Skip to main content

Month: February 2019

Photo: Wikimedia Commons: @ Mark Andrew

Austerity prevents Manchester from becoming Northern Powerhouse

Written by Emily Broncz on . Posted in News.

An independent prosperity review carried out by Cambridge professor, Diane Coyle, has highlighted that regional inequality and a lack of productivity have been holding Manchester back, despite the city offering “world-class strengths”.

The report detailed that Greater Manchester’s role in health innovation and research into graphene have earned the city a fantastic reputation. Followed by the city’s ever-growing strengths in manufacturing, digital and creative industries, and professional services.

Despite this, several improvements were outlined by the panel, who concluded that more needed to be done to drive down levels of social inequality, to improve wage growth, and increase productivity. The areas of retail and social care were flagged up as two sectors which see high employment but suffer from low productivity.

Spending cuts over the last decade have seen Manchester City Council withdraw a total of £372m in funding from services across the region.

Since 2010, some areas within Manchester have faced colossal slashes to budgets, with Tameside cutting 90% of its funding from its youth services budget. As a consequence, vital facilities such as youth centres and libraries have been closed, leaving some areas bereft of any community spaces.

The cuts have created a plethora of issues for Mancunians, most notably the homelessness crisis, exaggerated by a continued lack of funding to its respective budget.

Manchester City Council is currently having to rely on reserves in order to fund resources. This, however, is set to change, with a government spokesman declaring that over the next two years, Manchester will have access to £876m in funding.

Addressing Coyle’s report, Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham seemed positive about the prospect of investment into the city: “We are now working with the government to develop an ambitious Local Industrial Strategy which will respond to many of these issues and allow us to provide that extra strength to the UK’s economy.”

Burnham also reassured residents of the city that the “Northern Powerhouse” is a vision that can still be delivered but would require the council to “continue to work closely with ministers to do so.”

The report defined a number of steps which would help boost productivity in the city-region. There were demands for an increase in programmes to help improve health in addition to better transport links and employment standards.

Professor Diane Coyle claimed that: “Productivity has an impact not just on the economy, but on people’s quality of life.” Speaking further on the issue, Coyle also stated that further devolution of powers was needed immediately to “deliver sustained improvements in living standards for the people of Greater Manchester.”

The findings have been published a decade on from the Manchester Independent Economic Review, which alluded to the fact that Manchester had been “punching below its weight” compared to similar international cities. Although, recently collected evidence would suggest that improvements have been to the city, the core conclusion still dominates.

Photo: Common Good @ Wikimedia Commons

UoM study says at-risk women should be screened for breast cancer earlier

Written by Josh Sandiford on . Posted in News.

A new study led by the University of Manchester has found that screening at-risk women for breast cancer every year from the age of 35 will detect tumours earlier.

The long-term trial found that annual breast screening in women aged 35-39 who were identified to be at ‘moderate’ or ‘high’ risk of breast cancer detected tumours when they were significantly smaller in size and less likely to spread.

Women at increased risk of breast cancer are currently screened annually from the age of 40, but leading UK clinicians and researchers have suggested that if this was extended to include women aged 35-39, up to 86,000 women could benefit.

The study – funded by charity Breast Cancer Now and carried out by researchers at the University of Manchester – offered scans to 2,899 women aged 35-39. The screening detected 35 invasive breast cancer tumours, most of which were small and had not yet spread.

Further analysis will now be needed to find out whether or not the screening should be limited to those with a ‘high’ chance of developing breast cancer. A long-term follow up will also be necessary to help further ascertain whether or not there might be any risk to future cancers as a result of radiation doses.

In total, around 55,000 women and 350 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK and it is estimated that around 5-15% of cases are linked to a family history of the disease. While more women are now surviving breast cancer than ever before, the disease remains the leading cause of death in women under 50 in England and Wales.

Lead author Professor Gareth Evans, Professor in Medical Genetics and Cancer Epidemiology at the University of Manchester, said: “These are the first significant data on the benefits of screening in women aged 35-39 who are at increased risk of breast cancer due to a family history, and the results are very promising.

“Our trial shows that mammography screening is effective in detecting tumours earlier in this younger age group, and lays the groundwork for extending this screening in women at moderate or high risk from ages 40-49 down to women aged 35-39.

“For women with a family history, removing a non-invasive tumour so early in their lives is likely to be a cancer preventive. You only need to look at current long-term survival outcomes in this group to see just how important new early detection methods could be.”

Baroness Delyth Morgan, Chief Executive at Breast Cancer Now, added: “This could be an enormous breakthrough on early detection in young women with a family history of breast cancer. We believe these findings could be practice-changing, and urge the Government’s upcoming review of NHS screening programmes to set out what further evidence will be needed to consider annual screening for women aged 35-39 who are at increased familial risk of breast cancer.

“Early detection remains absolutely critical to stopping women dying from breast cancer. The earlier the disease is found, the more likely treatment is to be successful – and this major trial suggests that screening could be vital in women as young as 35 who we know are at increased risk.”

Photo: Luchia Houghton-Lloyd

Reclaim the Night returns

Written by laurafinn on . Posted in News.

Reclaim the Night is returning to Manchester on 21st February. The yearly march aims to improve the safety of women at night, especially in the Fallowfield, Rusholme, and Withington areas.

Beginning at 6pm outside Owen’s Park, the march will travel down Oxford Road to the Students’ Union (SU) where a rally will take place in the SU courtyard, followed by an after party in Club Academy and Black Milk.

Research has shown that reported cases of sexual harassment has risen by 64% since 2016 and there has been a 75% rise in cases of stalking and harassment since 2016.

However, at the same time, police officers have been cut by 23% and in 2017 the council closed down the Serious Sexual Offences Unit, removing 74 officers from the unit.

SU Women’s Officer, Sara Heddi, told The Mancunion: “[The] ‘Enough is enough’” movement makes it clear “we want safer streets and we want it now”.

This year, the Union have “specific objectives […] we are marching directly on the council with bigger demands for a bigger investment in safer streets.”

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has been called on to tackle the violence and fear faced by women in the city. From addressing day-to-day issues such as bad street lighting and lack of police presence, to increasing women’s safety on a deeper level. This includes stopping the cuts to women’s shelters, encouraging more organisations to become hate crime reporting centres, and awareness of where victims can report acts of harassment.

The march started in 1977 and is becoming more nuanced. It keeps its core message strong – women should feel safe at night, but it also adapts to address current feminist issues such as inclusivity. Previously a pro-choice block to support those who chose to use the medical facilities in Fallowfield as there had been anti-abortion protesters outside the clinic. A ‘Muslim block’ was also introduced by Saffa Mir to support the marginalised group.

