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Air pollution is a major health concern and government policy driver. Leeds researchers and colleagues have developed a detailed chemical mechanism which describes reactions in the lower atmosphere leading to the formation of ozone and secondary particulate matter, key air pollutants. The so-called `master chemical mechanism' (MCM) is considered the `gold standard' and has been used by the UK government and industry groups to inform their position on EU legislation and by the US EPA to validate and extend their regulatory models. The Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department has used the MCM to identify key ozone precursors and provide evidence for abatement strategies.
The methodological and applied work on micro-econometric demand analysis outlined here has been repeatedly used by the UK Competition Commission (since 2002) and the Co-operation & Competition Panel (now Monitor) of the UK Department of Health (since 2009) in their respective competition analyses, and by the Hong Kong Consumer Council in its Public Estate Supermarket Study (since 2011). It contributed to the European Commission White Paper on the quantification of antitrust damages (2010), underpinning some of the econometric methodology proposed there to assess cartel damages in EU Courts. Beckert's work in the area of micro-econometric demand analysis connects micro-economic demand theory with various econometric methodologies to assess demand-side substitution in the presence of taste heterogeneity. His research is disseminated through articles in peer-reviewed academic journals, policy articles, and through consultation by antitrust authorities, think tanks and economic consultancies.
This research informed the introduction and on-going implementation of a major criminal policy innovation, namely, Pre-Trial Witness Interviewing (PTWI) by Crown Prosecutors across England and Wales. It was conducted in partnership with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), and provided independent evaluation of PTWI as an integral component of the piloting phase prior to national roll-out. The research formed part of the initial PTWI training of selected Crown Prosecutors and, following roll-out, continued to serve as a resource for frontline prosecutors, affecting case progression, complainants' experiences and the outcomes of criminal cases (prominently including serious sexual assaults and domestic violence).
The "Inerter" is a completely new mechanical device and suspension component that was conceived by Professor Malcolm Smith at University of Cambridge Department of Engineering (DoEng), as a result of his fundamental study of the possible behaviour of passive mechanical systems. Penske Racing Shocks purchased a license to produce versions of the Inerter for sale to Formula 1 (F1) teams and in IndyCar racing in 2008, once the Inerter's use in the McLaren cars that won 10 out of 15 races in the 2005 F1 season was widely known and McLaren's exclusive licence had lapsed. The use of the Inerter is now endemic in F1 and IndyCar racing.
This methodological approach to researching leadership utilised 70 in-depth interviews and written `portraits' of UK Headteachers and Hong Kong (HK) Principals to examine how personal and professional issues affected their practice. Individuals in both locations reported that reflection upon this procedure led to significant life-changing decisions. Furthermore, the HK researcher who became involved in the research persuaded the Hong Kong government to invest significant funds in using the approach to support leadership in a group of 13 special schools, thus demonstrating the reach of the impact, through both the extent and diversity of its effect.