University Of Exeter Research Articles

Exploring Sustainable Strategies for Oceanic Development: A Blue Growth Perspective

The European Union is leading the Blue Growth initiative as a strategic approach to increasing economic prosperity in Europe's seas despite today's challenges. Drawing on the EU's Green Growth initiative, Blue Growth extends sustainability principles to marine areas, solidifying commitments to the sustainable management of marine ecosystems and the promotion of technological innovations. This initiative focuses on sectors such as energy, aquaculture, tourism and biotechnology in coastal and offshore environments. Blue Growth has increased in importance following major events such as Rio+20 and has had a significant impact on ocean and marine resource management practices. In this study, we conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to trace the trajectory of global research on blue growth across science, policy, and the blue economy over the 17-year period since the term's inception in 2007. We analyze blue growth using bibliometric techniques. Examining the blue growth literature, identifying key contributors, collaborations, research trends and gaps. Our analysis covers publication outputs, institutional affiliations, author collaborations, research themes, and alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our findings reveal a significant increase in blue growth publications, especially after 2013, highlighting its increasing importance. Environmental Science and Ecology are emerging as primary research areas reflecting a focus on sustainability. We observe intense collaborations between countries and institutions, with significant contributions from the UK, USA, Germany, Italy and Spain. Blue growth research is aligned with several Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land), highlighting marine conservation and land-sea ecosystem connectivity. Keyword analysis underlines the interdisciplinary nature of blue growth research, highlighting key themes such as the blue economy, aquaculture and sustainable development. Institutional analysis identifies the University of Exeter and CNR as key contributors, while country-level analysis highlights global collaboration networks. Citation analysis reveals the intellectual structure of blue growth research, with marine biology, oceanography, sustainability science, and climate change among the prominent themes.

Embodied ecological awareness and the pedagogy of Jacques Lecoq

This article explores Jacques Lecoq’s movement-based approach to actor training through an ecological lens and its potential impact in fostering embodied eco-consciousness. Reflecting on my experiences as a student at the Lecoq School in Paris from 2002 to 2004, I argue Lecoq’s pedagogy, which includes students embodying various animals, elements, and man-made and natural objects during their training, offers a framework for students to explore complex human experiences in relation to, and as part of, the more-than-human world. Furthermore, I contend Lecoq’s approach anticipates emergent eco-discourses which seek new ways for theatre and performance to challenge anthropocentrism by reimagining our relationship with the natural world. To illustrate the practical application of Lecoq’s pedagogy and its applicability for nurturing embodied ecological awareness and nature connectedness among the next generation of theatre makers, I draw on my experience teaching Eco-Theatre: Outdoor and Immersive Performance, a new module I introduced at the University of Exeter in 2022. I describe and reflect on my endeavours to adapt Lecoq’s approach into a model for green training, extending its reach into proto-environmental contexts.

When Worlds Collide

In the United Kingdom, policy clinics are generally established as an extension of a university law clinic. Policy clinics give students the opportunity to undertake empirical research, often for the first time in their legal studies, to further investigate societal issues which impact diverse communities. The University of Exeter’s Policy Clinic is no exception. As a new component of the University of Exeter’s Community Law Clinic, the Policy Clinic aims to influence public policies that are relevant to the legal issues that Community Law Clinic clients collectively face. This practice report will explore the author’s first-hand experiences of working in the Community Law Clinic as a student legal advisor within the ‘Access to Justice Clinic’ undergraduate module at the University of Exeter, as a research intern collaborating with the Policy Clinic on a scoping project in its nascent year and, finally, as a support officer in a developing Policy Clinic. In the context of these three roles, this report will discuss the differences between research practices, the extent of academic and professional involvement, client interactions, and relationships in both clinics. Despite these differences, this report concludes that working at both clinics allows for developing skills in various contexts, which leads to the constant redefinition of integral values such as collaboration, trust, and respect. Ultimately, working at both law clinics and policy clinics are complementary, seeing that the fascinating interplay between casework and policy work reiterates the distinction between legal theory and “real world law”—providing invaluable insight and experience to law students regardless of jurisdiction.

