Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Blog Page 458

Oxford City Council starts work on Energy Superhub

Christina Kirk
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Oxford City Council starts work on Energy Superhub

As part of their zero carbon initiative, Oxford City Council has taken its first steps in creating the world’s first Energy Superhub, known as Energy Superhub Oxford (ESO). This Superhub includes the replacement of council-owned automobiles with electric vehicles (EV), a ‘Try before you buy’ scheme for Hackney Carriage drivers in Oxford, the installation of a new, efficient electric charging network, and reductive carbon emission solutions for home heating. 

The Oxford City Council is undertaking work on ESO in collaboration with Pivot Power, a battery storage company specialising in providing the electrical capacity for large-scale EV charging infrastructure. This collaboration with Pivot Power also includes Habitat Energy, Invinity Energy Systems, Kensa Contracting, and the University of Oxford. 

Six council-owned automobiles have been replaced by EVs to date. According to the council, this was met with favourable reactions from the first drivers, and council workers are eagerly anticipating the delivery of 27 remaining EVs within the next three to four months. The council aims to electrify 25 percent of its 330 vehicles by 2023. 

Oxford City Council has effectively coordinated its ‘Try before you buy’ scheme with Electric Blue’s Hackney Taxi Trade in hopes that it will help accelerate the switch to zero emission capable vehicles. Drivers can opt in to test drive one of two EV models – either the all-electric Nissan Dynamo or an LEVC (London Electric Vehicle Company) – for a two or four week period. The City Council has pledged to waive select fees for the first drivers to make the switch.

Pivot Power is installing a charging network at Blackberry Lane, South Oxford. The network will connect to public charging facilities at Redbridge Park & Ride with National Grid’s high voltage transmission network. Plans for the public Park & Ride Superhub include 20 charging points, ranging from rapid (50kW+) to ultra-rapid (150kW+), which can charge cars in a period of 15-20 minutes, and 30 fast charging points (<7kW), which charge cars over a period of a few hours. 

ESO is aiming to reduce carbon emissions in homes by supporting the installation of low carbon heating solutions that combine ‘shoebox’ ground source pumps with smart controls. This solution will be used in addition to time of use tariffs, which will work to optimise heat production by cutting costs and carbon usage.

Dr David Howey is leading Oxford University’s Department of Engineering Science’s involvement in the project. His team is involved in various industrial projects, with a primary focus on maximizing industrial efficiency at minimal costs. They place a particular focus on predicting the degradation and lifetime of lithium-ion batteries, which are important to understand for warranties and maintenance scheduling.  

“Our focus within the project … is on understanding how batteries perform in real world applications like this, so we’re hoping to be able to compare data from the project against our models once the batteries go live,” Dr Howey said.

Councillor Tom Hayes, a cabinet member for the Zero Carbon Oxford initiative said: “Energy Superhub Oxford gives Oxford strengths that no other city currently has: the world’s most powerful charging network and the world’s largest ever hybrid battery, and as a result we can accelerate our electric vehicle charging infrastructure for businesses and residents … Our approach as a council is always one of healing our planet and healing our future, and only in ways which are rooted in justice and fairness.”

Councillor Hayes is hopeful that Oxford’s leadership in addressing the climate emergency will set a precedent for other UK cities.

“Oxford is a great place to try out new technologies and transformations, not only because of the large cluster of knowledge we have, but because our city is a great size for pulling on levers quickly seeing the impacts, learning from what we see, then making the right changes. My hope is that Oxford won’t just benefit from this transformation, but in time other UK cities will, too, because they use our learning,” Councillor Hayes said.

A sister project called Local Energy Oxfordshire (LEO), funded under the same scheme as ESO, is also underway in Oxfordshire. LEO aims to trial a smart grid in order to help Oxford effectively transition to smarter electricity systems and to make these benefits accessible to homes, businesses and the wider community.