The organisers urge everyone to march, write letters to councillors, and sign their petition which can be found on their Facebook event.

Photo: University of Manchester’s Student Union
Photo: kokalola @ Flickr.

Record Reappraisal: Blur – Blur

Written by daniellaveneziale on . Posted in Music.

1997 was a strange year for music, and many would say the beginning of the end of what had been one of the most momentous events in British music since the 1960s — Britpop. Oasis released their third album, Be Here Now, regarded by many as the worst of the decade, and it would not be until 1998 before Pulp’s This Is Hardcore would signal the brutal, undignified death of Britpop for good.

For Blur, however, a change in musical direction proved immensely fruitful with the release of their fifth studio album, the eponymous Blur in early 1997. A stark departure from the tongue-in-cheek, satirical take on mid-nineties life in Britain encapsulated by their previous record, The Great Escape, Blur saw a stronger influence from American bands such as Pavement. As Graham Coxon stated during this period, “(American guitarists) were doing very interesting stuff with guitars and I needed to be nourished,” Blur therefore really stood out as a symbol of Coxon’s rejection of Britpop and yearning to make music “which scared people again.” It was a metaphorical band-aid, enabling the band to function once again as a collaborative outfit, something they had lost during the Britpop years, and a departure from Damon Albarn’s previous sole dictatorship over the band’s musical style and aesthetic.

What came from this was Blur’s most thoughtful album to date; a somewhat come-down from the dizzy heights of Britpop to a more mature outlook, and experimentation with lo-fi sound. But what sparked this need for change, not just for Blur, but British bands across the board? Not only were band members themselves growing up and getting older, but the face of Britain was changing; it was time to ditch the class A’s and think about the future. This sentiment is all too apparent in tracks such as ‘Death of a Party’, where Albarn croons “The death of a party/Came as no surprise/Why did we bother?” From the album emanates a sense of loss, and a sense of confusion of existence, as well as a reflection on the changing social and political climate.

Change is not only reflected lyrically but in musical style with the Bowie-esque ‘Look Inside America’, a merging of Coxon’s signature guitar riffs with an acoustic sound likable to something off Hunky Dory. Lo-fi is utilised to the max in the track preceding it with ‘I’m Just a Killer for your Love’, where Alex James’ bass really seeps into the senses, tying the depth and ambiance of the album into a neat bow. The Bowie influence is seen more than once, with the bittersweet optimism of ‘You’re So Great’, a Coxon-sung track and arguably the most tender on the album, with lyrics reading “And I feel the light/When you tell me its OK/Cos you’re so great, and I love you.”

Blur is so much more than just Song 2, it’s an ardent goodbye to the chaos and unpredictability of the 1994/5/6 Britpop period. It’s also an album where we see Blur really bare their souls, unafraid to express their own fears that came with these changes and apprehension towards what the future held. It was ultimately the album which marked the beginning of the end but not in a negative way.

Gone were the days of Blur vs Oasis, a new era in British music was on the horizon, and Blur would be riding that wave until their hiatus in 2003.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Six Nations: England thrash France

Written by Chris Perrin on . Posted in Sport.

England confirmed themselves as serious contenders for the Six Nations title with an emphatic 44-8 win over France at Twickenham.

In near-identical fashion to their opener against Ireland, England made the best start possible. Once again it was Jonny May who capped off an electric move, chasing down Elliot Daly’s grubber kick and putting five England points on the scoreboard after just one minute.

The sight of Jonny May jumping in celebration was to become all too familiar for the French. On 23 minutes, May was found by captain Owen Farrell’s long, looping pass. His shimmy wrong-footed Damian Penaud, paving the way for his and England’s second try. Six minutes later England cut through France’s defence once more with a well-executed grubber, this time courtesy of Chris Ashton. May was the recipient of the pass, and got his hat-trick inside thirty minutes.

A glimmer of hope was given to France in the 34th minute. Yoann Huget carried strongly, shrugging off a number of English challenges before passing to Penaud who rounded off the attack. However, this was the only bright moment on a bleak day for France. Their first try turned out to be their last. When Henry Slade scored in the 39th minute to give England a 22-point lead at the break, the game was all but over.

The home team scored two more tries in the second half, and cruised to their second Six Nations win in as many games.

The win takes England to the top of the Six Nations standings with three matches to play. A crucial showdown in Cardiff awaits Eddie Jones’ side next, with Wales being the only other team to have won both of their first two fixtures. Beat Wales, and England would be in a prime position to win the grand slam.

Photo: Vita Student @Flickr

UoM begins search for North Campus development partner

Written by Shivani Kaura on . Posted in News.

Last week, the University of Manchester submitted a PIN (Prior Information of Notice) to the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), to begin the next steps in their North Campus development partner search.

To begin pre-market engagement, the search for an investor to deliver a new “£1.5 billion Innovation District in Manchester City Centre” has begun, with plans to create ‘ID Manchester’ – a 26-acre dynamic, word-class community.

ID Manchester will be adjacent to Manchester’s main public transport hub Piccadilly Rail Station and the HS2 station, allowing quick access to the airport and other major cities in the North of England.

The new space, aspiring for innovative, collaborative, and entrepreneurial creativity, will create around 6,000 jobs in the local area. It benefits from an adopted Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF), which will use the University’s current vision to build the 3.5 million square feet of space for students, as well as creating a public realm.

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester, said: “We are looking for the very best joint-venture partner to work with us to develop this prime site in the heart of the city which will generate thousands of new jobs and will enhance the reputation of the University and the city as the place where the world’s most valuable ideas are transformed into reality.”

Decisions have been made to use the existing green space and the unique features of the Sackville Street Building, a Grade II-listed building, to re-create the North Campus into a new unconventional hub.

Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council believes that ID Manchester could be huge. He said: “There are tremendous opportunities to regenerate this distinctive part of the city and we welcome the University’s growth, investment, and job-creation ambitions for the development.”

Photo: Allison @ Flickr

Just Give Me a Reason: Why is Pink worthy of her BRIT award?

Written by Bella Fleming on . Posted in Music.

The annual BRIT Awards are back next week live from London’s O2 Arena. The show, taking place on the 20th February, will be broadcast from 8pm on ITV.

The Outstanding Contribution to Music Award will be back in The BRITS this year, having not been given out since Blur took it home in 2012. Past winners of this award include Sir Elton John, David Bowie, Queen, Oasis, and Spice Girls, to name just a few. And, last week, it was announced that the 2019 recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award will be the incredibly underwhelming American pop singer Pink.

