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Year: 2018

Clap-gate takes the world by storm

Written by Amy Wei on . Posted in News.

A global media storm has followed the Senate motion to “swap audible clapping out for British Sign Language (BSL) clapping at SU events”. First shared by BBC North West’s Twitter account, The Mancunion’s story went on to the front pages of national UK newspapers, prime-time television, and even international news.

The University of Manchester Students’ Union’s (SU) policy caught the eye of national UK newspapers such as The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, The i, The Sun, The Daily Star, The Daily Express, Metro, and The Times. Internationally, ABC News picked up the story after one-time Presidential candidate Jeb Bush tweeted the story, writing: “Not cool, University of Manchester. Not cool.” It was also covered by Russia’s Sputnik International, and Australian radio station 3AWRadio.

Good Morning Britain co-host Piers Morgan tweeted eight times about the SU policy and its fallout. His seminal tweet, on Tuesday 2nd October, screenshotted The Mancunion‘s original story with the caption: “Britain’s losing its mind.” The tweet gained over 18,000 likes and over 4,000 retweets in two days.

Piers Morgan debated SU Exec International Students Officer Riddi Viswanathan on the show on Tuesday morning. In the same show, he asked celebrity businessman Lord Alan Sugar what he thought about the SU’s move, to which The Apprentice host retorted: “Well you have always attracted the clap haven’t you.”

Morgan was forced to apologise on air to “anyone offended” by Lord Sugar’s lewd joke.

The original policy, proposed to Senate by Liberation & Access Exec Officer Sara Khan, resolved: “to swap audible clapping out for BSL clapping at SU events in order to make them more accessible”, and secondly, “to encourage student groups and societies to do the same, and to include BSL clapping as a part of inclusion training.”

However, the SU have since released an official statement that they “are not banning audible clapping” and that the policy resolves to “encourage British Sign Language (BSL) clapping during our democratic events only.”

Sara Khan commented on the media storm by saying: “The thing about this position is that intellectually I think that we know that things will get covered, but until a few months ago when we had the media explosion over the poetry — I think that was the first time I realised that people outside of the University and Manchester would care about what we were doing. I’ve been bombarded with media requests, emails, and tweets constantly.

“We’ve had quite a few students email us personally, or tweet at us, or comment on things, saying that they have issues like autism or sensory issues and they’re really happy to see this in place. It makes them feel like they want to take part because their concerns are being taken into account. One person told me, ‘I’ve never taken part in SU democracy before but now I want to’, which is really cool.

“Something I’ve found really bizarre is that… most of the abuse I received wasn’t [racially charged], but some of them were. They commented on the fact that I was gay or Pakistani. ”

Riddi Viswanathan remarked that “this week has been an extremely busy, but a fun-filled and thought-provoking one. One big lesson learnt is how the media blow very small issues up in order to match their narrative and get across the points they believe in and label us as snowflakes.

“What has been heartwarming is students who have never spoken up, to speak up and recognise their disabilities and see the SU as a place for them. Also it’s extremely encouraging to see many other Unions to so want to experiment with BSL clapping in their democratic events – the University of Bedfordshire equality team have been supportive of using BSL and making democratic events more accessible.”

Student supporters of the motion include Jasmine, a second year French and Spanish undergrad said: “I might have thought it was a joke initially, but [I am] someone with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and anxiety. When we get stressed, the hypersensitivity that people with ASD experience means that unexpected, loud or unpleasant sounds can become magnified and trigger intense reactions like panic attacks, ticks and, in cases such as mine, dissociation and seizures.
“Once people adapt to the idea, I don’t think not clapping is a massive sacrifice to pay for increased accessibility and sensitivity to those who would benefit from it.”

Students remain divided on the issue however, with Sarah commenting: “there are so many other issues pertaining to inclusion of people with disabilities and minorities that the SU can address.

“‘Suggestions’ such as these just further seek to isolate people by calling things out that many people of their targeted demographic don’t have an issue with. This is a classic example of people creating issues of ‘broken things’ instead of actively seeking out and fixing things that are truly wrong.”

My time with the Swing Dance society

Written by julietteflach on . Posted in Societies.

As you walk into the freshers fair on the first day you’re overwhelmed by the sight of so many society’s stalls and the smell of free pizza. You may make a beeline for a set stall, or like me, you might want to try something new.

When I began university, I left the freshers fair with a bag fall of crumpled up pieces of paper about anything from women’s rugby to model UN. When I got back to halls, I started looking through the pile in an attempt to decide how I wanted to fill my first week at university.

Based on this decision, I turned up on my own, with a water bottle in my hand and trainers on my feet, ready to dive straight into my first ever swing dance workshop. Two years on I’m still delighted that, for some reason, I gave the Swing Dance Society a try. It’s wonderful now to see fresh-faced freshers coming to the first session of this academic year, with no prior swing dancing skills and knowing that, by the end of the year, they could be leading you onto the dance floor at the Royal Albert Hall ready to Lindy Hop and Charleston to live big bands.

‘But what is Swing Dancing?’ I hear you ask…

Swing dancing is an umbrella term for several different dance styles.  It dates back to the 20s, 30s, and 40s, however, it has also been influenced by the period of ‘rediscovery’ which brought the dance styles back and has spread them across the world. Now you can find a range of interpretations, from Swing Dancers re-enacting a 20s style evening to a group swing dancing to electrofunk music in the middle of a club!

The University of Manchester Swing Dance society sessions consist of workshops teaching people basic steps and combination of moves from a number of these styles. Followed by social dancing to put what you’ve learned into practise. But unlike other societies, your week doesn’t have to end there! Manchester is lucky enough to have a vibrant Swing Dancing community, meaning every night of the week there are swing dance lessons and socials going on in bars, clubs, cafes, halls, and dance studios.