Image credit to N Chadwick/ Geograph

Oxford’s ‘JoyMeter’ app captures impact of lockdown on energy consumption

David Tritsch
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Oxford’s ‘JoyMeter’ app captures impact of lockdown on energy consumption

On April 22nd, internationally recognised as World Earth Day, a team of researchers from the University of Oxford have released a survey app dedicated to gathering data on UK households’ energy usage during the COVID-19 crisis. 

The ‘JoyMeter’ app, developed by the University’s Environmental Change Institute, asks participants to record 25 activities over the course of one day, such as drinking a cup of tea or using the shower.

To encourage participation, one participant will receive a year’s free electricity, to a maximum of £1000. The app is available for iOS and Android devices.

The research project, backed by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, has been designed to gather information on household energy consumption.

However, in response to the coronavirus pandemic, it now aims to capture the impact of social distancing by comparing new data to records of the past three years.

Participants will be sent an electricity recorder via post which can be clipped under any electric meter. They can then record their activities for one day, before returning the parcel in a free pre-paid envelope. Then, participants will receive a personal energy use profile in addition to helping research on important energy questions. 

Dr Philipp Grunewald, Deputy Director of Energy Research at the Environmental Change institute explained the urgency of the research project, pointing out that “we have bimbled towards a climate catastrophe for decades”. He emphasised that the idea of large-scale societal change having to take a substantial amount of time has been proven “entirely wrong” by the COVID-19 crisis. 

Dr Grunewald asks: “Can we learn from the response to COVID-19 for our response to climate change? Both exhibit a runaway effect – not acting now means much tougher action later. Both rely on a recognition of the common good – my own (‘insignificant’) actions will affect many others (significantly!). And both could make us focus on what really matters.” He emphasises that “the current lockdown is a unique opportunity to learn how we cope with change.”

“Flexibility can become a crucial asset when increasingly relying on renewables and storage. Our current mass experiment can reveal which activities change and if a new normal can be established after the lockdown.

“While those oil tankers are aimlessly drifting around the oceans with their unwanted cargo on board, many societies have shown what change they are capable of – especially with far-sighted political leadership. That should give us great hope.” Dr Grunewald told Cherwell. 

Nathan Lawson, President of the Oxford Climate Society and producer of the Climate Breakdown Podcast, told Cherwell: “JoyMeter provides a brilliant opportunity for consumers to keep track of their consumption habits and importantly reveals how they change during the lockdown.”

The University of Oxford has been contacted for comment.

Local businesses adapt as Oxford spending falls by 60%

Imogen Duke
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Local businesses adapt as Oxford spending falls by 60%

Consumer spending data shows that Oxford is one of the worst-hit areas by the fallout of coronavirus and stay at home measures. As a university town and a tourist centre, a significant decrease in footfall is reflected in decreased spending on non-grocery goods. 

Data analysis by Tortoise shows that overall consumer spending fell by around two-thirds in the first week of April, compared to the same week last year. This was almost 50% higher than the national average decline. The decline continued at a similar level in the second and third weeks of April.

While grocery spending in Oxford increased slightly in the first week of April, non-grocery sales fell by 77%. This is compared to an average drop in non-grocery sales of around 45%. 

On the impact on Oxford, Tortoise reported that “out of 80 larger local economies it is ranked first for its fall in spending. Towns similarly reliant on tourism and education such as Brighton, York, Canterbury, and Bath have also seen the biggest losses. 

However, a recent report by the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce said that jobs in Oxford are the least at risk. Nineteen percent of jobs in Oxford are projected to be at risk, which is the lowest proportion of all local authorities. This still totals 22 234 jobs at risk. 

The RSA calculated this through analysing furloughing data from the Office of National Statistics published last week. The report attributes Oxford’s relative stability to the high proportion of jobs in the knowledge economy. This suggests that the recession will be very harmful for the high street, but will be less harmful for employees in the education sector. 

While closed, local businesses have taken to social media to maintain a sense of community, and some have adapted through transitioning to delivery services. 

