November 2019 press releases

University’s Big Booker Read marks new partnership with acclaimed literary award

Loughborough celebrated its new partnership with the Booker Prize Foundation by hosting a Big Booker Read event on campus on Wednesday (30 October), featuring the author of The Gathering, Anne Enright.
Loughborough Lightning centre Emily Scarratt has been named World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year 2019.

Lightning’s Scarratt crowned Women’s World Player of the Year

Loughborough Lightning centre Emily Scarratt has been named World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year 2019.

Sunrise over solar panels.

United Nations launches new standards that could spur investment in solar energy, thanks to Loughborough academic and expert group

Solar energy investments across the globe could be set to soar thanks to the launch of new United Nations specifications a Loughborough University researcher helped construct.

A woman cooking with biomass and an electric alternative in the background.

Loughborough-led programme awards £1.3m to projects and innovators in a bid to accelerate the transition to clean cooking on a global scale

More than £1.3m has been awarded to six clean cooking innovators and 22 projects thanks to a Loughborough University-led research programme that looks to find innovative, clean and modern alternatives to biomass fuels, such as charcoal and wood.

Electric plane illustration.

Electric planes are here – but they won’t solve flying’s CO2 problem

The UK government plans to ban the sale of new conventional petrol and diesel cars by 2040. Clearly the plan is for all citizens to be driving electric or hybrid-electric cars, or – better still – riding bicycles.

Four visions for the future of public transport

The way people get around is starting to change, and as a professor of transport strategy I do rather wonder if the modes of transport we use today will still be around by the turn of the next century.
Dr Oliver Tearle, Dr Sarah Parker and Dr Andrew Dix

New episode of the ‘School of Poetry’ podcast looks at transport poetry

Loughborough academics look at poetry that focuses on the theme of transport in a new episode of the ‘School of Poetry’ podcast.
A young person holding an old person's hand

How hypothetical designs can help us think through our conversations about euthanasia

Belgian Paralympic athlete Marieke Vervoort revealed two years ago that in 2008, she had been approved to receive euthanasia.
A robot hand holding an apple

Experts examine how technology is being used to improve food manufacturing and outline the next steps for the industry

From using satellites to track asparagus crops, to measuring the lean meat percentage of pork using a high-tech camera, companies across the food manufacturing supply chain are embracing emerging technologies in new and interesting ways.

Racism in Italian football reflects the everyday migrant experience

Italian striker Mario Balotelli has hit out at the “small minded” fans who have once again targeted him with racist abuse.
Flooding in Asia.

Rivers are changing all the time, and it affects their capacity to contain floods

The rainfall that has inundated the North of England is the latest in a long line of flood events that are becoming the country’s new normal.

Brain illustration.

Loughborough London academic to develop AI systems that can ‘think’ and respond to dynamic environments faster than any human being

A Loughborough University London academic is to develop ground-breaking algorithms that will equip AI systems with the ability to ‘think’ and respond to busy, ever-changing environments – like complex road junctions - much faster than human beings.

The Joker to Guy Fawkes: why protesters around the world are wearing the same masks

From Hong Kong to Chile and from Lebanon to Iraq, people around the world are taking to the streets in protest against their leaders, writes Dr Aiden McGarry.

Electric car illustration.

Virgin Media owner announces plans for 1,200 on-street electric vehicle chargers – and Loughborough research will determine where they go

Liberty Global, the owner of Virgin Media, has unveiled plans to help revolutionise on-street electric vehicle (EV) charging – and Loughborough academics will play a crucial role in making the vision a reality.

UK election 2019: how it could deliver the country’s first real living wage

The din of political parties outbidding each other on promises to spend more on the NHS, education, transport infrastructure and housing has echoes of pre-austerity and even pre-Thatcher times, writes Professor Donald Hirsch.

General Election 2019: Discover what’s making the media headlines

A real time news audit of the General Election by Loughborough University is lifting the lid on what media coverage the political parties, their policies and MPs are securing each week.
Royal Navy helicopter on campus.

A FLYING VISIT: Alumni return to campus to discuss helicopter operations in the Royal Navy

A Royal Navy helicopter from the Commando Helicopter Force took to the sky above Loughborough University earlier this week as six naval officers returned to their old stomping ground to meet with current students.
In the latest ‘Experts in Sport’ podcast, Loughborough University academics take a closer look at the issue of corruption in sport.

Experts in Sport: Examining corruption in sport - part one

In the latest ‘Experts in Sport’ podcast, Loughborough University academics take a closer look at the issue of corruption in sport.

Lib Dems and women the lost voices in first week of media election coverage

It was a two-horse race in terms media coverage for the first week of the election campaign, with the Conservatives and Labour dominating both TV and print news.

The future of railway vehicles: New digital design allows for quicker, smoother and more economic travel

Engineers and academics have upgraded the design of traditional railway vehicle chassis with lasers, electric motors and artificial intelligence.

New fellowship will put Loughborough at the forefront of future automation

A new £1.6m fellowship will explore the future of automation to help develop better drones, driverless cars and healthcare technology.

Mothers’ depression and anxiety linked to unhealthy diets for children

Having symptoms of depression or anxiety could be affecting the way mothers feed their children and could contribute to youngsters developing unhealthy eating habits, a new study has found.
a city on a phone vector

Mobile phones can help cities be more energy efficient, study suggests

Mobile phone data could be used to make urban buildings more energy efficient, a new research paper has found.

How England’s broken planning system has created (not reduced) the risk of floods

Recent floods in England have been described as unprecedented or even “biblical” events, often with the misguided assumption that they were unavoidable or unpredictable, writes Dr Lee Bosher.
An illustration of Africa

Exploring migrant decision-making in West Africa

A Loughborough University academic is part of a new £1.4m research project that will explore migration decision-making and development in West Africa.