The fundamental aim of The BRITs is to recognise and celebrate all the fantastic music made by British artists, and their contribution to the global music industry. So it does seem slightly strange that the winner of the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award is an American and as manufactured as pop singers get. Pink is only the second international artist to receive this award, after U2 won it in 2001. I don’t necessarily agree with international artists winning this award. However, I would argue U2 are far more relevant and have been far more influential to the global music industry than Pink.

According to the BRIT Chairman Jason Iley, in a statement made about this award, Pink is “truly one of the greatest artists of our time”. This is a statement that truly does confuse me. I don’t remember the last time Pink did anything significant in the music industry. Maybe I’m not paying enough attention, but I don’t think Pink is at all relevant to the music industry as it stands today, and I especially don’t think she’s one of the “greatest artists of all time.”

In order to try and find some understanding in this seemingly paradoxical world where Pink is being recognised as a musical genius, I turned to the BBC who recently published an article titled ‘Pink: 7 reasons she deserves her BRIT Award for outstanding achievement’. However, this article offered no solace. According to the BBC, Pink deserves the award because she never mimes when she sings on stage. If someone who is paid to be a singer is being congratulated on not miming when she sings, then should we congratulate the actors who don’t mime their monologues or surgeons who don’t pretend to operate? The answer is no. This is her job, and what she is ridiculously overpaid to do. This is not an outstanding achievement.

Another reason, according to the BBC, why Pink is worthy of the award is because she has “an impressive collection of hits”. I think this is clutching at straws. Hannah Montana had a lot of hits but I don’t see her receiving an award for contributing outstandingly to music, although perhaps Hannah Montana would have made a better recipient than Pink. If you look at the stats, the Hannah Montana soundtrack released in 2006 sold 3.74 million copies in the US alone. Pink’s most recent album, released in 2017, sold 1.8 million worldwide, with only 627,000 of them being sold in the US. That means that Hannah Montana, a fictional Disney Channel character played by a 14-year-old girl, managed to outsell Pink’s record almost six times over in the US alone.

Data from Spotify shows that Pink does not even feature on the list of the top ten most streamed artists of all time, the top ten artists with the most monthly listeners, the top ten most streamed songs or albums of all time, or even the top 25 most followed artists of all time. Even Demi Lovato managed to make it onto that list. So yet again, Pink may have had a few hits in her time, but arguably anyone can have a hit, and this is no indication that an artist has significantly contributed to music.

Maybe I have it completely wrong, and Pink has done something miraculous or maybe I just haven’t listened to enough of her ear-bleeding artificial pop songs. Perhaps there’s a more political motivation behind the award. Whatever the reason is, I think Pink is undeserving of the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award.

I, for one, will be changing channels as soon as Pink takes the stage next Wednesday.

Credit: Newsmag @ Flickr

Opinion: A Step too Fyre? The Danger of Influencers

Written by jenniferknowles on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

In a world where we are subject to ‘Influencing’ from left, right and centre, never has it been harder to distinguish the ‘real’ from the ‘fake’. With the influencer economy on Instagram alone valued at $1 billion by agency Mediakix, what is obvious is whether you consent to engage with these individuals or otherwise, this is a booming sector which is actively shaping our society.

As such, ‘Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened’ the recent documentary which is available to stream on Netflix, has shocked the media and the world. The extent of the outcry is equally as noteworthy as the failed event itself. Centred around the story of the now-imprisoned Billy McFarland, the documentary follows McFarland developing a festival alongside business partner and rapper Ja Rule, which would take place on Exuma, a remote island in the Bahamas with the goal of promoting his company Fyre Media.

They began by recruiting the giants of the influencer world, such as the likes of supermodels Hailey Baldwin and Kendall Jenner to appear in promotional videos for the festival and subsequently promote the event online, each receiving a fee of  $250,000 or upwards each. Images of the models were consequently posted across the internet and on their personal social media accounts, each vouching for the legitimacy of the event. The orange Fyre tile went viral on Instagram, with the likes of Bella Hadid posting the picture with the caption ‘Can’t wait for #FyreFestival, coming soon’. The world was convinced that this would be the greatest party to ever happen, boasting private villas on the beach, yachts, and some of the biggest names in the dance music industry to perform. The only problem was that McFarland’s expectations of what could be achieved in the short space of time they allowed themselves, with a limited workforce and precarious funding, was severely overshot (or it could be more likely argued that the festival was never meant to exist in the first place).

I remember back to seeing countless videos for the festival appearing on my Facebook stream and thinking “wow, I really wish I could go to that,” yet my lack of tens of thousands of pounds hindered me somewhat. The danger here was for the ones who really did have that kind of money to feed into this elaborate marketing ploy. Guests arrived at the island on the day that the festival was set to take place only to find that absolutely nothing was ready. There had been a storm on the island on the days leading up to the event which had destroyed what little preparation had been put into place. What’s more is, all music acts had been cancelled upon hearing the leaked information about the derelict state of the supposedly luxury festival.

The influencers involved supposedly had no idea that the festival would be a complete failure. Nevertheless, they promoted the illusive festival regardless, due to the large cash sums they had been offered. When the reality came to light of how hurricane tents were replacements for ‘cabanas’ on the beach, the influencers deleted their initial publications. Yet their reputations and followers appear to be untouched by the scandal. Their involvement seems to have been almost forgotten, and we continue to trust in their ‘opinions’. The persons involved do not seem to be aware of the detrimental effect they can have on people’s lives. Their powerful responsibilities as role models should be taken seriously, especially since they are often broadcasting to a young, and perhaps more vulnerable audience.

This is often the case when online personalities promote to millions of followers with little to no knowledge of what they are actually endorsing. The fashion & beauty industry is no exception; in fact, it is undoubtedly one of the biggest culprits. I for one have allowed myself to be led again and again into spending ludicrous amounts of money on products which were sure to ‘change my life’ but alas have changed nothing besides my bank balance. Over-consumption has always been a prevalent issue but with influencers at the forefront of our online lives e.g. YouTube, Snapchat, Twitter, and the aforementioned Instagram, the presence of influencing is more dominant than ever.

Photo: David Teniers @ Public Domain

For the love of money

Written by Sophia Ashby on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Chocolate, cards, flowers, and a romantic date with your other half. The cliché and commercialised scenes commonly depicted on Valentine’s Day. Whether you are in a happy relationship, single or your Facebook status still cringingly states ‘it’s complicated’, the 14thFebruary looms over us all.

