On Monday, December 5, Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY) released a detailed higher education plan. Though a proposal from a Republican with no formal leadership role in Congress usually merits little attention, Reed is a vice-chair of the transition team for President-elect Donald Trump, and the populist message of the agenda suggests that Trump may take […] … learn more→

These are challenging times for UK universities. The impact of Brexit, the looming teaching excellence framework (TEF), the next research excellence framework (REF) appearing over the horizon and a far-reaching Higher Education and Research Bill all mean we have a lot on our plates at present. Such a busy agenda, involving many uncertainties and circumstances […] … learn more→

The news that Bristol university plans to lower entry grades for disadvantaged students living in the city, comes as new figures show the gap between rich and poor children winning degree places has reached record levels. The new UCAS statistics show that children who receive free school meals – a key measure of poverty – […] … learn more→

Dear Readers, The summer/winter holidays are upon us and we have come to the end of yet another year of posts! This year I published 50 posts, which have travelled far and wide. There have been 1.3 million views from 780,000 unique visitors. Measuring engagement precisely is tricky, but by my calculations there have been […] … learn more→

O Tempore, O Mores. George Carey, ex-Archbishop of Canterbury, has been evicted by King’s College London from its “wall of fame” on The Strand (a public gallery of illustrious people associated with the university). Meanwhile, dozens of other alumni continue to gaze imperiously from an otherwise grey concrete facade. Was Carey too male, pale and […] … learn more→

If you asked a friend to name the worst human threat to nature, what would they say? Global warming? Overhunting? Habitat fragmentation? A new study suggests it is in fact road-building. “Road-building” might sound innocuous, like “house maintenance” – or even positive, conjuring images of promoting economic growth. Many of us have been trained to […] … learn more→

I’m grateful to the founding fathers, and respect their achievement in creating a country, and greet with some concern the realization that the chances of this country’s disintegration within my lifetime have grown from “essentially impossible” to “unlikely” within the last twenty years. That said, I’ve never been much of a flag-worshipper. I respect those […] … learn more→

Earlier this month, I was at a meeting in the contemporary palace that is the Museum of Science and Technology in Shanghai. I was representing the Royal Society’s president, Sir Venki Ramakrishnan, and we were discussing how China and the UK could work together in science and technology. During my visit, I attended a Fudan […] … learn more→

Millions of weddings are carried out each and every year. It is understandable that brides and grooms will want to make this day one of the most memorable. This is why many will opt for a destination wedding. A destination wedding can be a great way to visit another country, while also ensuring your wedding […] … learn more→

For many, the holidays are indeed the most wonderful time of the year. Families and friends come together and enjoy food, good cheer – and, often, alcohol. Commercially speaking, alcohol and the holidays seem to be made for each other. Alcohol can be a quick and easy way to get into the spirit of celebration. […] … learn more→