Pupil voice in physical education and the desire for (in)visibility

ABSTRACT The importance of children is a universally accepted concept in schools. However, do we actually listen to what children have to say? Rudduck and Fielding [2002. The transformative potential of student voice: Confronting the power issues. Paper presented at BERA Annual Conference, University of Exeter, p. 2] argue that the voices of pupils are ‘silent’ or ‘silenced’. The aim of this study was to listen to the voice of pupils, concerning their experiences in Physical Education (PE) in schools, with the direction of the study being driven (although not co-designed) by pupils and thereafter following the issues that they raised. It involved 154, 14–16-year-old pupils across the two schools, one an independent school and the other a state academy. A focus group in each school (6 pupils per study) drove the direction of the study which then sort breadth through a questionnaire to the whole year group in both schools (154 respondents) and finally depth through 12 individual interviews. A theoretical framework (Social Field Theory) was selected post findings to ensure that it best represented the emergent data. Through this Pupil voice method, five themes emerged, those being Participation, Choice, Pressure, Ability and Development, and Health. These indicated that pupils have vastly different experiences in the PE lesson, in particular, if they are at either end of the ability spectrum. For some it is that of humiliation and censure, and for others it is about success and achievement. The uniqueness of the lesson with regard to physique and the exposure of both skill and body can affect this duality, negatively and positively. This can lead to the desire for, or coerced, (in)visibility for many pupils. Solutions from pupils, at both ends of the ability spectrum, to counter issues in PE involved giving choice of activity and having ability setting for classes.

Conference on Research and Innovations in Science and Technology of Material (CRISTMAS 2023)

École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Paris, ParisTech, France13-15 December 2023This collection focuses on the recent innovations in Materials Science and advanced characterisations methods presented at the Conference on research and Innovations in Science and Technology CRISTMAS 2023. It covers topics ranging from advances in the most critical aspects in chemistry and material fabrication of nanomaterials, to the engineering of prototype devices and systems. Editorial Board: • Anna Baldycheva, University of Exeter, UK • Pavel Ginzburg, Tel Aviv University, Israel • Alexander Gumennik, Indiana University, USA • Andrei Gorodetsky, University of Birmingham, UK Scientific and Organising Committee: Anna Baldycheva, University of Exeter, UK Andrei Gorodetsky, University of Birmingham, UK Jèrome Tignon, Sorbonne University & Ècole Normale Superieure, France Pavel Ginzburg, Tel Aviv University, Israel Alexander Gumennik, Indiana University, USA Ben Hogan, Queen’s University, Canada Iveta Steblevska, Queen’s University, Canada Hani Bahrum, Tel Aviv University, Israel

Introduction

When, in 2019, I started planning a conference that would take place in September 2020 at the University of Exeter, my aim was to bring together a wide variety of scholars to reflect on the viral modes of contemporary masculinities. The conference was being planned in the context of an Arts and Humanities Research Council Leadership Fellows grant I had been awarded, thanks to which I had been researching contemporary gay “pig” sex subcultures. That is, a kind of contemporary gay male subculture anchored in the eroticization of bodily fluid exchanges and of the corruption of the whole, self-contained, and impermeable male body hegemonically idealized in modern European thought. In a biopolitical context in which HIV infection had become something one can self-manage through highly active antiretroviral therapies, or otherwise avoid with pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) drug regimens, I contended that the twenty-first-century erotic investment in bodily fluids and transgression of the boundaries of the idealized bourgeois body makes gay “pig” subcultures a rich field of practice that can help us think about new and hopefully more capacious ways of relating to the other that no longer require identification and recognition as preconditions. Emerging at the intersection of twenty-first-century sex media, pharmacotechnologies, and sex practices, gay “pigs” are porous creatures that can simultaneously point toward new kinds of relating, of sociability, of ethics, while at the same time still often manifesting and reinforcing some of the traits that have historically defined modern European masculinities (Florêncio 2020). In short, the literal opening up of their masculinity, which I saw—and continue to see—as ethically and politically promising, still often remained dependent on a strengthening of other traits coded as masculine: endurance, athleticism, resilience, heroism, and so on; as if masculinities weren't a static monolith but indeed a fleshy psychosexual reality that manages to survive precisely because it is plastic, adaptable, receptive to change. Diversity ensures the survival of any species, I guess.

