Research
People with disorders are increasingly becoming ‘experts by experience’, playing key roles in the research process surrounding neurological and psychological disorders. In Manchester, Karen Leneh Buckle, an autistic person, and student at the University, chose to investigate autistic inertia, an overlooked aspect of living with autism. Karen’s 2021 research paper in Frontiers in Psychology was the first to describe this difficulty with stopping, starting, and changing tasks and has opened the door to many areas of further investigation to better understand autistic inertia and effective support strategies. Kern’s supervisors have now created practical guidelines for autism researchers to consider, increasing involvement, collaboration and trust between academics and the autism community.
A £6.95 million Global Health Research Unit on Neurodevelopment and Autism for children in South Asia is currently active with the help of University of Manchester expertise. The project began in September 2022 and is expected to conclude in August 2027. The NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Neurodevelopment and Autism in South Asia Treatment and Evidence – known as NAMASTE – has been awarded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) using UK aid from the UK Government which supports global health research. NAMASTE builds on Manchester’s own autism programme and more than a decade of partnership with India, to implement a novel integrated detection-care pathway for young children with autism and their families in India, Sri Lanka and Nepal, using lay health workers.
Learning and students
Our integrated master’s student, Haady Brendan Hajar, has recently been accepted to the British Neuroscience Association (BNA) Scholars Programme for 2022. The BNA scholars programme strives to improve equity, diversity, and inclusion in neuroscience through supporting students from under-represented ethnic groups.
Each year we hold the Great Science Share for Schools (GSSfS) which engages school children with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2022, 25 primary schools across Greater Manchester worked to investigate air quality in their local area in the ‘Great Science Share Clean Air Challenge,’ thanks to a partnership between The University of Manchester and the Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of science. The GSSfS theme for 2023-2024 is ‘Sustainable Science,’ which encourages students to think about global sustainability issues and climate action.
Public engagement
Ardwick Climate Action in partnership with our University and Manchester City Council facilitated the closure of the A6 to raise awareness about air pollution. During the closure, we monitored pollution levels on the A6 and compared findings with data collected from days with average flows of traffic throughout the year. The event also hosted over 15 partners with activities on the day to provide education about climate issues.
A free exhibition at Manchester Central Library curated by University of Manchester Art Gallery and Museum Studies students invites people to consider how materials have shaped medicine and healthcare, from the 19th century to the present day. The exhibition demonstrates how scientific knowledge has advanced the instruments and equipment used within medicine to suit sterilisation and disinfection standards. The displays also illustrates how new materials help healthcare become more accessible and question the affect they have on our planet.
Operations
Policy@Manchester is our University’s policy engagement institute that connects researchers with policymakers and influencers, nurtures long-term policy engagement relationships and seeks to enhance stakeholder understanding of pressing policy challenges. One of the institutes online collections, Health Inequalities draws on research from across the University, and offers evidence-led insight and policy recommendations on the causes, effects, and solutions to heath inequalities.
In recognition of the significant challenges faced by students over rising costs, our University dedicates £9 million to provide student support. Registered students received a one-off cost-of-living payment, with full-time students receiving £170 and part-time students receiving £85, paid into their UK bank account. We also implement further assistance through cheaper food options, free microwave and hot water facilities, free showers, and free period products. Additionally, Library fines are removed, and free eBooks are provided to help students meet the costs of studying.