As a result of the diverse and widespread nature of the Swing Dance community, not only will you have saved yourself a gym membership, you will also access a whole network of wonderful people. The physical, social, emotional, and (optional) intellectual support leaves members winning all round! You can tell, I’m sold. But don’t just take my word for it. I met up with a fellow swing dancer to sit and chat about our experiences, and here’s what he had to say.

“You’re learning a skill which is going to benefit you so much in life, socially, musically and dance-wise. Even if you decide to try a different kind of dance later, that foundation is going to be really useful to you.

“We have awesome socials, an awesome community, awesome music, and DJs, we get awesome food and discounts at Revs, the list goes on! No matter what you want out of it, you will find it. Even if you’re not with the society, you will find that with swing, you will probably find a lot of things that you didn’t realise you were looking for or needed.”

Fancy giving it a go? Check out the Facebook group for times, and come along!

Photo: Manchester RAG

Get involved: Manchester RAG

Written by Chloe Hatton on . Posted in Societies.

If you’re interested in getting involved with raising money for good causes during your time at university but don’t know where to start, look no further than Manchester RAG.

RAG are the fundraising side of the Student’s Union, and they raise money for charities across the UK and internationally. This is done through a range of on-campus events, as well as international challenges. This year, there are four international trips that you can take part in, and the best part is that it’s all for charity!

The ‘Amazon Adventure for Meningitis Now‘ will see you spend ten days in the Amazon Rainforest, experiencing the wildlife, and learning survival skills such as spearfishing, whilst raising money for Meningitis Now — the only charity dedicated to fighting meningitis in the UK.

Alternatively, you could take an eleven-day trip, including a visit to Kathmandu and trekking up to Base Camp on Mount Everest as part of the ‘Everest Base Camp trek for Action Against Hunger‘. This challenge will raise money for Action Against Hunger, a charity leading the global fight against hunger, saving the lives of children and working with their communities before and after disaster strikes.

If cycling is more your thing, the ‘London to Paris Cycle for Breast Cancer Now’ is a five day trip from London to Paris, culminating in a night in the French capital! Breast Cancer Now is the UK’s largest breast cancer research charity, dedicated to funding vital cancer research.

For the mountaineers, the ‘Three Peaks Trek for The Children’s Society’, will have you climb Britain’s three highest peaks (Scafell Pike, Snowdon, and Ben Nevis) back to back. The Children’s Society is a national charity that works with the country’s most vulnerable children and young people.

If you’re looking for something a little closer to home, why not take part in ‘Jailbreak‘ later on in the year? The challenge involves seeing how far your team can get in thirty hours, but here’s the catch — you have to do it without spending any money.

If you’re interested in taking on a Challenge, or want to become a Challenge leader with RAG this year, search ‘Manchester RAG’ on Facebook and join the upcoming information sessions for the Challenges of your choice! If you’ve got any questions please message Manchester RAG on Facebook or email [email protected].

 

Ardfern @ Wikimedia Commons

Greater Manchester celebrates Black History Month 2018

Written by Josh Sandiford on . Posted in News.

October marks Black History Month in the UK, an annual celebration of the history and culture of black people in the UK and of the contribution that they have made.

Black History Month events are taking place across Greater Manchester featuring theatre, film and poetry. A launch event for Black History Month Greater Manchester was held at Manchester Cathedral last week.

The University of Manchester is a partner of Black History Month Greater Manchester 2018.

Some of the key events taking place in Greater Manchester this month include:

Slay In Your Lane: The Black Girl Bible – 12th October
Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinené will be at Manchester Central Library, hosted by Gemma Cairney to “empower and inspire” during the Manchester Literature Festival.

Black Writers Conference – 13th October
Hosted by Cultureworld, the 9th national Black Writers Conference will be held in multiple venues across Manchester on the 13th of October for writers of colour in a conference covering “digital literature, Afro-futurism, mental health, crime, developing audiences, self-publishing and the Black Cultural Economy.”

Generation Revolution – 22nd October
Generation Revolution is a documentary that tells the story of BAME activists attempting to change the “social and political landscape in the capital and beyond.” There will be a screening in Manchester Central Library and tickets can be found on Eventbrite for free.

Ghana and its Contemporary Global Relations with Professor Adams Bodomo – 25th October
Professor Adams Bodomo, a professor of African Studies at the University of Vienna, will be discussing “Ghana’s contemporary position in global politics and international relations” in a public lecture at Manchester Central Libary.

Women in the Law UK Celebrate Black History month – 30th October
In Manchester St James’ Building Black professionals will be celebrating Black History Month and asking questions about the obstacles faced by women, confidence and overcoming failure.

There are many more events going on in Greater Manchester this October to celebrate Black History Month, you can find a full calendar of events on the Black History Month Greater Manchester website.

Students will graduate sooner but having paid a greater tuition per year Photo: Jebulon @ Wikimedia Commons

Study shows state-school students are underrepresented in top graduate schemes

Written by sambrougham on . Posted in News.

The Institute of Student Employers (ISE) has reported that students who were educated in state schools are less represented in Britain’s top graduate schemes.

The study showed that from a recent survey of 138 employers, only 57% of graduates hired by companies had a state-school education in comparison to 91% across the student population.

Figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) suggest that top-tier universities are taking a lower proportion of state-school pupils than other institutions across the country.

Additionally, it was revealed in the ISE survey that 12% of companies focused on Russell Group universities for recruitment.

The ISE report states: “Many of the differences in career outcomes between different groups of students can be explained by the overrepresentation of privately educated and other advantaged students at high-status institutions”.

Privately educated graduates are more represented by employers in key lucrative sectors: law, banking, professional, and financial services. 58% of employers said that they tailored their recruitment to institutions which their company had historic links with, and 17% focused on university rankings.

Despite this, improvements have been made to increase diversity amongst Britain’s top graduate schemes, but the ISE states that there is still more to be done.