Bibliometric analysis and thematic review of Candida pathogenesis: Fundamental omics to applications as potential antifungal drugs and vaccines.

Invasive candidiasis caused by the pathogenic Candida yeast species has resulted in elevating global mortality. The pathogenicity of Candida spp. is not only originated from its primary invasive yeast-to-hyphal transition; virulence factors (transcription factors, adhesins, invasins, and enzymes), biofilm, antifungal drug resistance, stress tolerance, and metabolic adaptation have also contributed to a greater clinical burden. However, the current research theme in fungal pathogenicity could hardly be delineated with the increasing research output. Therefore, our study analysed the research trends in Candida pathogenesis over the past 37 years via a bibliometric approach against the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Based on the 3993 unique documents retrieved, significant international collaborations among researchers were observed, especially between Germany (Bernhard Hube) and the UK (Julian Naglik), whose focuses are on Candida proteinases, adhesins, and candidalysin. The prominent researchers (Neils Gow, Alistair Brown, and Frank Odds) at the University of Exeter and the University of Aberdeen (second top performing affiliation) UK contribute significantly to the mechanisms of Candida adaptation, tolerance, and stress response. However, the science mapping of co-citation analysis performed herein could not identify a hub representative of subsequent work since the clusters were semi-redundant. The co-word analysis that was otherwise adopted, revealed three research clusters; the cluster-based thematic analyses indicated the severeness of Candida biofilm and antifungal resistance as well as the elevating trend on molecular mechanism elucidation for drug screening and repurposing. Importantly, the in vivo pathogen adaptation and interactions with hosts are crucial for potential vaccine development.

Cell scientist to watch – Kirsty Wan

ABSTRACT Kirsty Wan is a Group Leader and Associate Professor at the Living Systems Institute in the University of Exeter, UK. She completed her undergraduate degree in mathematics at the University of Cambridge, UK, where she continued for her Master's degree, PhD and postdoctoral fellowship in biological physics, in the lab of Professor Raymond Goldstein. At Cambridge, she fell in love with the field of mathematical biology and its capacity to explain the patterns inherent in the motion and behaviour of single-celled organisms. In 2017, she established her lab at the University of Exeter, where her fascination with motile cilia and flagella has led her to explore the mechanistic origins of motility and basal cognition. We spoke with Kirsty over Zoom to learn more about her career as an interdisciplinary scientist, navigating the re-emerging interface between mathematics and biology, and the fundamental curiosity that drives her research.

Generative Repair and Graceful Decay: Interview with Caitlin DeSilvey

Professor Caitlin DeSilvey works as a cultural geographer and lecturer at the University of Exeter. Her work explores the ways in which built environments change through aging, including processes of repair, decay, and wasting. She collaborates with photographers, architects, designers, repairers, heritage practitioners, and with students in her teaching. DeSilvey fosters sensibilities of how to collaborate with the buildings and structures that ‘tell us what they need’, and with the living ecologies that contribute to the transformation of these decaying matters, ‘to allow them space in the future’ of these environments. Caitlin DeSilvey is the author of Curated Decay: Heritage Beyond Saving (University of Minnesota Press, 2017); a co-author of Heritage Futures: Comparative Approaches to Natural and Cultural Heritage Practices (UCL Press, 2020); and a co-editor of After Discourse: Things, Affects, Ethics (Routledge, 2020).

SAT082 Utility Of A MODY Probability Calculator As A Systemwide Surveillance Tool

