New governments �����Ƶ� particularly those with large parliamentary majorities �����Ƶ� often anticipate a honeymoon period in their first year of office, with the opportunity to pursue their manifesto commitments and begin demonstrating tangible progress. Indeed, Keir Starmer started from a stronger position than most, with a Commons majority not seen since the Blair years. Yet, his first year has been marked by a set of challenges that have limited the government�����Ƶ�s momentum.

A relatively cautious legislative agenda has been overshadowed by the unexpected prominence of Kim Leadbeater�����Ƶ�s , which has dominated headlines and raised difficult questions, not least because ministers have admitted there�����Ƶ�s no budget in place to deliver it, should it clear the Lords.

Labour has also come under sustained pressure from Reform UK, whose electoral performance has cast a long shadow. The party finished second in 89 Labour-held seats �����Ƶ� including those of several ministers �����Ƶ� and the government has been compelled to respond, often framing Farage�����Ƶ�s party as the principal opposition. But while energy has been directed outward, tensions have been simmering on the Labour backbenches, particularly over proposed welfare reforms. Even with a large majority, the threat is significant and potentially damaging. It suggests that the government�����Ƶ�s focus on countering Reform may have come at the cost of managing discontent closer to home. In the end, the greatest threat to any government often comes not from the opposition benches, but from within its own party.

All of this has meant Labour has often found itself reacting to events rather than shaping them. The autumn reversal on winter fuel payments and the recent climb down on benefits changes are emblematic of this. It�����Ƶ�s no surprise then that Starmer himself has acknowledged the year as �����Ƶ�disappointing�����Ƶ�.

If he wants to steady the ship, the Prime Minister will need to bring his backbenchers with him. He also needs to decide: is Reform the real threat, or is it the Conservatives under Kemi Badenoch waiting in the wings? Who he chooses to focus on will shape the rest of this Parliament.

Derry Duffy and a co-founder, Herbie Warner (a Theoretical Physics graduate) created �����Ƶ�Cause�����Ƶ�, the first online giving platform built specifically for small charities, making it easier for them to connect with donors, raise funds, and grow. Cause removes the barriers that small charities face when fundraising such as high advertising costs, low visibility and lack of digital expertise. Through the �����Ƶ�app�����Ƶ�, donors and charities can easily connect, either organically through data driven recommendations or through affordable, accessible and targeted marketing. Allowing small charities to have maximum impact is central to the mission of the �����Ƶ�app�����Ƶ� so there are no platform fees or fees on donations for donors or small charities.

In Derry�����Ƶ�s summer after his first year at university, he became aware of how the coming Cost of Living Crisis was likely to affect people, especially those who were already facing fuel and food insecurity. In response he thought it would be a good idea to set up a charity to support people in Manchester through the Winter. However, the issue he couldn�����Ƶ�t find an answer to was how to connect with local donors. He assumed a platform where small charities and local donors could connect would exist but it didn�����Ƶ�t. Derry and co-founder Herbie decided to create that platform, an �����Ƶ�app�����Ƶ� that allows donors to find small charities that are doing work close to their hearts.

Derry reflects on receiving the award:

Sarah will work collaboratively with an interdisciplinary group to provide decision-makers with the independent evidence they need to better understand arguments for and against extensions to the 14-day limit on human embryo research. The project, which is funded by a grant from Wellcome, will consist of four phases and will result in insights intended to support government in making evidence-based decisions on whether to review the current law.

The project will be completed in approximately 18 months and any insights will be shared as they are gathered.

When Professor re-designed the Miscarriages of Justice undergraduate module with Suzanne Gower, they did so with a clear purpose: to bring the law to life through real-world stories and to inspire students to think critically and compassionately about the justice system. But even they could not have anticipated the profound ripple effects that the assignments would create.

As part of the module�����Ƶ�s assessment, Claire invited students to explore the theme of wrongful convictions in a creative format.  One student, Fatin Najwa Fadzli, deeply moved by what they had learned, chose to create a video blog (vlog) and dedicated it to , a former sub-postmaster who had been wrongly convicted during the infamous Post Office Horizon scandal.

Tom had previously visited the module to speak candidly to students about the devastating impact of being wrongly accused, tried, and convicted. His honesty, humility, and quiet strength left a lasting impression on everyone in the room. But for this student, Tom�����Ƶ�s story did more than resonate, it sparked a calling.

The vlog was a heartfelt tribute, not just to Tom�����Ƶ�s personal resilience but to the broader need for justice, reform, and accountability. Moved by the student's dedication, Claire reached out to Tom to share the vlog and the powerful message behind it. True to the compassionate spirit that defines him, Tom responded by writing a personal letter to the student, thanking them, encouraging them, and reminding them that their voice matters in the ongoing fight for justice.

That one moment, a connection between a student, a teacher, and a survivor of injustice, may have changed the student�����Ƶ�s life. Inspired by both the academic experience and Tom�����Ƶ�s courage, the student is now considering pursuing a , aiming to become part of the next generation of legal professionals working to prevent such tragedies from ever happening again. This would of course be alongside Najwas national team ice hockey appearances!

This is more than just a story of one student and one assignment. It is a reminder of the extraordinary power of education when it is rooted in empathy, real-world relevance, and human connection. It shows the importance of giving students the space to respond creatively and emotionally to the law and how, in doing so, they may just find their life�����Ƶ�s purpose.

Professor Claire McGourlay continues to lead the way in innovative legal education, but stories like this remind us that her true legacy lies not only in curriculum design, but in the lives Claire shapes, one student, one story, one act of justice at a time.

Claire McGourlay reflects: 

The award was presented during the BISA 2025 annual conference, held in Belfast, and celebrates initiatives that have made a tangible impact on fostering inclusive academic environments. The University of Manchester team who received the EDI prize consisted of , (both from the Politics department) and (Sociology department).

The Decolonial Praxis project, that the awardees co-lead, challenges colonial legacies in Higher Education, while ensuring a more ethical and social justice-oriented approach to international partnerships. It is a transformative initiative that embodies the principles of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). Its working method is to evolve the approach in collaboration with colleagues from other universities (so far that includes universities of Ghana, Nairobi and Pretoria).

The initiative has sought to rethink modes of decolonising by including a wider range of participant: students, staff including academics and research support staff, and artivists. It convened at the universities but also in local communities and art-spaces giving importance to locally produced knowledge and knowledge-practice. 

Over the last two years, activities have included mapping courses and degree programmes to highlight the ways in which structural inequalities persist as an evidence base to drive change within our School. Moreover, by engaging with colleagues from other universities and across disciplinary boundaries (in Nairobi the Faculty of Education; in Ghana the Interdisciplinary Institute for African Studies and in Pretoria the Department of Politics), the initiative has facilitated peer learning with implications for critical pedagogy, research and research support.

This initiative enhances diversity by amplifying marginalised voices and perspectives, through collaborative workshops and knowledge exchange. Through this initiative the project created an important space for critical dialogue and co-production of tools that advance decolonial praxis. This approach not only validates Indigenous knowledge but also ensures its relevance to socio-economic and cultural contexts, promoting sustainable development. The project�����Ƶ�s long-term impact is secured through the ongoing development of a decolonial archive, and a number of publications.

