Autumn web update
A roundup of developments and improvements on the University's corporate web pages.
News in 2007
The future of brain research
A proposal for a cutting-edge brain research programme, that aims to develop new methods for the treatment of brain disorders such as depression and schizophrenia will be announced this week [5 December] at the instrumental life sciences conference, EuroBioForum.
Bristol wins environmental accolade in 2007 THES Awards
The University of Bristol has won a national environmental accolade for its outstanding contribution towards sustainable development in this year’s Times Higher Awards.
Travel to Work Survey 2007
Have your say – and you could win one of four £50 vouchers.
Perspective and progress
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Eric Thomas, on challenges (personal and professional), the RAE and the new Staff Club.
Arenberg-Coimbra Group Prize 2008
The Coimbra Group is again offering the Arenberg-Coimbra Prize, open to Masters graduates who have studied on the Erasmus programme.
Local school pupils aim high
Around 90 local school pupils from Withywood Community School will be visiting the University of Bristol this week to experience university life.
Dr Pellicano wins Michael Young Prize for autism work
Dr Elizabeth Pellicano in the Department of Experimental Psychology has been announced as the joint winner of the 2007 Michael Young Prize.
Medical student wins Neonatal Society bursary
Jonathan Dunne, a fifth-year undergraduate in the School of Medicine, has won a national prize for a project carried out in Delhi on diabetes in pregnancy.
Students sleep rough for charity
Students from Bristol University raised £400 for charity after taking part in a sponsored sleep-out to help raise money for the Julian Trust, the Bristol homeless charity.
Red blood cell transfusions under scrutiny
Bristol scientists have found that red blood cell transfusions given to people having heart surgery could increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.
LTTS December workshops
A summary of December workshops for staff run by LTSS to encourage the use of technology in learning, teaching and research at Bristol.
TASI courses for December
The University’s Technical Advisory Service for Images (TASI) is holding several workshops for staff in the next few weeks.
Major clinical trial of osteoporosis screening begins
Researchers are looking for local women in the Weston/North Somerset area over the age of 70 to take part in the second phase of a major clinical trial to find out if screening older women for osteoporosis can help to reduce the numbers who suffer bone fractures.
Professor Johnson becomes an Academician – and a Fellow
Malcolm Johnson, Emeritus Professor in the School for Policy Studies, has been elected to two major bodies.
Want to be a sports star?
New findings from the Children of the 90s project show that children born in autumn are more active than those born in spring.
What happens when dad looks after the kids?
According to new research from the University of Bristol, some fathers do not provide their young sons with the same quality of intellectual stimulation as mothers do. Boys who spend at least 15 hours a week in their father’s care as toddlers perform worse in academic assessments when they start school.
Working mums and overweight kids: is there a link?
New research from the University of Bristol shows that children aged between 5 and 7, whose mothers work full time, are more likely to be overweight at age 16. The impact on their weight is not immediate; rather, children become more obese as they get older.
Investigating the causes of Alzheimer's
Scientists at the University of Bristol are investigating what causes the leaks that develop in blood vessels in Alzheimer's disease, thanks to funding from the UK's leading dementia research charity, the Alzheimer's Research Trust.
Giant submarine landslide identified
An enormous submarine landslide that disintegrated 60,000 years ago produced the longest flow of sand and mud yet documented on Earth. The massive submarine flow travelled 1,500 kilometres – the distance from London to Rome – before depositing its load.
Bristol celebrates opening of new £24 million Centres for Excellence
State-of-the-art chemistry laboratories for undergraduates and visiting school students, computer-controlled human patient simulators, high-tech facilities for anatomy teaching and a 'lab in a van' are among the features of two new centres opened at the University of Bristol on 21 November.
Giant fossil sea scorpion
The discovery of a giant fossilised claw from an ancient sea scorpion indicates that when alive it would have been about two and a half meters long, much taller than the average man.
At the cutting edge - recently funded projects
The competition for funding is fierce, with only very best proposals maturing into a project.
Theatre Collection makes no excuses for Dad's Army star archive
A collection of theatrical memorabilia given to the University of Bristol’s Theatre Collection by Arnold Ridley, one of the stars of Dad's Army, has been made available online for the first time.
Heart attacks and nerves
Scientists have found a naturally occurring protein, known as nerve growth factor, can dramatically improve the survival of heart cells.
Chemistry students shortlisted for volunteering award
Five students in the School of Chemistry have been shortlisted for a Higher Education Academy Student Volunteering Award.
Former M&S boss launches New Enterprise Competition
Roger Holmes, former CEO of Marks & Spencer, visited the University on 9 November to mark the official launch of the 2008 New Enterprise Competition.
Life-saving clean-water project secures $13m from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Fight against water-borne disease given major boost.
Life-saving clean-water project secures $13m from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
The fight against water-borne disease will receive a major boost thanks to groundbreaking work by an international consortium led by the University of Bristol and supported by a $13 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Over 500 Scouts meet for an evening of science
Over 500 youth members of Avon County Scouts will be attending an evening of experiments, explanations and explosions at a science event being held at the University of Bristol tonight [Monday 12 November].
Rain forests: ancient and modern
Rain forests are crucial to the well-being of our planet, so it is important that we understand their evolution and ecology.
The future of the University’s student residences
The University has established the Residential Strategy Board to carry out a comprehensive review of its student residences and work on a plan for their future.
Bristol’s universities take national lead in public engagement
The University of Bristol and the University of the West of England have jointly won a £2 million bid to set up and operate a new National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement.
Michael Naughton on Barry George's appeal
Dr Michael Naughton has been interviewed on GWR Bristol radio about Barry George's appeal, the man serving a life sentence for the murder of BBC TV presenter Jill Dando.
Should the UK introduce a chickenpox vaccination?
The only realistic way of preventing deaths and severe complications arising from chickenpox is to routinely vaccinate children against the disease.
Digital Imaging Workshops
The University’s Technical Advisory Service for Images (TASI) is holding several workshops for staff in the next few weeks.
Proposals for precinct development: opinions invited
New proposals for creating new research and teaching accommodation for the University’s departments of Biological Sciences and Mathematics are now on display in Senate House and online.
Nature and Science
Two Bristol academics who have had their work published in these prestigious journals.
The unknown soldiers
In a time of turbulence and risk, the British armed forces are on a dangerously unsustainable course, a major new Demos report warns.
Four Leverhulme Prizes for Bristol academics
The 2007 Philip Leverhulme Prizes include four for Bristol academics - and the fourth win in a row for the Department of Philosophy.