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SIPHER Blog

Read indepth articles from the SIPHER Team on our activities.

For clarification of our terminology and use of acronyms view SIPHER Glossary

The grant-funded period for SIPHER has concluded March 2025.

If you are interested in ongoing work in this area, please visit PHI UK Policy Modelling for Health

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SIPHER: A Systems Science Legacy for Healthy Public Policy

Professor Petra Meier shares insights from over five years at the helm of the System Science in Public Health and Economic Research (SIPHER) Consortium.

Published: Glasgow Social Science Hub 30 June 2025 

Hands typing at a key board
Hands typing at a key board

Supporting SIPHER’S Evidence Synthesis

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

Detailing the tools used to provide relevant evidence for SIPHER’s mapping, modelling and evaluation work.

A screenshot of the SIPHER Inclusive Economy (Ward Level) interactive web visualisation tool showing Greater London Digital Exclusion.as coloured areas
A screenshot of the SIPHER Inclusive Economy (Ward Level) interactive web visualisation tool showing Greater London Digital Exclusion.as coloured areas

Inclusive Economy Indicators for Electoral Wards

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 08:00:00 GMT

Introducing the NEW SIPHER Inclusive Economy (Ward Level) Dataset: Advancing Our Understanding of Economic Inclusion at the Electoral Ward Level Across Great Britain.

Synthetic population tile
Synthetic population tile

Creating Data for Entire Populations

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 08:00:00 BST

Exploring the SIPHER Synthetic Population: A tool for policymakers and researchers that overcomes real-world data limitations.

Two maps of UK showing local authorities Inclusive Economy Data as coloured visualisations
Two maps of UK showing local authorities Inclusive Economy Data as coloured visualisations

Measuring the Inclusive Economy

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 11:00:00 GMT

A new comprehensive dataset for Great Britain's local authorities with interactive data maps - we discuss what this reveals about the fabric of economic inclusion across Great Britain.

View of crowds on busy Glasgow street
View of crowds on busy Glasgow street

Economic Inactivity: A policy opportunity for action on health inequalities?

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 11:04:00 BST

SIPHER aims to help policy teams with different priorities work together to reduce health inequalities.

Scottish town in autumn from the air
Scottish town in autumn from the air

More than the sum of their parts: MO-MDO Multi-objective multidisciplinary optimization

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 11:07:00 BST

Finding the best solution to complex social issues like health is a constant challenge for government at all levels. Explore our work into using scalable benchmark problems to provide a solution.

Aerial view of Salford Quays with landmarks including the Millennium Bridge, Lowry Centre and MediaCity UK at Salford Quays, Manchester.
Aerial view of Salford Quays with landmarks including the Millennium Bridge, Lowry Centre and MediaCity UK at Salford Quays, Manchester.

Collaborative Trailblazing: GMCA Devolution Deal and SIPHER’s support to tackle inequalities

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 11:11:00 BST

Learn more about what the devolution deal means for reducing inequalities, and where SIPHER believes it can help.

Small network of pins (Thumbtack)and string, An arrangement of colorful pins linked together with string on a pale blue background suggesting a network of connections.
Small network of pins (Thumbtack)and string, An arrangement of colorful pins linked together with string on a pale blue background suggesting a network of connections.

Integrating Evidence and Public Engagement in Policy Work

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 11:14:00 GMT

An empirical examination of three UK policy organisations and how they balance policy with public calls

Drawn Image of three numbered text bubbles, a rectagular block of text and title (Our Proposals) arrannged on a blue background with images of a mega phone and outlines of people. SIPHER logo top left.
Drawn Image of three numbered text bubbles, a rectagular block of text and title (Our Proposals) arrannged on a blue background with images of a mega phone and outlines of people. SIPHER logo top left.

The new chancellor should prioritise addressing health inequalities

Fri, 04 Nov 2022 11:17:00 GMT

The forthcoming autumn budget represents an opportunity to firmly establish the importance of good population health for the UK economy.

UK housing - red brick terrace with chimneys
UK housing - red brick terrace with chimneys

Levelling Up: A serious attempt to reduce regional inequalities in health?

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 11:36:00 BST

Are the policy initiatives in the White Paper likely to make an impact on the deeply unfair inequalities in health outcomes that blight life in the UK?

Seven hands hold jigsaw pieces in a circle.
Seven hands hold jigsaw pieces in a circle.

Collapsing multidimensional wellbeing into equivalent income

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 11:44:00 GMT

We want public policies to improve people’s wellbeing and reduce inequalities in wellbeing. But how do we measure 'wellbeing'?

