31/05/2013  -  10.29am

Summer badger cull

Posted by: Dr Chris Young

In the next few weeks trials will be taking place with trained contractors attempting to cull badgers (largely by shooting) to wipe out TB in parts of Somerset and Gloucestershire. TB is endemic in some local populations of badgers and is also present in some cattle and it is thought (though the link is as yet wholly unproven) that TB is transmitted from wild badgers to individual cattle resulting in the need to destroy entire herds...

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29/05/2013  -  10.28am

By Accident or design?

Posted by: Jim Bethel, Senior Lecturer in the School of Health and Wellbeing

There has been much press coverage recently concerning the apparent crisis in emergency services, and in particular the provision of care within hospital emergency departments.

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28/05/2013  -  10.27am

Better This Time? Afghanistan as the 'Graveyard of Empires' 1979-2014

Posted by: Professor Stephen Badsey, Professor of Conflict Studies

Better This Time? Afghanistan as the 'Graveyard of Empires' 1979-2014 The 25th anniversary of the Afghanistan withdrawal announcement by the Soviet Union In February 2013, President Barack Obama announced the withdrawal of major United States combat units from Afghanistan by the end of next year. It is impossible not to hear the historical echoes.

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23/05/2013  -  10.26am

FHM's Top 100 Sexiest Women 2013

Posted by: Dr William Pawlett

FHM’s top 100 sexiest women – decided by popular vote and featuring the likes of Mila Kunis and Kelly Brook – is undoubtedly commercially successful, but how might we think critically about this publication and its success?

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22/05/2013  -  10.25am

Now let's talk about mental health

Posted by: Lucy Pursehouse

In an era of economic uncertainty with rising unemployment, never has there been a more important time to consider the topic of mental health.

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20/05/2013  -  10.24am

IDAHO Celebrations

Posted by: Pliny Soocoormanee

A day to celebrate the seventh least densely populated state of the USA? Sadly, no. In fact, IDAHO is that odd acronym which stands for the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, and it took place this past Friday, May 17.

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17/05/2013  -  10.24am

The Allure of Eurovision

Posted by: Steve Cooper, Senior Lecturer in Popular Music

The arrival of May offers us many national treasures such as the FA Cup Final and the Chelsea Flower Show, but few can argue with the longevity and passion aroused by Eurovision, the music competition to outlast all other music TV events.

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15/05/2013  -  10.22am

70th Anniversary of the Dams Raid

Posted by: Peter Preston-Hough, Visiting Lecturer in War Studies at the University of Wolverhampton.

The 16th/17th May 2013 marks the 70th anniversary of RAF Bomber Command’s iconic raid on dams in the German Ruhr valley. New books, magazines, memorabilia are being marketed and the BBC has commissioned various radio and television programmes to commemorate this event.

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14/05/2013  -  10.22am

BAFTA Television Awards 2013

Posted by: Dorothy Hobson, Senior Lecturer and Course Leader in Contemporary Media

Olivia Colman was the undoubted star of the 2013 BAFTA Television awards. Colman triumphed for her work in the serious drama ‘Accused (Mo’s Story)’ and the sitcom ‘Twenty Twelve’, and both gongs were well deserved. While it is easy to be blasé and pretend that award ceremonies don’t matter, Colman accepted her two awards with enthusiasm and excitement, and it’s clear that recognition from peers is still a big thing for actors and actresses.

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09/05/2013  -  10.20am

Sir Alex Ferguson

Posted by: Andrew Lane, Professor of Sports and Exercise Psychology

"So Sir Alex Ferguson has retired. We’ve had “Fergie time", “hairdryers", the “Beckham’s boot”, and rows with other managers – Kevin Keegan and Rafa Benitez being the most memorable spats. When it’s all said and done however he leaves Manchester United as champions for a record 20th time. So what comes next?

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