Jericho, a staple student coffee shop, has been offering mail-order coffee beans, for retail and wholesale: they have seen a 100% increase in online sales. James and Lizzie from Jericho told Cherwell: “We are massively missing our regular customers and can not wait to be serving coffee in our shops again. The thing about drinking coffee out is that it is such a happy social experience.” 

Missing Bean, another popular coffee shop, has also made the transition to delivering coffee. They told Cherwell that they’ve increased their online presence, and are still roasting and delivering coffee. Before, they saw 20 coffee orders a week, and now have 30 orders a day. Missing Bean also recently donated 250kg of coffee to the NHS, which will be distributed to hospitals and given in care packages.

Another landmark Oxford business who has increased their delivery presence is G&D’s, which is offering ice cream from its Little Clarendon Street café and bagels from its St Aldates café – via Deliveroo.  

Oxford nightlife has also moved online, with popular clubs such as The Bridge, The Bullingdon, and Plush streaming DJ sets on their Facebook pages. 

A Lockdown Festival will be streamed on The Bullingdon’s Facebook page, though it is a separate entity. People ‘attending’ the event choose from a set list to watch a ‘stage’, with a live comment facility. The set list includes familiar Oxford DJs such as Musical Medicine and Rinse, as well as a range of international artists. There will also be yoga classes, guided meditation, fitness classes, and a beatbox workshop.

Lorraine Baker, the organiser, told Cherwell: “Being on lockdown has giv[en] me a lot of spare time and with the fact that festivals are being cancelled I wanted to do the best I could to create a festival vibe weekend for people from the comfort of their own homes. I’m doing it to spread some love and put smiles on people’s faces and to raise money for two great charities – Oxfordshire Mind and NHS Charities Together.”

Tourist attractions such as the Ashmolean Museum and the Pitt Rivers Museum have also pivoted online to maintain interest and education. The Ashmolean Museum’s ‘Young Rembrandt’ exhibition can be explored online and features in a BBC documentary, presented by Simon Schama. The Pitt Rivers Museum also offers a virtual tour of its galleries and has an online collection to browse. 

Businesses which cannot provide services online, however, remain inactive, and customer footfall is likely to remain low, even after lockdown restrictions are eased.  

Hassan’s Street Kitchen, which relies heavily on students, has been temporarily put out of business. They told Cherwell: “It’s important to remain enthusiastic during these unprecedented times and practice safety at all times. Right now we’re just hoping to be back in business soon and using the current situation to spend more time with family. Hopefully we will be back soon to serve the people of Oxford!”

Oxford University Mindfulness Centre offers free sessions

Christina Kirk
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Oxford University Mindfulness Centre offers free sessions

In a time when peace of mind is at its most elusive, the University of Oxford Mindfulness Centre (OMC) is offering free online sessions with the intention of imparting mindfulness practices that improve mental health and well-being in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

These sessions are delivered via Zoom, a video chat platform which enables conference-style video meetings with up to 100 participants. OMC offers an introductory mindfulness course composed of three weekly sessions, a weekly mindfulness course meeting from 7-8 p.m. (BST) every Wednesday, and a three-session NHS-tailored course for healthcare professionals working with COVID-19. 

The weekly mindfulness sessions are also available in podcast format for individuals who cannot attend the live sessions. According to the OMC website, contents of these weekly sessions include guided mindfulness practices, teacher talk, and discussions and questions based on a weekly topic.

Both the weekly mindfulness sessions and the introductory mindfulness course are led by fully trained Mindfulness Teachers, and the NHS sessions are led by NHS professionals trained in teaching mindfulness to healthcare staff.

Links to all of these sessions – and the archived podcasts – are accessible at www.oxfordmindfulness.org/free-online-mindfulness-course-sessions/.

Oxford libraries support students remotely

Catherine Dema
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Oxford libraries support students remotely

Libraries throughout Oxford have been working to provide students with resources necessary for tutorials, although there is variation among colleges. The Bodleian Libraries are providing the primary support for members of the university to access resources, and colleges are also endeavouring to assist students.

