Declines in pollinator abundance and diversity over the last century are currently considered to have been the result of a range of interacting stressors, such as agricultural intensification and climate…Read More >
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Selecting my top children’s books for the BBC ‘One Hundred Top Children’s Books’ list
BBC Culture emailed me in early March 2023 to ask me to participate in a poll they were holding among experts on children’s literature worldwide in order to compose a…Read More >
Drought recedes in Britain after a wet spring – but much of Europe is parched
Be careful what you wish for. Britain’s seesaw rainfall patterns that began last winter have continued, with an on-off pattern of dry and then wet months for many areas. In the south…Read More >
Voter ID: most people are terrible at matching faces to photos, making polling checks unreliable
On Thursday May 4, for the first time, members of the public voting in local council elections in England were required to bring photo ID to their polling station. Initial reports suggested…Read More >
Five ways to protect and restore biodiversity in the UK
To mark International Day for Biodiversity, we can acknowledge both the rich biodiversity of the United Kingdom and also the challenges it faces. In the UK, we are lucky to…Read More >
Hear me: young people’s experiences of exclusion from school
A report by the Whitley Researchers and the University of Reading explores experiences of school exclusion from the perspectives of young people. By centring the voices of young people and…Read More >
How can gardeners stop the spread of invasive species?
It’s Invasive Species Week (15–22 May 2023) and so a perfect opportunity to look at this issue as one of the top five threats to nature, and how gardeners can…Read More >
Surrogacy – what’s it all about?
Professor Thérèse Callus, expert in biomedical and family law issues at the University of Reading, explains the recent Law Commission proposals on reform of the law on surrogacy. The Law…Read More >
Owning houseplants can boost your mental health – here’s how to pick the right one
In both Europe and the US, people spend up to 90% of their time indoors. But spending so much time inside can have consequences for your mental health. The World Health Organization estimates that 5%…Read More >