Abstract Disclosure: D. Awad: None. S. Kunwar: None. C.V. Desouza: None. Introduction: Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is often misdiagnosed as type 1 or type 2 diabetes and is estimated to occur between 1-3% of all cases of diabetes. This leads to unnecessary treatments. There are no systemwide surveillance tools to identify these patients.Methods: This is a single center, cross sectional probable prevalence study of MODY in University of Nebraska medical center (UNMC). The medical records for all outpatients seen at UNMC within the past 5 years with the diagnosis of type 2 DM were reviewed. We included those with a diagnosis of type 2 DM who were <35 years old at the time of diagnosis, had A1C of < 7.6% and had a body mass index (BMI) < 30. We identified a total of 129 patients. 61 were excluded as they did not meet criteria. On the 68 remaining patients, the risk of MODY was calculated using the MODY probability calculator, which was developed by Exeter university. The calculator has the following variables: Age at diagnosis, current age, A1C, BMI, current diabetes treatment, time to insulin treatment, family history of diabetes, ethnicity, other associated features like renal cysts, deafness, lipodystrophy or other syndromic features. Results: Of the 68 included patients, 48% were females and 52% were males. Mean A1C was 6.3%, mean age at diagnosis was 28, mean BMI was 27. Thirty-four had at least one parent with diabetes. 54 were on diabetes treatment (17 on insulin and 37 on oral hypoglycemic agents). On the MODY calculator, 10 patients had a probability score of 75.5%, 3 had a score of 62.4%, 2 had a score of 58%, 3 had a score of 49%, and 3 had a score of 45.5%. The rest had a low probability score. The primary care physicians were informed of these results. The next step is to see how many of the primary care physicians utilize this information to screen patients. Conclusion: The MODY probability calculator is a good systemwide surveillance tool to identify patients with possible MODY and thereby inform providers taking care of those patients, which may result in management changes. Presentation: Saturday, June 17, 2023

Interview: Maggie Shepherd

Maggie Shepherd | Associate Director for Nursing Research; Consultant Nurse, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; and Honorary Clinical Professor of Monogenic Diabetes, University of Exeter, UK

Students bridging the diversity gap in dermatology—A mixed methods study of medical education

AbstractBackgroundAfter noticing a lack of diversity in pictures for skin conditions and dermatology teaching, seven medical students applied for funding from the University of Exeter to design a project with the aim of expanding their dermatology knowledge through developing diverse teaching resources and assessing knowledge using innovative evaluation methods. Students then tested their project by raising awareness about common skin conditions and their presentation on different skin colours to the public in Exeter.ObjectivesThis paper aims to reflect on and evaluate the experience of medical students in developing and implementing this project, with a focus on the significant positive impact it had on their dermatological knowledge and practical ability to assess skin conditions on diverse skin tones.MethodsEach team member was asked to complete a survey to self‐assess critical skills before and after participating in the project and write a post‐event reflective piece. The responses to the survey and reflective pieces were further analysed for specific themes.ResultsAll members perceived a significant improvement in three common themes: (i) bridging the knowledge gap, (ii) gaining confidence in designing innovative resources and (iii) enhancing communication skills. The survey and reflective pieces also identified areas of improvement in the project.ConclusionsBeyond expanding the dermatology knowledge of medical students, the project encouraged critical thinking and proactiveness as future clinicians. Medical students perceived improvements in key skills such as effective communication, public speaking and developing innovative teaching resources. Medical schools must create opportunities to enable such student‐led projects and embed inclusion and diversity in the medical curriculum so that future clinicians are well‐equipped to serve a rapidly diversifying population. This project has now received further funding and is being expanded to create a digital resource pack for all medical school educators and students.

Mapping trade, risk and extreme weather in the first globalization: The AveTransRisk database

This research note introduces the award-winning AveTransRisk database, the result of an extensive project capturing data on early modern maritime trade, specifically in the Mediterranean region. It focuses on the concept of General Average, where shipmasters voluntarily sacrificed cargo to save their vessels from peril. General Average procedures, including accident reports and damage calculations, provide valuable information for economic and maritime historians. The AveTransRisk database offers detailed insights into routes, cargo, weather conditions, ships, seafarers and transaction costs. It enables scholars to examine broader topics such as comparative maritime economies, the evolution of legal institutions and risk management. Fully relational and equipped with advanced search functions and mapping capabilities, the database facilitates comprehensive analysis. As it expands to include voyages from other European archives, its usability and resilience increase. Supported by the University of Exeter's digital infrastructure, the AveTransRisk database contributes to the sustainability of digital resources in historical research.

