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The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
University's vision for £35m brewing and distilling ‘centre for excellence'
Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh aims to raise £35 million for a Centre for Sustainable Brewing and Distilling to help the alcohol industry address the climate crisis. The new centre will function as a living laboratory, made with low-carbon materials and powered by clean energy, embracing green technologies and sustainable practices. It is hoped the centre will include plug-and-play brewing and distilling testbeds, advanced sustainability research labs, and specialist training programs. Professor Gillian Murray, deputy principal for business and enterprise, said the university had a long history of brewing and distilling education, dating back to 1903. Industry leaders from beverage companies Diageo and Carlsberg Britvic said they supported Heriot-Watt's plans, stressing the importance of sustainable processes and talent development for the future of the brewing and distilling industries.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
University unveils plans for £35m brewing and distilling ‘centre for excellence'
A Scottish university is aiming to raise £35 million for a 'world-renowned' Centre for Sustainable Brewing and Distilling to help the alcohol industry deal with the climate crisis. Heriot-Watt University, based in Edinburgh, already has an International Centre for Brewing and Distilling (ICBD), which since 1989 has been considered the world's leading educational establishment for courses in brewing and distilling. However its history of teaching brewing dates back more than a century, to 1903. Many of the best-known Scotch whisky master distillers and brewers – including BrewDog co-founder Martin Dickie, master distiller at Arbikie Highland Estate Kirsty Black, and David Wilkinson, head distiller at Edinburgh Gin – studied at the ICBD. The new centre is intended to function as a living laboratory, constructed with low-carbon materials with the aim to access all of its power through clean energy. The Centre for Sustainable Brewing and Distilling (CSBD) will embrace the latest green technologies and sustainable practices so Heriot-Watt can evolve its teaching and research to meet the challenges of the future. It is hoped to include plug-and-play brewing and distilling testbeds, enabling companies to trial production methods before full-scale adoption, as well as advanced sustainability research labs to develop low-carbon distillation techniques. The CSBD will offer specialist training programmes, including graduate apprenticeships, executive education, and research-led industry collaborations. Professor Gillian Murray, Heriot-Watt's deputy principal for business and enterprise, said: 'Heriot-Watt's association with teaching brewing and distilling dates back to 1903. 'However, it was over 35 years ago that our unique brewing and distilling teaching and research facility – recognised by the Institute of Brewing and Distilling – was established. 'Ever since it has been home to vibrant research and unique innovation that has revolutionised both industries. Our teaching provides the perfect breeding ground for ground-breaking new ideas from the brightest and best students – from use of raw materials and fermentation to chemical engineering, bottling, packaging and marketing. 'But we have big aspirations for the future. That is why we are unveiling a revamped and revitalised approach to academic research into brewing and distilling through a new world-renowned centre for excellence, the Centre for Sustainable Brewing and Distilling. 'We want to encourage people from around the world to help us fund this multimillion-pound vision that sets the next generation of brilliant minds the challenge of finding ever more economically-viable and environmentally-sustainable ways of driving both industries forward into the 22nd century.' Ewan Andrew, president of global supply chain at drinks company Diageo, said: 'We back Heriot-Watt's plans for a Centre for Sustainable Brewing and Distilling. The CSBD will provide a new, modern environment for innovation, support the development of groundbreaking sustainable processes, and develop a new highly-skilled workforce that helps future-proof this vitally important economic contributor for decades to come.' Jo Marshall, brand director at Carlsberg Britvic, which owns McEwan's Export, said: 'Over a century ago, McEwan's founder William McEwan collaborated with the university's very first professor of brewing, Emil Westergaard, to drive forward brewing innovation. 'It's inspiring to see that same pioneering spirit lives on today in plans for a new centre dedicated to sustainable talent development and innovation.'
