SPRU news items
Read news from the Science Policy Research Unit at the University of Sussex.
The CRIBs sheet for delivering meaningful change in the innovation systems of developing countries

Dr Rob Byrne tells the Impacted podcast how the CRIBs approach he helped develop is now being pursued by the World Bank and the African Union
Celebrating another record year for highly cited researchers

Nine University of Sussex academics have been included in the 2020 Highly Cited Researchers List – up from seven in last year’s global rankings.
Energy experts respond to the Prime Minister's ten point net zero plan

Members of the Science Policy Research Unit analyse plans unveiled by the Prime Minister designed to reduce UK net carbon emissions to zero by 2050
Calls for world’s most popular artificial sweetener to be banned in UK under incoming Brexit powers

Prof Erik Millstone is calling for the UK Government and Food Standards Agency to use post-Brexit powers in the New Year to ban the use of aspartame.
Academics and policy makers mobilise to transform innovation in South Africa

140 experts helped to transform South Africa’s science, technology and innovation systems in a three-day forum, co-organised by Sussex.
SPRU Researchers invited to act as expert group on Artificial Intelligence and Digitalisation

SPRU researchers were invited by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission to act as an expert group on AI and Digitalisation.
New Sussex Innovation Forum to boost region’s sustainability, wellbeing and economy

Businesses and community groups are being invited to help deliver the innovation required to make Sussex net zero.
Clean and clear: How being more transparent over resources helps cut carbon emissions

Countries that sign up to improved financial transparency over oil, gas, and mining revenues benefit from significant reductions in carbon emissions.
SPRU experts give recommendations to UN DESA on role of digital technologies in sustainable development

During the summer, Dr Tommaso Ciarli and Prof Maria Savona took part in the UN DESA Division for Inclusive Social Development's Expert Group Meeting.
A chance to win £10,000 and develop your skills: Enter the Santander Student Online Self Development Programme

Do you want to learn to think like a champion with transformational new strategies for your future career?
Two's a crowd: Nuclear and renewables don't mix. Only the latter can deliver truly low carbon energy says new study

If countries want to lower emissions as substantially, rapidly and cost-effectively as possible, they should prioritize renewables.
New study reveals flaws in UK Coronavirus testing system after comparison with other countries

A comparative analysis led by SPRU academics finds room for improvement in the Find, Test, Trace, Isolate, Support (FTTIS) systems of six countries.
Creative graduates more entrepreneurial and as employable as peers, new study finds

Graduates in creative subjects suffer no deficit in earnings to students of supposedly “higher value” degrees such as biology, languages or psychology
To end King Coal’s reign, must his loyal subjects get paid? Compensating phase-out losers for a just transition

Governments should be prepared to pay billions of pounds to operators of coal-fired power plants in agreements to shut down their plants early.
SPRU professor receives project management honour

Professor Andrew Davies has been named an Honorary Fellow of the The Association for Project Management (APM).
Sussex researchers team up with South Africa on water governance

New policy experiment will contribute towards a national roadmap for water management.
Experts call for Bradwell B consultation to be scrapped until Government justifies biased attachment to nuclear

The public consultation on plans for the UK’s newest nuclear power station is deeply flawed and should be suspended, say energy policy experts.
University of Sussex academics respond to Chancellor's Plan for Jobs

Rishi Sunak advised by our experts that billions more public funding needed to fix the leakiest, least energy efficient housing in Europe.
Role models: The need for responsible modelling in the age of pandemic

Too many examples of coronavirus modelling have been insufficiently transparent about their uncertainties and too precise in their claims.
SPRU’s first virtual PhD forum now available to view

Researchers from 18 universities around the world recently attended the Science Policy Research Unit’s first virtual PhD forum.