By Adam Davies, Associate Professor, College of Arts, University of Guelph
Heated Rivalry, the Bell Media-produced Canadian gay hockey romance based on the novel by Rachel Reid, has taken the world by storm. The series stars Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander, a Japanese Canadian hockey player for the Montréal Metros, and
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By Anton Roberts, Sociologist and Social Policy Researcher at the Policy Evaluation and Researcher Unit at Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester Metropolitan University
The government’s recently announced grand plan to end homelessness in England is the latest instalment in a long line of promises (and failures) by governments across the UK. This latest strategy, published in December, promises billions in investment in rough sleeping services, alongside a previous commitment to build 1.5 million new homes by the end of this parliament.
It’s an attempt to address the UK’s acute housing crisis. On the surface, there is plenty to praise in the…
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By Paul Whiteley, Professor, Department of Government, University of Essex
British electoral politics in the 1980s were dominated by Margaret Thatcher, the prime minister for the whole of that decade. Similarly, Tony Blair dominated elections when he was in Downing Street from 1997 to 2007. In sharp contrast, the decade from 2015 to 2025 saw no fewer than six prime ministers come (and mostly go) – five Conservatives and Keir Starmer for Labour.
Traditionally, Labour has been reluctant to sack its leader, but if the May elections turn out to be as bad as the polls suggest, the…
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By Neil Dawson, Research Fellow in International Development, University of East Anglia
Adrian Martin, Professor of Environment and Development, University of East Anglia
Iokiñe Rodríguez, Senior Lecturer in Environment and Development, University of East Anglia
Restoring the ability of local communities to act as guardians of nature is a promising approach to both ecological and social recovery.
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By Fiona Brook, Lecturer, Psychology, Birmingham City University
For one in five people, losing a pet has been more distressing than losing a human loved one. New research has revealed that 21% of those who experienced both types of bereavement found their pet’s death harder to bear.
The findings challenge how society views pet loss. It’s often dismissed as “disenfranchised grief” – a type of mourning that isn’t socially recognised or validated in the same…
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By Matthew Holland, Senior lecturer in game design and development, Anglia Ruskin University
I worked at RuneScape from 2008 until 2014, and the questions that were on my team’s minds at the time are still relevant now
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By Marcus Mayers, Visiting Research Fellow, Manchester Metropolitan University
David Bamford, Professor of Operations Management, Manchester Metropolitan University
The UK government says it has learned valuable lessons from the expense, delays and political embarrassment of HS2. And now it has laid out detailed plans for train passengers in northern England who have been so badly “let down” in the past.
Northern Powerhouse Rail will apparently bring new and upgraded routes from east to west of the region, linking Liverpool, Manchester, Bradford, Leeds, Sheffield and Hull. Major capacity and journey time improvements have been promised.
Away from the actual tracks though, the scheme could come to represent a welcome change in the…
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By Michael Woods, Professor of Human Geography, Aberystwyth University
Wales prides itself in being a pioneer in environmental policy. It was the first country in the world to adopt a statutory duty for public bodies to make development sustainable, in 2015. Yet, environmental issues have rarely featured prominently in elections to the Senedd (the Welsh parliament).
This year is different. Wales votes for a new Senedd in May and parties are using contentious statements around environmental issues to differentiate themselves. Issues including windfarms, expansion of pylons and…
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By Uri Gal, Professor in Business Information Systems, University of Sydney
Starting later this year, Woolworths shoppers will able to use AI to plan meals and even add items to their carts. It’s convenient – but with potential hidden costs.
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By Amy Thunig-McGregor, Research Fellow, Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research, University of Technology Sydney
Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is cook dinner and gather with the people you love.
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