Latest news with #UniversityOfCambridge
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Researchers call for urgent exploration of methods to cool Earth
It is already obvious that some governments are not acting fast enough to keep the planet's temperature from rising dangerously. While it is essential to continue to concentrate on reducing methane and carbon dioxide emissions as quickly as possible, other methods of cooling the planet need to be urgently explored, according to academics at the University of Cambridge's engineering department. Related: UK scientists to launch outdoor geoengineering experiments One of the problems is that many of the ideas put forward so far, including injecting sulphates into the atmosphere to reflect sunlight back into space, could do more harm than good. This is because sulphates cause acid rain and interfere with rainfall patterns. To avoid controversy researchers are experimenting with alternatives to sulphates, substances that reflect sunlight but are benign. They will hoist them into the stratosphere using weather balloons then recover them to see what changes this exposure causes. No materials will be released but their cooling effect and whether they could otherwise be harmless can be gauged. Other ideas like drilling holes in the Arctic ice in the winter and pumping seawater over existing ice floes in below freezing air temperatures to thicken them are also being tried, along with spraying seawater to form clouds over the ocean, also to reflect sunlight. If these ideas are otherwise harmless, and work, they might yet save us.
The Guardian
18 hours ago
- Science
- The Guardian
Researchers call for urgent exploration of methods to cool Earth
It is already obvious that some governments are not acting fast enough to keep the planet's temperature from rising dangerously. While it is essential to continue to concentrate on reducing methane and carbon dioxide emissions as quickly as possible, other methods of cooling the planet need to be urgently explored, according to academics at the University of Cambridge's engineering department. One of the problems is that many of the ideas put forward so far, including injecting sulphates into the atmosphere to reflect sunlight back into space, could do more harm than good. This is because sulphates cause acid rain and interfere with rainfall patterns. To avoid controversy researchers are experimenting with alternatives to sulphates, substances that reflect sunlight but are benign. They will hoist them into the stratosphere using weather balloons then recover them to see what changes this exposure causes. No materials will be released but their cooling effect and whether they could otherwise be harmless can be gauged. Other ideas like drilling holes in the Arctic ice in the winter and pumping seawater over existing ice floes in below freezing air temperatures to thicken them are also being tried, along with spraying seawater to form clouds over the ocean, also to reflect sunlight. If these ideas are otherwise harmless, and work, they might yet save us.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Cambridge faces backlash for axing top Covid expert
The University of Cambridge is facing a backlash over its decision to lay off a leading virologist who helped guide Britain through the Covid pandemic. Dr Chris Smith, the host of The Naked Scientists podcast, was told earlier this month that he was being made redundant. The university has said the closure of the post was necessary both to save costs and because it did not align with Cambridge's outreach strategy. However, Dr Smith said The Naked Scientists podcast, which he launched 24 years ago and has surpassed 150 million downloads, is a highly effective form of outreach. The programme aims to increase public understanding of science and frequently highlights the work of Cambridge researchers. Listeners from as far afield as Australia have begun petitioning the university after Dr Smith shared news of the proposed redundancy. Podcast 'may be in jeopardy' In a statement, he said: 'I have been informed by the University of Cambridge, my employer for whom I have worked loyally for over 20 years, that on the grounds of cost-cutting they intend to make me redundant, imminently. 'This potentially jeopardises The Naked Scientists, which is produced under my university role and means the team under me are also under threat. 'As if that isn't bad enough, as it stands – and I have nothing concrete to say otherwise – I will also lose my current medical consultant job, because this is contingent on my university employment. 'Why I am so desperately hurt by this decision is that it completely fails to recognise the huge, multi-award winning effort that I have put in over many years to raising the profile of science, technology and medicine originating from Cambridge University, for a truly global audience.' Dr Smith's role combines lecturing at the university's Institute of Continuing Education (ICE) and working as a consultant virologist at Addenbrooke's, the university's teaching hospital. Since 2014, he has been a public understanding of science fellow. Cambridge needs to cut costs to tackle a £53 million deficit, which the university's internal watchdog blamed in part on 'a lack of budgetary control'. In a letter to Dr Smith, the university also said that 'profile-raising and conversion of applicants to fee-paying courses' at ICE must be concentrated in its own 'external engagement division'. Dr Smith said: 'There are people studying science at Cambridge University because of The Naked Scientists. Over the pandemic, I gave 2,500 interviews to media all over the world on behalf of Cambridge University.' Listeners, including fellow scientists and science teachers, have sent letters of complaint to Cambridge protesting against the proposed redundancy. One said that his daughter had been inspired by the podcast to study science at A-level and hoped to gain a place at Cambridge to study veterinary medicine. Another wrote: 'In a world where science is being persecuted, particularly abroad, the last place I thought I'd see this is Cambridge University.' A spokesman for the University of Cambridge said: 'The Naked Scientists podcast is a separate entity that the university neither owns, controls nor has any direct influence over. 'The University of Cambridge is currently consulting with Dr Chris Smith about the future of his role with the university.'
