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Ian Williams

Professor of Applied Environmental Science, University of Southampton
Ian Williams is Associate Dean (Enterprise) at the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton. He is a multi award-winning academic who specialises in environmental pollution and resource management. Ian has published three books and over 200 peer-reviewed papers on waste and environmental issues, as well as over 100 commercial project reports.

He obtained his first degree in Chemistry from the University of Surrey in 1988 and a PhD in Public Attitudes to Air Pollution from Road Traffic from Middlesex University in 1995. He has been a lecturer at Middlesex University (1989-2000), the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan, 2000-2004) and the University of Southampton (UoS, 2005-present). He was the founder and Head of the Centre for Waste Management at the UCLan. He has appeared numerous times on broadcast media, including on BBC Radio 4’s Costing the Earth.

Thousands of satellites are due to burn up in the atmosphere every year – damaging the ozone layer and changing the climate

Mar 22, 2025 05:32 am UTC| Insights & Views Nature

The worlds first artificial satellite, the Soviet Unions Sputnik 1, was launched in October 1957. Just three months later, it fell out of orbit. As Sputnik hit the upper atmosphere at incredible speed, the friction would...

What you should (and shouldn't) do with all of your old phone chargers and other e-waste

Oct 09, 2023 03:48 am UTC| Life

The statistics surrounding mobile phones are staggering. There are more than 7 billion mobile phone users worldwide, nearly 5 billion of whom use a smartphone. These devices are a fundamental part of our lives. But, as...

Economy

Rising Jet Fuel Costs from Iran Conflict Push Airfare Higher Across Europe

Disruptions to global oil supplies linked to the Iran conflict are driving a sharp increase in jet fuel prices, adding significant costs to air travel across Europe. According to analysis from campaign group Transport ...

UK Wage Growth Slows to 3.6% as Inflation Pressures Complicate Bank of England Outlook

British wage growth showed signs of cooling, though not as sharply as analysts had anticipated, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Regular pay, which excludes bonuses, rose by 3.6%...

US-Iran Peace Talks Fuel Market Optimism Amid Ongoing Tensions

The United States has expressed renewed confidence that peace talks with Iran could resume soon in Pakistan, raising hopes of easing geopolitical tensions that have disrupted global energy markets. A senior Iranian...

Asian Currencies Stay Range-Bound as Dollar Holds Steady Ahead of Fed Nominee Hearing

Asian currencies traded within a narrow range on Tuesday as geopolitical uncertainty surrounding potential U.S.-Iran peace talks kept investors cautious. With a temporary ceasefire set to expire later this week, traders...

Gold Prices Slip Amid Iran Tensions and Fed Chair Uncertainty

Gold prices edged lower during Asian trading on Tuesday as investors weighed geopolitical risks and monetary policy uncertainty. The precious metal remains range-bound, with traders closely monitoring developments...

Politics

Pakistan Halts $1.5 Billion Sudan Arms Deal After Saudi Arabia Withdraws Support

Pakistan has reportedly paused a $1.5 billion defense deal to supply weapons and fighter jets to Sudan after Saudi Arabia withdrew financial backing and urged Islamabad to abandon the agreement. According to Pakistani...

UN Secretary-General Race 2027: Key Candidates Competing to Replace Antonio Guterres

The race to select the next United Nations Secretary-General is gaining momentum as global leaders position themselves for the top diplomatic role. The 10th UN chief will assume office on January 1, 2027, for a five-year...

Philippines Says U.S. Access to EDCA Bases Limited by Land Issues and Delays

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro has revealed that the use of military bases accessible to the United States under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) remains limited, citing unresolved land...

Trump Maintains Iran Naval Blockade as Ceasefire Deadline Nears

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the naval blockade against Iran will remain in force until a formal agreement is reached with Tehran, adding uncertainty ahead of a looming ceasefire deadline later this week. In...

Gaza Violence Continues Despite Ceasefire as Israeli Strikes and Clashes Escalate

Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least five Palestinians on Monday, according to Palestinian health officials, highlighting ongoing violence despite a fragile ceasefire agreement. The incidents occurred in...

Science

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

NASA Artemis II: First Crewed Moon Mission Since Apollo Takes Four Astronauts on 10-Day Lunar Journey

NASAs Artemis II mission launched Wednesday, marking humanitys return to crewed lunar exploration for the first time since the Apollo era. Carrying four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft, this historic 10-day mission...

NASA's Artemis II Mission: First Crewed Lunar Journey Since Apollo

NASA's Artemis II Crew Arrives in Florida for Historic Moon Mission

The four astronauts chosen for NASAs Artemis II mission have touched down at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the beginning of final launch preparations for the first crewed lunar journey in over 50 years. NASA...

SpaceX Pivots Toward Moon City as Musk Reframes Long-Term Space Vision

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed a significant shift in the companys near-term space exploration strategy, announcing that SpaceX is now prioritizing the development of a self-growing city on the Moon rather than focusing...

Technology

SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell Earns $85.8M as IPO Buzz Grows

SpaceX President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell earned $85.8 million in total compensation last year, according to details from the companys S-1 filing, positioning her among the highest-paid executives in the...

John Ternus Signals Apple’s Future with Product-First AI Strategy

Apples incoming CEO John Ternus is already shaping expectations for the companys future, and his stance on artificial intelligence reveals a clear direction. Unlike competitors such as Microsoft and Google, which are...

Jeff Bezos Eyes $10 Billion Funding Round for AI Venture Project Prometheus

Jeff Bezos is reportedly closing in on a massive fundraising deal for his artificial intelligence startup, signaling a major move in the rapidly expanding AI industry. According to a Financial Times report citing sources...

Apple Stock Dips as Tim Cook Steps Down, John Ternus Named Next CEO

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) shares slipped more than 1% in after-hours trading Monday following a surprising leadership transition announcement. The tech giant revealed that longtime CEO Tim Cook will move into the role of...

Amazon Expands AI Bet with Up to $25 Billion Investment in Anthropic

Amazon is significantly deepening its artificial intelligence strategy by announcing a new investment of $5 billion in AI firm Anthropic, with the potential to reach up to $25 billion based on performance milestones. This...