The Conversation Religion and COVID-19: methodists and Church of England followers more likely to have been vaccinated than Muslims and Pentecostals - - Steve Pickering, Docent, Political Science, University of Amsterdam Martin Ejnar Hansen, Reader in Political Science, Brunel University London - Religious leaders are vital links for health services looking to counter vaccine hesitancy. Sky-high waiting times don’t make people trust the NHS any less – why that’s potentially bad news for Rishi Sunak - - Thomas Scotto, Professor of Politics, University of Glasgow Martin Ejnar Hansen, Reader in Political Science, Brunel University London Steve Pickering, Docent, Political Science, University of Amsterdam - When the public sees an institution is failing, they generally lose trust in it. Not so with the health service. Most countries do not take a fair share of refugees – here’s how we could incentivise them - - Matilde Rosina, Assistant Professor in Global Challenges, Brunel University London - A global index could hold states accountable for refugee protection. Farmers’ protests: why EU wants to increase tariffs on Russian imports but won’t impose sanctions - - Elimma C. Ezeani, Senior Lecturer, Private and Commercial Law / Researcher in International Law and Trade, Brunel University London - The European Union is faced with a difficult choice between supporting Ukraine and putting its farmers at a disadvantage. Buying your first home? Here’s how to increase your chances of getting a mortgage - - Alper Kara, Professor of Banking and Finance, Brunel University London - Simple tips to improve your chances of having your mortgage application accepted. Ficar muito tempo sentado faz mal à saúde, e exercícios não parecem ser suficientes para contrabalançar impactos - - Daniel Bailey, Senior Lecturer in Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, Brunel University London - Pesquisas indicam que nós realmente deveríamos ficar menos tempo sentados Sitting is bad for your health and exercise doesn’t seem to offset the harmful effects - - Daniel Bailey, Senior Lecturer in Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, Brunel University London - We really ought to be sitting less. Seriously. Budget 2024: experts explain what it means for taxpayers, businesses, borrowers and the NHS - - J. Robert Branston, Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Business Economics, University of Bath Alper Kara, Professor of Banking and Finance, Brunel University London Andrew Burlinson, Lecturer in Economics, University of Sheffield Hilary Ingham, Professor of Economics, Lancaster University Jonquil Lowe, Senior Lecturer in Economics and Personal Finance, The Open University Peter Sivey, Reader in Health Economics, Centre for Health Economics, University of York Shampa Roy-Mukherjee, Vice Dean and Associate Professor in Economics, University of East London - What could Jeremy Hunt do for voters ahead of a general election? UK banks are reporting huge profits – but there are many reasons why this may not last - - Alper Kara, Professor of Banking and Finance, Brunel University London - High interest rates have been a big earner for the last couple of years. Your smart watch isn’t a medical device – but it is tracking all your health data - - Pin Lean Lau, Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Bio-Law, Brunel University London - Medical devices have a legal definition, but the lines might become blurred in future. Extraction of raw materials could rise 60% by 2060 – and making mining ‘greener’ won’t stop the damage - - Gareth Dale, Reader in Political Economy, Brunel University London - Extractive mining disrupts the balance of the planet’s ecosystems and is set to rise. Could urban mining or degrowth help curb unsustainable practices? A new generation of spaceplanes is taking advantage of the latest in technology - - Oluwamayokun Adetoro, Senior Lecturer, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Brunel University London James Campbell, Reader, Brunel University London - Spaceplanes seemed out of favour when the shuttle was retired in 2011; they now seem to be making a comeback. How video game soundtracks are influencing a new generation of musicians and music lovers - - Brent Alan Ferguson, Lecturer in Games Sound and Music, Brunel University London - Soundtrack music is a big part of the video game experience and is now being celebrated in popular musical concerts that reach new audiences. How looking after your willpower can help you reduce stress and stay productive, wherever you are working - - Michael Koch, Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management & Organisational Behaviour, Brunel University London Sarah Park, Professor in International Business, University of Leicester - Stress affected many people’s productivity during the pandemic, with homeworkers and the self-employed (in particular women) experiencing the worst effects. Mortgage rates are falling but borrowers are still feeling the squeeze – a finance expert explains how to cut your repayments - - Alper Kara, Professor of Banking and Finance, Brunel University London - Homeowners looking to remortgage and first-time buyers struggled to manage interest rate hikes in 2023. Here’s what to think about this year. Dyspraxia affects children’s wellbeing – here’s how parents and caregivers can help - - Carolyn Dunford, Reader in Occupational Therapy, Brunel University London Mellissa Prunty, Reader in Occupational Therapy, Brunel University London Peter Wilson, Professor of Developmental Psychology, Australian Catholic University - Children with DCD often avoid the tasks they struggle with, meaning their issues may become invisible. Alexei Navalny disappears from jail – another in the long line of Russian dissidents to fall foul of Vladimir Putin - - Kevin Riehle, Lecturer in Intelligence and Security Studies, Brunel University London - Navalny survived poisoning only to be arrested and sentenced to more than 30 years in jail. Now he has disappeared. Genetically modified crops aren’t a solution to climate change, despite what the biotech industry says - - Anneleen Kenis, Lecturer in Political Ecology and Environmental Justice, Brunel University London Barbara Van Dyck, Research Fellow in Political Agroecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) - Biotech firms are using climate goals opportunistically in an attempt to force through the deregulation of genetically modified crops. How much could the NHS save if people had healthier lifestyles? Hundreds of millions according to research - - Francesco Moscone, Professor of Business Economics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Brunel University London - Small changes, big savings. Why the world’s first flight powered entirely by sustainable aviation fuel is a green mirage - - Gareth Dale, Reader in Political Economy, Brunel University London Josh Moos, Lecturer in Economics and Politics, Leeds Beckett University - A flight powered by sustainable aviation fuel is making a trip across the Atlantic. But is it really a greener way to fly?