The Bodleian Libraries suspended physical services, but are continuing to provide and extend their digital services. A spokesperson for the Bodleian Libraries said: “Students can take advantage of a wide range of online resources that can be accessed offsite. Readers can also get specialist support and advice through our Live Chat and enquiries service including requesting more resources ([email protected]).”

In the last month, the Bodleian Libraries spent over £50,000 in emergency funding to buy new e-resources to support remote learning – which is significantly more than their regular new acquisition expenditure. The Bodleian has added nearly 70,000 new digital resources, including e-books and e-journals. The Bodleian Library now has close to 1.5 million e-books and more than 118,000 e-journals – which are available to students via SOLO.

The Bodleian Libraries have determined what new online resources to buy through a ‘Demand-driven-acquisitions’ project – where the Libraries loaded records into SOLO for e-books that matched the books most frequently borrowed in the last year. Readers clicking the links for e-books on SOLO triggered permanent acquisitions. In this way, students were directly involved in selecting over 400 permanent acquisitions. The Bodleian Libraries continue to work with publishers and other libraries to get temporary off-site access to resources.

The Oxford Reading Lists Online project provides reading lists for a selection of courses across all divisions. The reading lists allow students enrolled in the courses to view and access scanned book chapters, where available. There is a team of library staff working to create more reading lists for Trinity Term. 

The Bodleian Libraries also launched Browzine – a new tool intended to make searching e-journals easier and which provides personalisation by end-users. Use and feedback of Browzine are being monitored. Students will be delivered information skills training during Trinity Term, which will be publicised soon. 

Challenger described the feedback the Libraries have received: “We have had lots of very positive and constructive feedback from students which has been incredibly helpful to us in deciding where to prioritise services and, mostly, extremely appreciative! We are keen to continue the dialogue with them, both individually through library staff, through social media, Oxford SU, and at library committees during Trinity Term.”

College libraries are attempting to provide additional support to their students. However, different colleges are providing different forms and degrees of support. College libraries have established websites to address their responses to the pandemic and current operating procedures. Individual college library information can be found at those sites or in disseminated emails.

Christ Church College librarian Steven Archer explained the benefits of college libraries at this time: “We are able to provide resources during this time that University-level libraries cannot due to their complete closure and we hope are playing an important role in helping our finalists through their exams, and all other students with at least the basic resources they need.”

Students who cannot access a required resource are encouraged to reach out to their college librarians – who are endeavouring to assist students and respond to enquiries. 

During the vacation, colleges prepared their libraries to work throughout Trinity Term. Some preparations by various colleges included liaising with tutors, academic support, and welfare teams, identifying and acquiring new online resources, updating college communities about the functioning of the libraries, and furloughing student shelvers to ensure they will continue to be paid. College libraries have extended online support and guidance regarding online resources and have attempted to work with tutors to prepare for the term. 

Many colleges include library information in their regular COVID-19 related updates. Some colleges, including Hertford and Christ Church, have been in direct contact with tutors to acquire reading lists for Trinity Term. Lady Margaret Hall updated their LibGuide and have launched one-on-one library advisor hours via Skype or email.

Students may request needed resources from either the Bodleian Libraries or from college libraries. Colleges may post students physical copies of books, but must go through the Bodleian Libraries to acquire new e-resources. 

The Bodleian Libraries are not currently offering services to post resources to students, but some colleges are providing such resources. Christ Church, Hertford, Mansfield,  St. Hilda’s, New, and St. Catherine’s Colleges, among others, are offering to post necessary resources to students. Each college has its own policy for requesting books and requests must be approved before action is taken. 

Archer described how such a college posting system works: “Now fully closed, all [library] members are able to gain access to resources via a postal service of books collected when the College Librarian makes essential checks of the Library building, (which is approved by the DCMS as key work). A scanning service is also available from materials held within the Library within the permitted copyright regulations.  Students and Tutors have also been informed that it is possible to order new books for [delivery] to home addresses, or to the Porters’ Lodge for those still resident in College.”

