evolving relationship with the communities they serve.

Dr Yasmin hopes the findings will encourage international charities, donors and governments to rethink how they design and monitor conservation projects. “If we want sustainable development,” she said, “we have to stop speaking for people and start listening to them - especially those who are most often ignored.”

Professor Toni Haastrup shares expertise on Feminist Foreign Policy

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

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

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

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

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

Outdated Westminster rules undermine democracy by excluding smaller parties

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Public invited to open discussion on migration at John Rylands Library

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 14:20:56 +0000

The Migration, Refugees and Asylum Research Group at the University of Manchester’s Global Development Institute (GDI) is inviting the public to take part in an open and honest conversation about migration.

The event - which will be held at Manchester’s historic John Rylands Library on Friday 14 November from 2-4pm - aims to challenge harmful myths and misunderstandings about migrants and refugees in the UK and the wider world.

At a time when discussions around migration can often be divisive, this event seeks to bring people together. It offers a welcoming space for anyone with questions or concerns about migration to hear from experts, share their views and take part in respectful discussion. The goal is simple - to replace fear and misinformation with understanding and fact-based dialogue.

The event forms part of the , a global initiative that promotes truth, solidarity and the defence of academic freedom. The event will highlight the many ways migrants contribute to the city of Manchester and to communities across the UK and the wider world - from building businesses and supporting public services, to enriching culture and everyday life.

The panel will feature leading voices on migration and social justice including Dr Tess Hartland (The University of Manchester), Professor Anandi Ramamurthy (Sheffield Hallam University) and Professor Jan Nederveen Pieterse (University of California, Santa Barbara). The discussion will be accompanied by live music from Richard Fay and Intercultural Musicking and poetry from Balraj Samrai, adding creative energy to the afternoon’s exchange of ideas.

The event is inspired by the tradition of the “teach-in”, which began in the 1960s during the Vietnam War. These gatherings were created by university communities as spaces to question official narratives, learn from one another, and promote social awareness. The Manchester event will expand this format into a “teach-in/out”, inviting not just students and staff, but the wider public - ensuring everyone has a seat at the table.

While the political climate may have changed since the 1960s, the challenge of misinformation remains. In today’s UK, migrants are too often portrayed as a threat rather than a source of strength and renewal. This event aims to correct falsehoods by offering evidence-based insights and real stories of migration - celebrating diversity and community rather than division.

“Migration is one of the most debated topics in the world today, including in the UK, and is clearly shaping our national dialogue more than ever before,” said Tanja Bastia, Professor of Migration and Development. “This event is about providing a calm and engaging environment where anyone can come to learn, listen and ask questions about migration.”

Everyone is welcome to join the conversation, whether you are a resident, visitor, student, or simply curious about the realities of migration.

To reserve your place, please register on .

New Creative Manchester report explores workforce challenges in Manchester’s cultural sector

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 13:57:26 +0000

With recently launching a new cultural strategy for the city: Always Everywhere (2024-2034), the set out to offer key insights into the current issues facing Manchester’s cultural workforce. In line with the strategy’s renewed focus on equality, diversity and inclusion, the fellow undertook a deep dive into issues relating to workforce diversity, recruitment, retention, talent development and skills.

Through 25 interviews, and two stakeholder roundtables with senior leaders, emerging leaders, and employment support practitioners from cultural institutions of different sizes, the research sought to highlight the perspectives of the sector, whilst identifying sector-needs in terms of building a more equitable and diverse leadership cohort.

The study’s key findings reveal that despite the widespread uptake of EDI initiatives and workforce development interventions, there are still stark inequalities around diversity and leadership in Manchester. The issues range from challenges diversifying the leadership cohort; to problems attracting, recruiting, developing and retaining emerging leaders from diverse backgrounds; to widespread experiences of isolation in leadership; to skills gaps relating to fundraising, digitalisation, and pastoral support; to mental health issues and the wider care crisis; to challenges around responding to polarised political debates.