I am a very recently single lady myself (hit me up) and refuse to be sucked into the sadness that is expected to consume all those not in a relationship. Firstly, I think Valentine’s Day is a load of commercialised codswallop. You can’t find real love at the bottom of a box of chocolates. It cannot be bought in a florist, and it will never materialise over lobster in an overpriced restaurant. Love is certainly not 50% off a ‘lovehunny’ couple’s vibrator.

Valentine’s Day conjures images of love and affection. But, as with all pure things, capitalism has found a way of making money out of it. In the weeks running up to the big day, billboards bombard us, telling us how to love. To confine romanticism to a single day is problematic, verging on tragic.

Firstly, we should be telling the most important people in our lives that we love them daily. This does not just mean your partner. All those who show you daily that they love you deserve some appreciation. What Valentine’s Day teaches us is that expressive love is only necessary for one day a year.

In an attempt to quell my yearly anger at the forced displays of affection, I decided to research the origins of Valentine’s Day. In truth, I wanted to discover that the day had no historical origins. I thought that by proving its purely monetary value, I could be more justified in my dismissal of it. However, I found that, like most relationships, Valentine’s Day has its roots in conflict.

Valentine’s Day holds its origins in Ancient Rome. The festival known as Lupercalia, celebrating the coming of Spring, included match-making rituals. Boys would pick the names of girls from a box, and the pair would celebrate the festival as boyfriend and girlfriend. The match relied on fate, suggesting a trust in a higher being or knowledge in creating a successful relationship.

Historians believe that the Church took over this ceremony in around the third century, in order to Christianise Rome. The legend states that Emperor Claudius II sentenced Saint Valentine to death for conducting secret marriages despite the ban. On the day of his execution, he sent a letter to his lover, signed ‘from your Valentine’. The tradition of anonymous cards was born in the 17th century. Friends and lovers exchanged hand written notes detailing their appreciation for one another.

In a traditional sense, it is endearing to know that there is an official celebration of romantic love. However, its origins are intensely ideological. The history of Valentine’s Day is an accurate reflection of human relationships and power dynamics. Rather embarrassingly, our current interpretation of Valentine’s Day shows our modern obsession with the monetary value of love.

Photo: The University of Manchester

UK Vice-Chancellor pay soars to 13 times median wage

Written by Josh Sandiford on . Posted in News.

Figures released in a report by the higher education regulator, the Office for Students (OfS), have revealed that almost half of all vice-chancellors received more than £300,000 in salary, bonuses and benefits last year – with six universities in England paying their vice-chancellors £500,000 or more.

The report shows that some vice-chancellors are being paid as much as 13 times the median pay of their staff. University of Manchester President and Vice-Chancellor Nancy Rothwell earned “8.24 times the median pay of staff (£31,604)” in the 2017-18 academic year.

While the highest reported salary for anyone in the position was the £70,000 taken home by the vice-chancellor at the University of Bath, the head of the London Business School was paid almost £600,000 with benefits included. In addition to this, 62% of universities in England increased the number of staff paid over £100,00 in the 2017-18 academic year.

The university with the largest increase in vice-chancellor pay was De Montfort University in Leicester, where pay went up from £286,000 to £350,000.

In December, The Mancunion revealed that Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell’s overall pay packet fell by £37,000 to £269,000 in the 17-18 academic year, due to the fact she took less in pension contributions as cash.

The OfS introduced new rules last year stating that universities could face “significant” financial penalties for giving vice-chancellors extremely high salaries.

Some vice-chancellors refused a salary increase and a number of universities reduced the basic pay of their vice-chancellor. The chief executive of the OfS Nicola Dandridge said this was “good to see” but did acknowledged that it can be “difficult to revisit contractual obligations while a vice-chancellor is in post.”

Education Secretary Damian Hinds commented: “We set up the Office for Students to look out for students’ interests and it is absolutely right that the OfS demands greater transparency from universities by requiring them to justify the pay and benefits of their vice-chancellors.”

“Of course salaries need to be competitive – but high pay must be justified by high performance on objectives such as widening participation for disadvantaged groups, low dropout rates, growing export earnings and pioneering innovative research.”

Meanwhile, the i Newspaper has revealed that a ‘raft’ of institutions have announced plans to make staff redundancies in a bid to save cash.

Increasing budget deficits have been blamed for pushing providers into making necessary cuts to services, leaving universities running on depleted levels of resources. It was recently reported that three universities were at risk of bankruptcy, amid The OfS re-affirming that they would not bail out struggling institutions – back in January, it was confirmed that five institutions in London had failed to break even, with Kingston announcing a deficit of over £13 million.

Redundancy announcements are now becoming commonplace across the sector, as universities look to mitigate the effects of overbearing financial pressure.

The University of Cardiff has already confirmed that 350 jobs will be cut across a period of five years, following a £22.8 million deficit, while Kent has also confirmed that jobs will be lost. Likewise, Bangor University will see 60 further jobs lost, just a year after over 100 staff took voluntary redundancies to help deal with £8.5 million budget cutbacks.

Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute remarked that the current crisis was a result of unprecedented financial uncertainty: “There are some universities that are thriving, but the system is facing something of a perfect storm due to the competitive market, Brexit, dip in the number of 18-year-olds and huge policy changes that have knocked them for six.”

Continued concern persists over the perceived marketisation of Higher Education, as fee-paying students see reductions in the quality of service, alongside pay rises for the highest-ranking across UK universities.

Chris Skidmore, the universities minister spoke of the threat of competition across Higher Education: “There is an expectation that in a small number of cases providers may exit the market altogether as a result of strong competition.”

With fees at an all-time high of £9,250 per year for most degree subjects, that the notion that some institutions are becoming financially unsustainable will difficult for many students to process.

One second-year student, who chose to stay anonymous, said: “It’s difficult to understand the level of difficulty that universities across the country appear to be. Obviously, it is a huge challenge to face the implications of the exit from the EU and keeping a consistently quality service amid rising student numbers, but you expect that to be maintained with the level that we pay to study on an annual basis.”

”If every student at a university is contributing £9,250 a year towards their studies, then there should be ample available to cover the costs of their degree. When there is talk of financial difficulty it is simply hard to believe considering the wages of some of the most senior figures across Higher Education in this country. How can our institutions be struggling while the majority of vice-chancellors sit on a six-figure pay packet?”

A University of Manchester spokesperson said: ”As set out in the University Financial Statements for the year ending 31 July 2018, the President and Vice-Chancellor’s total pay was £260,399 for a third consecutive year, with no bonuses.