Most employers in many sectors within the survey recognised that there is a big diversity problem and are taking corrective action to increase representations graduates from varying academic and social backgrounds.

Some companies have also started using name-blind or university-blind recruitment techniques and made conscious choices to advertise more at different universities across the country.

 

Photo: Jeff.Dlouhy @ Flickr

Parody Nobel Prizes: this year’s Ig Nobel Prize winners

Written by wasimaskar on . Posted in Science & Tech, News.

The 28th Annual Ig Nobel Awards took place on the 13th of September at Harvard University, awarding achievements that make people laugh — and then think.

From treating kidney stones with rollercoasters to using human saliva to clean your kitchen countertop, awards are broad and hilarious. It’s organised by the scientific magazine, Annals of Improbable Research, and is co-sponsored by the Harvard-Radcliffe Society of Physics Students, and the Harvard-Radcliffe Science Fiction Association.

This year’s winners in the Medicine category were Marc Mitchell and David Wartinger. Their research was in rollercoaster rides that attempt to hasten the passage of kidney stones. Kidney stone treatment is a problem in almost all parts of the world. After going through the Big Thunder Mountain rollercoaster in Florida Disneyland, some people experienced the passing of painful renal calculi. The study was to find the relationship between riding rollercoasters and passing kidney stones — data was actually generated to support this study.

Like ‘proper’ scientists, Mitchell and Wartinger placed a pyelocalyceal model (a model of a human urethra and kidney system) in a backpack and took it on the rollercoaster with them. It delightfully showed the same results as reported by rollercoaster enthusiasts. The positions of the kidney stones were recorded and the renal calculi were adjusted after every ride during the 2008 amusement park season.

The Nutrition prize was won by James Cole. He calculated that the caloric intake from a human-cannibalism diet is significantly lower than the caloric intake in most other traditional meat diets. Human cannibalism has always been a rarely observed and researched activity due to the fact that there are relatively few Palaeolithic cannibalism fossil sites. According to Cole, the study indicated that “pre-Homo sapiens Pleistocene hominin social structures and interactions within, and between, groups may have been far more complex than currently estimated.”

We’ve all, at one point in time, attempted to use our own spit to clean a stain off our shirts. In that spirit, the Chemistry prize was won by Aula Romão, Adília Alarcão, and the late César Viana. They measured the degree to which human saliva is a good cleaning agent for dirty surfaces. This research also has other applications in our ability to distinguish between male and female flies. When female flies fall into a glass of wine, the wine gets spoiled. This is because the female flies have Z4- 11Al pheromone. They added that Z4-11AI “plays a dual role as a social signal and food cue, not only in flies, but also in other animals.”

This year’s peace prize winners were Francisco Alonso, Cristina Esteban, Andrea Serge, Maria-Luisa Ballestar, Jaime Sanmartín, Constanza Calatayud, and Beatriz Alama. They won the award for measuring the frequency of shouts and curses during an automobile ride (otherwise known as ‘road rage’). Their research involved observing aggressive behaviour on roads and comparing data from different places. There were many factors behind the aggressive behaviour on roads such as bad driving, the stress of the driver, fatigue etc. For improving these conditions on the road, it had been proved that road safety education and campaigns could promote road safety culture among drivers.

The economics prize was won by Lindie Hanyu Liang, Douglas Brown, Huiwen Lian, Samuel Hanig, D. Lance Ferris, and Lisa Keeping, for investigating the effectiveness of using voodoo dolls to retaliate against abusive bosses.  Their research summarises that companies should not punish their subordinates for their revenge, but rather look into the causes and roots that affected the retaliation. Their research, rather than focusing only on the disadvantages of subordinate retaliation, also talks about its advantages. Subordinates who had not been allowed to retaliate felt a level of social injustice. In the study, subordinates were asked to visualise a workplace in which their bosses treated them with hostile behaviours.

Great ideas and innovations can take any form. The Ig Nobel Awards celebrate the genius in the more frivolous and fun sides of acadenuc research, and will always inspire future generations of research.

Photo: Stocksnap @Pixabay

Nearly half of students in the UK rate their stress level to be at 8/10

Written by Maurits Bekkers on . Posted in News.

Studies show that more and more students are experiencing university-related stress, either to do with their degree or the managing of their finances.

Annually, NatWest’s Student Living Index examines which university cities are most affordable to live in and what students are spending most of their money on. They conducted research in June on 3,419 University students living in the UK’s 35 most popular Universities. Remarkably, Manchester earned 29th most affordable city to live in, followed by Cambridge at 30th and London in 34th.

The research shows that 43% of students in the UK rated the stress they had with their degree to be an 8/10 or higher (with 0 being the lowest and 10 being the highest amount of stress). Surprisingly, although 15% of Cambridge students and 13.7% of Oxford students rated their degree-related stress to be at 10/10, neither had a percentage of students who were stressed as high as that of Stirling.

Nearly one fifth (18.4% and 19% respectively) of Stirling students rated their degree-related stress to be at 10/10 and their money-related stress to be at 8/10, making Stirling have the most money-related stressed students. At the same time, 39.5% of Stirling students who were most stressed felt virtually unsupported by their University.

Dr. Michael Smith, a psychology professor of Northumbria University, commented on these results: “The student lifestyle also means that university students also tend to have a poorer diet and maintain poorer sleep patterns. Then, of course, there is the stress associated with meeting deadlines and keeping up with university work, while at the same time maintaining a social life and possibly working to help manage a tight budget.”

At the same time, the study also showed that those who spend more time socialising tend to enjoy spending time on their degree more than those who don’t.

If you are struggling with stress, reach out to the University of Manchester’s Counselling Service or the Students’ Union Advice Service for free, impartial help with your university life.

Photo: Steve McFarland@Flickr

University bosses call for ban on essay mills

Written by Nicole Wootton-Cane on . Posted in News.