Books posted to students will be returned once libraries return to normal functioning and new resources will be included in college collections.

Other colleges – including Lady Margaret Hall, University College, and Regent’s Park College – are not currently publicising any intentions to post resources to students at this time. Many of the extended services, including scan-and-deliver services and posting of resources, were halted or limited after the national shutdown went into effect.

Some colleges are offering limited scanning services in accordance with copyright laws. Tutors may provide physical copies of resources to be scanned and processed. 

Colleges report generally positive feedback to efforts and reinforce their dedication to continuing to provide resources to students. Hertford College reported responding to 115 resource access inquiries from 23-26 April alone.

Though the college libraries have varied responses and support, many are working together to provide students support. Lady Margaret Hall librarian James Fishwick commented on the collaboration between librarians: “The way the College Librarians have all been helping each other out: sharing news of e-resources we’ve discovered, teaming up to split the costs of some particularly expensive books, and providing support and good cheer, has been wonderful.”

Human trials begin for Oxford COVID-19 vaccine

Violeta Perea Rubio
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Human trials begin for Oxford COVID-19 vaccine

Since beginning work on a vaccine against the novel coronavirus in early January, Prof. Sarah Gilbert’s team have begun clinical trials on humans this week. They plan to finish clinical trials and begin manufacturing by autumn.

As the first patients, Dr. Elisa Granato and Edward O’Neill were vaccinated with Oxford’s ChAdOx1 nCoV-19. Results from the animal trials on rhesus macaque monkeys were revealed to have been successful by the National Institutes of Health’s Rocky Mountain Laboratory. 

Six monkeys were vaccinated and exposed to high quantities of the virus. Whereas non-vaccinated monkeys became infected, those vaccinated proved to be immune. The rhesus macaque monkeys are the animals most similar to humans. 

This follows as Prof. Sarah Gilbert and her team announced they were “80% confident” the vaccine would be effective and therefore and therefore likely to head into mass manufacturing as early as September, contrasting the early consensus among experts that the vaccine could take between 12 to 18 months to develop.

Sarah Gilbert’s co-researcher, Prof. Adrian Hill emphasised that “the aim is to have at least a million doses by around about September”, though he raised concerns about difficulties in the mass production of the vaccine, accounting for the over 3 million cases recorded worldwide. He stated: “manufacturing is one of the biggest challenges if this vaccine works.” 

This week, The Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer producing 1.5 billion doses a year, has partnered with Oxford to start production of their vaccine before the completion of clinical trials.  

Adrian Hill stated: “We have started at risk manufacturing of this vaccine not just on a smallish scale … but with a network of manufacturers in as many as seven different places around the world.”

Oxford research team have raised concerns about difficulties the lockdown will place on the conducting of the clinical trials, as it limits the conditions the immunity is tested in. If the trials in the UK are successful, the team have suggested partnering with the Kenya Medical Research Institute to begin trials in Kenya as they are earlier in the curve of the pandemic. This has however been met by some opposition in Kenya. 

Professor Gilbert emphasises the need for international collaboration in vaccine research. She told The Lancet: “the WHO is in the process of creating a forum for everyone who is developing COVID-19 vaccines to come together and present their plans and initial findings.

“It is essential that we all measure immunological responses to the various vaccines in the same way, to ensure comparability and generalisability of our collective findings. Work is continuing at a very fast pace, and I am in no doubt that we will see an unprecedented spirit of collaboration and cooperation, convened by WHO, as we move towards a shared global goal of COVID-19 prevention through vaccination.”

Image attribution: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grays_Institute_001_(Print_Quality_Version(Large))_(crctprod_009852_Revision-1)(1).jpg

Staff furloughed, top officials keep high salaries

Mark Robins
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Staff furloughed, top officials keep high salaries

The University has placed some staff on furlough in response to the financial impact of COVID-19, but senior officials in the University will not currently be taking a pay cut. As Cherwell reported in February 2017, seven senior officials at the University earned more than £300,000 per year in 2017.