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Is it safe to travel to Crete? Advice after 6.1 earthquake hits Greek island
The Foreign Office has issued a statement after a powerful 6.1 magnitude earthquake was detected off the coast of Crete this morning, leading to fresh fears that a possible tsunami could hit the Greek island. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) issued a tsunami warning and advised people in Greece, Turkey, Italy and as far away as France and Portugal to refer to their local authorities for updates. The tremor was reported to have been felt across the Aegean Sea, including parts of Turkey and Israel. Residents in Crete reported via EMSC being woken up by the quake, while others described objects falling from shelves on the lower floors of their homes, and the fear of seeing 'the building sway and creak.' Local media showed supermarket items strewn on floors, and reported minor rockslides on rural roads, though no major damage was initially reported. Now, residents fear that a major tsunami could hit Crete and Santorini - but what does this mean for Brits who are planning on heading to the popular holiday hotspot? Greece's Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection advised both locals and visitors to act in accordance with information from local authorities. They also urge the public to move away from the coast - although they have not yet specified which part of the coastline. Meanwhile, the Foreign Office encourages visitors to follow three vital procedures: Familiarise yourself with safety procedures in the event of an earthquake Follow advice given by the local authorities Call the Greek emergency services on 112 if you are in immediate danger The Greek fire brigade said that all its forces were on high alert across the island following the quake, though it was yet to receive any calls for help. State news agency ANA said firefighters had been placed on general alert, with vehicles patrolling to assess the situation. The tremor, which hit 49 miles off the city of Heraklion at 6:19 a.m. (0319 GMT) on Thursday, jolting locals and tourists holidaying on the island at the start of the summer season, according to reports on X. State television ERT said many residents in the Cretan regions of Rethymno and Lasithi were woken by the quake early in the morning and quickly exited their homes as a precaution. 'Everything shook like mad , never felt one that strong,' said one witness in Malia. Victoria, holidaying in Hersonissos, told MailOnline she and her boyfriend were woken up this morning 'to our bed shaking lots'. She said part of the balcony door's metal frame came off when it happened, and that it was 'very scary'. Melissa Ford, staying in Rethymno with family, told MailOnline: 'We were woken soon after 6am to the shaking of the walls in our hotel room and the government alarm going off on our phones warning us of an earthquake. 'It was quite the shock. I imagine it lasted about 30 seconds if not longer. Fortunately, it didn't wake our children and although there were after shocks, we didn't feel them.' Local media shared residential CCTV footage showed overhead power lines shaking as the camera wobbled. Photos showed household items thrown from shelves in a Cretan supermarket. The mayor of Heraklion, Alexis Kalokerinos, told ERT that there were no particular problems in the city and that closing schools would not be necessary. The tremor 'occurred at a great depth and there is no particular reason for residents to worry,' Athanassios Ganas, general director of Research at the Geodynamics Institute of the National Observatory of Athens, told ERT. The quake hit at a depth of 68 kilometres (42 miles), the American USGS said. It struck just over a week after a 6.1-magnitude tremor hit near the island of Kasos east of Crete, and was felt in the outlying area. The region, popular with tourists, has been hit with multiple tremors in recent months, prompting schools in Santorini and neighbouring islands to temporarily close.
Times
14-05-2025
- Times
Is it safe to travel to Crete? Advice after Greece earthquake
An earthquake of magnitude 5.9 struck off the island of Crete in Greece — and was felt as far away as Egypt — in the early hours of Wednesday, May 14. No serious property damage was reported but the quake has prompted Greek authorities to issue a temporary tsunami warning. The quake was at a depth of 35 km (22 miles) near the island of Karpathos in the Mediterranean Sea, the Athens Geodynamic Institute said. Greece's Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection posted on X: ' … Move away from the coast immediately. Follow the instructions of Local Authorities.' Greece is one of Europe's most earthquake-prone countries and an unprecedented level of seismic activity shook the popular tourist island of Santorini for weeks earlier this year. If you have a trip planned, here's everything you need to know. The earthquake struck off the island of Crete in Greece on the early hours of Wednesday, May 14, with tremors also felt on the island of Rhodes. Greek authorities subsequently issued a temporary tsunami warning. Residents in Egypt also felt the quake, with the country's National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics reporting no casualties or property damage. Tremors were reportedly also felt in Cyprus, Israel, and Syria. The institute said it recorded a quake of 6.4 magnitude 431 km off Egypt's northern coasts. • Discover our full guide to Greece Greece's Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection advised residents and visitors to act in accordance with information from local authorities and to move away from the coast, although they did not specify which part of the coastline. While flights are still operating to Crete as usual, travellers should keep updated on the latest developments. At the time of writing, the UK Foreign Office has not updated its travel advice for Greece in light of the earthquake. In the absence of Foreign Office advice against non-essential travel, you are not automatically entitled to a refund under the Package Travel regulations. If you have booked with a travel agent or tour operator, you should call them to discuss your options. If you have booked directly, a refund is likely only if the flight is cancelled or your accommodation is closed. The more you paid for your insurance, the more likely it is that the policy includes cover for cancellation and curtailment due to natural disasters. Check your documents for more details. • Travel insurance guide: everything you need to know
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Business Standard
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
/ Ridhima Pandey
About Ridhima Pandey Follow Who is Ridhima Pandey Ridhima Pandey, referred to by some as India's Greta Thunberg, is an 11-yr-old climate activist. One of the 16 young activists who filed a lawsuit in the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child, Pandey is from Uttarakhand. She says her mission is to "save the future". On the website of Children vs Climate Crisis, Pandey's bio reads: "I want a better future. I want to save my future. I want to save our future. I want to save the future of all the children and all people of future generations". The 11-year-old climate activist's effort began in 2013, when ... Read More