“Any increases to this salary must be approved by the independent Remuneration Committee which reports directly to the University’s Board of Governors. The President and Vice-Chancellor is not a member of Remuneration Committee and not present at any Committee discussions relating to their salary.

“When deciding salary there is an evaluation of the President and Vice-Chancellor’s performance which includes an assessment from each member of the Board of Governors and a formal review of individual performance by the Chair of the Board.”

Photo: Salford Women's Aid

The fight against FGM

Written by Victoria Evans on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Female Genital Mutilation, (FGM), as defined by the World Health Organisation, involves procedures that alter or cause injury to female genitalia for non-medical reasons. Jaria Hussain-Lala, chairwoman of the Greater Manchester FGM Forum, delivered a presentation on the prevalence of FGM as part of Sex Week. Although the discourse focused on a South-Asian perspective, she provided invaluable and eye-opening information on FGM worldwide.

There are four different types of FGM.  The first, clitoridectomy, involves the partial or total removal of the clitoris. The second is the removal of the clitoris and the labia minora. The third type, infibulation, is the most severe and involves the above, in addition to sewing the vagina closed. A small hole remains, from which a woman is expected to urinate, menstruate, have intercourse and give birth.  The fourth involves any other alteration to the genitalia.

It goes without saying the enormous impact FGM has on the lives of females. FGM is performed on girls as young as 6 months old, often in unhygienic and unprofessional conditions. It results in adverse short-and-long-term effects. The use of unsterile blades and equipment can lead to infections, HIV, haemorrhaging, and death. Jaria pointed out in her talk that FGM can have significant effects on a woman’s libido. It can also cause problems with child bearing and has links to psychological disorders.

FGM is prevalent in 45-50 countries. Approximately 200 million girls in Africa and the Middle East have undergone this ritual. The most common reasons for the practice are on the basis of chastity and purity. In the Islamic Bohra community where 90% of girls are ‘cut’, the clitoris is viewed as an impure piece of skin.

FGM is far from straightforward. Debates have arisen surrounding the practice as an act of female circumcision or mutilation. Coupled with the protective blanket of apparent religious custom, the fight against FGM faces many obstacles. Deemed a cultural norm, challengers against the practice can face isolation and threats on the family within society meaning many girls and women find it hard to speak out against FGM. This is contributing to the limited progress in the fight against it. However, some women see this as a necessary practice and an ideological rite of passage. This creates difficulty in a worldwide struggle to eradicate the practice, largely down to the gap in education and hierarchical cultural traditions.

The UK has the largest victimisation in Europe, with 170,000 girls and women affected. There are approximately 65,000 girls under the age of 15 who are at-risk of FGM. However, the UK was the first Western country to introduce laws to illegalise FGM, continuing to revise the Act in order to protect and prevent.

Men are under-researched and often missing in the narrative of FGM. A 2016 study conducted by Kameel Ahmady, interviewed 1000 men in 200 villages across Iran. The research showed that men overall preferred cut women, as they claim to want wives who are ‘pure’ and ‘moral’. Opinion also included that uncut women were ‘out of control’. However, men found that intercourse was less satisfying because their wives weren’t enjoying it, pushing them to seek sexual pleasure elsewhere with uncut women.

FGM, regardless of cultural belief, is a violation of children’s rights. The pain inflicted upon a young girl can have lifelong impacts. With increased education, awareness and continued efforts from organisations such as the Greater Manchester FGM Forum, perhaps the world will soon see a significant decrease in the number of FGM cases. It is essential to place women’s sexual health and well-being at the forefront of minds and communities. Awareness is key in the worldwide attempt to reverse existing cultural norms that harm women and girls.

Credit: Anna Caldwell @ Flickr

Spring Into This Season’s Freshest Trends!

Written by isobellarae on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

From bleached denim at Dior to block colour suits at Sies Marjan, here I take a sneak peek into the hottest runway trends for Spring Summer 2019.

A dominant feature on the catwalks, fringing stood out as a prominent trend at the SS19 shows thanks to Gucci and Marc Jacobs. Meanwhile, it looks like the wearable trend of cycling shorts, adored by Manchester-based fashion brands Prettylittlething, Missguided, and adored by bloggers such as Naomi Genes is thankfully here to stay for yet another season. 

On-trend more than ever next season, denim is a must-have. From double denim to bleached, there are so many ways it can be worn. Highlighted by the likes of Dior and Off-White, denim will be the most adaptable item in your wardrobe this summer.

Loved by Valentino and Emilia Wickstead, bows are back for SS19. Statement-making and super feminine, bows will enhance not only basic items next season, but also play a dominant role in statement-making looks.

Although not everyone’s favourite, clashing prints will be crucial to your spring summer wardrobe this year. The likes of Louis Vuitton made the most of this trend at fashion week, showing the bolder the better when it comes to prints.

Having seen the baker boy hat flourish last season, the path has been paved for an influx of fashionable hats for SS19. Highlighting the importance of coordination between both hats and clothing, Moschino is set to have influenced much of next season’s co-ords on the high-street.

Classic yet contemporary, lace lovers will be happy to hear the delicate fabric has returned for SS19. Whilst Alexander Wang displayed delicate inserts of lace, Erdem made it a bold feature on the runway.

From skirts to suits and shirts, beige has been known to dominate the catwalks in past seasons and continues to do so today. Although Dior gave a more traditional interpretation on this classic, yet current, colour, Burberry provided a modern adaptation to this trend.

Striking and sensational, block colour suits are a must for any woman looking to be smart yet stylish this spring. As Sies Marjan showed block colour red suits on the catwalks, Armani debuted the neon tones that are slowly creeping onto the high-street.

Photo: @Lerato Grace Mokate

Review: Twelfth Night

Written by Anuli Changa on . Posted in Theatre.

Twelfth Night is a tale of mistaken identity, tomfoolery, and madness. One of Shakespeare’s most well-known comedies, following twins Viola (Emily Fitzpatrick) and Sebastian (Michael Schulz), torn apart by a storm at sea. Viola believes her brother to be dead and dresses up as him to become Duke Orsino’s (Thomas Valerio) servant. Viola (now Cesario) is told to woo the Lady Olivia (Lara Paul) on Orsino’s behalf. In the process Olivia falls in love with Viola, whilst Viola realises her love for Orsino. With the subplot of the rest of Olivia’s household being up to no good, chaos most definitely ensues.

Emily Fitzpatrick was impressive as Viola, able to portray the layers of her character as both comedic lead and demonstrate the emotional turmoil of her predicament in disguise. Fitzpatrick had a great grasp of the language and was constantly engaging and likeable. She and Thomas Valerio (Orsino) played well opposite each other, and the direction (Phoebe Lynch) choices played up the homoerotic tension between the two characters when Orsino still believes Viola to be a man. I enjoyed the campness of making this physically implicit, going beyond Shakespeare’s allusions to Orsino’s own confusion in the language of the play.

