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Many of us think of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) as a childhood condition – which is typically when it’s diagnosed. But a growing number of people are sharing their experiences of being diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood. Social media has even played a role in this, with reports of people going to see their doctor after first learning about symptoms on TikTok. In fact, around 2.5% of adults are thought to live with ADHD – including us. Yet despite this growing awareness, many adults continue to struggle to get a diagnosis. ADHD is a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder, in which the brain grows differently, lacking action from specific chemicals involved in pleasure and reward. This means ADHD brains often search for ways to stimulate these chemicals, which is why people can experience inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Common traits of ADHD include: Not following through on longer tasks (or not starting them) Getting distracted by other tasks or thoughts Seeking out risk or activities that provide immediate reward Restlessness (either outwardly or internally) Interrupting other people (without wanting to) Symptoms are similar for both adults and children, although elements of them differ or change as we age. For example, inattention is the most persistent symptom in adults. ADHD can be debilitating and is associated with higher likelihood of lower quality of life, substance use issues, unemployment, accidental injuries, suicide and premature death. In addition, ADHD can cost adults around £18,000 per year because of things like medical care or paying for social support. It’s also commonly associated with a wide range of co-existing conditions in adults. For example, depression is almost three times more prevalent in adults with ADHD. And nearly half of all adults with ADHD also have bipolar spectrum disorder. Around 70% of adults with ADHD also experience emotional dysregulation, which can make it more difficult to control emotional responses. It’s also thought that almost all adults with ADHD have rejection sensitive dysphoria, a condition where perceived rejection or criticism can cause extreme emotional sensitivity or pain. On top of this, adults with ADHD may have poor working memory – such as being unable to remember a simple shopping list – and “time blindness” (the inability to perceive time). Some may also have oppositional defiant disorder, which means they often react poorly to perceived orders or rules. While none of these co-existing conditions are used to diagnose ADHD, they can make ADHD feel all the more difficult to live with. Being diagnosed Getting an ADHD diagnosis as an adult in the UK is notoriously difficult – with reports of some people waiting up to five years. Waiting for a diagnosis is common for adults with ADHD. Roman Kosolapov/ Shutterstock This is because you can only be diagnosed by a specialist psychiatrist. But even with a referral to a specialist, a person has to show clear evidence of almost all ADHD traits, having had these traits since childhood, and that they’re having a serious affect on their life – such as causing issues with work, education, or maintaining relationships. For us, our experiences of being diagnosed with ADHD aren’t all that different from what other adults have gone through. Like many people I (Alex) was only diagnosed with ADHD “by accident” after being referred to an NHS psychiatrist to get help with (what I now know to be) alcohol self-medication. Because of my ADHD, my brain demands quite extreme inputs most of the time. Ironically, I’ve published scientific papers on ADHD and – probably due to a classic ADHD lack of self-awareness – it didn’t cross my mind that I could have it. The “label” has since helped me move away from feeling broken toward an understanding of my behaviour. My main challenges remain prioritising tasks based on importance (instead of excitement) and quite extreme anti-authority behaviour (sometimes called oppositional defiance). I am also a terrible spectator, struggling to attend conference talks or sit still at the theatre – it can feel like physical pain. On the other hand, I (James) was diagnosed pretty quickly because I used a private clinic – though there was still a long wait for medication. Yet I’d known for five years before this that I probably had ADHD, but coped with it well until the pandemic. The added pressure of isolation and increased workload impacted my mental health, so I sought a diagnosis. Now diagnosed and medicated, life is getting easier to cope with – although there are still many challenges every day. I frequently get anxiety about the silliest things, like talking to a friend, but appearing on television is fine. On a daily basis I forget many simple things, such as where I left my keys, or that I am running a bath. I struggle immensely with controlling my emotions and with rejection especially. For example, when no one responded to a joke I made about my ADHD on a senior management messaging group I was tempted to quit my job. I am utterly unable to pay full attention in meetings or seminars and cannot control my impulse purchasing. While there’s a growing recognition of ADHD in adults, many people still live with it undiagnosed for any number of reasons – sometimes even because they’re unaware that what they experience is actually different from other people. Understanding the condition in adults, taking it more seriously as a disorder, raising awareness of it, and investing in services to improve diagnosis times are key. Diagnosis opens the door to treatment, which can have a marked impact on living with the disorder – such as improving self-esteem, productivity and quality of life. This article was co-written by Dr James Brown (Aston University) and Dr Alex Connor (University of Birmingham)