The study highlights how this is a sector which not only acknowledges these problems, but they are also pushing forward numerous initiatives, policies, and workstreams in their endeavours to cultivate workplaces where minoritised groups can thrive. Yet, the conversations also indicate how the sector is faced by innumerable wider structural and cultural barriers, as detailed in the report.

This is a difficult context. However, despite the ongoing structural challenges facing the sector, something needs to be done. This report puts forward five key recommendations which offer a route to broadscale positive change in Manchester’s cultural industry. These recommendations make use of several Manchester-specific opportunities - namely, the close-knit ties between organisations, the context and tone of the new cultural strategy, and the desire for deeper cross-institutional collaboration around EDI.

Recommendations

Encourage a new network of cultural leaders – this network should take a focus on including and developing minoritised leaders and organisations in Manchester.
Create a formalised Manchester mentorship scheme – to focus on including leaders from diverse backgrounds, and facilitated by collaborative efforts between the new network of cultural leaders, the Always Everywhere Arts HR Working Group, and the Oxford Road Corridor culture network.
Facilitate joined-up coaching provision across cultural organisations - as part of the commitments of the new cultural leader’s network and The Manchester Cultural Consortium – sharing skills, expertise, and building networks for emerging leaders from diverse backgrounds.
Mid to high-level training schemes/placements for emerging leaders – supported by Manchester higher education providers and skills development providers in the city, including Factory Academy and others. Training should take a focus on supporting leaders from diverse backgrounds, understanding their specific development needs, and creating bespoke and tailored programmes of support.
Develop a joined-up EDI model – creating frameworks for organisations to home in on and share expertise in specific areas of EDI and workforce support.

Curran-Troop, H (2025). . The University of Manchester/Creative Manchester.

School isolation rooms are damaging pupil wellbeing, new study warns

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 11:43:46 +0100

Children placed in school ‘isolation rooms’ are losing learning time, feeling cut off from their peers and suffering damage to their wellbeing, according to new research from The University of Manchester.

The study, published in the , is the first large-scale investigation into internal exclusion in England and reveals that the practice is far more common - and harmful - than many parents or school leaders may realise. The researchers hope their findings will spark urgent debate among teachers, policymakers and parents about how schools can support pupils to achieve and flourish using alternative approaches to managing their behaviour.

Among their recommendations are methods that are restorative (focusing on repairing harm and rebuilding relationships rather than solely on exclusion) and trauma-informed (recognising that some disruptive behaviour may stem from underlying trauma or adverse experiences). The research recognises the challenges of managing behaviour but calls for the development of alternative approaches.

The team of experts analysed survey data from the #BeeWell programme which included more than 34,000 pupils at 121 mainstream secondary schools across Greater Manchester. They found that one in 12 pupils (8.3%) reported being placed in isolation at least once a week, often spending more than a full school day there.

Isolation - also known as internal exclusion - involves removing a pupil from class for disruptive behaviour and making them work alone or in silence in a separate room. Unlike suspensions or permanent exclusions, there are no national rules on how isolation should be used, or for how long.

Key findings from the research:

One in 12 pupils (8.3%) reported being placed in isolation at least once a week
The average time spent in isolation was 8.5 hours a week – more than a full school day
Even after accounting for behavioural difficulties:
-    Children with recognised special educational needs (an Education, Health and Care plan) were more than twice as likely to be in isolation
-    Children on Free School Meals were more than one and a half times more likely to be in isolation
-    Children who identified as LGBTQ+ were nearly twice as likely to be in isolation
-    Black, Asian and mixed heritage children were more likely to be in isolation than their White British peers
Isolated pupils reported reduced belonging, poorer relationships with teachers, and (for girls) lower levels of mental wellbeing than a very closely matched sample of their non-isolated peers.
Schools with higher rates of suspensions also tended to isolate more pupils, undermining the idea that internal exclusion prevents more serious sanctions.

