Early in 2008 the US Academy of Sciences will publish ‘Reducing the Impact of Poverty on Health and Human Development’. This special Annals volume is part of a coordinated effort by 235 scientific journals around the world to draw attention to the theme of poverty and human development. Selected papers from the book are now available online. They describe the kinds of approaches that might be applied to addressing poverty and related problems. 

The Government has set out new design standards for schools as part of a package of measures to ensure they are safer and better protected from fire risks. There will be a new presumption that sprinkler systems will be fitted in almost all new school buildings.
‘Design for fire safety in schools’ has been published to help school designers and fire safety officers to take the necessary steps to ensure new buildings offer staff and pupils the highest level of protection. 

Business travellers rely on their cars because they believe public transport is not fit for purpose, according to a study launched today by the RAC Foundation and the British Chambers of Commerce. They have set out a number of steps they want to see, including a call for councils to take the needs of smaller businesses into account in transport planning.