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Aston University cybersecurity experts hold key to vaccine passport rollout
Vaccine passports are certificates to establish proof of vaccination linked to the identity of the holder Renowned expert, Koji Fusa, visiting professor at the Cyber Security Innovation Research Centre (CSI), on the project to develop a global database for citizens to use in real-time. The CSI Centre at Aston University say creating a clear framework of rules for digital identities is achievable Leading cybersecurity industry expert, Koji Fusa, has made progress towards developing a framework for the world’s citizens to store their digital identities and access them in real-time. Koji is a Visiting Professor at the Cyber Security Innovation Research Centre (CSI) at Aston University. The idea would see a platform that has the capability to distribute over 200 individual keys to each of the world’s eight billion people. Each key could be assigned to personal information such as vaccine passports. It will work by vaccine administrators sending the vaccination details of each individual to a dedicated server. That server will issue a QR code which will be passed to the vaccinated person as the digital key for access. The passport holder will keep the QR code which enables access to the server to check their own record at any time. The framework would segment private data in a separate database, which can only be accessed with the individual key along with fingerprint, face and voice recognition technology, making it extremely hard for cyber attackers and scammers to hack. Koji Fusa, a visiting professor at the CSI Centre, said: “The current EU Green Pass initiative and World Health Organisation's initiative have struggled to find the solution for private data protection and counterfeit prevention. This proposed system would solve these two challenges. We have a solution that is secure, something that others have failed to achieve so far. “By having a cloud security server which gives unique reference numbers to all devices, technology issues pointed out by The Royal Society* have been solved. “This will be a huge step forwards for digital identification globally. Not only for vaccine passports, but for people’s personal information too. The framework would make everyday life more secure and simpler. Professor Vladlena Benson, an industry-recognised expert in cybersecurity risk management and director of CSI Centre at Aston Business School, said: “I am delighted to be working on this project with Koji Fusa. With his experience, I’m confident this could become the first such system where the authenticity of the vaccine certification instantly can be checked globally, something that can’t be done currently. "This work is aligned to the trusted identities framework proposed by the UK Government and addresses the issues of data sovereignty and individual information privacy."
Free bioenergy tool launching at Aston University to accelerate bioenergy production in Global South
• Aston University team of bioenergy researchers set to launch free tool to calculate energy potential • The launch event on 1 July will allow participants to use the tool for themselves and is focused on bioenergy development in the Global South • The tool can calculate bioenergy output from waste materials including straw, nutshells and manure A simple tool which allows users to easily calculate how much bioenergy they can produce from biomass is being launched this week by researchers from the Energy and Biproducts Research Institute (EBRI) at Aston University. The easy-to-use tool, called the Bioenergy Mass-Energy Balance Model, allows the user to experiment virtually with different biomass materials in several industrial processes including cement production, tea production and food processing to understand the potential implementation. Developed with the focus on bioenergy development in the Global South, users can simply and easily calculate how much heat or electricity they can produce from the biomass. The EBRI team based at Aston University who developed the tool will be launching the model and summarising their methodologies at an online event on Thursday 1 July. Dr Katie Chong, lecturer in chemical engineering, who led the development team said they were looking forward to the launch. “This tool will be available to everyone for free and has been built in Excel to make it accessible for all. We wanted to keep it as simple as possible and we really think it will make a difference, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa,” she said. Mirjam Röder, associate professorial research fellow at EBRI, added: “The launch event will be a chance for us to introduce the Mass-Energy Balance Model, summarise the methodologies and give participants the opportunity to use the model and generate their own results in our guided walk-through during the workshop.” The tool was developed as part of a larger two-year research programme by the team at Aston University who are a core member of the consortium implementing the Bioenergy for Sustainable local energy services and Energy Access in Africa (BSEAA). Aston University partnered with NIRAS-LTS, E4Tech and AIGUASOL. The project was funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) as part of the Transforming Energy Access programme. To sign up for the free event which runs from 9.30am until 11.30am on Thursday 1 July, visit this link. For more details about the world-leading research taking place at EBRI, click here.