This recognition underscores The University of Manchester�����Ƶ�s leadership in social responsibility and its commitment to inclusive excellence in higher education. The project has been funded by the International Science Partnerships scheme and the Faculty of Humanities at Manchester.

Centred around the newly published book (Palgrave Macmillan), the event challenged traditional notions of leadership by highlighting the often-unrecognised influence of incarcerated individuals. These leaders, shaped by survival and solidarity rather than hierarchy, offer critical insights into reforming a prison system in crisis.

Guest speaker (former Professor, University of Manchester) underscored the importance of recognising lived experience as a legitimate and powerful form of knowledge. The event called for a shift from tokenistic inclusion to genuine collaboration across sectors�����Ƶ�between academics, policymakers, and those directly impacted by incarceration.

The organisers emphasised that real reform must be rooted in humility, shared leadership, and a commitment to justice that listens to those who have lived it.

The visit resulted in MPs and Justice Select Committee representatives asking that the presented Policy recommendations based on the book�����Ƶ�s findings be translated into law, illustrating how research-led impact can emerge in decision-making spaces.

Learn more about how Prisoner Leadership is reimagining justice from the inside out in our latest .

While serving on the Centre�����Ƶ�s Board of Trustees, Megan identified a communication gap affecting service users whose first language is not English. Drawing on her role within the School of Social Sciences�����Ƶ� Social Responsibility Committee, she proposed a new volunteer project specifically for individuals with second-language skills. With the committee�����Ƶ�s backing and in collaboration with the Booth Centre, the pilot programme launched in 2024.

Megan has played a key role in coordinating between the University and the Centre �����Ƶ� scheduling training, creating information sheets and leaflets and setting up volunteer recruitment. �����Ƶ�It has been a pleasure to help with this, and I can already start to see the incredible impact it has had,�����Ƶ� she said. �����Ƶ�The Booth Centre is such a wonderful organisation and benefits the wider community, so anything I can do, however small, to help them help others, I�����Ƶ�ll do it.�����Ƶ�

Reflecting on the award, Megan said:

Megan received her award at the MDC Excellence Awards ceremony, which took place on Tuesday 17th June. The event celebrated the exceptional contributions of postgraduate researchers across the University, and Megan�����Ƶ�s recognition highlights the power of community-focused research and the meaningful impact students can have beyond academia.

We are delighted to announce that Professor Sir Cary Cooper CBE from The University of Manchester�����Ƶ�s Alliance Manchester Business School has been appointed one of the first Honorary Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences, in recognition of their significant contributions to the promotion of social science.

The award of Honorary Fellowship was established by the �����Ƶ�s Council in 2024 to mark their 25th anniversary year and recognises a small number of exceptional, leading, national and international figures who have contributed significantly to the Academy or the promotion of the social sciences.

is the 50th Anniversary Professor of Organisational Psychology & Health at the . A long-standing Fellow and former Chair of the Academy of Social Sciences, the award of Honorary Fellowship recognises his outstanding service to the Academy and the social sciences in a long, distinguished career.

Speaking of the award, Professor Sir Cary Cooper CBE, shared: �����Ƶ�Of all the honours I have received in my career, the award of an Honorary Fellowship of the Academy of Social Sciences is one of the most prized, given my emotional attachment to the Academy, and my friendships with so many of its members �����Ƶ� a true honour to cherish.�����Ƶ�

, President of the Academy, said, �����Ƶ�I am delighted to welcome our first most well-deserved Honorary Fellows to the Academy, each of whom is an inspirational leader in his or her own right. Their careers are a tribute to the value of the social sciences and thus the promotion of the Academy�����Ƶ�s cause through their work. I warmly congratulate them and look forward to working with them each more closely to champion the value of the social sciences across a diverse range of sectors.�����Ƶ�

The announcement was made at the Academy�����Ƶ�s 2025 Annual General Meeting, which took place on 18 June 2025.

It finds a �����Ƶ�dose-response relationship�����Ƶ� between racial discrimination and poor mental health (ie the negative impact on mental health increased with increasing number of times and areas in which racism was experienced).

The authors also examine the impact of experiencing racism over many years. Recent experiences of racial discrimination (within the past 5 years only) had a stronger effect on mental health compared to experiences of racial discrimination that happened over five years ago. Chronic experiences of racial discrimination over someone�����Ƶ�s life (both past and recent experiences) had the strongest effect on mental health.

Drawing on data from , the largest and most comprehensive survey to document the lives of ethnic and religious minorities in Britain during the pandemic, the report also shows how experiences of racial discrimination were associated with testing positive for COVID-19, financial concerns, feelings of loneliness, and a reduced sense of belonging. Racial discrimination also indirectly contributed to poor mental health, through these experiences.

The report is written by Patricia Irizar, Dharmi Kapadia, Harry Taylor, Gertrude Wafula, Albert Kwansa, Charles Kwaku-Odoi, Laia Bécares and Srinivasa Vittal Katikireddi.

This report summarises published in 'Sociology of Health & Illness' (open access).

The three BA (Econ) students, Irene Madu, Vania Ahiakwo and Sonia (Germaine) Garba Enyai, worked on the app alongside their studies to create a supportive resource for young people.

They said: �����Ƶ�At the start, we were just bouncing around ideas between lectures, trying to find common ground on something we believed could actually make a difference. Building Clarify meant juggling exams, research projects, and tight deadlines �����Ƶ� but we kept pushing.

Drawing insights from a recent Santander finding that 79% of young people report feeling unprepared for financial realities, the app offers courses, videos and features on taxes, pensions, warranties and other areas often underrepresented in traditional education.

The Clarify team added: �����Ƶ�Many lack knowledge about legal rights or how to access help. We've spoken with peers, surveyed students, and collaborated with professionals �����Ƶ� all pointing to the same insight: there�����Ƶ�s a clear, urgent demand for accessible, inclusive life-readiness education.�����Ƶ�

The app team is currently inviting students to and help shape the platform into a meaningful and accessible resource for young people across the UK.

Me neither, but that�����Ƶ�s where we ended up in this recent innovative and energising session with , a Sociologist of Everyday Life and a member of the .

We started the session with a useful but whistle stop tour of thematic analysis, which set the scene for a reflection on what is really meant by themes in the interpretation of data, and how this process might change if we allow for a more reflexive approach which allows us to consider more carefully the ways we �����Ƶ�work�����Ƶ� with data and our emotional connections with that data.

According to Andy, data is lively, and opening up to that liveliness entails recognising data�����Ƶ�s many shapes and forms, rather than the �����Ƶ�straight lines�����Ƶ� of themes so beloved of procedural-focused approaches to analysis, and the ways that we �����Ƶ�live with�����Ƶ� data in our everyday lives as researchers.

The workshop then moved on to a practical encounter with our data through painting on our transcripts or making data poetry with them. 

Whether used as an end in itself or a tool to see data differently, perhaps surmounting an interpretation impasse, 38 workshop attendees eagerly embraced brush strokes and poetry. Analysis and interpretation were re-imagined and re-shaped, our data came alive, we read and saw it differently.