In an email to staff seen by the BBC, the Vice-Chancellor said that employees unable to work will be placed on the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. This applies to workers with caring responsibilities and those who work in university facilities that have been closed, such as libraries and museums.

Although staff will receive a full salary, 80% will be paid by the Government. The University said it “has committed to paying all furloughed employees 100% of their salary during any period of furlough.”

However, Oxford has faced criticism for not making cuts to the pay of senior figures. Vice-Chancellor Louise Richardson will continue to receive her full salary, unlike counterparts at other universities. 

The President of Imperial College and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bristol have taken a 20% pay cut, while London Metropolitan’s Vice-Chancellor has donated 10% of her salary to the University’s hardship fund. Liverpool University and the London School of Economics are also considering cutting vice-chancellor pay.

“It is not clear whether an institution of the size and strength of Oxford does need to furlough staff, especially while protecting the salaries of its highest-paid,” said Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union.

Richardson earns a total salary of £367,000, making her one of the highest-paid vice-chancellors in the country. Oxford has no current plans to cut senior pay.

A spokesperson for the University said: “The changes announced last week are the only financial mitigation measures currently being implemented by the University. As the period of the current lockdown and its financial consequences become clearer, we should be better positioned to judge whether these mitigating actions are sufficient or further actions need to be taken. Staff will be the first to be informed if further actions are necessary.”

Amongst other measures, departments will no longer be able to recruit staff. Any recruitment processes underway must be paused immediately. The recruitment freeze does not apply to colleges and Permanent Private Halls, or to research posts that are fully funded by external grants.

Current staff members may also be redeployed under a new staffing protocol introduced last week. The University’s website states said this measure “allows for greater movement between roles, fills capacity where there are constraints, and offers more opportunities to employees whose contracts are ending.”

The University will also reconsider building plans, with costs “reviewed in light of the new financial reality.” According to the BBC, Richardson commented in an email to all staff that these plans “will be disappointing for some and will require the postponement of long-held plans.”

Despite these measures, the Vice-Chancellor said that they “may not suffice to address the scale of the challenge we face.” The University’s statement said it “continues to scope the size of our financial risks and the extent of income loss from these impacts,” and that the new staffing protocols are necessary to “ensure we sustain academic excellence and mitigate any longer term risks.”

Global study to analyse social distancing effect on mental wellbeing and behaviour

Madison Carroll
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Global study to analyse social distancing effect on mental wellbeing and behaviour

As the COVID-19 pandemic is creating new universal norms, a new global study aims to analyse the psychological effects of social distancing on citizens around the world. The study is being led by Dr Bahar Tuncgenc, a Doctor and Research Fellow at the University of Nottingham School of Psychology. The study consists of a group of researchers from all over the world, including the University of Oxford. 

The survey will track respondents’ feelings and experiences of social distancing over a three-month period. The aim of the study is to better understand what makes people adhere to social distancing practices and how these practices affect the mood of participants. 

When an individual opens the survey link, it shows that the study is available in 12 languages. The stated goal of the study is to conduct research on the “behavioural changes affecting our daily lives in relation to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.” 

Dr Tuncgenc told Cherwell: “We do not focus on any group in particular – anyone can take part in our study! We’re looking for hundreds of people from each one of our target countries including the UK, USA, Australia, Germany, Italy, Iran, India and more … The readers can see the full range of available languages on our website. As with all research tackling big questions, this one is a truly collaborative effort between 5 universities led by the University of Nottingham.”

Dr Tuncgenc spoke about how understanding the effects of a lack of social relationships was a reason for initiating this study: “The pandemic required people to change their daily life in drastic ways. As a very social species, we humans are drawn into close relationships, especially when things go awry. Understanding what motivates people to make such drastic lifestyle changes and how it affects their social lives was the main reason why I initiated this study.