Aston University – inspiring more women into engineering careers
• Aston University is celebrating International Women in Engineering Day • College of Engineering and Physical Sciences photography campaign of females as #EngineeringHeroes • Campaign aims to encourage girls into engineering careers A team of female engineering heroes from Aston University’s College of Engineering and Physical Sciences has banded together to encourage girls into STEM careers. As part of International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), the world’s largest initiative to celebrate the achievements of women in engineering, Aston University’s very own team of engineers have shown themselves to be the very best STEM superheroes. Aston University Mechanical Engineering Student and STEM Ambassador Olamide Olabode Dressed in capes and taking selfies for the event on Wednesday 23 June, female ambassadors from the College, in collaboration with the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Institute of Technology, have also put together video content to show off their engineering skills and become ‘heroes’ for girls wanting to do the same. Also launching on the day will be a competition for participating schools linked to Aston University. Girls are being challenged to come up with their own superhero gadget / gizmo idea. Professor Sarah Hainsworth OBE FREng, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Executive Dean of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at Aston University, said they were proud to be a part of INWED2021. “It is so important to us to encourage more girls into STEM subjects. Our hope is that through our teaching, and our partnership with the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Institute of Technology with its focus on technical skills for advanced manufacturing and giving students a clear route to technical employment, many will follow in the footsteps of our incredible team and be the STEM leaders of the future. “At Aston University, we work on sustainability for the environment, bioengineering, robotics, machine learning, sensors, communications, artificial intelligence, technologies for future vehicles and the issues that shape our future. On International Women in Engineering Day (INWED 2021), our College of Engineering and Physical Sciences celebrates the amazing contribution of our women colleagues who represent the cutting edge of engineering who are making vital contributions to our health and wellbeing, our society and our planet,” she added. Katy Lewis, marketing manager, said schools invited to take part were from the Aspire to Aston progressive programme, which works with 10 schools in and around Birmingham from areas of high deprivation. “At each of these schools there are up to 40 pupils per year group who have the academic ability to aim for university but lack the knowledge and confidence to do so and are selected for the programme. Our aim is to raise aspirations and normalise the idea of going into higher education, which is why us doing challenges like this one is so vitally important, so we can’t wait to help find the STEM female stars of the future,” she said. Currently the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences has 25% female academic staff (the UK STEM staff benchmark being 17 – 19%). The amount of female students studying the engineering subjects at Aston University has also grown over the past five years from 22% - 27%, above the UK STEM benchmark of 17% – 19%. To find out more about engineering at Aston University, visit ww.aston.ac.uk/eps For more details about the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Institute of Technology, visit this link: http://gbsiot.ac.uk/
New research published in BMJ Open shows that community pharmacy could play a ‘key clinical role’ in the future role of COVID-19 vaccination programmes, according to a study led by Aston University in Birmingham, UK, in collaboration with UK and international researchers. The team found that community pharmacists, as a ‘skilled clinical workforce’, could positively contribute, supporting the community in which they serve - by playing a critical role in ongoing COVID-19 vaccination campaigns. The researchers working on the PERISCOPE study found that community pharmacy is uniquely placed to support individuals, because it is seen by the public as a credible, trustworthy service, which could be key to any future clinical role it might play, especially where addressing vaccine hesitancy in ‘seldom heard’ communities. They are therefore calling on decision-makers to endorse and provide their support for a public health role for community pharmacy. Across the UK, community pharmacy is a critical part of primary care. According to the Kings Fund, as of the end of March 2019, there were more than 11,500 community pharmacies in England alone. It is viewed as one of the four pillars of the primary care system, along with general practice, optical services and dentistry. It has also, in areas of the UK, helped to deliver COVID-19 vaccinations. The study included partners from the Universities of Sheffield, Oxford, Hull and Bradford in the UK, as well as internationally, the University of British Columbia and University of Tasmania. The group reviewed more than a hundred documents including peer reviewed articles, blogs and websites on the role of community pharmacy during COVID-19 and other previous pandemics. Their findings were discussed with more than 30 health professionals and members of the public, to ensure that the findings made sense in the real world. Health professionals included pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, dispensers, counter assistants, and GPs, together with members of the public from a range of diverse ethnic backgrounds. Several recommendations were made by the researchers from the findings of the study. Most significantly the group found it was imperative that policy and practice should focus on the clinical role of community pharmacy. Dr Ian Maidment, reader in clinical pharmacy at Aston University and former community pharmacist leading PERSICOPE, said: “We need to use community pharmacy to a much greater extent for COVID-19 vaccination, particularly for boosters against new variants such as the Delta (Indian) variant. The current model (for example, the large hubs) may not be sustainable