You can find out more about Andy�����Ƶ�s �����Ƶ�painting with data�����Ƶ� technique in and I will be eagerly awaiting the Morgan Centre book due to hit the shelves in Autumn, which Andy is co-authoring with Morgan Centre colleagues (Sophie Woodward, James Fletcher, James Hodgson and Jess Mancuso).

In the meantime you could satisfy your creative thirst with the Morgan Centre�����Ƶ�s �����Ƶ�creative approaches to qualitative research�����Ƶ� course, but do hurry as we are at near -full capacity!

Methods@Manchester workshops and activities

To keep up-to-date with Methods@Manchester events and activities see our and do let us know if there are particular innovative and advanced methodological approaches you would like to suggest for inclusion in next year�����Ƶ�s workshop programme.

Policy subsystems are comprised of competing advocacy coalitions, in which public and private political actors with shared belief systems learn from each other and coordinate their strategies in the pursuit of influencing policy making in their favour. 

While numerous studies have focused on the longevity and structural stability of advocacy coalitions, there is scant theory and evidence on how nascent policy subsystems bifurcate into stable, competing coalitions. 

This article proposes a three-stage model of problem discovery, differentiation, and consolidation. 

We apply discourse network analysis to the nascent subsystem of the UK's COVID-19 response in order to study these phases and discuss their applicability and implications for other institutional and issue contexts.

Born in 1938 in the �����Ƶ�white�����Ƶ� highlands of Kenya - the heart of the colonised landscape - the colonial regime shaped his family�����Ƶ�s life. His lifelong dedication as a scholar and activist has left an indelible mark on the global decolonisation movement, particularly for the African diaspora.

Since 1964, he was honoured with numerous awards, honorary doctorates and prizes in recognition of his enduring efforts against the adverse impacts of colonisation. He was one of the few remaining scholars and activists whose work defines the grand eras of decolonisation of the African and global diasporic mind.

Our School was fortunate to host Professor wa Thiogn�����Ƶ�o when he delivered our prestigious annual Arthur Lewis lecture in October 2023. This series of lectures commenced in 2015 to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of the economist Arthur Lewis, who became Britain�����Ƶ�s first black professor when he was appointed as a professor at the University of Manchester in 1948.

In his lecture, chaired by , Ngũgĩ discussed the harms caused by imperialism and colonialisation, focusing on their lasting impact on native languages, African knowledge, memory, the environment and human rights. The lecture was then followed by a conversation with Esther Stanford-Xosei, community advocate and international expert on reparatory justice, addressing African-centred solutions to these lasting legacies. The event was attended by over 500 people �����Ƶ� a recording of the event can be located on our .

The day after the lecture, Professor wa Thiong�����Ƶ�o discussed the importance of continuing decolonial and reparatory work with colleagues from our School, guests from our partner institution, the University of Nairobi, and local community leaders. Particular emphasis was given to the role universities have in continuing decolonial work and building equitable partnerships. His visit also marked an important moment in School�����Ƶ�s formal collaborations with African universities.

For example, the (ISPF (ODA) funded project on Decolonial Knowledge Production in HE and the British Academy funded project (EP for AfRICa) contributes to the school's approach. EP for AfRICa in particular acknowledges that all partner universities bring unique perspectives and can learn from one another.

Through joint learning, peer exchange, and inclusive institutional strategies, partner universities are building capacity across the entire research lifecycle. By centering equity and local ownership, the initiative aims to reshape international collaboration into a model of co-leadership and long-term adaptability.

The day concludes with Creative Manchester�����Ƶ�s Solstice and Equinox event and an exclusive DJ set by Jazzie B himself. 

The summer solstice event brings together two remarkable cultural figures against the backdrop of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Jodrell Bank, home to the iconic Lovell telescope. This unique combination of research and public engagement events contributes to Creative Manchester's ongoing mission to foster dialogue between different creative disciplines and cultural perspectives.

The conversation, chaired by Dr Sophie Everest, Lecturer in Film Practice and Filmmaker, will explore the intersections of music, history, and cultural heritage in a setting of scientific discovery and innovation.

Coach transport to and from Jodrell Bank and admission to the Solstice and Equinox event are included in the conference ticket. 

Celebrating Jazzie B's legacy

Trevor Beresford Romeo OBE, known as Jazzie B, is a DJ, music producer, entrepreneur and founding member of the iconic music collective, Soul II Soul. Born in London to parents of Antiguan descent, Jazzie began DJing in the 1980s on pirate radio and holding parties adapting the reggae sound system. This evolved into the formation of the Soul II Soul Collective and signature sound, a number one single, global success, two Grammy Awards, and the sale of millions of records.

Soul II Soul and Jazzie B have left an indelible mark on British culture, not only through their music but also via legendary club nights, fashion lines, retail ventures, and radio shows on both pirate station Kiss FM and the BBC. Jazzie was awarded an OBE in 2008, and in 2024, Soul II Soul received the MOBO Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of an enduring impact on British music and culture.

Archival Collaboration with The University of Manchester

The event is part of an ongoing collaboration between Jazzie B and researchers at The University of Manchester, who are working together to document his extensive personal archive. This archival project represents an important effort to preserve and study the cultural impact of Soul II Soul and the broader musical and cultural movements they influenced.

Following their conversation, the evening will culminate in a special DJ set from Jazzie B himself, bringing his signature sound to the First Light Pavilion�����Ƶ�a rare opportunity to experience his musical artistry in such a unique scientific setting.

The Solstice and Equinox Series: Bridging Arts and Sciences

The evening event is part of Creative Manchester's Solstice and Equinox series, which brings innovative creative artists to The University of Manchester's four Cultural Institutions. Each of our unique cultural institutions �����Ƶ� the Whitworth, the John Rylands Research Institute and Library, Manchester Museum and Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre �����Ƶ� focus on building civic, national and international partnerships to advance the social, environmental and individual wellbeing of our communities.

 will chair the Sociology panel and  has been appointed deputy chair of the Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies panel.

They will lead their units of assessment through the criteria setting phase, beginning later this year, and on through to the final assessment.

Their appointments take the total number of University colleagues with REF 2029 roles to eight.

Six colleagues are members to the REF People, Culture and Environment (PCE) pilot panels:

• , Professor of Health Sciences, for Unit of Assessment 3 �����Ƶ� Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy; 
• , Professor of Inclusive Researcher and Academic Development, for Unit of Assessment 5 �����Ƶ� Biological Sciences; 
• , Professor of Medical Biophysics, for Unit of Assessment 11 �����Ƶ� Computer Science and Informatics;
• , Research Culture and Assessment Manager, for Unit of Assessment 17 �����Ƶ� Business and Management Studies; 
• , Vice-Dean Research, Humanities and Chair in Drama, for Unit of Assessment 28 �����Ƶ� History; 
• , Senior Lecturer in Theatre and Performance, for Unit of Assessment 33 �����Ƶ� Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies, as well as her new deputy chair role. 

In October, , Professor in Global Politics, was appointed to the REF People and Diversity Advisory Panel, while Dr Cathal Rogers, Research Culture and Assessment Manager, was .