Sam Grieve’s Sir Andrew Aguecheek was nothing short of excellent. Grieve’s master of physical comedy and hilarious facial expressions, made for a great portrayal of the foolish Aguecheek. I am not sure how she managed to do all this and never go too far, but she had the audience in raucous laughter whenever she was onstage.

Cathy Wippell as Feste the ‘fool’ was another standout comedic performance. Feste is a great contradiction of a character, a fool by profession but often the smartest and wittiest person in the room. These layers were well portrayed by Wippell. She also did well to sing Feste’s multiple songs most amongst the shenanigans happening simultaneously, a contrast which was extremely amusing to behold.

Tai Francis also deserves a mention as Malvolio. They did well to demonstrate the stern and slightly creepy side of Malvolio, as well as the love-sick element of the character. This was particularly funny when Maria (Ella Marsden) tricked Malvolio by sending a mischievous fake love letter. I enjoyed Marsden’s performance as the disapproving, yet cunning character. I was delighted to see that, despite the modern costume choice, Malvolio still emerged in yellow, cross-gartered stockings.

The music (composed by Phoebe Lynch) was an enjoyable addition with live instruments. The folk music style was reminiscent of the traditional Elizabethan/Shakespearean style. This did seem slightly confused with the modern clothing and party atmosphere of the set, complete with bunting and balloons. Despite this, I liked the set for its simplicity and fun, certainly not taking the madness of Twelfth Night too seriously. The set also made for some comedic moments, with characters hiding behind balloons and fighting with lightsabers instead of swords.

Overall, a very enjoyable production of Twelfth Night which really played on the subtleties of comedy in facial expression and characters, whilst keeping the hilarity and outrageous nature of a Shakespearean classic.

Credit: Mercedez Fashion @ Flickr

How To Get Involved in Fashion Week without Leaving Manchester

Written by Alice Porter on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Fashion Week has come round once again, and, like September and February of every year, you might be experiencing some FOMO if you’re not in those fashion capitals. If you are feeling less than pleased about spending the month of February in Manchester rather than New York, London, Paris, or Milan, not to worry. There are so many other ways you can get involved with the excitement of fashion week from the comfort of your own home, or the Ally G if you’re in the mood to procrastinate…

1.Sit Front Row Wherever You Are: Thanks to the internet, you can now watch shows, as if you’re sat on the front row, live as they happen. Most brands stream their shows nowadays so you can watch them live or whenever you’d like in the following days or weeks, taking in everything, the music, the set, the atmosphere, and, most importantly, the clothes.

2. Stay Caught Up on All The Coverage: Inevitably during fashion week, I spend so much of my time soaking up all the coverage. If I don’t have time to watch a show, or am not interested in the brand enough to do so, I love to scroll through the photos of each of the looks on Vogue’s fashion week section (run by what used to be Style.com) and read the reviews of each show alongside them. I also love finding endless inspiration from all the outrageous street style and Man Repeller’s recent piece on all the best street style from NYFW is great for that.

3. Get Social: Not only do we have the internet to help us stay caught up but social media too! I think social media is the best way to feel as though you’re really involved in fashion week, as a lot of the coverage in the traditional press and media can feel a little detached. You can follow all of your favourite brands on social media to keep up with them but a great way to feel really connected is by following those who are attending fashion week. Instagram accounts that always document fashion week really well include @alyssainthecity, @manrepeller, @lucywilliams02, and @alwaysjudging.

Photo: Kwz @ Wikimedia Commons

UK prepares to become carbon-negative

Written by Megan Robinson on . Posted in Science & Tech.

A power station in North Yorkshire has become the first in Europe to reduce its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from wood-burning with a process known as carbon capture. This new scheme has intentions of reducing the amounts of CO2 released into the atmosphere, but has been met by scepticism from many climate experts.

In recent years, climate change has become an increasingly pressing issue. Emission targets set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) aim to stop the planet’s temperature from rising more than 1.5°C of that above the pre-industrial average. The power station, owned by Drax, burns millions of tonnes of biomass to generate electricity for the UK, releasing extensive amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Drax uses one of many Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) methods known as Bio Energy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS). The premise of the BECCS method is to burn biomass, then capture and refine the carbon emissions post-combustion from the flue gases using an organic solvent. This particular method is provided by a company called C-Capture, and is the product of chemistry research from the University of Leeds.

The collected carbon emissions can be stored in numerous ways. As an example, the Hellisheidi power station near Reykjavik in Iceland first dissolves the gas into large volumes of water and then injects the solution (which is essentially soda) into rocks underground. Over a period of a few months, the stored CO2 becomes solid.

It has been stated by the IPCC that CCS will undoubtedly be very significant, if not vital, for improving our current environmental situation. However, Drax’s news of their BECCS pilot has been met with controversy. The technology is currently in its infancy and is a very small contribution to helping the problem, only capturing one tonne of CO2 per day.

Overall, the process can do more harm than good for plant and animal species that reside on land, where trees are destroyed for biofuel. The impact that BECCS has on land cannot be ignored. One estimate suggests that, for BECCS to be considered useful under the Paris Agreement, land area equivalent to three times the size of India would be needed. Furthermore, a large amount of energy is actually required to execute this.

Drax burns 7 million tonnes of wood a year for electricity generation. Drax states that most of the wood used is forest industry residue, including trees found to be unsuitable for timber and similar ‘waste’ products. However, the BBC suggests that some wood used for fuel was consistent with plants found in southern US swamp forests, which are abundant with species dependant on that habitat. Other things to consider are emissions from transporting the fuel to the power station, and also how the removal of trees can decrease CO2 removal by photosynthesis over longer time periods.

There are alternative ways of capturing carbon that may have fewer disadvantages. One of the easiest ways to increase the amount of carbon captured from the atmosphere is to simply plant more trees. Afforestation (planting new forests), reforestation (regenerating depleted forests), and protecting existing forests is possibly the best way to ensure that substantial CO2 is removed from the atmosphere. Additionally, soil is a huge contributor to the soaking up of CO2. Farmers across the world can be encouraged to farm in such a way that optimises the soil for carbon absorption, rather than excessive fertilisation and plowing, which leads to the release of carbon.

Photo: Charly W. Karl @ Flickr

Gravitational waves: round three

Written by euanhall on . Posted in Science & Tech.