Over 40 prominent figures in UK universities wrote to the education secretary last week outlining their concerns about the highly used ‘essay mills’.

The University bosses have argued that essay writing services themselves should be penalised, rather than just their users. Calling for the service to be deemed illegal as it is in the US and New Zealand, as it is “unfair to honest students.”

The call follows a recent study suggested as many as one in seven students are paying for someone else to write their essays either at school or at university through the online essay mills.

The research, conducted by Swansea University, asked more than 50,000 students about their contract cheating habits. 15.7% of respondents admitted to cheating since 2014 – a dramatic increase on the average of 3.5% over the last 40 years.

Universities minister, Sam Gyimah, said the government was working to “bear down” on the problem, making it clear that “legislative options are not off the table.”

Contract cheating is not limited to essay mills – submission of any essay that is not your own comes under this branch of plagiarism. However, the large increase in contract cheating could be down to its increased ease through online essay mills. The services often advertise on social media or around university campuses, making it widely available for students.

A University of Manchester spokesperson told The Mancunion: “We are working with students to tackle all forms of cheating, but have concerns that a solely legislative approach could lead to the criminalisation of some students without due regard for any extenuating circumstances or their wellbeing.

“We welcome a broader package of measures to deal with academic malpractice amongst students, which should take account existing university processes that address cheating.”

In an anonymous survey conducted by The Mancunion, students at the University of Manchester appeared to have mixed views on the usefulness and morality of essay mills.

“They’re cheating,” one student responded. Another replied “I can understand why people use them but it makes a mockery of the education system.”

“I think they’re wrong, but at university where our grades aren’t based on an average of other people’s grades it’s none of my business if someone else uses one.”

Professor Phil Newton, who led the research at Swansea University, warned that cheating numbers could be much higher than the research shows as those who have paid for essays are less likely to volunteer to take part in surveys on cheating.

The quality of work produced by essay mills is varied; one respondent told us: “My mate spent £600 getting his dissertation done, and it was so bad quality he had to write it himself after all anyway.”

Photo: Rwendland @ Wikimedia Commons

UoM academic appeals for greater BAME representation in Northern Powerhouse

Written by georgiawiltshire on . Posted in News.

Dr Sarah Hall has called for increased representation of BAME women within the Northern Powerhouse at last week’s Labour Party Conference in Liverpool.

As a lecturer in Human Geography at The University of Manchester, Dr Hall participated in discussions throughout the party conference. Receiving interest from MPs, civil servants and policy-makers regarding the issues of representation of minority groups in northern politics and devolution discussions.

Holding conversations with notable Labour figureheads such as Yvette Cooper, the Chair of Home Affairs Select Committee. Dr Hall brought forward her work with the women’s budget group involving BAME women and the impact of austerity.

In alliance with Policy@Manchester, Dr Hall also shared her research with shadow cabinet ministers and attended sessions on both inclusive growth and social care. When asked by The Mancunion how effective she felt these discussions were to the fight for increased representation of BAME women and the underprivileged, Dr Hall said:

“Whenever raised, issues around gender, race, disability, age and (at times) class were readily discussed and pondered, although I found that I was having to provoke a conversation about these topics rather than it being at the heart of debate.

“We also have to question whether this type of platform – of placing older, professional, often white, often male decision-makers on a stage – is really a space for dialogue or just polite performance. The proof will be in the pudding.”

As well as discussions on representation, Dr Hall evaluated her research on the engagement of young people and its importance to the processes of devolution as a means of achieving social change.

Speaking to other MPs, Dr Hall invited agreement from Joe McMahon and Lisa Nandy, who both recognised the need for greater representation of the underprivileged and the importance of promoting devolution at a community level.

Dr Hall was recently awarded the Making a Difference Award 2018 for ‘Outstanding Benefit to Society through Research’, alongside receiving the Jo Cox Prize for Public Service and Active Citizenship in 2017.

Photo: Albert Bridge @ Geograph

New housing rules could increase rents and evict students

Written by Sam Honey on . Posted in News.

Changes to government rules could see substantial rent increases for those living in shared houses – and even the issuing of eviction notices.

The warning was issued by the National Landlords Association (NLA), who labelled the regulations as a burden on landlords in the private sector.

The new measures will affect homes in multiple occupations (HMOs). They are defined as properties that house people that are not related, and sleep in different rooms.

The new rules will mean that another 160,000 such homes will need to be registered with councils. It is believed that around 64,000 of these currently require licensed to be officially legal.

That process could cost £1,200 per landlord, as an average estimate, based on research conducted by the Centre for Economics and Business Research.

The new regulations mean that licensing requirements, that include inspection by local council teams, will be applied to many more HMOs across the UK. This is compared to previous inspections, that often only took place at addresses with five or more residents.

Students are among the top consumers in the HMO market, and while assurances of higher standards for rentals, there will likely be disappointment at the kind of price raises that landlords may need to implement to meet recommendations from inspectors.

One penalty could be the forced reduction of numbers of rooms – eviction being a natural consequence. However, the changes could also mean an increase in the quality of student accommodation, with inspections becoming mandatory for more properties.

The Valuation Office Agency has released information that shows median rents per room in England are increasing twice as fast as median wages – the average monthly price now standing at £385. These increases in rent would be unfair on students though – according to Tenants Union UK.

The issue could be far from concluded, however, with the possibility of mid-term increases likely to cause havoc in the student housing market. The controversy of student renting is already a serious issue – especially the unaffordability of property, in addition to controversy over varying costs, such as summer rent charges, and various admin fees.

 

Photo: Photogenic Leigh@Wikimedia Commons

Andy Answers: Question Time with the Mayor

Written by laurafinn on . Posted in News.