Vice-President for Research, Professor Colette Fagan said:

REF Director Rebecca Fairbairn said:

Further information

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the UK�����Ƶ�s system for assessing the excellence of research in UK higher education institutions (HEIs). The REF outcomes are used to inform the allocation of around �����Ƶ2 billion per year of public funding for universities�����Ƶ� research. The REF is a process of expert review, carried out by sub-panels focused on subject-based units of assessment, under the guidance of overarching main panels and advisory panels.

To find out more, visit: 

The award-winning series follows the pair as they retrace the steps of the Grand Tour across Europe, exploring art, culture, and identity with warmth and wit. The programme has been praised for its engaging storytelling and emotional depth, earning widespread acclaim and now, one of television�����Ƶ�s highest honours.

Rob Rinder studied at the University of Manchester, graduating with a double first in Politics and Modern History, a joint honours degree spanning both the and the . His academic achievements laid the foundation for a distinguished career in law, broadcasting, and public engagement.

The success of Rob and Rylan�����Ƶ�s Grand Tour has seen it renewed for a second series, where the duo will travel to India and retrace the steps of Rob�����Ƶ�s favourite author E.M. Forster.

We are proud to celebrate this achievement and to count Rob among our inspiring alumni.

Our colleagues, Eduardo Fé & Mario Pezzino, have published a study in Decisions in Economics and Finance. Read the paper: .

Co-creation - where students help design teaching materials - has clear short-term benefits for engagement and soft skill development. But our new research shows it also creates powerful intertemporal peer effects: students exposed to co-created materials become more motivated, feel part of a learning community, and are more likely to co-create themselves.

We develop a dynamic model of how co-created resources influence student effort over time and test this through a behavioral experiment in an intermediate microeconomics course. The results suggest that co-creation not only deepens learning, but can gradually reshape education culture�����Ƶ�boosting what we call "education morale."

Findings

• Co-creation promotes responsibility, reciprocity, and intrinsic motivation
• Exposure to peer-created materials increases future engagement
• Even small interventions (e.g., emails from former students) can create measurable, lasting effects.

The is judged on service to British sociology and was given to Claire for her outstanding contributions to the discipline and extraordinary life as a sociologist, having researched and published on race, ethnicity, youth and migration in the UK for over thirty years.

Claire�����Ƶ�s work has been centrally concerned with understanding and challenging racial and ethnic inequalities in Britain, and she has been researching Black and Asian youth identities in Britain for over 25 years, from an ethnographic perspective.

In 2024, she completed , in which she re-interviewed the original participants of her 'Asian Gang' (2000) research, 15 years after the original ethnography.

Claire is also a member of the  and a trustee of the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and Active Communities Network.

The conference celebrated the work of sociology and its positive influence on individual lives and social transformations, exploring the nature of and responses to local and global challenges and changes. It was attended by leading scholars who are passionate about understanding and influencing social change.

On receiving the award, Claire said:

Affect Theatre is an interdisciplinary method of research analysis and curation that decentres text and engages directly with the material elements of fieldwork.

A recent event introduced the method of Affect Theatre, offering a new way to engage with empirical research material, organised by researchers Meghan Rose Donnelly and Pete Carruthers, and led by the method�����Ƶ�s creators, Cristiana Giordano and Greg Pierotti.

When writing up our fieldwork in academic outputs, it can be too easy to follow the conventions of text - and to lose some of the essential liveness of research along the way.

Affect Theatre is an interdisciplinary method of research analysis and curation that addresses this problem. By decentering text and engaging directly with the material elements of fieldwork�����Ƶ�sounds, objects, lighting, dress, architecture, etc.�����Ƶ�the method helps researchers explore the affective qualities of their subject matter, before boxing them into a linear analysis. Designed with anthropologists and ethnographers in mind, the method also provides a way for artists to create meaningful performances out of empirical research, true stories, and real people.

The workshop

In March 2025, participants in Manchester had the opportunity to experiment with Affect Theatre in a workshop led by the method�����Ƶ�s creators: Cristiana Giordano and Greg Pierotti.

Giordanno and Pierotti have been for over a decade to develop the method, presenting workshops around the world and producing two full-length plays (one on police violence in the US and another on illicit migration into Italy). on the method was recently published with Bloomsbury.

Over 3 days in Manchester, Giordano and Pierotti walked participants�����Ƶ�researchers and students, anthropologists and artists�����Ƶ�through the steps of Affect Theatre. Participants created short theatrical �����Ƶ�episodes�����Ƶ� highlighting the affective and material qualities of research elements. How does a scarf sound when you snap it through the air? How does light shift from warm to cool on a person�����Ƶ�s skin?

After being presented to the group, each episode was then analysed both for its affective qualities and for the kinds of stories it seemed to tell.

On the final day of the workshop, participants began to join multiple episodes together to make short sequences that transitioned into each other. 

They also added another level of detail and context by having Meghan Rose read out small sections of text from her field notes, relating to her anthropological research on the lives of Catholic nuns on the Indonesian island of Flores. In the photos you can see the participants working in small groups to create one of these sequences.

The first episode was connected to a description of nuns at evening prayer, where some of the nuns had a fit of giggles whilst �����Ƶ�praying the rosary�����Ƶ�. 

The three panel lights and the Indonesian scarves, brought by Meghan Rose to the workshop, were used to create a sense of ritual, structure and repetition, evoking the formality and choreography of the liturgy, contrasting against the giggles of the nuns.

This episode transitioned to another previously unrelated episode, which the group connected to an extract from a story about a trip to the beach, where the nuns were required to cover their heads as they watched children splashing in the sea.

Feedback from attendees of the full workshop, as well as from those who only attended the masterclass at the end of day 3, was universally positive, with many people expressing a desire to learn more about the Affect Theatre method and apply it to their own research in the future.

Here are just a few examples of the written and verbal feedback from the workshop:

What�����Ƶ�s next?

The workshop on Affect Theatre galvanised the University of Manchester�����Ƶ�s anthropology department�����Ƶ�s research focus on performance and highlighted the interest in interdisciplinary methods between anthropology and drama amongst researchers and students across the North West. We can expect future explorations, including a longer workshop, next academic year when Giordano returns to Manchester as a Simon Visiting Professor.

Participants in the workshop are already beginning to work Affect Theatre into their projects, including a Masters�����Ƶ� project on taxi drivers in Manchester, a PhD engaged research project on mental health training for nurses, and a faculty-led collaborative project bringing ethnographic research to the stage. You can catch that show, .

Meghan Rose and Pete will reflect on the workshop at a as well as in the School of Social Sciences (SoSS) Scholarship Showcase on 25 June. Come along to find out more and to register your interest in future workshops.

To find out more about methods@manchester and connect with us, visit our or email methods@manchester.ac.uk. 

During the debate, referenced written evidence submitted by the University of Manchester�����Ƶ�s on ethical concerns around the Bill.

Commenting on last week�����Ƶ�s debate, Dr Alexandra Mullock said: �����Ƶ�The Commons debate on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill has shone an important light on the complexities and unresolved questions that remain. With the third reading now expected in June, this pause must be used wisely, to reflect, scrutinise and strengthen the bill. 

