Expert Comments

The University of Surrey Media Office provides the link between academic experts and journalists.

If you are a member of the media looking for interviews, or further comment, please contact T: 01483 686076 or E: mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk

• Prime Minister's decision on EU vote "just kicking issue down the road"

  This long-awaited speech will not do anything more than kick the EU issue down the road a bit further, says UK Politics expert Dr Simon Usherwood.

• Men's cancer risk 'to climb to one in two'

  Hardev Pandha, professor of medical oncology, comments: "'The latest statistics highlight both the health consequences of increasing longevity, but also the potential dangers of waiting for screening programmes to become established. Cancer is a complex biological entity and despite enormous technological advances, few successful cancer screening strategies are proven, and most likely, due to this heterogeneity it is unlikely we will have cost effective screening for most cancers. A sharp focus on lifestyle and obvious risk factors, and an active long term working partnership with the food and alcohol industry is essential, with obvious overall health benefits for both men and women'

• Government can't ignore the Leveson Inquiry

  UK Politics expert Dr Simon Usherwood, says the government will find it hard to ignore the Leveson Inquiry into Press Standards. He says: "Having given so much free rein to the Inquiry in the wake of the phone-hacking at the News of the World, the government will find it very difficult indeed to avoid implementing, or being seen to implement, the conclusions."

• Will UKIP form an alliance with the Tories?

  Politics expert Dr Simon Usherwood suggests that those in the Conservative Party flirting with the idea of an electoral pact with UKIP are off the mark for now at least. He said: "The release of an internal Tory party report this weekend, advocating an electoral pact with UKIP, is the latest sign that the anti-EU party is making ever bigger waves."

• Experts say Chalara ash tree dieback poses a serious danger to 80 million ash trees.

  Forestry expert Professor Jim Lynch, Distinguished Professor of Life Sciences (Emeritus), at the University of Surrey, says new technologies to tackle such diseases like mapping from satellites in space.

• Pollsters right as Obama stays President

  "Four more years.  That was the news to which the world awoke this morning, as incumbent President Barack Obama defeated Republican challenger, Mitt Romney", says US politics expert Dr Jack Holland.  

• Recesssion leads to more stress and depression among families

  Professor Arlene Vetere says as the UN marks World Mental Health Day (Oct 10) that economic cut backs and economic hardships can manifest in families’ lives as increased stress and sometimes as depression in individuals.

• Cancer deaths on course to drop dramatically

  According to experts, cancer death rates in the UK are set to fall dramatically by 2030 as diagnosis and treatment continue to improve.

• Extra protein more harm than good

  There is a warning that gym supplements are often doing more harm than good to people using them.  Dr Adam Collins, of the University of Surrey Nutrition & Metabolism department, comments: "Recent dietary surveys suggest the general population in the UK consumes far more than the recommended intake of protein, the equivalent of 50% more for men and 35% more for women.  For the average exerciser this would be a very adequate amount of protein without the need for supplementation."

• Lords Reform still a protracted and painful process

  House of Lords reform is yet again back on the agenda but why? UK politics expert Dr Simon Usherwood says: "The proposals come with the strong suspicion by Tory backbenchers that this is being done just to meet the coalition's needs, and it is hard to see how they mark any great innovation on the numerous precursors."