Breaking News, Business, Financial and Economic News, World News from EconoTimes

Become a contributor

Bookmark Econotimes

Sat, Apr 20, 2024 11:02 AM All times are UTC

Follow Series

©Econometrics LLC . All Rights Reserved.

Andrew Hopkins

Emeritus Professor of Sociology, Australian National University

Andrew Hopkins is Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the Australian National University in Canberra.

He was a consultant to the US Chemical Safety Board in its investigation of the Texas City accident. His book on that accident, was titled Failure to Learn: the BP Texas City Refinery Disaster. He was again a consultant to the Board for its investigation of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster and has written a book on that subject - Disastrous Decisions: The Human and Organisational Causes of the Gulf of Mexico Blowout.

In all he has written some fifteen books, with more than 90,000 copies sold.

He was the winner of the 2008 European Process Safety Centre safety award, the first in time it was awarded to someone outside Europe.

In 2016 he was made an honorary fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers in recognition of his “outstanding contributions to process safety and to the analysis of process safety related incidents”.

He has a BSc and an MA from the Australian National University, a PhD from the University of Connecticut and is a Fellow of the Safety Institute of Australia.

His current research interests are in responses to climate change.

To avoid crisis, the gas market needs a steady steer, not an emergency swerve

Sep 27, 2017 16:14 pm UTC| Insights & Views

Rising gas costs are the single biggest factor in the current rise in electricity prices. What is most noteworthy about this statement is not the fact that it is true, but that it was made by Prime Minister Malcolm...

Tax and dividend: how conservatives can grow to love carbon pricing

Feb 25, 2017 12:59 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy

In some political circles, hostility to climate policy has become a way of showing off ones conservative credentials. But a suggestion for pricing carbon, grounded in classic conservative principles, has now emerged in the...

Economy

Impact of Iran-Israel conflict on Stocks, Gold and Bitcoin

Disclaimer: This is not investment advice. The information provided is for general purposes only. No information, materials, services and other content provided on this page constitute a solicitation, recommendation,...

Japan Posts 7.7% Growth in Machinery Orders

In a striking development that looks set to invigorate Japans economic prospects, a key gauge of capital spending in the country has seen its most significant jump in over a year. According to Cabinet Office data released...

How cuts to marginal income tax could boost the UK’s stagnant economic growth

The British prime minister recently claimed the UK economy has turned a corner. Rishi Sunak said inflation figures were encouraging, and proclaimed that 2024 would be the year Britain bounces back. According to his...

A sustainable future begins at ground level

In 2015, the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a call to action in global partnership. By 2023 it appears that our progress has been far from satisfactory in achieving these...

Digital trade protocol for Africa: why it matters, what’s in it and what’s still missing

In February 2024, African heads of states adopted a draft protocol to regulate digital trade within the continent. This significant yet challenging course for Africas digital economy fits into the broader trade agreement,...

Politics

Nvidia RTX 4090D Embroiled in US-China Tech Rivalry; South Korea Navigates Chip Export Dilemma

The U.S. government has tightened export restrictions on high-performance semiconductor chips to China, including the Nvidia RTX 4090D, and is urging South Korea to enforce similar curbs, marking a significant escalation...

Canada needs a national strategy for homeless refugee claimants

One year after the federal government closed Roxham Road, refugee claims in Canada continue to increase: there were 143,785 in 2023 compared to 91,730 in 2022. The surprise announcement in March 2023 to modify Canadas...

Who will Trump pick as his running mate?

Being second in line for leadership of the most powerful country in the world is not an easy job. But for Mike Pence, vice president under Donald Trump, things were even harder than usual. As insurrectionists descended...

US and Japan Boost AI, Semiconductor Alliance; EU Eyes Reduction in China Dependence

Japan and the United States are poised to deepen ties in the high-tech sector, signaling a strategic move to enhance their global partnership with a focus on artificial intelligence and semiconductor...

US Finalizes Ban List for Chinese Chipmakers; Boosts Mexico Semiconductor Ties

The United States is finalizing a list of Chinese chip factories banned from receiving vital technology, aiming to curb Beijings tech advancements amid national security concerns. Concurrently, a US-Mexico semiconductor...

Science

Could a telescope ever see the beginning of time? An astronomer explains

The James Webb Space Telescope, or JWST for short, is one of the most advanced telescopes ever built. Planning for JWST began over 25 years ago, and construction efforts spanned over a decade. It was launched into space on...

US media coverage of new science less likely to mention researchers with African and East Asian names

When one Chinese national recently petitioned the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to become a permanent resident, he thought his chances were pretty good. As an accomplished biologist, he figured that news...

If life exists on Jupiter’s moon Europa, scientists might soon be able to detect it

Europa is one of the largest of more than 90 moons in orbit around the planet Jupiter. It is also one of the best places to look for alien life. Often termed an ocean world by scientists, observations to date strongly...

Exploding stars are rare but emit torrents of radiation − if one happened close enough to Earth, it could threaten life on the planet

Stars like the Sun are remarkably constant. They vary in brightness by only 0.1% over years and decades, thanks to the fusion of hydrogen into helium that powers them. This process will keep the Sun shining steadily for...

An eclipse for everyone – how visually impaired students can ‘get a feel for’ eclipses

Many people in the U.S. will have an opportunity to witness nearly four minutes of a total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024, as it moves from southern Texas to Maine. But in the U.S., over 7 million people are blind...

Technology

Tesla's Elon Musk Teases Full Self-Driving Launch in China, Postpones India Visit

On Saturday, Teslas CEO Elon Musk teased the near-term rollout of Full Self-Driving (FSD) in China and announced a delay in his awaited visit to India, attributing it to pressing Tesla commitments. FSD in China: An...

Kia Unveils $15,000 EV2, Spearheading Affordable Electric Vehicle Drive

Kia has unveiled the EV2, its newest addition to the electric vehicle market, priced at around $15,000. This compact SUV, seen in recent test footage, is part of Kias broader strategy to introduce a range of affordable...

Bitcoin Halving 2024 Complete: New Era for Miners and Market Speculation

Bitcoin has successfully completed its fourth halving, reducing mining rewards to 3.125 BTC per block and sparking widespread speculation about future price surges. As the crypto community eyes potential market shifts,...

Tesla Cybertruck Recall: NHTSA Flags 3,878 Units for Pedal Issue

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has ordered a recall for Teslas Cybertruck, citing a severe pedal issue that necessitated temporarily halting deliveries to address potential safety...

ShibArmy Issues Critical Alert: No BONE Airdrops, Beware of Scams

The Shiba Inu community is on high alert as ShibArmy Scam Alerts warns against phishing emails falsely promising BONE airdrops. These fraudulent communications are designed to steal personal information and digital assets...