Last Thursday, Andy Burnham attended a ‘Question Time’ style event hosted by the Editor-in-Chief of Manchester Evening News, Darren Thwaites, and attended by a ‘passionate’ audience in Oldham Library. The topics covered ranged from the youth and homelessness, to transport in Greater Manchester. Other notable attendees were Baroness Beverley Hughes, Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, and Bob Morris, Chief Operating Officer of Transport for Greater Manchester.

One of the first questions from the audience raised the issue of Greater Manchester’s future generations. Burnham replied using a recent survey that revealed 40% of year 10 students in Oldham and Rochdale had ‘no hope’ for the future. This statistic is one that the mayor said “bothered” him. He sought to highlight initiatives like the introduction of free bus passes for 16-18 year olds.

He also encouraged the creation of a UCAS-style system for apprenticeships. These procedures reflected his concern that the education system favoured applications to university over other paths. This preference within the education system could also mean that many young people are “left behind”.

Another topic that was brought up was the problem of rough sleeping. Homelessness has become somewhat of an epidemic in Manchester. The city has some of the highest levels of rough sleeping in the UK (data from Homeless Link).  Burnham had previously pledged to eradicate homelessness by 2020 in his mayoral manifesto. However, he admitted that achieving this would be difficult. Despite this, he explained the success of ‘#abedeverynight’ campaign that was implemented to tackle the issue and raise awareness. The campaigns funding recently received a boost by Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany who promised to donate all profits from his testimonial match to the campaign.

The issue of transport was also prominent at the event. Audience members expressed their frustration at the transport systems in Greater Manchester, including commuting journeys. This involved companies such as Transpennine Express and the systems in the heart of Manchester – the bus and Metrolink services. Burnham shared this feeling, and argued that although devolution had given him far more power on the matter, it was still not enough. He would need more control to improve the system through initiatives such as the integration of the transport systems, or an oyster card-like system – much to his frustration.

Photo: United Nations Photo @ Flickr

Zero greenhouse gases by 2050?

Written by gabyrichter on . Posted in Science & Tech, News.

A recent report by the Royal Academy of Engineering and Royal Society claims that greenhouse gas removal (GGR) could offset the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions to ‘net-zero’ by 2050.

The report also claims that the Paris Agreement goal to limit the rise in temperature to 1.5°C on pre-industrial times by 2100 is achievable through GGR.

The targets are indeed ambitious. GGR would be required to offset 130 megatonnes of CO2 emissions from the UK by 2050, and 810 gigatonnes of emissions globally by 2100 (equivalent to 15 times the 2017 emissions). For this reason, the report recommends increasing the priority of global efforts to reduce greenhouse gases given that GGR is not a replacement for reducing emissions. Currently, the UK would need to reduce its emissions by 3% per year, in order to meet the 2050 target.

While some GGR methods such as forestation and using low-carbon concrete are in use already, others require research and development before they can be deployed to remove emissions at this scale. Examples of these technologies include ‘biochar’, which involves incorporating partially-burnt biomass into soils to stabilise the organic matter, and direct air capture of CO2 from the atmosphere. The report states that more advanced methods of GGR will be needed to replace the biological solutions such as planting trees, as these will saturate by the end of the century.

However, the environmental impacts of many of these new technologies are still unknown. The authors of the report warn that the potential sustainability issues will constrain their applicability, and a price of $100 per tonne of CO2 would be necessary to make the methods economically feasible.

Professor Adisa Azapagic, one of the authors of the report, is from The University of Manchester’s School of Chemical Engineering & Analytical Science. As Professor of Sustainable Chemical Engineering, she says, “This report presents an extremely ambitious plan, but if we act now it offers a very real opportunity for the UK to be carbon neutral by 2050.

“However, we must first ensure that there are no unintended consequences from the deployment of these new technologies as their impacts on the environment are not fully known yet.

“Therefore, the priority must be to continue to cut greenhouse gas emissions at a rapid rate, as well as employing other techniques if we are to achieve international carbon reduction goals and mitigate climate change.”

The increase of greenhouse gas emissions produced globally is changing the climate of the Earth. Although climate (the average weather condition) does vary naturally, greenhouse gas emissions are causing temperatures to rise which will have extreme effects on weather conditions. Changes to aspects of climate such as rainfall and storms, as well as rising sea levels due to melting ice caps, all affect future food security, biodiversity, and water resources.

The 2008 Climate Change Act was the first legally-binding agreement on how to tackle climate change. It led to the development of the Committee on Climate Change, which annually assesses whether the UK is on track to meet its carbon budgets, and reports to Parliament. The UK’s carbon budget limits the amount of greenhouse gas that the country is allowed to emit over specified times. In addition to these restrictions, the UK is investing in low-carbon technologies and providing incentives for organisations to use energy more efficiently.

While changes are starting to be made to protect the environment, campaigners argue there’s still much more to be done. In the meantime, the UK will need to adapt to the effects of climate change. The Committee on Climate Change states that the nation will need to prepare for more flooding, greater pressure on water resources, damage to natural habitats, and risks to human health from heatwaves.

CERN physicist accused of “sexist” comments

Written by lilywright on . Posted in Science & Tech, News.

One of CERN’s lead contributory theorists, Professor Alexander Strumia, has been suspended after causing widespread outrage over his remarks in a gender equality seminar.

In a workshop organised by CERN (The European Organization for Nuclear Research) on Friday 28th September, Strumia claimed that “physics was invented and built by men, it’s not by invitation”. It was during a presentation at the first conference for ‘High Energy Theory and Gender’, which had was aimed at addressing and tackling gender biases in physics. Despite being led by its first female Director-General, Fabiola Gianotti, women continue to comprise only 20% of employees at the European Nuclear Research Centre.

During the workshop, Strumia claimed to be “presenting biblio-metric data about fundamental theory and gender”. Various sets of manipulated data sought to prove Strumia’s “Conservative Theory” of sexism in physics and STEM. The professor claimed that male scientists were suffering more from gender discrimination due to political ideology “coming from outside”.

