April 2015

  • Election Manifestos – Take 7; Liberal Democrats

    The Liberal Democrats manifesto is here.  It was no surprise (to me) that I liked what this said, particularly the separate sections on: Environment and nature – protecting our natural environment Climate change – growing the green economy Here's a...

  • And did all those feet in not so ancient time?

    If you ever really doubted that humans and all other animals were created (by the Almighty) at the same time, then try this lively romp through literature to see how it meets your standards of scholarship.  It's another good news story...

  • Election Manifestos – Take 5; the SNP

    Why does the SNP support a policy of reducing English university fees to £6k?  Solidarity, perhaps?  High principle, maybe?  Well, there's generous of you, if you think that. More like it's the certainty of more cash flowing up the Barnet formula pipeline...

  • Election Manifestos – Take 4; Plaid Cymru

    I eventually stumbled across PC's election manifesto on their muddled website, but couldn't find a version to download, and so had to make do with the easy read text.  It says this: We want better education Better teacher training. No schoolchild to be left behind – more...

  • It was Earth Day yesterday

    And, do you know, I almost missed it!  It was only late that day that I remembered, when I saw an email from CASSE reminding us all that Earth Day is 45 years old. Although I'm sceptical of these 'days'...

  • 2014 and all that

    It turns out that 2014 may have been a unique year as it seems to have been the first on record where economic growth took place with no increase in carbon emissions. I've read two articles on this phenomenon recently.  One,...

  • Notes from the UK Student Sustainability Summit

    I missed the UK Student Sustainability Summit [ SSS15 ] which was part of this year's EAUC conference.  You will find SSS15 video presentations here, and pics of the wider conference here. There was a strong dose (sex, money and sustainability) of the reliable Sara...

  • Education Manifestos – Take 3; the Greens

    It is a measure of the Green's unworldliness that it's not possible to copy from the pdf version of their election manifesto.  As a consequence, this comment has fewer bullet points than previous ones.  A good thing, maybe.  If only...

  • UK universities set to miss their carbon targets

    Research by consultancy Brite Green, predicts the HE sector will achieve just 51% of the 2020 target set by HEFCE as a comment on edie.net illustrates. Looking at the data, there are large differences in how individual HEIs have done with some...

  • Education Manifestos – Take 2; the Conservatives

    As you know, I have decided to read all the main parties' education manifestos.  The second I have come across was from the Conservatives.  The headlines say that they'll: ensure a good primary school place for your child, with zero tolerance for...