UCL in the media
Economics is doing just fine, thank you
Visiting Profess Paul Omerod (UCL Psychology & Language Sciences) writes that much of the success of behavioural economics is based upon incorporating insights from psychology. But economists have done this in their own way.
Read: City AM.Testing children gives a poor measure of ability
The Department for Education recently proposed introducing baseline tests when children enter primary school. In a letter to editor Professor Gemma Moss (UCL Institute of Education) comments that overwhelmingly evidence for testing primary children is unreliable.
Read: GuardianNew Ways of Looking at Adolescent Mental Health
Professor Essi Viding (UCL Psychology and Language Sciences) discusses mental health in adolescents explaining that antisocial personalities typically ignore the normal rules of social behavior. She notes that there are increases in diagnosis among young women, but these don't appear to be biological.
Listen: BBC Radio 4 'Storm and Stress'. (from 22 mins 40 secs)Should we legalise medical cannabis?
Professor Ley Sander (UCL Institute of Neurology) says that the evidence for cannabis or cannabinoid is very patchy. There is some evidence for the medicinal forms of cannabinoid but there is not really evidence for the psychoactive part.
Listen: BBC Two 'Newsnight'. (from 29 mins 27 secs)The eye in the sky that can spot illegal rubbish dumps from space
Ray Purdy co-founded Air and Space Evidence, an academic spin-off company originating from UCL Innovation and Enterprise which has become the first company in the world to offer a space monitoring service to detect illegal waste sites.
Read: Metro UK, More: The Conversation, Independent, Yahoo UK.Millennials on track to have worse health problems than their parents by middle age
Professor Michael Marmot (UCL Epidemiology & Public Health) comments on a report by the Health Foundation into the health of millennials and how this is affected by employment, relationships and housing.
Read: The Telegraph, More: Yahoo UKSome heal wounds faster and others fight infection, but which super-plasters are worth the money?
Dr Sarah Wilkes (UCL Mechanical Engineering) explains that silver in the plasters doesn't boost wound healing but it would be useful only for infection control.
Read: Daily MailDo dogs recognise their own breeds?
While dogs can't actively recognise its own breed, Professor Sophie Scott (UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience) argues that they have better social skills than humans and we underestimate them.
Read: MirrorPupils in meltdown, thinking tougher GCSEs and A-levels will rob them of degree place
Following a drop in UK 18-year-olds, especially boys, applying for university, Professor Becky Allen (UCL Institute of Education), says it will become a "buyers' market" with some universities offering incentives, from unconditional offers to iPads.
Read: Times (£)Why millennials are set for an unhealthy middle age
Professor Sir Michael Marmot (UCL Institute of Health Equity) comments on research by the Health Foundation think tank, which suggests millennials will become the first generation to suffer worse health than their parents, when they reach middle age.
Read: The Times online (£), Comments in print version. More: The Week, The Telegraph, Yahoo UK.