To a predominantly female audience of physicists, Strumia also quoted gender inequalities in other sectors besides STEM, noting that labour in industries such as construction and fire-fighting were male-dominated. He used this to oppose quotas, stating, “quotas in the best jobs only is not equality.” The theoretical physicist further states, “I don’t like it when there’s social engineering to decide how many men, women and categories there should be.”

He presented graphs which claimed to show how “the [percentage] of women in theory and STEM anti-correlated with the ‘gender equality index’.” He continued to challenge the ‘gender equality paradox’ arguing it only exists “if you believe the wrong theory.”

Strum went on to claim that men are “only over-represented in science because they are over-performing.” Including an array of examples of sexism towards men, such as female STEM undergraduates paying lower university fees in Italy. He used this to exemplify that women have been “promoted into positions of power unfairly” and have been “allocated too much funding”. Before complaining that anyone who spoke out against this disparity risked being attacked or jeopardising their career.

Critics of his speeches have described his comments as “upsetting” and “horrible”. Professor Becky Parker, fellow of the Institute of Physics and Director of the Institute for Research in Schools, has worked in collaboration with CERN many times. Upon reports of Strumia’s talk, she said “the concept that somebody at CERN, which is led so brilliantly by a phenomenal woman, could say such things is unbelievable. Women make brilliant contributions to physics and my hope is that the outcry against this will spur women on further.”

The Italian professor has now been suspended for behaving contrary to the CERN code of conduct. In a statement released by the organisation’s media spokesperson, CERN condemned the talk as “highly offensive” and reassured that it “supports the many members of the community that have expressed their indignation.”

Photo: Tembela Bohle @Pexels

NUS study reveals a changing student drinking culture

Written by miagair1 on . Posted in News.

A recent survey by the National Union of Students (NUS) has revealed the extent to which students are drinking in 2018.

The study showed that around 20% drink in order to get drunk about once a week, with a further 21% saying they have either stopped, or never started drinking.

With freshers’ week culture being criticised by some for promoting a certain ‘type’ of student, it is unsurprising that the study revealed 76% to say they felt there is an expectation for students to get drunk. 79% agreed that getting drunk is part of university culture.

This expectation poses the idea that many students only drink in order to fit in and feel part of a culture at university, rather than doing it because they want to. Yet, the NUS highlight the success of campaigns to decrease drinking culture on campuses in recent years.

The Union has attributed this decrease partly to students accruing ‘so much debt’ – referring to the means tested loan that students repay when they graduate.  The NUS Vice President (Welfare) Eva Crossan Jory said that “the cost of living crisis facing students now also means after bills and food it may not be possible for students to spend on others things such as nights out or drinks.”

The study was published in line with a wider survey looking into young people’s drinking more generally. It revealed that young people are now the most likely age group to not drink at all; with 27% of 16-24 years being teetotallers compared to 21% of the wider adult population.

This also compares favourably to previous years. The percentage of young people not drinking at all has increased 8% in the last year, while the figure fell by 5% for those aged 65 and over.

However, the figures revealed that young people who do drink, are more likely to binge drink, rather than drink little and often like older generations.

The statistics from the Office of National Statistics also revealed that in the last two years, a higher percentage of women aged 16-24 have exceeded their recommended daily intake on their heaviest drinking day (14% compared to 13% of men). The change over the last twelve years has also been less dramatic for women than for men, decreasing by 4% and 9% respectively.

When regions were compared, the North West was beaten only by Yorkshire and The Humber as having the highest percentage of drinkers who exceed their daily recommended limits. The region includes some of the UK’s biggest Universities (for example the Universities of Manchester and Liverpool), which may contribute to 10% of its adult population exceeding 12 units for men, and 9 units for women, at least once a week.

The North West region also has a higher than average percentage of adults not drinking at all (sitting at 20%). This suggests that across the country, drinking is becoming a polarised habit, with people either choosing to regularly binge drink, or avoid alcohol at all costs.

The NHS’s overworked doctors

Written by liamfarrell on . Posted in Science & Tech, News.

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association looks at the negative impact of burn-out of Doctors.

The research found that increasing demand on healthcare professionals is having devastating effects on the patient care, satisfaction, and future careers of many healthcare professionals. Receiving funding from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), the team of academics and professionals found that doctor burn-out is bringing in a new wave of problems and pressures to our already struggling health service.

Burn-out is described as a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by exposure to prolonged stress. Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals are exposed to incredible amounts of work-place stress as part of their daily lives; making burn-out common in UK hospitals.

The dominant factor for developing burn-out is an overload of work. This includes recent demands on staff working in an already difficult environment, such as time-consuming tasks and a greater complexity of diagnostic methods.

According to the journal, PubMed Central, those who work within the healthcare sector are at a higher risk of suffering from problems such as depression, anxiety, sleep-disorders, with severe cases sometimes resulting in suicide. A survey of 817 experienced hospital doctors by the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA), found that a shocking 81% of them had considered retiring earlier than they had originally planned. Shockingly, they attest this directly to an increased level of workplace stress and a significant loss in job satisfaction.

This may have implications on a stretched NHS in the future. If the progression of younger doctors into more senior and specialised positions is severely restricted due to the need for experience, coupled with those holding senior positions contemplating ending their career early, the NHS may suffer significant labour strain.

But there are also more immediate concerns for the NHS. The study reveals that burn-out can also lead to compassion fatigue, which is described as the loss of interest in caring for patients. Professionals suffering from burn-out often experience other problems such as the loss of commitment to work and difficulty maintaining personal and professional relationships. Suggesting that the NHS may see Doctors having their judgement jeopardised, and the overall healthcare quality compromised.

Current predictions posit that NHS funding will rise by just 0.9% a year between 2020-2021, with an increase in its yearly spending of around 4%. This increase is due to a range of factors; including an ageing and growing population. This however creates an underfunded sector which creates a breading ground for burned-out Doctors.

