Materials chemistry: design and synthesis of luminescent and biologically active materials

The need to synthesise new materials is driven by the need for materials with specific properties. Those properties are determined by the final application. In this talk we will explore the design of materials which are used in Luminescent and Anti-microbial applications. From the materials perspective we will focus on inorganic–organic hybrid materials, metal phosphonates and metal oxides, and discuss how we can make such materials. We will consider how the choice of metal changes the luminescent response and how materials can be constructed by design at the atomic level. considering antimicrobial materials we will discuss how structure influences the release of active species and can result in materials which are therapeutic but not toxic.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Materials chemistry: Design, Synthesis and Functionality

The need to synthesise new materials is driven by the need for materials with specific functionality, which is in turn driven by the intended final application. In this talk we will explore the design of materials based on the application for which they are intended and the ways in which they can be synthesised and characterised. From the materials perspective we will focus on inorganic–organic hybrid materials, metal phosphonates and metal oxides, and discuss how we can make such materials which exhibit properties of luminescence and antimicrobial activity. Characterisation of materials using crystallography, photoluminescence and adsorption spectroscopies, and how the biological activity of materials is determined will be discussed.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Is the EU really run by unelected bureaucrats?

Much of the UK’s referendum debate has focused on the extent to which EU decision-making is democratic, with the European Commission a source of particular criticism from leave campaigners on the basis that it is unelected. Simon Hix writes that while there are legitimate problems with the EU’s system of democracy, there is little to justify the idea that the EU is run by unelected bureaucrats, and the procedures in place for appointing the Commission are now far more democratic than they were in the past

UK influence in Europe series: British MEPs lose most often in the European Parliament

How do British MEPs fare in the European Parliament? Using detailed voting records from 2004 until 2015, Simon Hix illustrates the percentage of times MEPs from different member states, European political groups, and national parties are on the ‘winning side’ in votes in the European Parliament. The figures indicate that British MEPs do particularly poorly in comparison to those from other member states. This is partly a reflection of the fact that a large number of MEPs from the UK do not sit in the most powerful political groups, while even those parties that do sit in important groups, such as Labour, tend to vote against their own allies’ positions more frequently than other MEPs

Atypical Thermonuclear Supernovae from Tidally Crushed White Dwarfs

Suggestive evidence has accumulated that intermediate mass black holes (IMBH) exist in some globular clusters. As stars diffuse in the cluster, some will inevitable wander sufficiently close to the hole that they suffer tidal disruption. An attractive feature of the IMBH hypothesis is its potential to disrupt not only solar-type stars but also compact white dwarf stars. Attention is given to the fate of white dwarfs that approach the hole close enough to be disrupted and compressed to such extent that explosive nuclear burning may be triggered. Precise modeling of the dynamics of the encounter coupled with a nuclear network allow for a realistic determination of the explosive energy release, and it is argued that ignition is a natural outcome for white dwarfs of all varieties passing well within the tidal radius. Although event rates are estimated to be significantly less than the rate of normal Type Ia supernovae, such encounters may be frequent enough in globular clusters harboring an IMBH to warrant a search for this new class of supernova.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures, ApJ, accepte

When MEPs vote, the UK’s delegation is increasingly marginalised

In recent blogs I have looked at policy outcomes, voting records and policy-makers’ connections to analyse whether the UK is ‘marginalised’ in the EU Council. But the Council is only half of the EU’s bicameral legislature. The other half is the European Parliament, which now has the power to amend and block EU laws in almost all policy areas. So, are UK Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) marginalised

What would a pro-European hard Brexit look like?

Like it or not, Britain is leaving the single market. But there is still plenty to play for, argues Simon Hix. With a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement, we could limit the economic damage. This probably means accepting some EU regulatory standards and devising a scheme to allow EU citizens to work in the UK (and vice versa) if they had certain qualifications or a job offer in a sector with skills shortages. The immediate priority, however, is to resolve the question of how much the UK should pay to the EU, both now and in the future

Is the UK marginalised in the EU?

How influential is the UK in negotiations over EU legislation? Simon Hix writes that while there is a perception among some actors within the UK that the country is marginalised during EU negotiations, the best available data on EU decision-making would suggest that this is not the case. Citing figures from the DEUII dataset on EU decision-making, he illustrates that the UK’s stated negotiating position is on average closer to the agreed outcome in EU legislative decisions than most other member states. Nevertheless, as these figures only run until 2008 and do not relate to more high profile negotiations such as those over the EU budget or EU treaties, more research is required to assess the true nature of the UK’s influence in Europe

The UK: close to the centre of European Council decision-making

Are UK civil servants at the centre of EU bargaining – at the “top table” – or are they on the periphery? Simon Hix is Harold Laski Professor of Political Science at the LSE and Senior Fellow on the ESRC’s UK in a Changing Europe programme