The UK’s education secretary, Nadhim Zahawi, has announced the launch of a GCSE in natural history, a key part of helping bring back the study of plants and animals into the…Read More >
Ukraine: Nato exercises a happy coincidence ‘just in case’ of escalation
Military exercises are held regularly by armed forces throughout the world. An exercise can be seen as an act of diplomacy, a direct threat, a demonstration of military capability for…Read More >
Bridging Worlds: Sustainable Agriculture
During COP26 groups around the world gathered to protest the “unfair” and “elitist” climate action approaches of the world’s richest nations. The tone of the conference enraged many as developed…Read More >
Why Russia has put the rouble on a gold standard – but it’s unlikely to last
The Bank of Russia, the country’s central bank, has surprisingly announced a fixed price for buying gold with roubles. With a price of RUB5,000 (£45.12) for a gram of gold, to my…Read More >
Accessible research for all: what UKRI’s new Open Access policy means for us
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a great example of the real-world benefits of Open Access (OA). Researchers and publishers shared information quickly and openly which helped speed up the development…Read More >
How a deluge of lockdown volunteers rescued UK’s hidden weather history
When it rains, it pours. Make hay while the sun shines. Save for a rainy day. Come rain or shine. The English language is overflowing with phrases about the weather,…Read More >
Ukraine: what might happen if the war spreads to a Nato country
As Russian military activity moves nearer the Ukrainian border with Nato, the potential for direct confrontation between Russia and the alliance increases. On March 13, Russian aircraft reportedly fired rockets at the…Read More >
Safeguarding ecosystems: From sustained yield to sustainable forestry
On the UN’s International Day of Forests (21 March), Professor Martin Lukac considers this year’s theme of ‘Forests and sustainable production and consumption’ and the much-needed shift in focus away…Read More >
Ukraine: Putin’s vision of ‘Russian Ukraine’ misunderstands how borders came about
In Ukraine’s ongoing negotiations with Russia over its invasion, Vladimir Putin seems to be aiming at the very least to retain Crimea for Russia and ensure recognition for the Donetsk and Luhansk…Read More >
Ukraine: how the global fertiliser shortage is going to affect food
We are currently witnessing the beginning of a global food crisis, driven by the knock-on effects of a pandemic and more recently the rise in fuel prices and the conflict…Read More >