Potential pension fund losses should not deter high-income countries from bold climate action

Gregor Semieniuk (PhD, Economics, New School for Social Research) is Assistant Research Professor of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He researches the political economy of rapid, policy-induced structural change required for the transition to a low-carbon economy. Gregor has published widely on this topic, won grants to study it, and regularly speaks to policy and academic audiences, most recently testifying on stranded fossil-fuel assets before the US Senate Committee on the Budget. Previously, Gregor was on the faculty at SOAS University of London and University of Sussex, and he is an Honorary Professor at University College London. Lucas Chancel is an Associate Professor of Economics at Sciences Po and co-director of the World Inequality Lab at the Paris School of Economics, as well as a Visiting Associate Professor at Harvard. He is the author of dozens of research articles and book chapters on global inequality and environmental issues. He coordinates and edits the World Inequality Reports, which present the latest data on global economic and environmental inequality. His work has attracted media and policy attention worldwide and his book, “Unsustainable inequalities” (Harvard University Press, 2020), featured in the Financial Times and Nature’s best books of the year. Eulalie Saïsset is a specialist in environmental public policies and resulting inequalities. She is a graduate engineer from Mines Paris where she focused on the sociological and political dimensions of the environmental transition. She also holds a master’s degree in public policy and development economics from the Paris School of Economics, where her dissertation focused on the redistributive aspects of stranding fossil fuel assets. Eulalie previously worked at the World Bank in Washington DC as a transport consultant for the Africa region. She also carried out the analysis of European industrial decarbonization policies at the think-tank La Fabrique de l’Industrie. Philip B. Holden completed his DPhil in computational modeling of X-ray lasers in 1991, after which he held research positions in the University of York, Université Paris-Sud, and the Czech Institute of Physics. He then spent 10 years in the finance sector, designing and modeling approximately $2 billion of “big ticket” asset financings. He returned to academia via an MSc in Quaternary Science from the University of London (RHUL/UCL) and joined the Open University in 2007. Phil’s main focus now is the development of computationally efficient Earth system models, with particular focus on interdisciplinary applications and integrated assessment. Dr. Jean-Francois Mercure is Senior Climate Economist at the World Bank and Associate Professor in Climate Policy at the Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter, UK. His research focuses on developing theory, models, and methods for public policy appraisal in climate policy, and for assessing the effectiveness and socio-economic impacts of diverse types of low-carbon, energy, and other climate policies. He also develops methods to understand and assess climate-related financial risks. He co-leads two major programs at the World Bank on analytical tool development and capacity development for finance ministries. Neil R. Edwards is Professor of Earth System Science and University Lead for Sustainability Research at The Open University, UK. After studying mathematics at Cambridge and Leeds Universities, Neil became deeply involved with the early development of comprehensive Earth system models in the 1990s, playing a key role in developing the grid-enabled integrated Earth system (GENIE) framework and related models. Through GENIE, he contributed to the multi-millennial climate projections of the fourth and fifth IPCC assessment reports and has published extensively on climate dynamics, integrated assessment and climate impact modeling, and uncertainty quantification. He has published over 100 refereed papers.

Samuel Beckett and the Theatre of the Witness: Pain in Postwar Francophone Drama. By Hannah Simpson

Journal Article Samuel Beckett and the Theatre of the Witness: Pain in Postwar Francophone Drama. By Hannah Simpson Get access Samuel Beckett and the Theatre of the Witness: Pain in Postwar Francophone Drama. By Hannah Simpson. (Oxford English Monographs.) Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2022. 208 pp. David Houston Jones David Houston Jones University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom D.H.Jones@exeter.ac.uk Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar French Studies, knad118, https://doi.org/10.1093/fs/knad118 Published: 19 June 2023

OceanSODA-UNEXE: a multi-year gridded Amazon and Congo River outflow surface ocean carbonate system dataset

