In the Media

Emma Connolly (UCL Political Science) describes how her research involved analysing TikTok videos tagged under Andrew Tate and the most popular keywords associated with the controversial social media figure.

Professor Eloise Marais (UCL Geography) describes the pollution in Tehran, Iran, following a series of strikes on oil sites as "a very, very severe industrial accident where an entire refinery explodes".

“I don't believe in an Anglo-American special relationship. I think that's a journalistic construct.... Letting the US use Fairford is a small price to pay for the dependence that the UK has on the US,” said Professor Kathleen Burk (UCL History) on US–UK relations.

“The US started this operation by relying mostly on their longer range more sophisticated missiles... the US probably had about 10-20 thousands of these missiles,” said Dr Julie Norman (UCL Political Science) on the arsenal available to the US.

“We're doing this sort of experiment with the atmosphere when we don't really know what the result will be… it really is a mix of these pollutants that impact the atmosphere,” said Professor Eloise Marais (UCL Geography) on the impact of emissions from rocket launches.

"The conflict itself is still regional at the moment...but people who work or travel to the region often are obviously already being affected,” said Dr Julie Norman (UCL Political Science), discussing the impact of the US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

“By reducing methane emissions now, that can give us a little bit of breathing space so we can shift the whole of the global economy,” said Professor Mark Maslin (UCL Geography) on why tackling methane could reduce the rate of global warming.

"Within a hundred years of first contact with Europeans, 55 million out of those 60 million were dead," said Professor Mark Maslin (UCL Geography) on why he thinks the Columbian Exchange should be remembered as the 'Great Dying'.

“It is the UK electorate that chooses those with the power to trigger a referendum, whereas the electorate whose wishes are to be respected is that of Scotland,” said Professor Alan Renwick (UCL Constitution Unit), discussing how Scotland could trigger another referendum.

"Space debris is starting to undo the progress with the ozone hole," said Professor Eloise Marais (UCL Geography) on how space debris could potentially accelerate global warming.

"Parliament will feel constrained not to prejudice the police investigation, nor any subsequent trial if there is one. That is self-restraint by Parliament, observing the contempt and sub judice rules," said Dr Robert Hazell (UCL Constitution Unit) in light of Mandelson's arrest.

Professor Helene Burningham (UCL Geography) discusses the rapid erosion of parts of the eastern UK coastline, and how it is happening at a faster rate than originally predicted.

“There’s no limit on numbers, and it just looks so anachronistic… It’s clear that there ought to be more rigorous processes to check people on the way in,” said Professor Meg Russell (UCL Constitution Unit) commenting on the need to change the way Lords members are chosen.

“I think there does need to be greater clarity, and that probably needs to be expressed in a clearer set of rules,” said Professor Robert Hazell (UCL Political Science), commenting on whether royal roles should be governed by more transparent guidelines.

"King Charles has no discretion independently to exercise the prerogative of mercy: He can only do so on the advice of the government," said Professor Robert Hazell (UCL Political Science), commenting on whether King Charles could pardon his brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.