“Internal exclusion is happening every day in classrooms across England, yet it is largely hidden from view,” said lead author Dr Emma Thornton. “We know that it can provide an effective short-term solution for teachers dealing with disruption in their class, who want to create the conditions for all pupils to thrive. But our findings show that it is disproportionately applied to young people most in need of support, and leads to lost learning, weaker connections with teachers, and in some cases poorer mental health.”

#BeeWell is one of 40 organisations calling for a government definition of inclusion as measurable through data on the amount of lost learning - time spent away from the classroom through isolation, suspension and absence - and through pupil experience data, such as the #BeeWell data used in this study. The Inclusion for All campaign asks that the upcoming Schools White Paper should provide guidance and support schools to continuously improve and reduce the amount of time spent away from classrooms and peers.

“What’s needed is more research and practice-sharing on effective ways to set up internal spaces that are diagnostic, supportive and get children back to class as soon as possible,” said Kiran Gill, CEO of charity The Difference charity. “That’s why The Difference is working with schools across the country to better measure inclusion, and to set up spaces internally to support young people in crisis before their challenges escalate. We’re excited to bring some of those school leaders together with #BeeWell and others at our annual conference IncludED in January to share strategies that are working, as measured by pupils’ own experiences.”

The research is part of the , a major study of young people’s wellbeing in Greater Manchester, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton, funded by The University of Manchester and partners including The National Lottery Community Fund.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

��ýAPP�� examines why a third of new teachers quit within five years

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 13:58:12 +0100

As the government continues to grapple with the challenge of recruiting and retaining new teachers, a new study from The University of Manchester has shed light on why some flourish in the classroom, while others struggle and even leave the profession within just a few years.

The research, which has been published in the , comes at a critical time. England faces a teacher shortage, with pupil numbers rising and more than one in three teachers leaving within five years of starting their careers.

The team, led by Joanne Taberner and Dr Sarah MacQuarrie at the Manchester Institute of Education, investigated whether personality traits could help explain why some early career teachers (those with fewer than two years of experience) manage the intense pressures of the job, while others burn out.

Surveying 130 new primary and secondary teachers across England - mostly aged between 21 and 30 - the study examined links between personality and “mental toughness,” a skill that reflects how well people cope with stress, setbacks and pressure.

The results were striking. Teachers who scored higher in extraversion (being outgoing and confident) and conscientiousness (being organised and diligent) also scored higher in mental toughness. In other words, those who felt more comfortable socially and were naturally more structured in their approach were better able to withstand the demands of the classroom.

More specifically, one element stood out - social self-esteem, a facet of extraversion. Teachers who felt comfortable in their own skin and believed they were liked by others were far more likely to display mental toughness. This finding, the researchers say, could explain why some teachers adapt quickly to classroom challenges like disruptive behaviour, heavy workloads and accountability pressures.

The study also explored whether “narcissism” may have hidden benefits for teachers. While some previous research has suggested that traits like self-confidence linked to narcissism could help people cope with stress, this Manchester study found otherwise - the apparent benefits disappeared once social self-esteem was taken into account, indicating the trait offers no real benefit for teachers.

“We often focus on workload and policy pressures when discussing why teachers leave, but our findings show personal characteristics - particularly social self-esteem - play a crucial role in how teachers experience those pressures,” said Dr MacQuarrie.

The implications for teacher training are clear. Helping new teachers build confidence in their abilities and develop strong professional identities could boost their resilience and improve retention. Techniques such as structured self-reflection, mentoring and clear goal-setting may help foster the social self-esteem linked to staying power in the profession.

New model helps supermarkets keep shelves stocked during crises - and go greener

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 12:06:23 +0100

Supermarket shoppers across the UK are all too familiar with empty shelves when disruption strikes. Whether it was the panic buying of COVID-19, floods affecting deliveries or strikes in distribution centres, the fragility of supply chains has affected most of us in recent years.

In response to this, a team of researchers has developed a new way to help retailers keep goods moving during crises – at the same time as reducing their costs and lowering their carbon footprint.