in the longer term, particularly if annual COVID-19 vaccination is required. “Our work found some key ways to make this happen. The easy access and local convenience of high street pharmacies makes them an ideal location for vaccinating at-risk populations.” The study includes guidance for policy makers: • Have a clear role for community pharmacy in response to the public health agenda, with that role championed by decision-makers • Involve frontline community pharmacists in the development of policy and service specification in relation to vaccination • Provide prompt, clear, consistent guidelines with adequate detail and enough flexibility to allow community pharmacies to adapt the guidelines to meet the needs of their local population • Provide adequate funding and reimbursement for the delivery and necessary adaptations of any new services community pharmacies are asked to deliver • Provide pharmacy teams with adequate systems to deliver this new role and then trust them to deliver. Hadar Zaman, head of pharmacy and medical sciences at University of Bradford and a community pharmacist, said: “Our research has highlighted the important role community pharmacy has played in overcoming vaccine hesitancy, particularly in ethnic minority communities who have been disproportionately affected by COVID and subsequent mortality. “What comes out very strongly, especially in areas of high social deprivation, is that community pharmacists have worked very closely with their local communities addressing concerns around vaccine safety. “It is through these strongly rooted relationships in local communities that we will ensure vaccine uptake rates in ethnic minority and the wider population can be further improved. Therefore, community pharmacy needs to be seen as an essential delivery partner if the Government is to achieve its national vaccination coverage in the short and long term”. PERISCOPE searched for the best evidence across the world and the team included international collaborators. The findings therefore have international relevance. Maura MacPhee, professor of nursing, University of British Columbia and member of the research team, said: “Our review findings and recommendations for decision-makers, community pharmacists and pharmacy users are adaptable and relevant internationally, including my country, Canada, where community pharmacy has a major role to play in COVID-19 vaccination programmes.” Juanita Breen, also a member of the PERISCOPE team and associate professor of dementia studies at Wicking Dementia Centre, School of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, added: "This study demonstrates how pharmacists can contribute towards this important public health initiative and enhance the uptake of the vaccine. “It provides important learnings for other countries on how best to utilise the skills of our most accessible health professional - the community pharmacist." Professor Claire Anderson, chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s English Board said: “This research clearly demonstrates the vital role community pharmacy has played during the pandemic, providing essential advice to communities and tackling health inequalities in areas of high social deprivation. “Policy makers and commissioners need to take forward the recommendations of this research and ensure the strengths of the community pharmacy network are maximised for the benefits of patients.” Alastair Buxton, director of NHS Services at the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, said: “This research provides a timely examination of the role community pharmacy teams have played in supporting their communities to fight back against COVID-19. “By keeping their doors open throughout, pharmacies have maintained day-to-day activities, and managed increased demand for many services - including advice on the management of minor illness. They have also substantially increased the number of flu vaccinations administered and played a key part in the COVID-19 vaccination programme. “These findings will help guide policy in the later stages of the pandemic and guide practice in any future pandemics.” Tony Kelly, a diabetes ambassador, Diabetes Strategic Patient Partner - NHS Birmingham and Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group and member of PERISCOPE, said: "Community pharmacists are ideally placed at the forefront of the vaccination agenda as they are the nucleus of ethnically diverse communities and are often the first point of contact for most people." PERISCOPE was jointly funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).
UK inflation rate jumps to 2.1%: University of Warwick experts comment
The Office of National Statistics reports that the inflation rate in the UK has risen to 2.1%, passing the Bank of England target of 2%. Professor Abhinay Muthoo of the University of Warwick Department of Economics and Professor Nigel Driffield of Warwick Business School comment here on what factors could have caused this jump. Professor Abhinay Muthoo of the Department of Economics at the University of Warwick said: "Figures released by the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) show UK inflation has jumped to 2.1% in the year to May. This means inflation is now above the Bank of England target of 2%. There is concern amongst some economists that inflation will rise further, and more importantly, that these higher levels of inflation are permanent. Hence, for example a call by some that the Bank of England should quickly raise interest rates. "I believe this higher than target inflation is very likely to be temporary. This current increase is driven by a few factors. One being a sudden and sharp increase in consumer spending as consumers are rushing to spend their savings from the past year of lockdown, and supply cannot, at the moment, keep up with that strong demand. I expect inflation to return to under Bank of England’s 2% target by around early next year." Professor Nigel Driffield of Warwick Business School said: “Supply of various goods and services is or has been constrained by Covid, and while many people have suffered financially because of Covid there is also a high level of pent up demand. This pertains not only to goods and services made here, but also imported. So for a while we are going to see pressure on inflation as the economy opens up.”