�����Ƶ�As raised in the debate, there are valid concerns about bureaucracy and accessibility, particularly the risk of creating a complex panel system that deters rather than empowers patients. Concerns over safeguards for people with mental illness, the potential strain on an overstretched NHS, and how an assisted dying service might be established must also be addressed. 

�����Ƶ�Crucially, we must ensure this Bill doesn�����Ƶ�t create a climate where some feel either that they have a duty to die, or fear over unmet palliative care needs pushes them towards seeking an assisted death. We have a responsibility to ensure assisted dying is never seen as a substitute for compassionate, well-funded end-of-life care.�����Ƶ�

Read Dr Mullock�����Ƶ�s comment in full on .

. 

Key findings

• There was a significant fall in the Christian population, from 37.3 million (72%) in 2001 to 26.2 million (46%) in 2021.
•  At the same time the number of Muslims (1.5 million to 3.8 million), Hindus (0.5 million to 1 million) and those with no religion (7.2 million to 20.7 million) has more than doubled.
• There has been a significant drop in the percentage of White British, White Irish and mixed ethnicity groups (e.g. in 2001 82% of White British respondents identified as Christian compared with 49% in 2021). Most other ethnic categories saw a more gradual decline. 
• Across most ethnic categories, younger people are less likely to say they are Christian. 
• Looking at migration history, some ethnic categories (White British, White other, Indian, Asian other and black African and Caribbean, recent arrivals are more likely to be Christian than those born in the UK)
• Migration has contributed to the growth in the Christian population recently with 1.2 million Christians migrating to the UK between 2001 and 2011 and 1.9 million between 2011 and 2021 compared to only 0.4 million between 1991 and 2001. The majority of Christian migrants between 2011 and 2021 came from Europe. 

See the report for more detailed data from each region of England. The report is written by .

The paper �����Ƶ�Goodbye human annotators? Content analysis of social policy debates using ChatGPT�����Ƶ� can be .

Content analysis is a valuable tool for analysing policy discourse, but annotation by humans is costly and time consuming. ChatGPT is a potentially valuable tool to partially automate content analysis for policy debates, largely replacing human annotators. 

We evaluate ChatGPT�����Ƶ�s ability to classify documents using pre-defined argument descriptions, comparing its performance with human annotators for two policy debates: the Universal Basic Income debate on Dutch Twitter (2014�����Ƶ�2016) and the pension reforms debate in German newspapers (1993�����Ƶ�2001). We use the API (GPT-4 Turbo) and user interface version (GPT-4) and evaluate multiple performance metrics (accuracy, precision and recall). 

ChatGPT is highly reliable and accurate in classifying pre-defined arguments across datasets. However, precision and recall are much lower, and vary strongly between arguments. These results hold for both datasets, despite differences in language and media type. Moreover, the cut-off method proposed in this paper may aid researchers in navigating the trade-off between detection and noise. 

Overall, we do not (yet) recommend a blind application of ChatGPT to classify arguments in policy debates. Those interested in adopting this tool should manually validate bot classifications before using them in further analyses. At least for now, human annotators are here to stay.

The paper �����Ƶ�When does discursive change happen? Detecting phase transitions in discourse networks of sustainability transitions�����Ƶ� can be found

Sustainability Transitions Research (STR) confronts complex societal challenges by examining societal shifts and their trajectories. An emerging perspective in STR is discursive approaches, which analyse the role of discourses and discourse coalitions in shaping sustainability transitions. However, discursive approaches face challenges regarding the analysis of sustainability transition processes as complex, temporal processes of stability and change. 

We discuss the nature of these challenges and extend the method of discourse network analysis (DNA) by measuring distinct temporal states (phases of stability) in discourse networks and detecting phase transitions (significant changes) between these discursive states. 

Whereas most approaches analyse discursive changes in a top-down way, we introduce a method for the bottom-up detection of discursive stability and change. This facilitates a more accurate tracing of how sustainability transitions unfold over time. An empirical application of this extension to the discursive networks around the introduction of a Low Emission Zone demonstrates how and when discourses and actors display significant structural shifts. This methodological innovation addresses the need for measuring stability and change in the complex, discursive, temporal dynamics of sustainability transitions.

Highlights

• Identification of 3 challenges of discursive approaches to energy transitions.
• Discourse Network Analysis is extended by drawing on mathematical network science.
• Bottom-up detection of temporal phases, states, transitions in discourse networks.
• Energy transitions should be analysed through the lens of temporal networks.
• Case study on the changing debate on a low emission zone in Ghent, Belgium.

You can read the paper, �����Ƶ�Multiregional Population Forecasting: A Unifying Probabilistic Approach for Modelling the Components of Change�����Ƶ�, on.

Regional population forecasts are important for planning and understanding how populations are changing and redistributing. To forecast regional population changes, one must have a mechanism to capture different sources of population growth. In low fertility and developed societies, the main factors driving population redistribution are internal migration and immigration, for which both tend to concentrate people towards large metropolitan areas. 

In this article, we extend the multiregional cohort-component population projection model developed by Andrei Rogers and colleagues in the 1960s and 1970s to be fully probabilistic, by using Bayesian inference. We apply the model to forecast population for eight states and territories in Australia. 

The projections are based on forecasts of age-, sex- and region-specific fertility, mortality, interregional migration, immigration and emigration. The approach is unified by forecasting each demographic component of change by using a combination of log-linear models with bilinear terms. 

This research contributes to the literature by providing a flexible statistical modelling framework capable of incorporating the high dimensionality of the demographic components over time.

Forecasts of a population totals by sex for states and territories in Australia, b total population. States or territories: NSW�����Ƶ�New South Wales, VIC�����Ƶ�Victoria, QLD�����Ƶ�Queensland, SA�����Ƶ�South Australia, WA�����Ƶ�Western Australia, TAS�����Ƶ�Tasmania, NT�����Ƶ�Northern Territory, ACT�����Ƶ�Australian Capital Territory. 

Since 2017, Chileans living abroad have had the right to vote in presidential elections and national referendums. However, until 2022, the only UK polling station was in London. This posed significant challenges for Chileans based in the North and Scotland, who faced long, costly journeys to exercise their democratic rights. 

In response, the Chilean Society at  The University of Manchester launched a campaign in 2022 to establish a polling station in the North of England. With strong support from Chilean residents in the region, the Society made a formal case to the Chilean Electoral Service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Their advocacy paid off in 2023: Chilean citizens voted in the referendum for the first time, using the Students�����Ƶ� Union building (Manchester) as a polling station. 

This grassroots initiative was recognised with the by The University of Manchester Students�����Ƶ� Union. The award was presented by Professor Nalin Thakkar, Vice-President for Social Responsibility, in recognition of the Society�����Ƶ�s contribution to civic engagement and democratic participation. 

During 2025, Chileans abroad will vote in three rounds: the primary election in June, the first round in November, and a potential runoff in December. The University of Manchester will again serve as a polling station for the North of England. This is a result of the consistent collaboration between (lecturer in Politics and former Chair of the Chilean Society) and the to the UK. 

