Alex Riggs is a fourth-year PhD student in History at the University of Nottingham, funded by Midlands4Cities. His research focuses on American left-wing politics in the 1970s and 1980s, using case studies from national and local politics to trace its intellectual history in the period. His writing has appeared in U.S. Studies Online, the Journal of the History of Ideas blog and the Midlands Historical Review.

Building a Rainbow: Ideas and Coalition Building on the American Left, c. 1973-88

To some observers, the emergence of Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other parts of the American left can appear to have come from nothing. Yet by looking at the intellectual and political changes of the 1970s and 1980s, we can see that they in fact have clear historical origins. The idea of a ‘rainbow coalition’ in particular reveals how they owe much to concepts developed in this foundational period.

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Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) for Power Electronic Converters

In modern smart grids, the majority of electromagnetic interference (EMI), particularly within the conducted emission frequency range, arises from Power Electronic (PE) converters. These converters have the potential to cause EMC issues. In accordance with European and British directives, EMC compliance mandates that devices operating within a network should function without introducing interference that leads to “substantial degradation of service under normal operating conditions.” Consequently, any device intended for the market must undergo tests specified in standards like CISPR-16.

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3 Tips for Applying to PhD Programs

Applying to PhD programs can be confusing, and there is little advice about how to go about applying for them. This article offers three top tips for navigating the PhD application process and making yourself a strong applicant.

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