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Cambridge University ‘discriminates' against white job seekers
The University of Cambridge has been accused of discriminating against white job seekers. Guidance issued at the world-leading university advises departments to 'try to ensure' that at least one candidate from 'underrepresented groups' is invited for every interview. The 'diverse recruitment framework' further encourages recruiters to readvertise positions if the longlist of candidates 'is not diverse', is all white or male. The guidance, currently in use at the university, also says interview panels should be 'diverse both in gender and race' and composed of individuals who have taken training courses in equality, diversity, inclusion (EDI) and unconscious bias. Edward Skidelsky, the lecturer in philosophy at the University of Exeter and director of the Committee for Academic Freedom, said the policies were 'tantamount to discrimination against white applicants'. 'This is one of the worst cases we have come across of EDI interference in what should be a purely academic process,' he said. 'Favouritism towards women and non-whites demeans them, and encourages the very prejudices it is intended to overcome.' Documents seen by The Telegraph show the guidance, first issued in 2019, is copied word for word in 'hiring instructions' sent to academics involved in recruitment processes at the university. The framework advises academics that recruitment panels should not be made up entirely of 'white males' or 'people with a particular career track record'. It reads: 'Conduct the shortlisting with more than one person on the panel, ideally forming the panel that is diverse both in gender and race if possible. 'Research shows that when the final applicant pool has only one minority candidate, they are unlikely to be offered the position: try to ensure that more than one candidate from under-represented groups is invited to [the] interview stage. 'If the longlist is not diverse, you do not have to appoint someone immediately, consider readvertising the position to encourage a more diverse shortlist.' Elsewhere, it says all members of recruitment panels 'must have completed the online University modules on E&D [equality and diversity] and Understanding Unconscious Bias'. Those involved in hiring decisions are also told to 'reflect' on the university's EDI commitments, 'their own biases' and the potential for 'implicit bias' before interviews and after selecting a favoured candidate. A source familiar with the workings of Cambridge's EDI committee said members were told 'don't worry about it' when they raised questions about the policies' legality. The source said: 'I joined the committee, wanting to see what was actually going on and maybe prevent things from going off the rails. 'When I got there, I discovered it was already off the rails.' The source added: 'If you criticise it, you're just seen as a bad person.' They went on to claim they had witnessed colleagues from non-underrepresented backgrounds – such as white people and men – being actively discouraged from applying to positions because of their race or sex. A spokesman for Cambridge denied that applicants were told this, saying it was 'not a view held by the university, relevant committees or senior management and is directly prohibited in law and our own policies'. Prof David Abulafia, the professor emeritus of Mediterranean history at the University of Cambridge, said the guidance was 'arrant nonsense'. He said: 'The sheer fanaticism of the bureaucracy at Cambridge and the craven submission of academics to their arrant nonsense spells the end of a once great university.' Prof John Marenbon, the philosopher and fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, added: 'Academic appointments should be made solely on the basis of academic merit. Academics who do otherwise betray their calling.' The university's EDI 'plan for action' includes a target to increase ethnic minority applications to 'academic and research posts to 8 per cent or higher' and 'for professional services roles to 30 per cent'. A spokesman for the University of Cambridge said: 'Every candidate is recruited based on merit. We have no quotas for staff recruitment and strongly refute claims of discriminating against white and male job applicants 'Our 'diverse recruitment framework' is a guidance document aimed at ensuring that all suitably qualified candidates are encouraged to apply for roles at Cambridge – not to dictate the outcome of recruitment. 'Use of this guidance, including training recommendations, is not mandated in our recruitment policy.'
The Guardian
09-06-2025
- The Guardian
In a dangerous era for journalism – a powerful new tool to help protect sources
Today, the Guardian launches a unique new tool for protecting journalistic sources. Secure Messaging is an important new technological innovation that will make it easier for people to share confidential information with us. Blowing the whistle on wrongdoing has always taken bravery. As threats to journalists around the world increase, so does the need to protect confidential sources. One of the most dramatic global shifts against whistleblower safety comes as part of the Trump administration's continued assault on the free press. Investigative reporting is extremely important to the Guardian; we have been exposing wrongdoing and scrutinising power with complete independence for decades. We know first-hand how impactful investigations depend on trusted reader-reporter interactions. From the Frank Hester revelations to the Pegasus project, Uber files, Pandora papers and the Michelle Mone/PPE Medpro scandal, many of our most powerful recent investigative projects – as well as our biggest stories throughout the decades – have relied on sources feeling confident they can safely share information with the Guardian or our reporting partners. Secure Messaging is the latest tool in our armoury to protect whistleblowers. Built by our product and engineering team, in partnership with the University of Cambridge's department of computer science and technology, Secure Messaging is unlike traditional information-sharing platforms. The technology behind Secure Messaging conceals the fact that messaging is taking place at all by making the communication indistinguishable from other data sent to and from the app by our millions of regular users. By using the Guardian app, other users are effectively providing 'cover' and helping us to protect sources. Secure Messaging is not just a tool for the Guardian. As part of our commitment to protecting the media and the public interest globally, the Guardian has published the source code for the technology that enables this system. This means that other organisations will be able to use this technology freely to implement secure messaging tools within their own apps. If you have any information to share with us, you can use Secure Messaging within the Guardian app by clicking on the app menu and scrolling to 'Secure Messaging'. For more information on how to share tips with our journalists please read our comprehensive guide. Support the Guardian's investigative journalism today.