This year�����Ƶ�s voting process will be supported by the , reinforcing the institution�����Ƶ�s commitment to inclusive political participation and global citizenship. 

The winners in our staff category were , and the Manchester Urban Ageing Research Group (MUARG) for the Age-Friendly Futures Summit which aimed to advance the creation of an age-friendly world. 

Over 300 age-friendly leaders working in policy, practitioner and research from 20 countries were invited to the event in Manchester in March to share knowledge and shape the future of age-friendly policy and practice. Collaboration was key to the success of the summit, with MUARG working closely with WHO, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Centre for Ageing Better and Manchester Metropolitan University. This collective approach led to the development of shared international priorities and principles for age-friendly practice, and the team also fed into the WHO European Healthy Ageing Strategy.

and were both highly commended in the staff category. Amit has developed a course for sixth form students at Rochdale College linking sociological concepts around race, class, gender and inequality to students�����Ƶ� experiences of social life in and around Rochdale. Working with the charity The Compassionate Friends (TCF), Laura has produced a series of �����Ƶ�talking tools�����Ƶ� and contributed to TCF events to share her research on the experiences of bereaved siblings.

wins our PhD student category for co-producing and sharing of a made with social housing tenants in the Molenbeek area of Brussels. The film aimed to amplify the voices of older migrant and working-class communities in local and regional housing policy and practice. Joana organised nine screenings of the film in community venues, each followed by public debate on housing issues between the audience and stakeholders including elected representatives, tenants, community workers and researchers.

, and Sandhya Sharma were highly commended for their project which uses short films to spark conversations on social justice and the city. And Yu Zhu is highly commended for her work with using webinars and online media to share queer scholarship and knowledge with LGBTQ+ people from the Chinese diaspora.

The initiative was of mutual benefit to the Charities and to our students.  The volunteering aimed to enhance employability, student experience, and skill development by exposing students to social justice and inclusion, practical charity work, and problem-solving.  

Students critically reflected on their experiences and submitted a report detailing their achievements and insights.

Phil Drake, SR Director at the time stated:

One of the students involved said:

A reflection from one of the Charities:

Breaking Barriers and Building Networks

Professor Almudena Sevilla, an esteemed academic and Founding Chair of UK WEN, acknowledged the progress made in increasing female representation in economics while emphasising the continued need for change.

Sevilla highlighted UK WEN�����Ƶ�s mission to support women economists at all career stages and provide visibility for their research and contributions.

The panel discussion also shed light on the varied paths into economics careers, challenging the notion of a linear journey. Sindy Foster, a serial entrepreneur and aviation analyst, emphasised the importance of seizing opportunities, developing strategic thinking, and recognising the value of economics in problem-solving across industries.

The Value of Economics in Public and Private Sectors

Lucy Beggs, a Health Economics Advisor at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), underscored the tangible impact that economists can have in the public sector. 

She also highlighted the sector�����Ƶ�s inclusive policies and work-life balance, which make it a supportive environment for women.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth Martindale, an economist at Oxford Economics, spoke about the dynamic nature of working in economic consultancy and the importance of continuous learning.

Martindale encouraged students to cultivate their interests early, as it helps differentiate them in a competitive job market.

Reflecting on her career, Foster emphasised the need for action alongside strategic planning: 

Reshaping the Future of Economics

Professor Rachel Griffith, a leading economist at The University of Manchester and Research Director at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, highlighted the breadth of career opportunities for economics graduates. 

Griffith also emphasised the importance of resilience, reminding attendees that failure is an inevitable part of growth:

Foster reinforced this idea, urging students to take initiative: 

Reflecting on her own journey, she added, 

As the event concluded with a Q&A session and a networking reception, attendees had the opportunity to engage directly with speakers and professionals. Conversations around gender diversity and representation in economics continue to gain momentum, and Inspiring Careers in Economics remains a crucial initiative in reshaping the field.

By empowering students to embrace opportunities and take strategic actions toward their goals, events like this play a vital role in fostering the next generation of diverse and innovative economists.

In a remarkable stride towards enhancing the lives of those affected by MND, the has awarded a �����Ƶ2.66 million Wellcome Discovery Award to a pioneering project led by , Dr Michael Atkins (aka Cheddar Gorgeous), and . 

MND, which affects 1 in 300 people, leads to the loss of speech, movement, and facial expression. The Co-Creative MiND project aims to revolutionise the way individuals with MND interact with the world by combining visual anthropology and computer science. 

The project will develop new body-computer interfaces, creative tools, and visual anthropology methods to facilitate social interaction, creative expression, and cultural participation. This includes creative writing, graphic novels, animation, theatre, photography, and filmmaking, showcasing how life with MND can be transformed through creative inclusion.

The project builds on a proof-of-concept established through a University of Manchester Humanities Strategic Investment Fund award and will run from 2025 to 2030.

A short clip, from a full-length theatre production can be viewed .  The production is scripted and directed by eye and chin movements, features Dr Michael Atkins/Cheddar Gorgeous and Sarah Ezekiel, who has lived with MND for 23 years; with original music by Alex Herd also living with MND who composes using smartbox technology,

The next show, "Ms. Mandy's Adventures in Wonderland," will be held on 15 June at JW3, London. More information can be found .

Congratulations to everyone involved in this ground-breaking project, which promises to make a significant impact on the lives of those living with MND.

CrimRxiv is an international platform that enables open access to criminological scholarship, removing paywalls and promoting transparency, inclusivity, and accessibility in research. 

Since its launch in 2020, the platform has shared over 3,000 publications with readers in more than 200 countries. In the last month alone, it received approximately 60,000 unique visitor - a testament to its growing global reach and influence.

Dr Buil-Gil is an internationally recognised expert in geographic criminology, small area estimation in crime analysis, measurement error in crime data, innovative data collection methods, and cybercrime. He has served as CrimRxiv�����Ƶ�s Managing Moderator since 2023  - a role he will continue alongside his new leadership post - and has been instrumental in shaping the platform�����Ƶ�s development.

Dr Buil-Gil becomes the fourth Director of CrimRxiv, following Professors and - both based at The University of Manchester - who played pivotal roles in establishing the platform at the University.

, Founder of CrimRxiv and Associate Director for Sustainability said:

Reflecting on findings from her 2021 book �����Ƶ�Men Who Hate Women�����Ƶ� Laura shared insights into the 'manosphere' and the groups which make up this online subculture, alongside examining the current UK political and media landscape which are acting as barriers to combatting this rising epidemic. 

The lecture, hosted in collaboration between the School�����Ƶ�s and , is named in honour of the iconic suffragette and activist , who helped lead the movement for women's right to vote in the early 20th century. Each year the event aims to inspire discussion and debate on critical issues relating to gender equality, civil liberties, criminal justice, democracy, and humanitarian causes - causes that Christabel Pankhurst dedicated her life to fighting for. 

As a feminist author Laura has written extensively on sexism, extremist misogyny and recently AI, which will be featured in her upcoming book �����Ƶ�The New Age of Sexism�����Ƶ� to be released in May 2025. 