After over a year, the search for gravitational waves is about to begin once again. The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) has been running upgrades since August 2017, and is in its final stages of testing before commencing its third observing run.

LIGO was responsible for the historical detection of gravitational waves in 2015. Gravitational waves are ripples in space-time, emanating from objects moving through space in just the right way, like two objects that orbit each other.

Much like two boats on a lake moving in circles, the orbiting bodies can send out waves to the edges of the water. In this analogy, the ‘flat’ lake is the fabric of space-time, which is flexible. It stretches and warps as things move through it. If you disturb this fabric with something catastrophic, say two orbiting black holes or two supernovae, gravitational waves will be sent out through the universe.

Gravitational waves were predicted by Einstein in 1915, but we have lacked the ability to observe them until recently. LIGO sends a split laser beam down 4km vacuum tubes. The beams bounce off incredibly precise mirrors 400 times before they’re superimposed onto each other with extreme accuracy, causing destructive interference. If a gravitational wave passes through Earth then the path length for a laser in one direction lengthens, while the other shortens, and a signal or ‘chirp’ will be recognised by the researchers in the observatories.

In February 2015, LIGO announced that it had made its first detection, the merging of two orbiting black holes. After this detection, LIGO ran for three and half months and observed another gravitational wave event. In January 2016, it was switched off and underwent upgrades until November 2016 to achieve greater sensitivity and reduce noise. In its second run, it observed neutron star events – resulting in 84 scientific papers being published.

Now, after a year of upgrades LIGO is nearly ready for its third observational run. Ultimately the goal of each LIGO upgrade period is to increase the detectors’ sensitivity, to increase the range at which we can detect gravitational waves and the frequency of them. We reached out to David Shoemaker, a senior MIT research scientist and spokesperson of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, for some details about the upgrades. Over the last year, the mirrors of the interferometers have been replaced with those that have better reflective coatings.

Shoemaker said: “We have several different colours of light in the detectors: a near-infrared beam, very powerful, to enable the detection; but also a weaker green light used to help obtain the initial operating lengths of the detector (bringing optical cavities into resonance). These new mirrors have better reflectivity for the green. They also have less ripple on the surface. The result is a better use of the light we inject.”

In addition, the power of the lasers has been increased with new amplifiers, allowing for better resolution. “The more photons per second (i.e., light intensity) we have, the more precisely we can say how much light is falling on our light detector and the better resolution we have for changes in that rate that might be due to a passing gravitational wave.”

As well as this, the interferometers use ‘squeezed light’ to improve sensitivity. The lasers are fired through a crystal that adjusts the rate of the photon flow so they are spaced out more evenly. This translates to a more complete wave pattern on the interferometer, an improvement to an uneven picture resultant from the inherent variability of photons. The detectors also have new panels to ensure no stray light leaks into the system.

However, the hunt for gravitational waves is a global one, and LIGO is not the only observatory upgrading. VIRGO, Italy’s partner observatory is undergoing its own upgrades, and when VIRGO and LIGO are both online researchers hope to detect mergers ten times more frequently each year. Japan’s Kamioka Gravitational Wave Detector (KAGRA), a unique underground and supercooled detector, is due to open late 2019. Furthermore, India is working on IndIGO, a $177 million observatory expected to be complete in 2024, which will further improve accuracy.

Photo: Rept0n1x @ Wikimedia Commons

What’s On: Live Literature in Manchester

Written by Gurnaik Johal on . Posted in Books.

While the main bulk of events in the Manchester Literature Festival took place last term, there’s still plenty of events on for any book lovers in the city this spring.

With the opening of the new Blackwell’s Bookshop near the University, there’s a new venue in Manchester for readings and book signings. On the 21st of March, debut writers Glen James Brown, Amy Arnold, and S.K. Perry will be in store discussing their recent novels. Look out for Amy Arnold’s A Slip of a Fish, which won the 2018 Northern Book Prize.

On the 26th of March, two of the UK and Ireland’s most exciting writers, Nicole Flattery and Daisy Johnson, will be talking about their books Show Them A Good Time and Everything Under respectively. Johnson was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and her novel, Everything Under, was voted Blackwell’s Book of the Year 2018. Flattery read some of her short fiction in Manchester last year and if that, and the fact that she won The White Review Short Story Prize 2017, is anything to go by, then her debut collection is set to be a hit.

The Centre for New Writing also boasts a stellar line-up for the coming weeks with events running at the University’s Martin Harris Centre. Non-fiction writers Cathleen Miller and Horatio Clare will be in conversation on the 18th of February, and author and singer-songwriter Tracy Thorn will be talking with Manchester’s Jeanette Winterson on the 26th of February.

Novelists Max Porter and Luke Brown will be at the Martin Harris Centre on the 11th of March discussing Lanny, Porter’s much-anticipated follow-up to his award-winning debut Grief Is A Thing With Feathers. 

A definite highlight is Valeria Luiselli’s rare appearance as part of the Manchester Literature Festival on the 20th of March. Winner of an American Book Award, Luiselli is one of Mexico’s most prominent writers. She will be joined by Kamila Shamsie to discuss her forthcoming novel Lost Children Archive. Intertwining two stories, Lost Children Archive is her first novel in English and follows a road trip from New York to Apacheria.

As always there’s a host of spoken word events on from the Northern Quarter to Didsbury. So whether it’s brand new poets or world renowned novelists, 2019 looks to be another jam-packed year for book lovers in Manchester.

Photo: James Nash @ Flickr

The Internet of Things: who really needs a smart toaster?

Written by Anand Knox on . Posted in Science & Tech.

As companies strive to reinvent old products, there has been an explosion in so-called ‘smart appliances’. These are devices that can connect to the Internet, and be remotely controlled through your laptop or mobile phone. The idea has been around since the 1980s and is commonly referred to as the Internet of Things (IoT).

What started with fairly felicitous inventions, such as the smart electricity meter, has evolved to include much stranger devices – the arguably less useful, hundred-pound smart toaster, for example. Has the IoT gone too far?

In simple terms, any object that can connect to the Internet is part of the IoT. The concept involves using microchips or printed technologies to allow traditional electronics to share data with users and with each other. These objects range from kitchen appliances to wearable items (the Fitbit for example), to industrial machines.

In fact, one might not realise, but IoT saturates modern life. Traffic lights, wind turbines, and even vending machines all run on the premise of the automated data gathering and sharing. A large IoT network is currently being trialled in Milton Keynes. Across the city, smart bins send alerts when they need collecting. Smart car parks, that direct cars to empty spaces,  have been installed. Some experts predicting that by 2020, over half of new businesses will be run through IoT principles.