These studies suggest that it’s essential for the NHS to find a means of curbing this growing problem of burn-out. The most obvious, of course, being the reason of safeguarding the well-being of healthcare professionals. Having said this though, the UK has improved its health outcomes since its establishment in 1948, and still performs well in global rankings on measures such as efficiency, equity, and access, problems still remain in the quality of its healthcare.

Photo: Conservatives @ Flickr

University of Manchester attends Conservative Party Conference

Written by hannahvallance on . Posted in News.

Academics from The University of Manchester’s public policy research network, Policy@Manchester, have attended this year’s Conservative Party Conference.

The four day forum, which took place at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham, included a number of fringe events and speeches that outlined the party’s ideas, plans and policies for the forthcoming year.

The Policy@Manchester initiative is designed to connect academics with those working on the construction of public policy, aiming to both ‘support and smooth’ the process of knowledge exchange, and act as a platform to ‘find and share ideas’ on the big issues facing the world today.

This year, these issues covered a wide range of topics, including panels on immigration, devolution in a post-Brexit Britain, and the ‘fourth industrial revolution’, focusing on the challenge posed by artificial intelligence to the changing nature of work.

Speakers from the CBI, Centre for Cities, Social Market Foundation and Train Union Congress accompanied the university academics in delivering these talks.

Speaking to The Mancunion, a spokesperson from The University of Manchester said: “Policy@Manchester has had a presence at the Labour and Conservative party Conferences this year, as in previous years.

“This engagement is part of the University’s commitment to enduring wider public access to our world-leading research, and improving society through dissemination of evidence-based policy inputs – in line with our Social Responsibility goals.”

Unsurprisingly, amid deep divisions in the party, Brexit dominated discussion at this years event.

This is following controversy regarding Theresa May’s Chequers plan, in which she insisted future relations with the EU were not dead on BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show last Sunday.

This is despite the ex-Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, labelling the plan “deranged” in his latest attack on May’s Brexit proposals.

 

 

Photo: ACORN Facebook

Tenants union ACORN to host ‘Know your Rights’ session

Written by hannahvallance on . Posted in News.

ACORN, the community-based tenants union, is to hold a ‘Know your Rights’ session next Tuesday at the Font, Fallowfield.

The union, which was established to help renters in disputes against landlords and developers, aims to “bring people together to support each other to improve their lives, and their communities.” This includes member defence to support those facing both unjust eviction and unfair treatment and is in addition to their wider campaigning, an example of which was their ‘RentersVote’ campaign that last year registered 4,000 people to vote, many of whom were homeless.

The session will run from 7-9pm, and any students who are keen to know more about their rights as tenants are encouraged to attend. The event will also be accompanied by guidance from the barrister Joe Markus to advise on problems regarding contracts, deposits and repairs, and also to provide direction on any tenancy queries.

At the end of the evening, attendees can also log official complaints against their landlords.

Known for its bustling student population, Manchester boasts a student community of 85,000 people. According to Manchester Evening News, this provides the basis for the highest yields for landlords in the whole of the UK.

However, high rent does not always equate to high quality, as Ben Ell, the Member Defence Officer for ACORN Manchester, told The Mancunion: “We know the situation for student renters in the city is pretty awful and we have had lots of wins for our student members already. We want students to know their rights, and we will fight with them where they are being taken advantage of by unscrupulous landlords.

“This free and open information night is the first step in building a group just for students which will defend its members and campaign on wider issues. Joining the union costs £3 a month per household, and that ensures our volunteer union can keep fighting and make them accountable only to our members. After all, we are a union, not a charity!”

Since launching four years ago in Bristol, ACORN has rapidly expanded across the country, establishing bases nation-wide from Birmingham to Brighton. In January, Manchester was added to the growing list.

The union has seen a high success rate in Manchester, with many cases seeing an almost instant response after threatening action against landlords.

“We deal with lots of students whose deposits weren’t put into deposit protection schemes, ” Ben continued.

“After weeks of politely asking for it back, and being continuously ignored, they have joined the union: we then threaten action, and the deposits are back in their accounts in hours. These cases are then sent to legal teams to take those landlords to court.

“Our first big case involved a boiler that hadn’t worked all winter. There was mould on the walls and students were suffering from chest infections because of it.

“Four hours after sending an email threatening action, the boiler was replaced. This was accompanied with additional repairs, and money was paid to all tenants to cover the costs of running fan heaters all winter.”

If you are a student tenant and have experienced unjust treatment from your landlord, ACORN can be contacted by email via [email protected]. They are also contactable via Facebook and Twitter, found @ACORNmanchester

Photo: Scott Rylander

Preview: Antic Disposition’s Henry V Tour

Written by Anuli Changa on . Posted in Theatre.

Nathan Hamilton began his acting career auditioning for LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) with a Henry V monologue, so he’s now come full circle by performing in Antic Disposition’s Henry V Tour.

He explained that Shakespeare is the current focus of his career, he spoke passionately about the Bard and of previous roles such as Orlando in ‘As you like it’. When I asked about the character of Henry, Hamilton explained that he appreciates the depth with which he is written.

Whilst he is seen as a strong young man and brave leader, there is also a disclosure of his vulnerability and guilt. I learnt that this tour will feature a ‘play within a play’ element. Hamilton will play a private in the First World War, part of a group of soldiers sent away from the front line who decide to put on a performance of ‘Henry V’. Hamilton pointed out the range of this rendition of ‘Henry V’, as an actor, he goes from playing a private (the lowest rank in the army) to playing a king (the highest).

In preparation for the part, Hamilton talked about the Imperial War Museum being a “great source”, as well as watching Crimson Fields and other series. He confessed to be “one of these actors that loves to go over the script…again and again” to see what you can uncover, not only from Henry’s point of view but also the private in World War One. The most surprising thing he learnt about Henry V in his research, was that the portraits of Henry V are all in profile because he was shot in the face with an arrow at just sixteen and survived!