The audience engaged deeply with the issues she raised throughout the lecture during a thought-provoking Q&A session. A particularly critical question came from a student, asking how to address and counteract rising misogyny in young male family members, the target recruitment group for the �����Ƶ�manosphere�����Ƶ� currently.  

Laura applauded the question, highlighting shame and fear as key parts of radicalisation:

Her response discussed the need for conversations to remain supportive and continuous, with a target of understanding the root of the fear drawing young men into misogynistic extremism. 

Staff and students at The University of Manchester can view the full lecture via the video portal for 30 days (available until 15 April 2025). . 

For members of the public unable to attend the full lecture, several key moments will be made available online shortly. 

Following the event, attendees made their way to the University Place foyer for a networking reception, and book signing hosted by Blackwells.  

Gemma, who works in the violence against women and girls (VAWG) sector, �����Ƶ�appreciated the opportunity to hear Laura speak. The passion from the academic staff was also heartening." She also felt reassured to know that our students were so actively engaged in discussions surrounding VAWG. 

The 2025 Christabel Pankhurst Lecture reinforced the University's commitment to addressing pressing social issues and fostering meaningful dialogue on gender equality and social justice. Further information about upcoming events in this series will be shared on the School of Social Sciences website. 

On Tuesday, 25 February, students and academics gathered at The University of Manchester to hear first-hand accounts of resilience and democratic resistance from Ukrainian leaders. The event, Democratic Resilience After De-Occupation: Local Communities�����Ƶ� Response to Russia�����Ƶ�s War Against Ukraine, provided an eye-opening insight into life under occupation and the efforts to rebuild in the face of destruction.

First-Hand Accounts of Survival and Resistance

The panel featured key figures such as Larysa Bilozir, Member of Parliament and Chair of the Committee on State Building, Local Governance, Regional, and Urban Development. She spoke passionately about the significance of international audiences engaging with Ukrainian voices, expressing gratitude for those who attended to listen and learn.

Tatiana Sviridenko, Head of the Ivankiv community in the Kyiv region, shared harrowing details of the war�����Ƶ�s impact on local communities, particularly the elderly. �����Ƶ�Many of those who lost their homes were pensioners,�����Ƶ� she said, highlighting the devastating personal toll. One story that resonated deeply was the destruction of the Ivankiv Historical and Local History Museum, which housed 25 paintings by renowned artist Maria Prymachenko. In an extraordinary act of bravery, three residents ran into the burning building to save the artwork. 

Joining the discussion were several other Ukrainian leaders dedicated to the country�����Ƶ�s reconstruction and democratic resilience. 

Mykola Stefanishyn, Deputy Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine, highlighted the strategic efforts being made to rebuild war-torn regions, while Natalia Pipa, Member of Parliament and Secretary of the Committee on Education, Science, and Innovation, spoke about the impact of war on Ukraine�����Ƶ�s education system and the steps being taken to ensure learning continues despite the hardships.

Preserving Identity and History

Vitaliy Beloborov, Deputy Head of the Kherson City Military Administration, discussed Russia�����Ƶ�s attempts to erase Ukrainian identity and culture. During its eight-month occupation, Russian forces sought to eliminate historical records and symbols of resistance. In response, Kherson has established a Museum of Resistance to preserve everyday items that became symbols of survival. 

He also warned about the dangers of Russian disinformation campaigns, emphasizing that �����Ƶ�professional methods are used to distort the truth.�����Ƶ� His call to action was clear: by listening, sharing stories, and raising awareness, the international community can play a vital role in countering propaganda.

The discussion also featured Anatoliy Fedoruk, the Mayor of Bucha, a city that has become a powerful symbol of Ukrainian resilience following the atrocities committed during Russia�����Ƶ�s occupation. He shared his city�����Ƶ�s painful experiences and the efforts being made to restore normalcy and honour the memories of those lost.

A Call for Global Solidarity

Oksana Prodan, Advisor to the Head of the Association of Ukrainian Cities, reinforced the importance of international support. 

The panellists stressed that conversations like these help amplify Ukraine�����Ƶ�s struggle and ensure that the world remains engaged.

The gratitude expressed by the speakers highlighted how vital external support is, not only in terms of material aid but also in keeping Ukraine�����Ƶ�s story in the global spotlight. The simple act of listening, asking questions, and seeking to understand was acknowledged as a form of solidarity that strengthens Ukraine�����Ƶ�s resistance.

A key theme that ran throughout the discussion was an unshakable pride in being Ukrainian. �����Ƶ�We will win this war,�����Ƶ� one speaker declared with conviction. Their words reflected not just hope, but an unwavering belief in the resilience of their people and their commitment to democracy.

Lessons for the Future

The event concluded with a powerful takeaway: listening is an act of resistance. By hearing and understanding Ukraine�����Ƶ�s fight for survival, attendees became part of a broader effort to uphold truth and justice. In a world where disinformation and apathy threaten to silence critical voices, events like these remind us of the importance of engagement and advocacy.

The Ukrainian leaders left the audience with a simple but profound message: solidarity matters, and the world must continue to stand with Ukraine.

Educational Initiatives Supporting Democratic Resilience

As part of broader efforts to educate and engage students in contemporary political challenges, the event was organized under the Ukraine Rises course, sponsored by the . This is the first contemporary politics course in the United Kingdom based in a social science department.

Olga Onuch, Professor of Comparative and Ukrainian Politics, emphasized how the course complements the themes of resilience and civic responsibility discussed throughout the event: 

This career decision would also have a key impact upon Margot�����Ƶ�s personal life, as she would subsequently marry one of her colleagues, Rodney Brazier, in 1974. Together the Braziers have remained at the heart of Law at Manchester for over 50 years.

Margot began as a tort scholar and this expertise led her to become co-editor of two key textbooks in the field. Research in this area then led her into reading North American case law on medical malpractice, which began her interest in the link between the law and healthcare. She published widely in this field to international acclaim. In recent years, Margot explored the history of medicine and its links with law, the topic of her most recent book.

In the early 1980s Margot met John Harris, a philosopher, also working at Manchester. They discovered shared interests and, together with other colleagues, decided to set up a Masters degree in . Margot also taught undergraduate students, inspiring many to continue their studies to postgraduate level.  She supervised many PhD students who have benefited from her knowledge, wisdom and guidance. 

In 1986 Margot and John also set up the (CSEP) which has become a leading research centre.

The current Co-Directors of CSEP (Sarah Devaney and Alex Mullock) reflect: 

Margot also used her expertise in public service. Not only an outstanding scholar who made a pioneering contribution to her field, she has also made an equally outstanding contribution as a public intellectual and leader in policy debate and law reform. Margot Chaired the Animal Procedures Committee (1993-98), led a review into surrogacy for UK Health Ministers (1996- 1998), Chaired the Retained Organs Commission (2001-2004) and Chaired a Working Party �����Ƶ�The Ethics of Prolonging Life in Foetuses and the Newborn�����Ƶ� for the Nuffield Council on Bioethics (2004-2006).

