UCL in the media
A Japanese remedy for the UK’s ailing town centres
Professor Davide Ravasi (UCL School of Management) is quoted in an article arguing that the Japanese city of Kyoto is a good model for the UK's town centres because of the sense of community among businesses there.
Improving patients' experience of the NHS
Professor Nichola Raihani (UCL Psychology & Language Sciences) says the NHS could benefit greatly from reducing patients’ uncertainty, for instance by informing patients of their exact appointment time, even if this time is later than their scheduled appointment.
Universities minister praises UCL programme EDUCATE
Universities and science minister Chris Skidmore praises the collaboration between entrepreneurs and researchers at the UCL Institute of Education’s Knowledge Lab, who are working together as part of the Educate programme.
Black Mirror and GDPR
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch allowed Netflix audiences to make choices throughout an interactive episode, leading to different outcomes. Michael Veale (UCL Science, Technology, Engineering) found that Netflix kept a log of the choices users made, with no option to “opt out”.
Cerebral amyloid angiopathy may be caused by prions
Research by Dr Gargi Banerjee and Professor David Werring (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology) adds to evidence that prion diseases are more widespread and varied than had been realised.
The anti-vaxx movement and a spike in measles cases
Professor Helen Bedford (UCL Institute of Child Health) comments on the tripling of measles cases in Europe and the loud online voice of the anti-vaccination movement.
Should GCSEs be scrapped?
Dr Sandra Leaton Gray (UCL Institute of Education) compares the GCSEs used in England and Wales to exam systems in other countries, explaining that it is rare to have “big bang” exams across a spread of subjects at the age of 16.
Listen: BBC Radio 4’s ‘The Briefing Room’ (from 8 mins 6 secs)
Are we heading for a flip of the magnetic poles?
Dr Robert Wicks (UCL Space & Climate Physics) describes the shifting of the Earth’s magnetic field and the implications of geomagnetic reversal for our compasses and GPS satellites.
Listen: BBC Radio 4’s ‘Inside Science’ (from 18 mins 5 secs)
How hydrogen fuel cell technology can help the environment
Dr Michael Whiteley (UCL Chemical Engineering) explains how hydrogen fuel cell technology can be a powerful way to reduce carbon emissions, as UCL becomes the first UK university to host a hydrogen fuel cell production car.
Banks blamed for surge in house prices
Columnist Anthony Hilton cites research by Dr Josh Ryan-Collins (UCL Institute for Innovation & Public Purpose) to argue that the soaring of house prices in Britain is a result of banks entering the mortgage market in the 1980s.