Hamilton explained: “with Henry, what’s been really enjoyable to play with, has been this sense that so much has been thrust upon him…so much responsibility and so many big decisions”. We can expect to see Henry grappling with decisions in court, but we also experience his inner thoughts in soliloquies.

To my questions about how he finds touring, Hamilton responded “I love it”, the “different audiences, different vibes”, it’s “something that I’ve always enjoyed”. He talked of one of the most iconic stops on the tour being the Salisbury Cathedral, where “one of the knights that fought at the Battle of Agincourt is buried”. Even more so, the tour’s last stop will be Holy Trinity Church where Shakespeare is buried, a “gift of an opportunity” that Hamilton anticipates will “probably be quite emotional”, as it ties in with the anniversary of the armistice”.

Antic Disposition’s Henry V tour runs 8th October to 16th November and is in Manchester 22nd – 24th October.

Photo: Richard Davenport

Review: Rock of Ages

Written by agnèshoughtonboyle on . Posted in Theatre.

‘Rock of Ages’ is a pelvic thrusting, light-hearted, jukebox musical featuring famous, glam-rock classics; it was written and created by Chris D’Arienzo. The show offers an opportunity to indulge in infamous hits and the extravagant rock and roll lifestyle of the characters. Originally a stage production, it was adapted for the big screen in 2012 and was directed by Adam Shankman. Although the film was criticised for its lack of real grit and its weak script, the stage musical continues to be much anticipated. The show relies on its audience’s love of 80s rock songs such as ‘We Built This City’ and ‘The Final Countdown’.

The weak script is more easily overlooked in Nick Winston’s stage-bursting reboot, although the show’s sexualisation solely of its female characters is harder to forgive. In the opening scene, a woman wearing tight denim shorts rides a bicycle, back arched, buttocks out across the stage, as narrator Lanny (Lucas Rush) introduces the show. This sex appeal initially seemed to embody the excessive rock-n-roll lifestyle Winston is clearly trying to cultivate, yet it becomes demeaning when the male characters remain fully clothed throughout, with the exception of a few conservative scenes.

Of particular sexual objectification are waitresses and strippers, both of which young, dreamer Sherrie (Danielle Hope) becomes. The show illustrates a simple love story between aspiring actress Sherrie, who meets hopeful rock-God Drew (Luke Walsh) on the sunset strip in LA. They showcase their love through their initially shouty, but eventually powerful and impressive renditions of 80’s rock hits, whilst they work with Lanny at the iconic Bourbon Room (based on Whisky-A-Go-Go) which is run by Dennis (Kevin Kennedy).

The antagonists of the story are German developers Hertz Klinemann (Vas Constanti) and his son Franz who try to convince the city’s mayor to demolish Sunset Boulevard in favour of clean living — this would involve bulldozing the Bourbon and rock-n-roll lifestyle of the strip. There are moments of genuine hilarity, though having said this, I was impressed to see a tenderness, rather than mere comedy in the love scene between Dennis and Lanny. The show, however, could have gone further by embracing a gay Franz rather than simply having him claim to be straight and avoid kissing Regina (Rhiannon Chesterman) on the lips. The show is a feel good, straightforward, and ‘bitchin’ watch, and as such, the occasional reediness and faults in the songs can be overlooked. The reliance on female performers for the shows sex appeal, on the other hand, cannot.

Late Silva strike saves City from Champions League embarrassment

Written by Sam Honey on . Posted in Sport.

Midfielder David Silva emphasised his importance to this Manchester City side as his 87th minute goal secured a crucial three points in Champions League Group F.

The 32-year old picked the pocket of Stefan Posch inside the box, before slotting into the bottom corner for his second goal of the season.

The game had been a close affair up until that point, with a second half of limited chances following a first 45 marked by an action-packed opening 10 minutes, in which both sides got onto the score sheet.

It was the hosts who took the lead after just 44 seconds, with the match’s first opportunity, when Ishak Belfodil beat the offside trap and leaving City centre-back Aymeric Laporte stranded as he finished through the legs of Ederson.

The away side responded quickly however, with talisman Sergio Agüero tapping in after brilliant work from man-of-the-match David Silva, who found Leroy Sané with a brilliant through ball into the Hoffenheim box. City nearly turned the game on its head before the 20-minute mark, as Raheem Sterling was denied an almost certain goal on the break, by excellent goalkeeping from Oliver Baumann.

It was the form of the German side’s captain in between the sticks that kept them level going into halftime. Baumann pulled off two acrobatic stops to deny City’s record goalscorer from outside the box, as the Citizens began to smell blood, with Hoffenheim exposed on the counter.

While neither team managed to gain the upper-hand in the second period, City were denied what looked a certain penalty after 73 minutes when Sané was wiped out by Baumann, who seemed to get none of the ball.

If either side was playing for the point it was Nagelsmann’s men, and while under pressure late on, 21-year old Posch missed the ball as he attempted to clear his side’s lines in the box, allowing Silva to capitalise and rifle home.

The goal settled a scrappy affair, that City might have deserved a victory from based on their energetic first half showing. Despite this, Pep Guardiola’s team were frustrated by the well-organised home side for long periods of the match, and were nowhere near their comfort level on the night.

The fixture was always going to be about the result, rather than the performance for the Champions however, who went into the match knowing that victory was essential for their hopes of topping the group, having tasted defeat in their European opener three weeks previously against Lyon.

City were further aided in their pursuit of top spot as Lyon and Shakhtar Donetsk shared the points in the group’s other game, an action packed 2-2 draw at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais.

Guardiola and co. continue their mission to top the group with back-to-back matches against Shakhtar Donetsk in this competition, the first of which will see City travel to the Kharkiv on October 23rd.