Margot was an incredible mentor to so many students and academics and has been acknowledged as a �����Ƶ�paradigmatic female role model�����Ƶ�.  Her enormous contribution has been recognised in many awards including an OBE (1997), Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (1993), Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (2007), Queen�����Ƶ�s Council (honoris causa) (2008), Halsbury Legal Award for Academic Contribution (2013), University of Manchester Medal of Honour (2012) and Fellow of the British Academy (2014).

Alison Wilson, former Head of School Operations, and Sarah Tiffany-Dodman, Engagement and External Relations Manager, on behalf of all the Professional Services staff who knew and worked with Margot reflect: 

Prior to starting the position, Mariana was working on her PhD in Sociology at the University of Oxford. Her PhD was titled �����Ƶ������Ƶ� and explores only-child fertility from a sociodemographic perspective. 

At the University of Oxford she also worked as a research assistant on the project �����Ƶ�Digital Gender Gaps�����Ƶ�, focusing on combining traditional surveys and big data for population analysis. Her main research interests are family demography, fertility and the use of formal demographic methods for exploring changes in kinship networks.

Since joining The University of Manchester, she has been co-teaching in SOST10012-Understanding Social Media Data and SOST2002-Essentials of Survey Design and Analysis.

Prior to moving to the UK, Mariana trained as a demographer at the Centre for Development and Regional Planning (Cedeplar) in Brazil, where she was awarded an MSc, and developed her research interests in family demography, as well as formal demographic methods.

The award is presented annually to students who demonstrate exceptional contributions to artificial intelligence (AI) and data science research.

's doctoral research employs advanced machine learning techniques to examine the causal impact of front-of-package food labelling on consumer behaviour, drawing on both randomised trials and observational data. Her research in this field has implications in areas ranging from health causal inference to data linkage.

She will receive funding to continue the research and join the Turing Institute network, a collaborative platform aimed at advancing AI and data science.

Congratulations to Constanza on this remarkable achievement!

Further information on the Turing Enrichment Scheme can be found on .

The team estimate that over 132,000 children live in kinship care in England. Kinship carers contribute an estimated �����Ƶ4.3 billion a year to society. But unlike foster carers and adoptive parents, most have few rights to financial, practical and emotional support, and taking on the care of a child they love often pushes them into poverty, unemployment and ill health. 

The report is produced by at University of Sheffield in partnership with Kinship. It is written by Maria Petrillo, Jingwen Zhang, Becky Driscoll, and Nathan Hughes.

This event, part of the 'Miscarriages of Justice' module, provided students with a stark insight into the consequences of corporate negligence and prosecutorial misconduct.

Rochelle Rossi, a student who attended the lecture, found it profoundly impactful:

First-hand accounts of injustice

During the event, the speakers shared their deeply personal and distressing experiences. 

Janet Skinner, who was sentenced to nine months in prison for false accounting in 2006, spoke about the devastating impact on her life, �����Ƶ�Once inside, I was placed on suicide watch for a week because of my state of mind.�����Ƶ� After her release, stress triggered an autoimmune attack that left her paralysed from the neck down. Although she fought back and relearned how to walk, she remains permanently disabled.

Seema Misra was sentenced to 15 months in prison in 2010 after being wrongly convicted of theft and false accounting. She was ordered to pay �����Ƶ40,000 in compensation to the Post Office. 

Tom Hedges faced a �����Ƶ23,000 shortfall in 2010 and was advised to plead guilty to false accounting to avoid a custodial sentence. He was sentenced to seven months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and had to pay the Post Office �����Ƶ1,000 in legal fees.

Common barriers to justice

Despite the differences in each story, common barriers emerged throughout. The concealment of crucial documents, the immense financial and reputational power of the Post Office, and the systemic failures that allowed such injustices to persist all played a role. 

Both Tom and Seema used their own money to cover the deficits created by the faulty Horizon system, and when faced with prosecution, they had to rely on Legal Aid to secure defence lawyers. 

The Post Office had a dedicated in-house legal team that remained focused on the cases. The high cost of legal support made it difficult for sub-postmasters to afford effective counsel, and the deliberate withholding of evidence proving their innocence further undermined their ability to mount a proper defence. 

Each sub-postmaster was made to believe theirs was the only case, further hiding the widespread nature of the Horizon IT issues. By isolating each defendant, the Post Office was able to hide the IT issues for longer and falsely prosecute more than 900 innocent people in total. 

Addressing systemic failures

A Q&A session following the testimonies allowed staff and students to pose questions to Janet, Seema, and Tom, who gave their candid thoughts. 

When asked whether they still had faith in the system, the speakers expressed confidence in their current legal teams but scepticism toward institutional accountability. The latest news of the Home Office granting Fujitsu over �����Ƶ25 million in new contracts was mentioned, highlighting concerns over government contracts. "They are awarding bad behaviour�����Ƶ�what incentive is there for change?" Seema Misra questioned. 

Despite being invited to numerous meetings with government officials, including Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer, trust in government to change things has not been restored with Janet Skinner remarking: 

Since starting the fight for compensation, the sub-postmasters have renewed trust in the legal profession, even understanding why they had been advised to enter guilty pleas initially. They implored the law students to make decisions in the future with ethics and people in mind, thinking of the bigger picture and the person behind a case. 

Lessons for our law students

Professor Claire McGourlay, Director of the Manchester Innocence Project, emphasised the significance of hearing directly from those affected: 

The event at The University of Manchester provided law students with a profound learning experience, emphasising the importance of ethical decision-making and the need for systemic reform. The first-hand accounts of Janet Skinner, Seema Misra, and Tom Hedges highlighted the human cost of wrongful convictions and the urgent need for change in the legal and corporate systems. 

As future legal professionals, the students were reminded of their role in preventing such injustices and advocating for a fairer, more just society. 

with further details on the sub-postmasters experiences.

The list features leaders who are finding solutions to some of the world�����Ƶ�s biggest problems. Professor Richardson focuses on creating more democratic and participatory ways of doing politics by working with academics, practitioners, and citizens. She is also interested in new research methods that involve people in the research process.

The LGIU has released its first-ever list of after launching the , a programme designed to help local governments tackle global challenges and make the most of new technologies, including addressing climate change.

Liz reflects on this recognition: 

�����Ƶ������Ƶ� is available to read online.

Political elites express their ideological positions on contentious issues across various arenas in the public sphere. Social science research often relies on data extracted from various media or political and administrative sources, as well as surveys that are administered directly with the political actor. 

Although some studies compare ideology across different sources, few systematically analyse how political actors adjust their ideological messaging to the audiences in the respective communication arenas and how such changes are associated with systematic bias in data sources. 

This paper uses a unique dataset, combining climate policy belief observations from three arenas - social media, Congressional testimony, and surveys - on identical ideological variables and during the same time period. 

We apply item response theory to understand how responses differ by arena and find that ideological communication on X is most left-leaning, Congressional testimony is most right-leaning, and surveys, the data source with the smallest potential arena effect, is in the middle. We also find that actors with strong ideological leaning moderate their positions on social media and in Congress. 

These findings enhance our understanding of strategic communication depending on audience context and inform social research on biases when analyzing specific data sources.