“We have several hypotheses about this extremely complex situation. One of our key expectations is that behaviour change will occur as a result of what others in our close relationships do. Moreover, we’re expecting that although distancing will affect people’s well-being negatively, social support and closeness with one’s country may act as buffers to alleviate these negative effects. These questions have direct relevance to policymakers for deciding how to implement such measures as “social distancing” and for assessing its impact on people’s health.”

“Human beings are an incredibly social species,” said Dr Martha Newson, who is a researcher on the study from the University of Oxford School of Anthropology. “The effects of isolation could lead to severe, lasting effects on wellbeing and mental health.” 

Football’s American-style statistical revolution

Paul Wang
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Football’s American-style statistical revolution

The 2017-18 Premier League season may go down as one of the most significant in football history. Manchester City, led by legendary manager Pep Guardiola, broke Premier League records for biggest winning margin, most consecutive wins, most points, most goals, and best goal difference. This level of sustained brilliance was unprecedented and set a new benchmark for top-flight success.

However, the introduction of the expected goals (xG) metric on BBC’s Match of the Day programme that season was arguably even more revolutionary for the footballing world. Statistical data was included in the mainstream football conversation, at a time when it was already a staple of American sports. In the US, the analytics revolution had started with ‘Moneyball’ in Major League Baseball (MLB), but has since become a key part of the other Big Four sports, including the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Following the installation of player-tracking cameras in all NBA arenas in 2013, basketball has incorporated data analysis into the decision-making process for resting players, recruitment, and in-game coaching. For instance, testing players’ saliva became commonplace as a way to gauge their fatigue levels. Shot maps, which showed the percentage of shots that were made, out of those taken, from each area of the court were used by coaches to determine which shots were most efficient. One of the revolutionary changes in the way basketball was played, the increased reliance on the three-point shot, owed much to calculations of the expected points metric from different areas of the floor.

The recent stats revolution of football has coincided with the rise of data-collection services such as Opta Sports. Liverpool FC, the Premier League leaders, have famously taken a statistics-based approach to transfers, as their American owners have encouraged the use of data in transfer decisions; the club’s owner, John W. Henry, is also the owner of the Boston Red Sox, an MLB team, and has brought the Moneyball mentality across the pond. Much like in the NBA, data analysis has not just been used for recruitment but has also caused an evolution in the way football is played. Crossing, once a prominent tactic in English football, has been shunned in favour of ground passes as the data has shown the latter to be more effective in chance creation. Additionally, the popularity of long-range shooting has declined, since long shots are unlikely to result in a goal, even for specialists in the art like Ruben Neves.

Sporting data, however, is not homogeneous across different sports. Kirk Goldsberry, who is credited with leading the NBA’s statistical revolution, draws a clear distinction between the probabilistic data found in baseball and the cartographical data in basketball. While stop-start sports, such as baseball, are better-suited to analytics, dynamic sports, such as football or basketball, are better approached in a different way. Since spatial positioning is as integral to football as it is to basketball, football has much to learn from the NBA’s usage of cartography, such as shot maps. Premier League teams could use empirical data analysis to determine the zones from which each player shoots most accurately and incorporate the results into their tactical plan. Given that out-of-context discrete data, such as assist counts, is often useless for making qualitative judgements, in both football and basketball, it is time for the Premier League to follow the NBA’s reliance on contextual data. For example, football could place a heavier emphasis on efficiency over raw numbers in the case of goals, by looking at the deviation from xG when judging a striker’s effectiveness. The use of data analysis in football may be more difficult, given how the passages of play are not as easily segmented as in the MLB or NBA, but many insights from the MLB or NBA world can still be implemented in the sport.

Although data analysis in football may never reach the level found in the MLB, NBA or National Football League (NFL) due to its more fluid nature, football should seek to close the gap. Given the fine margins that make the difference in the sport, insights found in the data could well convert a loss into a key win.