The study, led by Dr Arijit De from The University of Manchester’s Alliance Manchester Business School, looked at how distribution networks can adapt when part of the system goes down. Retail supply chains rely on a mix of highly reliable but expensive distribution centres, and cheaper, more vulnerable ones that are more likely to suffer disruption. When one of these vulnerable hubs fails, the impact can cascade through the network, causing shortages, emergency transport costs and spikes in carbon emissions.

To tackle this, the team created a two-stage analytical model. First, they used game theory to understand when warehouses are likely to cooperate and share stock with one another during a disruption. Then, they built an optimisation model that works out how to move goods most efficiently across the network, not only saving money but also cutting fuel use and carbon emissions.

The model was then tested with real-world data from a UK retailer. The results showed that smarter “goods sharing” strategies - where reliable warehouses temporarily cover for disrupted ones - can significantly lower costs while keeping customer demand satisfied. When environmental factors such as fuel consumption and emissions are included, the savings are even greater.

“Events like COVID, floods or strikes show just how vulnerable supply chains are to disruption, said Dr De. “Our model gives companies a practical way to plan ahead, ensuring business continuity during crises while reducing their environmental impact. It’s about designing supply chains that are both resilient and sustainable.”

The research also found that greener, optimised redistribution strategies could reduce fuel costs by up to 30% in disruption scenarios compared to traditional approaches. That means lower emissions, lower costs for retailers, and ultimately fewer shortages for shoppers.

The study highlights practical lessons for UK supermarkets and other retailers facing uncertain times. With climate change expected to increase extreme weather events and global supply chains still under strain, building networks that can flex under pressure will be vital.

The paper, Proactive Logistics-Redistribution Strategic Planning in Response to Facility Disruptions under Contingencies, was co-authored with colleagues from the Indian Institute of Management, National Taiwan University and the University of Liverpool, and is published in the .

Life through a lens - how photos unlock the stories behind places

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:30:09 +0100

Research from The University of Manchester has uncovered how something as simple as walking and taking photographs can reveal powerful stories about people’s lives and the places they live.

Published in The Royal Geographical Society’s , the study worked with older residents of Prestwich, Greater Manchester to explore the memories, emotions and experiences tied to local spaces - from leafy parks to busy high streets. Participants took the researcher with them on journeys, snapping photos along the way and sharing what these places meant to them.

For 67-year-old Paul, a walk through Prestwich Clough brought back vivid childhood memories of exploring ponds, catching tadpoles, and playing games with friends. For others, like Ben and Reg, a trip up a church tower became an opportunity to share stories about community, heritage, and family life. And for George, a wheelchair user, taking the tram into Manchester highlighted the challenges of accessibility - but also the importance of places like the Central Library café, where he felt welcome and connected.

Dr Amy Barron, from the Department of Geography, led the project. She said: “Places are never just bricks, paths or buildings. They hold memories, feelings, and connections that shape who we are. By walking with people, listening to their stories, and looking at the photos they chose to take, we were able to see how deeply personal and emotional these everyday spaces really are.”

The project was carried out at a time when Greater Manchester was first starting to work towards becoming the world’s first ‘age-friendly’ city-region, a global initiative designed to make cities better places to grow old. The research highlights why it’s important to listen to the voices of older people - not just through surveys and statistics, but by taking the time to share in their experiences.

The findings show that places carry people’s histories with them. Memories of childhood, family traditions, and community connections live on in familiar landscapes. At the same time, small everyday routines — like visiting a library, volunteering at a church, or walking the dog — show how places help create a sense of belonging and identity.

The research also points to wider benefits. City planners, museums, and community groups could use similar methods to understand how people use local spaces, collect living memories, and bring different voices into conversations about the future of towns and cities.

Focusing on the voices of older people highlights the importance of everyday places and the rich, personal stories they hold. It shows that the places we pass through each day - the park, the market, the church, the tram stop - are much more than just backdrops. They are living parts of our personal and collective stories.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cheaper, fresher, greener - new research promises lower prices for local food

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 11:12:38 +0100

A team of researchers has found new ways to make it cheaper - and greener - for small food producers to get their goods to customers.

