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

• Girl's shooting in corner shop reflects grim reality for small stores

  The tragedy of 5 year old Thusha Kamaleswaran hits hard at the heart of many, says Dr Spinder Dhaliwal, an expert in Asian businesses.  The futility of the situation  and such a burden for a young girl and her family to bear.  Guns , firearms, knives have found their way into grocery shops.

• Should everyone take aspirin to prevent cancer?

  Dr Nick Plant, Senior Lecturer in Molecular Toxicology, says: "For decades, the benefits of aspirin in reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes has been known. In the last few years, increasing evidence has supported the ability of aspirin to reduce the risk of an individual developing many cancers, and may even prevent the spread of existing cancer." 

• Syria unrest

  Given the Syrian government’s behaviour towards its own people is there any hope that the threat of a future legal reckoning will curb its excesses or is it free to continue to act with impunity?

• Russia’s Putin may be the legal leader but probably not a legitimate one

  Vladimir Putin’s re-election for the third time as President of the Russian Federation has surprised no-one, but many are speculating that he will not serve the full 6 year term, says Dr Maxine David of the School of Politics. She said: "Russian and international observers are questioning the electoral process, which some have described as “skewed”. Whether the result of the cold wind or his own emotions, Prime Minister Putin’s tears have not moved the thousands of protestors who have taken to the streets in protest at his “assumption” of power yet again."

• Russia and China expose divisions about role of UN in halting Human Rights abuses

  "The Russian/Chinese veto of the UN resolution to urge President Assad to relinquish power has exposed significant tensions within the Security Council. Unless the West is willing to face the wrath of China and Russia and arm the Syrian uprising - which is highly-unlikely - the Syrian opposition will face President Assad alone", says Dr Tom Dyson.

• Scottish devolution debate shows the stark tensions in the Union

  UK politics expert Dr Simon Usherwood says the row between the Prime Minister and SNP politicians over supposed interference in Scotland hides a deeper malaise.

• It will take a brave government to change the law on assisted dying

  The controversial report by the Commission on Assisted Dying is the latest attempt by campaigners to change legislation in the UK. 

• Physicists a step closer to the elusive God Particle

  Professor Paddy Regan of the Physics Department said the developments were potentially “mind-blowing”.

  “The identification of the Higgs boson or ‘God Particle’ at CERN, if confirmed would be the icing on the cake for the standard model of physics, which aims to explain how all the matter which make up the structure of the universe holds together and interacts.”
  

• Another crunch meeting for the EU?

  As EU leaders meet for a summit to try to save the Euro and set out the future path of the EU, is the future a multi-speed Europe or are the British aiming for a very different destination?  Professor Alex Warleigh-Lack, of the School of Politics, says, “The danger is that the EU will move to a two-speed model, in which the UK is thrown permanently to the second tier.”

• Criminals linking up illegal networks are the latest threat to home computers

  Criminals have hijacked about 6% of the UK's home computers forming networks called 'botnets' to steal data and scam people. 

  Professor Alan Woodward says "By hijacking so many PCs it is possible to mount a massive probing operation that can seek out high value targets that are susceptible to classic hacking attacks."