The rise of medical science in football in recent years has allowed players to stay at peak fitness throughout the season. Now it is time to build on that scientific progress by placing greater emphasis on in-game data analysis.

Image credit: MMAston

A country without libraries: what we are missing

Harry Twohig
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A country without libraries: what we are missing

You might think that working in a library would be a nice, peaceful job. That’s what I thought too. After spending two years working in public libraries, I’ve realised that I couldn’t have been more wrong. 

Let me start by setting the record straight. Libraries aren’t just about books. They’re about the communities they serve. Of course, one way that they serve those communities is by providing unrestricted access to the joy of reading. But they also offer a technological lifeline to those living in digital poverty. They provide public health services to those who are alone. They deliver free, educational activities for families to enjoy. Above all else, they open minds and provide people of all ages with a chance to dream. We need our libraries – now, more than ever. Let me explain why.

In 2018, one in ten households in the UK were without WiFi, and 12% of all households didn’t own a computer. Thirty years ago, not having WiFi or a computer wouldn’t have been an issue. Fast forward to the present day, and digital poverty is a real problem. Many job application processes are now entirely digitalised. The process of applying for universal credit is carried out most easily online, and you need an email account even if you’re applying over the phone. Without libraries, some of the most vulnerable people in our society would be left behind, unable to engage in the technological revolution that has swept the world. Public library services up and down the country offer a lifeline to those without computers in their homes, not only by providing access to one, but moreover by promoting digital literacy within their communities. Need help setting up an email account, using a scanner or completing those online applications? Not a problem, the library staff are on hand to help. For many, going to a library isn’t a choice: it’s a necessity. 

Libraries don’t just provide resources. Perhaps more importantly, they provide an opportunity for human connection. You see, as well as offering a technological lifeline, libraries are also on the frontline in the battle against loneliness in our communities. At the minute, we all know something of what it feels like to be isolated and alone. Most of us are lucky. We know that this isolation is only temporary, and we have friends and family who are just a phone call away. 

Yet, the reality for many is different, and isolation isn’t temporary for all of us. 

Imagine having absolutely no one. Imagine living away from family and friends, or even having no family or friends at all. The emotional toll of loneliness is clear, but there’s an underacknowledged physical health impact too. Social isolation has been proven to increase the likelihood of mortality by 26% by the Campaign to End Loneliness. When you couple that with the fact that those experiencing chronic loneliness are 50% more likely to call the emergency services, reducing loneliness becomes not just a moral obligation, but a necessity. So, how do libraries combat loneliness in our communities? By bringing people together. From board game nights to knitting groups, from bereavement support sessions to reading groups for people with dementia, libraries facilitate connection. They give those who would otherwise be victims of isolation somewhere to go, something to do, and someone to talk to. By doing so, they’re not only changing people’s lives – they’re reducing the burden on our NHS and social care teams too. You really can’t put a price on that.

The perception of libraries is often that they’re places geared to serve the elderly. But libraries also provide parents with a safe space in which they can encourage their children to dream. Over the last two years, I’ve been involved in family craft sessions, and a coding project which introduced young people to the opportunities that exist in the world of technology. I’ve seen libraries transformed into hubs of witchcraft and wizardry when hosting Harry Potter book nights, and young people invited into a lair of dungeons, dragons and discovery for our annual Halloween fright night. Why does this matter? Libraries are spaces where memories are made, where dreams are cultivated, and imaginations unlocked. They open up doors in the minds of young people, and show them that anything is possible. 

If you can’t already tell, I love libraries. What I love about them most is the fact that all of the opportunities I’ve listed, and the many more that I haven’t, are open to everyone. As a public service, libraries are driven by a duty to serve, not a financial need. They provide truly magical opportunities to people who otherwise may not be able to afford them, helping to tackle social inequality along the way. 

If there’s one thing you take away from this article, let it be these next few words: libraries are about so much more than books. A world without libraries is a world where people are left behind, and those in the greatest need are forgotten. The doors to our libraries may be closed at the moment, but they must not stay closed forever. 

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