The study, led by Alliance Manchester Business School’s Dr Arijit De and published in the journal, looked at how local food hubs can work more efficiently. These hubs act like a central marketplace: farmers and small food businesses bring products to one place, where they are packed and delivered to shoppers.

While this sounds simple, the reality can be costly and environmentally damaging. Many producers operate alone, driving long distances to drop off small loads. This creates more van journeys, higher costs, and - despite being “local” - surprisingly high carbon emissions. Rural farms and food businesses face especially high distribution costs, as longer travel distances and fewer delivery points make transport less efficient.

The research team worked with Food and Drink North East (FADNE), a community business in Newcastle, which launched the ‘Local Heroes’ hub during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns. The hub helped over 150 producers - from dairy farmers to craft brewers - sell directly to households.

Using real delivery data, the researchers created a model to test scenarios. The results show that if producers share transport more effectively, they can cut delivery costs and fuel use. Even better, replacing diesel vans with electric vehicles could reduce costs by nearly one-third and slash carbon emissions by up to 70%.

The findings also matter for families struggling with the cost of living. Delivery costs can push up food prices. By making transport more efficient, hubs like Local Heroes can keep food affordable while still supporting small businesses. This is especially important in rural regions, where high logistics costs have long limited farmer incomes and consumer access.

“The North East has some of England’s highest child poverty levels, but also a growing demand for healthy, locally produced food,” said co-authors Dr Barbara Tocco and Professor Matthew Gorton from , Newcastle University. “This work shows how smarter logistics can help more people access it without harming the environment.”

The study also highlights resilience. During Covid-19, when supermarkets ran low on supplies, food hubs were vital to connect farmers directly with households. Strengthening those networks will help communities to withstand future shocks from pandemics, rising fuel prices or climate change.

The researchers hope their model can be used by food hubs across the UK and Europe. With farming under pressure from economic and environmental challenges, small changes in delivery routes and vehicle choices could make a big difference.

The findings build on the team’s previous research which has been shared on the EU’s business advice platform , as well as being raised in UK Parliament questions about and .

New research sheds light on Britain’s forgotten role in the French Resistance

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 10:25:56 +0100

New research by Dr Laure Humbert from The University of Manchester and Dr Raphaële Balu from Sorbonne University has revealed how Britain’s vital contribution to the French Resistance during the Second World War was largely forgotten in France - and why this silence lasted for decades.

The study, published in French journal as part of a special issue on ‘Les invisibles de la Résistance’ [the invisibles in the Resistance] edited by Professor Claire Andrieu, highlights the many ways British men and women supported the Resistance - from sending secret agents behind enemy lines to working side by side with Free French forces in mobile hospitals - and explores why this contribution was not officially celebrated in the aftermath of war.

One striking example is the story of the Hadfield Spears hospital, a Franco-British medical unit set up in 1940 by American philanthropist Mary Spears and Lady Hadfield, with support from the Free French in London. Staffed by British nurses and doctors alongside Free French medics, the hospital followed the troops across campaigns in the Middle East, North Africa, Italy, and finally France. It treated thousands of wounded soldiers and became a symbol of cooperation between the two nations. But in 1945, just after the victory parades in Paris, the unit was suddenly dissolved. Official recognition never came, and its story slipped into obscurity.

Another case examined is that of the Special Operations Executive (SOE), the British service that parachuted around 1,800 agents into occupied France. These men and women risked their lives to arm and advise Resistance fighters, often building strong friendships with local groups. But as liberation came, Charles de Gaulle, keen to re-establish France’s independence, dismissed several of these agents in person. Their contribution, once celebrated in Britain, was gradually erased from French accounts of the Resistance.

The study shows that this sudden “falling-out” in 1944-45 was not only about personalities, but also about sovereignty and post-war politics - the result was a long-lasting “invisibility” of Britain’s role in French collective memory.

While in the UK the exploits of SOE agents became the stuff of books, films and television dramas, and while the Hadfield Spears unit appeared at the BBC, in France these same stories were largely absent from official commemorations.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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