Woman in team meet via video conference looking at screen
Woman in team meet via video conference looking at screen

Using online methods to find out what the public think about wellbeing

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 11:47:00 BST

SIPHER’s Societal Valuation Workstrand 6 is all about understanding how members of the public value different policy outcomes.

Office workers outside tall glass building
Office workers outside tall glass building

What is an inclusive economy – and how do you know if you’ve got one?

Fri, 20 Aug 2021 11:59:00 BST

Examining the challenges of measuring for an inclusive economy and why we lack an 'industry standard’.

Light rail Metrolink tram in the city center of Manchester, UK.
Light rail Metrolink tram in the city center of Manchester, UK.

Embedding researchers to help reduce health inequalities

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 13:51:00 BST

Mary Gogarty writes about her experience working as an Embedded Researcher for SIPHER in the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Crowds on Princes Street, one of Scotland's largest and busiest shopping streets, in Edinburgh.
Crowds on Princes Street, one of Scotland's largest and busiest shopping streets, in Edinburgh.

Is the problem inequality, however we label it?

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 14:39:00 BST

For now, the idea that inclusive economic policies might reduce health inequalities seems promising. But how it is attempted in practice is another matter.

Small network of pins (Thumbtack)and string, An arrangement of colorful pins linked together with string on a pale blue background suggesting a network of connections.
Small network of pins (Thumbtack)and string, An arrangement of colorful pins linked together with string on a pale blue background suggesting a network of connections.

Cascading effects in participatory systems mapping

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 13:55:00 BST

Positive and negative cascading effects can be found in every aspect of our everyday lives.

File labels reading non-communicable diseases inc cadiovascular, diabetes and cancers.
File labels reading non-communicable diseases inc cadiovascular, diabetes and cancers.

Does COVID-19 mean we should stop worrying about chronic diseases?

Fri, 18 Dec 2020 13:58:00 GMT

Is it time for all of us working on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) to retrain as infectious disease specialists?

Blackboard - Business Strategy Concept With Soccer Game Tactics
Blackboard - Business Strategy Concept With Soccer Game Tactics

Why ‘Football Manager’ is a Complex Systems Model

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 14:02:00 GMT

Before I discovered being a teenager, I played with a complex systems model every evening for hours on end, for weeks, for months.

Blank colourful speech bubbles hanging from a cord over blue background
Blank colourful speech bubbles hanging from a cord over blue background

Public Involvement in SIPHER

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 14:07:00 BST

Patient and public involvement (PPI) in health research is a field of practice which has grown at pace, and is now understood as central to high quality health research.

Wooden blocks with abstract image of person scattered centre a magnifying glass is held over one block coloured red
Wooden blocks with abstract image of person scattered centre a magnifying glass is held over one block coloured red

The Unequal Mortality Burden of COVID-19

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 14:09:00 BST

Recent data from the Office for National Statistics surprisingly suggested that the prevalence of COVID-19 in early September was highest among the least deprived groups in England. What does the data have to say about this?

Row of shops in an inner city area. Many are boarded up and in disrepair. This is Moss Side, Manchester, UK.
Row of shops in an inner city area. Many are boarded up and in disrepair. This is Moss Side, Manchester, UK.

Towards Joined-up Decision Making for an Inclusive Economy

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 14:13:00 BST

The Health Foundation report and why it resonates with SIPHER's views on the relationship between health and the economy.

SIPHER logo top left and GMCA logo bottom left central circle words read
SIPHER logo top left and GMCA logo bottom left central circle words read

Participatory Systems Mapping in a Socially Distanced World

Fri, 03 Jul 2020 14:16:00 BST

Policy decision-making is most effective when all stakeholders play an active role in the process of problem solving.

Sign in shop window displaying message
Sign in shop window displaying message

Covid-19: Economic Recovery and Inequalities that Influence Health and Wellbeing

Mon, 18 May 2020 14:23:00 BST

The message that “we’re all in it together” has spread far and wide in recent months - but is that true?

Aerial view of Salford Quays, Manchester UK.
Aerial view of Salford Quays, Manchester UK.

Why “health” matters to “the economy”. An economy with wellbeing at its heart...

Mon, 03 Feb 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A more prosperous society is likely to be healthier let us explain why.

Seven hands hold jigsaw pieces in a circle.
Seven hands hold jigsaw pieces in a circle.

Introducing the SIPHER Consortium

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 14:32:00 GMT

Earlier this year a group of intrepid researchers launched SIPHER – a new research Consortium that hopes to improve health and wellbeing and reduce inequalities.