Abstract. Large rivers play an important role in transferring water and all of its constituents, including carbon in its various forms, from the land to the ocean, but the seasonal and inter-annual variations in these riverine flows remain unclear. Satellite Earth observation datasets and reanalysis products can now be used to observe synoptic-scale spatial and temporal variations in the carbonate system within large river outflows. Here, we present the University of Exeter (UNEXE) Satellite Oceanographic Datasets for Acidification (OceanSODA) dataset (OceanSODA-UNEXE) time series, a dataset of the full carbonate system in the surface water outflows of the Amazon (2010–2020) and Congo (2002–2016) rivers. Optimal empirical approaches were used to generate gridded total alkalinity (TA) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) fields in the outflow regions. These combinations were determined by equitably evaluating all combinations of algorithms and inputs against a reference matchup database of in situ observations. Gridded TA and DIC along with gridded temperature and salinity data enable the calculation of the full carbonate system in the surface ocean (which includes pH and the partial pressure of carbon dioxide, pCO2). The algorithm evaluation constitutes a Type-A uncertainty evaluation for TA and DIC, in which model, input and sampling uncertainties are considered. Total combined uncertainties for TA and DIC were propagated through the carbonate system calculation, allowing all variables to be provided with an associated uncertainty estimate. In the Amazon outflow, the total combined uncertainty for TA was 36 µmol kg−1 (weighted root-mean-squared difference, RMSD, of 35 µmol kg−1 and weighted bias of 8 µmol kg−1 for n = 82), whereas it was 44 µmol kg−1 for DIC (weighted RMSD of 44 µmol kg−1 and weighted bias of −6 µmol kg−1 for n = 70). The spatially averaged propagated combined uncertainties for the pCO2 and pH were 85 µatm and 0.08, respectively, where the pH uncertainty was relative to an average pH of 8.19. In the Congo outflow, the combined uncertainty for TA was identified as 29 µmol kg−1 (weighted RMSD of 28 µmol kg−1 and weighted bias of 6 µmol kg−1 for n = 102), whereas it was 40 µmol kg−1 for DIC (weighted RMSD of 37 µmol kg−1 and weighted bias of −16 µmol kg−1 for n = 77). The spatially averaged propagated combined uncertainties for pCO2 and pH were 74 µatm and 0.08, respectively, where the pH uncertainty was relative to an average pH of 8.21. The combined uncertainties in TA and DIC in the Amazon and Congo outflows are lower than the natural variability within their respective regions, allowing the time-varying regional variability to be evaluated. Potential uses of these data would be the assessment of the spatial and temporal flow of carbon from the Amazon and Congo rivers into the Atlantic and the assessment of the riverine-driven carbonate system variations experienced by tropical reefs within the outflow regions. The data presented in this work are available at https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.946888 (Sims et al., 2023).