A leading London based architectural metalwork company, specialising in the design, fabrication and installation of bespoke metal products has entered into a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with Aston University, with the aim of developing antimicrobial coatings as a way to reduce infection in high risk environments. The Aston University research team will work with John Desmond Limited to develop high end metallic products that can be used where there is a high risk of the spread of bacteria. The antimicrobial coating will be developed for use in communal areas on products such as handrails, balustrades, push plates, door handles and faceplates, – all of which are common in high traffic areas such as hospitals, doctors surgeries, dental practices, schools and transportation hubs. A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) is a three-way partnership between a business, an academic partner and a graduate, called a KTP Associate. The UK-wide programme helps businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills. Aston University is the leading KTP provider within the Midlands. Microbiologists from Aston University’s College of Health and Life Sciences and materials scientists from its College of Engineering and Physical Science will establish the effectiveness of the antimicrobial coatings against a panel of bacteria under a range of conditions to further optimise the surface performance. The team will support John Desmond Ltd to establish an in-house microbiology laboratory to enable extensive testing of the developed coatings which will be carried out under lab conditions. Information from the lab tests will provide supporting evidence to prospective clients of the antimicrobial coating’s efficacy, expected lifespan and performance under varying conditions. Ian Desmond, owner of John Desmond Ltd, said: “We are very excited to be working with Aston University on this ground-breaking project to develop industrial coatings capable of reducing the spread of infection within public spaces. “We are confident that with the expert knowledge and experience that the Aston University team brings to this collaboration, we will succeed in formulating a potent cost-effective means to protect all of us from the threat of micro-organisms, and their impact on the environment in which we live and work.” The Aston University academic team consists of Dr Tony Worthington, associate professor in clinical microbiology and infectious disease; Professor Anthony Hilton, and executive dean of the College of Health and Life Sciences, and Dr Richard Martin from the Aston Institute of Materials Research in the College of Engineering and Physical Science. Professor Anthony Hilton said: “I’m delighted to be able to work on this exciting project with John Desmond Ltd, bringing together a multi-disciplinary team of scientists and engineers from across Aston University to work with an industry partner. “Knowledge exchange between academia and industry is a core element of Aston University’s strategy and it is exciting to be part of a team developing a product which has the potential to have real impact in preventing and controlling infection.” Dr Richard Martin, Aston Institute of Materials Research, said: “Over the past year, we have all become aware of just how important it is to limit the spread of microorganisms. This project is an exciting opportunity to develop new antimicrobial coatings that will significantly reduce the transmission of microorganisms from touchpoint surfaces such as door handles and handrails." The research team have found that claims for the effectiveness of the anti-microbial properties of products already on the market are not always backed with scientifically rigorous evidence. As a result of this, these products have not been able to penetrate markets such as healthcare, where generic claims are not sufficient for buyers to change suppliers. This KTP will establish a body of testing and efficacy data which will support the application and use of antimicrobial coatings in a range of settings where control of bacteria on environmental surfaces is critical for infection prevention and control. You can visit our website for more information about The College of Health and Life Sciences and The College of Engineering and Physical Science at Aston University.
Experts available to comment on G7 summit discussions
A range of experts from the University of Bristol are available to comment on the upcoming G7 summit taking place in Cornwall, UK. Professor Simon Tormey, Professor of Politics and Dean of Social Sciences and Law at the University of Bristol can speak about what G7 means for UK, reboot of US-China relations, climate change, and taxes on large corporations. Simon can also do interviews in French. Dr David Matthews, Reader in Virology in the School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Bristol and a member of the 'G2P-UK' National Virology Consortium, can discuss vaccines and global health security. Dr Kate Hendry, Associate Professor of Geochemistry at the University of Bristol can discuss ocean action including net zero oceanographic capability. Dr Tommaso Jucker, Research Fellow at the University of Bristol’s Cabot Institute for the Environment, can cover: supporting the transition to a low carbon economy – the role of forest conservation and reforestation in mitigating climate change, and action to halt and reverse biodiversity loss – ecosystem restoration. Dr Kristen Reyher, Reader in Veterinary Epidemiology and Population Health at the University of Bristol, is able to discuss antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial stewardship, antimicrobial use, and epidemiology. And Professor Awais Rashid, Professor of Cyber Security at the University of Bristol, is available for the following topics: Internet safety including protecting children and online fraud, darknet markets, privacy issues and data exploitation.