Despite this, consumer uptake of IoT technologies has been rather underwhelming. One study showed that only 9% of consumers trusted IoT appliances. Security (or lack thereof) was one of the main concerns people have with said appliances. Anything connected to the Internet is vulnerable to hacking. While the idea of having your toaster hacked is hardly panic-inducing, the possibility of a hacker gaining access to a WiFi-enabled baby monitor or laptop camera is decidedly sinister. Security experts argue that companies are not doing enough to ensure new IoT devices are sufficiently secure. Hacking a toaster might not only give someone the power to burn your toast but may also act as a back door into your entire network.

An additional related concern is personal privacy. Even if laptop cameras and baby monitors can be secured, IoT devices in the home still gather an unprecedented amount of data on the life and habits of consumers. A smart fridge could analyse an individual’s eating patterns and alert food companies. It has been suggested that the big money in IoT will not come from product sales, but instead from the data gathered by smart items that can be sold to businesses.

While consumers maintain a level of wariness towards IoT, there are no such reservations in industry. Use of IoT technologies has boomed (and is still booming) in industrial sectors. Estimates of the number of IoT devices present in industry range from tens of billions to trillions by 2030. IoT can be used in every step of the supply chain. Smart sensors can analyse products, check for defects, and apply fixes, all without the need for human intervention. These devices have a huge potential for cutting waste and costs.

Photo: paseidon @Pixabay

Universities advised to ignore migration targets

Written by Sam Honey on . Posted in News.

UK Universities should ignore migration targets set by Westminster, says Alan Manning, the government’s lead adviser on migration.

Manning, chairman of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), is also a professor of economics at LSE.

The 74-year old has claimed that the government no longer pays attention to their goal of reducing migration to below the 100,000 threshold.

Ahead of the 2017 General Election, Theresa May confirmed that it was her intention to stick to this target, despite the coalition’s notable failure to bring numbers down to the tens of thousands, a level that May termed “sustainable”.

Despite this, there was no sign of this figure of 100,000 in the recent Immigration White Paper. Manning noted that the government no longer pays attention to the limit, and assured those across the Higher Education field that student migration would not be affected by it.

Manning said: ”My advice to people who worry about the net migration target is to say just pretend it doesn’t exist … [It] is not really influencing policy on student migration at all at the moment and if you keep on mentioning it you’re actually drawing attention to it and pretending it’s a problem when actually it really isn’t.”

Manning was embroiled in controversy last year when he confirmed that the MAC’s report on the impact of migration policy on international students would include this group in final migration statistics.

Manning claimed that, ”removing students from the net migration statistics would make almost no difference to the actual figures,” but was also criticised for refusing to recommend the re-introduction of post-study work visas.

With the publication of the White Paper back in December, the government announced a ‘skills-based’ plan for immigration, confirming that all students who had completed a degree at a UK institution would be given six months’ post-study leave, with a full year for PhD graduates.

Many have pointed to the success of the post-study visa system in Australia as evidence of the necessity to implement it in the UK.

One such voice is Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute: “Why do we put these absurd constraints on one of the very few sectors where our country is truly world class?” he asked. “We should be redialling everything the way the Australians have done.”

Manning dismissed such claims however, saying, “You can already find, for example, the Australian Labor Party saying this system is out of control.

”I wouldn’t be that surprised if that actually turns into something of a boom or bust situation. I really don’t think that would be in the interests of the [UK] sector.”

However, the future relationship of migration and Higher Education in the UK is currently being dominated by the uncertainty of the Erasmus+ system post-Brexit.

It remains unclear as to whether the European exchange programme will be in operation at UK Institutions and for UK students post-2020.

Although the government has underwritten funding for Erasmus to continue until the end of 2020, practical measures to ensure the program remains in operation have not been clarified.

Photo: Mike MacKenzie @ Flickr

UoM student wins prestigious undergraduate award

Written by Jacklin Kwan on . Posted in Science & Tech, News.

Cristian Bodnar is the most recent winner of the computer science Thomas Clarkson Gold Medal award and was one of the two prize-winning students from the University. The Thomas Clarkson Gold Medal is awarded by the Global Undergraduate Summit, widely seen as one of the most prestigious accolades for undergraduate students.  His final year report for his BSc in computer science was recognised for its excellence and innovation in the field of text-to-image synthesis.

Cristian’s work is highly complex. It essentially aims to generate a completely new image just from an inputted text description. It can be seen as a more challenging form of language translation, but unlike translating Spanish to English, where the languages you’re switching between are bound by limited vocabulary and grammatical structure, translating text to image can result in a huge diversity of results. “These images are generated similarly to a person you would ask to imagine a red flower, you can end up quite surprised with the kind of representations your program dreams up.”

In his research, Cristian utilised a type of neural network called a ‘generative adversarial network (GAN)’. It’s a class of artificial intelligence algorithm where a generator will create a synthetic image, and a discriminator assesses how high quality that image is (i.e. how likely it is to be real). Cristian trained his neural network using sets of publicly available images of birds and flowers. Each image was captioned with a short description that specified features like colour, shape, size etc. These descriptions and their corresponding images were then mapped onto a common ‘embedding space’, which was then implemented in synthesising new images.

Similar to how a painter first outlines the general shape of their artwork before filling in finer details, the neural network first generates a low-resolution image that is refined later on. It represents just one of the many powerful applications of artificial intelligence in computing. However, the problem of text-to-image synthesis is a rather new one. “I realised most people were working on the reverse problem: image captioning, which is a much easier problem. Research for text to image synthesis was just starting to emerge at the time. It was a young topic of research… I was excited by the huge amount of ideas that could be tried and discovered…”

Similar to many other challenges in technology, computer scientists need to mathematically express an abstract problem (in this case, a visual one). It’s one that requires creativity, which was part of what attracted Cristian, “I liked that Computer Science is at the intersection of so many fields, so I could literally do anything. I’ve always been extremely curious about everything and a bit reluctant to specialise in a single field. I think Computer Science was the right compromise for me because I can still work on genetics, robotics, mathematics, linguistics, or even art.”

In a couple of years’ time, Cristian’s research could have many commercial applications. “It could be used for replacing search. If you want to buy some furniture, you don’t need to spend a couple of hours to find the one you would like, but you could actually describe one, a computer would then synthesise some 3D renderings and then someone will make it based on the model.”

Cristian is now an MPhil student in Cambridge where he specialises in artificial intelligence and machine learning. He’s now applying his education to ‘genetic algorithms’ (computational equivalents of the evolutionary process) and reinforcement learning.