From the Editor

[First part only] Dear Readers, As a journal with an international readership, this issue offers perspectives from many cultural contexts, including Australia, China, Iran, Korea, Thailand, the U.S.A. and Vietnam. As usual, the articles that we accept for publication must offer findings that can be applied to other educational contexts so we hope many of the articles will be useful for your own teaching or research. Look forward to our next special issue on Advances in Research on Language Teacher Cognition to be published as part of our August 2023 issue. Another special issue, Between Indisposition and Perseverance: Disrupted Language Teacher Identities in Times of Uncertainty is scheduled for May 2024. Maggie Sokolik, Founder and Publisher of TESL-EJ has announced the intention to create a series of books each featuring a collection of articles from TESL-EJ on specific topics. The first such volume will feature a collection of articles by the late Vance Stevens drawn from his work on the “On the Internet” series as well as other sources. Vance’s family has endorsed the project. Income from the volume will be split evenly between the TESOL Scholarship Fund for Vance Stevens and TESL-EJ, which now requires more funds to support our online platform and the registration of DOIs for our articles. Passages. With this volume, we welcome three new co-editors, Clara Vaz Bauler (Adelphi University, New York), Clayton Lehman (Freelance) and Burcu Gökgöz Kurt (Dumlupınar University, Turkey). All three scholars have distinguished themselves by the quality and timeliness of the articles which they had peer reviewed, which led us to ask them to come aboard as editors. We also thank William S. Pearson (University of Exeter) who has been forced to step down as a co-editor due to his commitments at the university. Thanks to recent reviewers. We thank the reviewers of all submissions that had reached a decision since our last issue – regardless of whether the paper was accepted, declined or revisions requested. We are grateful to the following scholars, some of whom have reviewed two or more papers during the current period: Abdul Syahid, Akihiro Saito, Ali Asiri, Amira Albagshi, Anh Ton-Nu, Anita Lie, Ann E. Roemer, Aránzazu García-Pinar, Arezou Maleki, Aurelio Vilbar, Aydan Irgatoğlu, Azran Azmee Kafia, Azran Azmee Kafia, Behrang Mohammad-Salehi, Betsy Gilliland, Chahrazed Mirza, Clayton Lehman, Colin William Campbell, Cuong Huy Pham, Daisy Casipit, Davey Young, David Imamyartha, Duy Van Vu, Eli Hinkel, Ella Alhudithi, Erhan Aslan, Erin Singer, Evi Puspitasari, Hamid Allami, Hamid Bahador, Hoang Nguyen, Holden Kenneth Alcazaren, Hülya Ipek, Intissar Yahia, Ismail Xodabande, Jardel Coutinho Dos Santos, John Chun Yin Wong, Khusnul Khotimah, Kuang Li, Lee Hughes, Lee Hughes, Manfred Man-Fat Wu, Mariana A. Ricklefs, Marta Halaczkiewicz, Marzieh Bagherkazemi, Matthew Nall, Mehmet Bardakçi, Miriam Faine, Mohammad Kazemian, Mohammad N. Karimi, Monica Gonzalez Smith, Nobuhiro Kamiya, Noraini Zulkepli, Onur Ergunay, Özgehan Uştuk, Peter Ilic, Ryan Spring, Semahat Aysu, Sibel Söğüt, Siti Tamah, Sophia Skoufaki, Ufuk Atas, Vijayakumar Chintalapalli, W.S. Pearson, Xirui Cai, and Yuri Yarin. Best, Thomas N. Robb, Ph.D. For the editorial team

Citizen Science to improve healthy and active living among adolescents in four European countries: a protocol of the cluster randomised controlled trial of the Science Engagement to Empower aDolescentS (SEEDS) project

IntroductionImproving healthy lifestyles of adolescents is challenging. Citizen Science is a way to engage them in the design and delivery of interventions, and may also increase their interest in science,...

The Richmonds, Palestine and the Catholic Press, 1967-80

After retiring from a successful diplomatic career in 1966, Sir John Richmond (1909-90) and his wife Diana (1914-97) settled in Durham, where he had accepted a lectureship in Modern Near East History at the University’s School of Oriental Studies. Following the Six-Day War in June 1967, the Richmonds became increasingly concerned at the suffering of Palestinians living in the occupied territories and the strong media bias prevalent at that time. They were instrumental in founding the Council for the Advancement of Arab-British Understanding (CAABU) and over the next few years devoted themselves to campaigning on behalf of Palestinians. In addition to monitoring and criticising the secular newspapers, the Richmonds—who were both converts to Catholicism—took a close interest in the leading Catholic papers: The Tablet, The Catholic Herald and The Universe. They engaged in extensive correspondence with their editors—both on the newspaper pages and in private—as well as involving a wider circle of influential Catholic writers and clergy. This article, drawing heavily from the Richmond Papers held at Exeter University’s Special Collections, examines the motives and methods of the Richmonds’ campaign, and attempts to assess whether or not their efforts achieved their aim of changing attitudes.

Peroxisomes, lipids, and neurodegeneration

Peroxisomes, lipids, and neurodegeneration Prof. Michael Schrader at the University of Exeter looks to understand the role of peroxisomes in human health and disease. The proper functioning of eukaryotic cells depends on membrane-bound subcellular compartments (organelles). They create distinct and unique reaction chambers with an optimised environment to promote various metabolic reactions required to sustain life. These compartments are highly dynamic and can alter their position, number, enzymatic content, and morphology according to cellular needs or environmental changes. In addition, organelles interact, communicate, and cooperate in metabolic pathways and tasks distributed across different organelles. Prof. Schrader and his team in the Dept. of Biosciences at the University of Exeter are investigating how these processes are regulated, and what molecular components and mechanisms are involved, with a particular focus on peroxisomes.