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Andy Stirling

Professor of Science & Technology Policy in the Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex
With a background in astronomy and 'science studies' and a masters in archaeology and social anthropology (Edinburgh 1984), my PhD is in 'science and technology policy' (Sussex 1995). Having worked earlier for Greenpeace (including as an international and national board-member), I’ve also been employed as a building labourer, laboratory technician, hospital porter and factory, farm and mental health care worker.

My 'transdisciplinary' research, teaching and policy advisory work at the Science Policy Research Unit at the University of Sussex focuses on issues of power, uncertainty, diversity and democracy across different areas of science, technology and innovation. A member of the Sussex Energy Group, I was formerly Research Director for SPRU (2006-13) and the Sussex Management School (2009-2012) and for fifteen years (2006-2021) co-directed the ESRC Centre at Sussex on Social Technological and Environmental Pathways to Sustainability (STEPS).

Formerly a member of the Research Council of the ESRC and of the Sociology sub-panel in the 2020 Research Excellence Framework, I have served as an advisor for the UK, for other national governments and for the European Commission on issues including energy policy, radioactive waste, nuclear power, toxic substances, GM foods, uncertainties, science advice, ethics of new technologies and science and society. I am presently an independent advisor to the official evaluation of the UK Government's Nuclear Innovation Programme.

Global Geopolitics Series

Military interests are pushing new nuclear power – and the UK government has finally admitted it

Jan 20, 2024 06:10 am UTC| Insights & Views

The UK government has announced the biggest expansion of the [nuclear] sector in 70 years. This follows years of extraordinarily expensive support. Why is this? Official assessments acknowledge nuclear performs poorly...

Economy

Oil Prices Dip Amid Tariff Concerns, Rising Inventories, and OPEC+ Output Worries

Oil prices slipped in early Asian trading Wednesday, pressured by renewed concerns over global economic growth and fuel demand due to U.S. tariff policies and rising crude inventories. Brent crude futures fell 17 cents, or...

U.S. Stock Futures Dip as Investors Monitor Trade Developments, Earnings, and Key Data

U.S. stock futures slipped Tuesday evening as investors digested signs of easing trade tensions, soft economic data, and awaited major corporate earnings. SP 500 futures fell 0.2% to 5,571.75, while Nasdaq 100 futures...

India Eyes Swift U.S. Trade Deal with Rare Forward MFN Clause

India is accelerating trade talks with the U.S., offering significant concessions to secure a fast-track deal ahead of President Donald Trumps proposed 26% reciprocal tariff deadline in July. According to Indian government...

Sweden’s Q1 2025 GDP Stalls, Missing Growth Forecasts

Swedens economy stagnated in the first quarter of 2025, with gross domestic product (GDP) showing no growth compared to the previous three months, according to preliminary data from the Statistics Office released Tuesday....

Australia's Wine Export Surge to China Loses Steam Amid Global Decline

Australias wine export boom to China is losing momentum, as global wine consumption falls and Chinese demand weakens. Following Beijings removal of tariffs on March 29, 2024, Australia exported just over A$1 billion ($640...

Politics

Trump Criticizes Fed Chair Powell, Claims Superior Knowledge on Interest Rates

U.S. President Donald Trump reignited his criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell during a rally in Warren, Michigan, on Tuesday. Trump, without naming Powell directly, suggested he knew more about interest rates...

Supreme Court Case on Trump Firings May Impact Fed Chair Powell’s Job Security

A Supreme Court ruling on President Donald Trumps removal of two federal labor board members could have major implications for the independence of the Federal Reserve and Chair Jerome Powells job security. Trump dismissed...

Iran Proposes Rome Talks with Europe Amid Renewed U.S. Nuclear Negotiations

Iran has proposed a meeting with Britain, France, and Germany (E3) in Rome this Friday to advance discussions on the 2015 nuclear deal, diplomats said Monday. The proposal follows renewed nuclear negotiations between...

Trump Appoints Ha Nguyen McNeill as Acting TSA Head Amid Union Dispute

Former White House official Ha Nguyen McNeill has been appointed as the acting head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the agency announced Monday. McNeill, who previously served as TSAs chief of staff...

Trump Plans Tariff Relief for U.S. Automakers Ahead of Michigan Rally

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to ease the impact of his automotive tariffs by preventing them from stacking with existing duties, such as those on steel and aluminum, according to a Wall Street Journal report....

Science

Kennedy Sets September Deadline to Uncover Autism Causes Amid Controversy

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a bold plan to identify the cause of autism by September 2025. Speaking at a cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump, Kennedy declared a global...

AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi Gets US Approval for Bladder Cancer Treatment

AstraZenecas drug Imfinzi (NASDAQ: AZN) has received U.S. approval to treat adult patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer, a significant advancement in cancer therapy. The approval allows Imfinzi to be used in...

Sanofi’s New Hemophilia Drug Qfitlia Gains FDA Approval with Breakthrough Bimonthly Dosing

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Qfitlia, a groundbreaking hemophilia treatment by French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi (NASDAQ: SNY). Designed for patients aged 12 and older with hemophilia A or B,...

FDA Vaccine Chief Peter Marks Resigns Amid Controversy Over Transparency

Peter Marks, the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) top vaccine official, has resigned after reportedly being forced out by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), according to The Wall Street Journal....

Museums have tons of data, and AI could make it more accessible − but standardizing and organizing it across fields won’t be easy

Ice cores in freezers, dinosaurs on display, fish in jars, birds in boxes, human remains and ancient artifacts from long gone civilizations that few people ever see museum collections are filled with all this and more....

Technology

Amazon Enters Satellite Internet Race with First Kuiper Deployment

Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) has officially entered the satellite broadband market with the successful launch of 27 operational satellites for Project Kuiper, its high-speed internet initiative aimed at rivaling SpaceXs Starlink....

Chinese AI App DeepSeek Resumes Downloads in South Korea After Privacy Update

Chinese artificial intelligence app DeepSeek has resumed availability in South Koreas app stores after a two-month suspension due to data protection concerns. Downloads were halted in February when South Koreas Personal...

Nvidia Shares Dip as Huawei Tests Rival AI Chip

Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) slipped in after-hours trading on Sunday, following reports that Chinas Huawei is testing a powerful artificial intelligence chip aimed at challenging Nvidias dominance. NVDA shares fell...

Huawei Challenges Nvidia with New Ascend 910D AI Chip Amid U.S. Export Curbs

Huawei Technologies is preparing to launch its most advanced artificial intelligence processor yet, the Ascend 910D, aiming to compete with Nvidias high-end chips, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Sample batches...

China Accelerates AI Self-Reliance Amid Nvidia H20 Chip Ban

The U.S. move to tighten export controls on Nvidias H20 chips is adding pressure to Chinas AI sector, but immediate disruption appears limited as domestic firms rapidly pivot to local alternatives. Analysts at Bernstein...