Weight stigma is a burden around the world – and has negative consequences everywhere
Rebecca Puhl, Professor of Human Development and Family Sciences and Deputy Director, UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, University of Connecticut was recently featured in The Conversation discussing this very important topic. An excerpt of her article is included with the full piece attached. It's an excellent article and well worth the read. Lazy. Unmotivated. No self-discipline. No willpower. These are just a few of the widespread stereotypes ingrained in American society about people who have a higher body weight or larger body size. Known as weight stigma, these attitudes result in many Americans being blamed, teased, bullied, mistreated and discriminated against. There is nowhere to hide from societal weight stigma. Decades of research confirm the presence of weight stigma in workplaces, schools, health care settings, public accommodations and the mass media, as well as in close interpersonal relationships with friends and families. It’s everywhere. I’m a psychologist and researcher at the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at the University of Connecticut. For 20 years my team has studied weight stigma. We’ve examined the origins and prevalence of weight stigma, its presence across different societal settings, the harm it causes for people’s health and strategies to tackle this problem. We conducted a recent international study that clearly shows that weight stigma is widespread, damaging and difficult to eradicate. This societal devaluation is a real and legitimate experience for people across different countries, languages and cultures. June 01 – The Conversation The issue of weight stigma and shaming is having a devastating impact on all facets of American society – and if you are a reporting looking to cover this topic or to learn more, then let us help. Dr. Rebecca Puhl is Deputy Director for the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity and Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences at UConn. She is responsible for identifying and coordinating research and policy efforts aimed at reducing weight bias. Dr. Puhl is available to speak with media regarding this important subject – simply click on her icon now to arrange an interview today.
Pothole project to pave way to smoother roads
• Joint research project will combine effort and expertise of pavement engineers, material scientists and computational fluid dynamics experts • Project to look at improving quality, longevity and accessibility of the highway network • Aston University will be working with University of Nottingham and seven other industrial partners including Highways England and the Road Surface Treatment Association A project which will be the driving force behind the redesigning of roads and changes in road repairs could revolutionise the way potholes are repaired, and road surfaces are designed. The three-year collaboration, ‘Prevention and Management of Road Surface Damage’, is being led by Mujib Rahman, professor in civil engineering, Department of Civil Engineering at Aston University and Dr Nick Thom of the University of Nottingham. The project will combine the efforts and expertise of pavement engineers, material scientists and computational fluid dynamic experts from both universities. The research aims to improve the design and construction of roads to minimise surface damage caused by water freezing and thawing, and general wear and tear from traffic. It also will be looking at how to change the science behind road repairs and maintenance. Research will be looking at two main elements: - Enable the design of roads to prevent surface damage from water and environmental factors - Introduce a change in the management of road repair and create a more durable repair of the road surface. . Professor Rahman said that smoother roads were critical to the nation as the 250,000 miles of paved road, valued at £750 billion, which is the network for deliveries of goods and services across the UK. But he added potholes and damage to roads had become ‘increasingly problematic’ for all users. “We want to drive out the pothole epidemic that has overcome the UK in recent years. Due to record breaking rainfall, extreme cold weather and tight financial constraints on highway authorities, this situation has become much worse. This has been combined with the lack of longevity in some repairs” he said. Dr Nick Thom, from the Nottingham Transportation Engineering Centre Research Group, said: “The expected deliverables are material specifications and maintenance guidelines designed – like a Covid vaccine – to stop this disease of the road in its tracks. In the main this will be about doing better with currently-used resources, but, given the expected slump in future oil production with consequent loss of bitumen supplies, the search will also be on for alternative viable high-performance products.” The project has been funded by Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) and will be running until March 2024. Supporting it will also be ADEPT, Highways England, Transport for London, Nottinghamshire County Council, Cooper Technology and the Road Surface Treatment Association (RSTA).
