Resources by Institute of Ideas

Access to Modern Medicine

Produced for the Debating Matters competition, this topic guide looks at the availability and access to medicines through the National Health Service. It helps students to discuss issues around access to healthcare. The materials looks at a range of factors that are considered when health services consider the use...

Ageing

Produced for the Debating Matters, this topic guide contains background information, to encourage discussion and debate, on the issues associated with increased life expectancy.

Over the last 150 years, life expectancy in the UK has nearly doubled from 40 to 80 years and research indicates half of babies...

Animal Experimentation

Produced for the Debating Matters, this topic guide looks at the issues around using animals for medical research. The guide contains information, further reading and web links. It encourages students to gain a greater understanding of the topic and consider the issues around this controversial area.

Two...

Assisted Dying

This topic guide looks at the issue of assisted dying. Produced for the Debating Matters competition, this resource contains information, web links and further reading on this controversial area.

Supporters of assisted dying aim to give people the ability to control their destiny. Critics, both secular and...

Biofuels

Produced by Debating Matters, this topic guide puts the biofuel debate in context, providing information, a reading list and weblinks. The resource encourages students to debate issues such as:
*Are biofuels environmentally friendly?
*Fuel versus food
*A waste of time, money and energy?
*...

Cheap Flights

Produced for the Debating Matters competition, this topic guide contains background information and further reading on the impacts of cheap air travel. Critics point to increased carbon dioxide emissions and climate change, looking on budget flights as a particular problem. However, supporters highlight the...

Clinical Trials

Produced for the Debating Matters competition, this topic guides looks at the use of developing countries for clinical trials. It helps students to understand and debate the issues around this controversial area. There is a concern that powerful companies and research institutions cannot be held to account for...

Complementary Medicine on the NHS

This topic guide was produced for the Debating Matters Competition. It contains information, further reading and web links on the topic of complementary medicine and whether they should be available through the National Health Service.

Supporters of complementary and alternative medicine see its provision...

Factory Farming

Produced by Debating Matter, this topic guide looks at factory farming and encourages students to discuss the arguments for and against. The topic guide gives information, reading lists and weblinks. Students debate issues such as:
*Animal welfare
*Environment issues
*Feeding the planet
*...