Jack Brown – författare

This book, Plant Breeding, has it bases in an earlier text entitled An Introduction to Plant Breeding by Jack Brown and Peter Caligari, first published in 2008. The challenges facing today’s plant breeders have never been more overwhelming, yet the prospects to contribute significantly to global food security and farmers’ quality of life have never been more exciting and fulfilling.  Despite this there has been a worrying decline in public funding for plant breeding-related research and  support for international centers of germplasm development and crop improvement.   In part, this has resulted in a serious reduction in the number of young people interested in devoting their professional careers to plant breeding as well as the number of universities offering plant breeding courses or conducting relevant research in plant breeding. The authors’ aim in writing this book is to provide an integrated and updated view of the current scientific progress related to diverse plant breeding disciplines, within the context of applied breeding programs.  This excellent new book will encourage a new generation of students to pursue careers related to plant breeding and will assist a wider audience of agricultural students, agronomists, policy makers and those with an interest in agriculture in gaining insight about the issues affecting plant breeding and its key role in improving the quality of life of people and in securing sufficient food, at the quality required and at an affordable price.With comprehensive coverage including questions designed for students, and an accompanying website containing additional material to help in the study of the subject, Plant Breeding is an ideal text for all those studying plant and crop sciences, and a convenient reference source for professionals working in the area. All libraries within universities and research establishments where biological and agricultural sciences are studied and taught should have multiple copies of this book.

A few months into the new millennium in May 2000, Ken Livingstone became the first ever Mayor of London. In the succeeding two decades, London has undergone a dramatic evolution under three very different mayors, but how has the mayoralty itself changed? How have the capital’s challenges and crises been overcome? And is the office still fit for purpose?At a time of tremendous uncertainty for the capital and the nation generally, this ambitious new book marks the twentieth anniversary of the creation of the position of the Mayor of London. It examines how the first three mayors have approached the role with markedly distinct politics, outlooks and styles and how the position has transformed over time to meet the changing needs of the city.London’s Mayor at 20 combines expert opinion with reflections from those closely involved in setting up, running and working in the mayor’s office. Featuring a foreword by Tony Blair, who played a crucial role in the establishment of the mayoralty, and including interviews with Ken Livingstone and Sadiq Khan, this comprehensive analysis seeks to investigate how the government of London has developed and what the future holds for this modern metropolis.

Behind the world's most iconic front door lies the core of British political power: the Prime Minister's home and office. Designed over three centuries ago as an ordinary residence, 10 Downing Street (or 'No. 10') has undergone a challenging metamorphosis, with continuous adaptation and renovation allowing successive occupants to make their mark on this evolving, surprising and in some places crumbling building. No. 10's first-ever Researcher in Residence, Jack Brown, has used unprecedented access to people and papers to uncover intimate stories of Downing Street's post-war residents, staff and visitors, revealing how those in power have shaped the building - and been shaped by it in return. This is a fascinating account of unexplored corners of one of the nation's best-known buildings, from the minutiae of decoration and diplomacy to the drama of terrorist bombs and political bombshells.

The United Kingdom has never had an easy relationship with its capital. Far and away the wealthiest and most populous city in the country, London is the political, financial and cultural centre of the UK and it is responsible for almost a quarter of its economic output. Yet the city's insatiable growth and perceived political dominance have caused national leaders grave concern for hundreds of years. This 'London as problem' perception has only increased as the city has become busier, dirtier and ever more powerful. The recent resurgence in anti-London sentiment and plans to rebalance power away from the capital should not be a surprise in a nation still feeling the effects of austerity. But will it be different this time? Will HS2 or the plan to move the House of Lords to northern England really redistribute power and wealth? Published on the eve of the delayed mayoral elections and in the wake of the greatest financial downturn in generations, London and the UK asks whether the capital's relentless growth and stranglehold on commerce and culture will ever leave room for other regions to compete.

This book is the result of five years’ research into the transformative regeneration of East London’s Docklands, which began in the early 1980s. Drawing heavily on original primary source research, it tells a story much repeated but previously only partially understood. The book sheds new light on the unlikely emergence of the Canary Wharf development, the local and national politics that enabled it, and the maverick individuals who made it happen. It argues that understanding why and how Canary Wharf and the wider Docklands regeneration came about is crucial for understanding how future regeneration projects may or may not succeed.