The film of Tolkien's classic is courting controversy but creating a mythology, say Bill Welden and Jo Alida Wilcox. Once upon a time, in the rash boldness of his youth, J. R. R. Tolkien set out to...
Has higher education crossed the thin blue line? Chris Bunting investigates the UK's first BSc in policing, while Liz Doig visits Bramshill's international training facility. Anthony Forde looks like...
A-level maths not up to scratch The lack of geometry in the new A and AS-level mathematics courses means students no longer have a suitable foundation for university science and engineering courses,...
The Independent US scientists, politicians and pressure groups were at loggerheads last night after the House of Representatives voted for a complete ban on human cloning - even if it were...
Independent A wide-ranging government inquiry is to examine claims that radiation from nuclear power stations caused clusters of leukaemia and other cancers, Michael Meacher, the enviroment minister...
US bans stem-cell research A bill banning all cloning of human embryos was passed by the United States House of Representatives by 265 to 162 votes today. An amendment to allow stem-cell research...
Governors vote to keep Exeter's music department Staff at Exeter University’s music department are celebrating after university governors voted to keep it open. The department's problems include a £...
Supercomputer goes online A supercomputer capable of 10 billion calculations a second was being officially switched on today. The £1.4 million Cosmology Machine was being unveiled at Durham...
US students seek financial aid More American students are applying for aid to cover the rising cost of tuition, room and board. Some 55 per cent of undergraduates and 60 per cent of graduates asked...
Guardian Tony Blair has promised to look again at the financing of higher education, including student loans, after the issue became the single most difficult problem facing Labour on the doorstep....
The University of Paisley Ian Mentor , former head of the school of education at the University of North London and head of research and staff development at the University of the West of England,...
Italy condemns alleged G8 brutality Some 530 Italian academics have signed an open letter to Italian president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, demanding an inquiry into alleged police brutality at the G8...
The Independent Christ's College, the alma mater of Charles Darwin, John Milton and Channel 4's Richard Whiteley, has been rated the top college in this year's Tompkins table of Cambridge University'...
LSC chief calls for action on skills Dramatic improvements in skills levels are required to make England’s workforce internationally competitive, according to Learning and Skills Council chairman...