Driverless transport wins award
A revolutionary form of driverless travel – the ULTra (Urban Light Transport) – pioneered at Bristol University has been awarded the Viva Award for 2009.
News in 2010
SETsquared Centre part of Bristol’s future
FutureStory, an initiative that shows how people and businesses in towns and cities across the UK are adapting to – and succeeding in – the new global economy, has recognised the role of the University’s SETsquared Business Acceleration Centre in supporting entrepreneurial start-ups as key to Bristol’s future success.
Bad behaviour - local sixth formers invited to have their say
What do we really know about risky behaviours such as smoking, drinking and taking drugs? An event organised by the University of Bristol this week, part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science, aims to find out.
Students take to the region’s countryside this weekend for national orienteering competition
Three-hundred maps, 200 competitors, nine hours of running and one air horn will be the focus of the region’s landscape this weekend [13 and 14 March] when students from across the UK take to the countryside for a national orienteering competition.
NHS to improve help for victims of violence
The role of the NHS in responding to violence against women and children is the subject of a new report by an independent taskforce of experts including Gene Feder, Professor of Primary Health Care at the University of Bristol.
Bristol chemist recognised as one of the UK’s 'unsung heroes of science'
A chemistry teacher at the University of Bristol has been awarded a prestigious new award from the Royal Society, the national academy of science, for his inspriring engagement work in helping to promote science across the UK.
Why mothers who are ‘happier in themselves’ make more successful parents
They say money can’t buy you happiness – but it seems that being ‘happy in yourself’ can make you a more successful mum, regardless of your financial circumstances, according to new research using the Children of the 90s cohort.
Electoral systems reviewed in new report
A major new report on the pros and cons of different voting systems will be launched today at the British Academy.
Is it British to wear the veil?
A survey of the media coverage that followed Jack Straw’s requests to Muslim women to remove their face veils when visiting him in his constituency surgery charts the ways in which the wearing of Muslim headscarves and face veils in the UK today has assumed increased social and political significance.
Break free on No Smoking Day
Staff from Sport, Exercise and Health will be on hand on Wednesday 10 March – No Smoking Day – to offer advice and support to University employees and students who wish to quit smoking.
World-leading nanoscience institutes join forces
Two of the world's leading nanoscience institutes have entered into an agreement for research collaboration and educational exchange in nanoscience and nanotechnology. The agreement between the Centre for Nanoscience and Quantum Information (NSQI) at the University of Bristol, UK, and the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) at UCLA in the USA, forges a link between two of the world’s foremost centres in nanoscience research.
Pioneering treatment reduces disability in premature babies with serious brain haemorrhage
A pioneering technique, a world first in Bristol, led by Andrew Whitelaw, Professor of Neonatal Medicine at the University of Bristol, has been shown to reduce disability in premature babies with serious brain haemorrhage by washing the brain to remove toxic fluid.
Gwyn Jones 1955-2010
Gwyn Jones, a key member of the Mechanical Workshop in the School of Chemistry, died in late February. Richard Dixon FRS, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, offers this appreciation of his life and career.
University of Bristol Big Run
Staff and students are invited to take up the challenge of the University of Bristol Big Run on 14 March at Coombe Dingle Sports Complex.
New grant to study characterisation of Alzheimer’s disease
Dr Andrea Tales in the Department of Experimental Psychology has been awarded a grant of £164,000 by local Alzheimer’s research charity BRACE to study the characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia using neuroimaging.
Centre for Urban Studies to research the urban middle classes
Professor Gary Bridge from the Centre for Urban Studies at the School for Policy Studies is to lead a £500,000-funded project that will compare urban neighbourhoods in Paris and London.
£230,000 for research into forced labour in the UK
Dr Sam Scott from the Centre for the Study of Poverty and Social Justice at the School for Policy Studies has been awarded £230,000 research funding from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation to examine the scale, nature and scope of forced labour in the UK.
‘Virtual’ head teachers benefit children in care
New research from the School for Policy Studies shows that ‘virtual’ head teachers significantly raise the priority of education and outcomes for children in care, who are often less successful at school than other pupils.
Research study to investigate a chronic childhood condition
A research team led by Dr Esther Crawley, Consultant Senior Lecturer in Community-Based Medicine, has been awarded £164,000 to look into interventions and treatment options for a chronic childhood condition.
Economic historians warn against immediate spending cuts
A letter warning against immediate cuts in public spending and urging knowledge-based economic growth signed by twenty senior economic historians, including academics in Bristol University’s Department of Historical Studies, is published in The Guardian today.
Archaeologists celebrate double awards
University of Bristol archaeologists have been honoured by two awards at the prestigious Archaeology 2010 Festival held at the British Museum. Professor Joshua Pollard won for his research on the Bluestonehenge project and MA student Chantel Summerfield for her work on military arborglyphs on Salisbury Plain.
Dr Peter Durie, OBE, 1926-2010
Dr Peter Durie, who retired as Pro-Chancellor of the University of Bristol in 2004 after very distinguished service, has died.
What makes a meal tasty?
Professor Pete Barham, who has worked extensively with celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal, argues in a scientific paper published by the American Chemical Society, that the hot topic of ‘Molecular Gastronomy’ should not be considered a style of cooking but a new scientific discipline.
The Hon Dr Alasdair Morrison, 1929-2009
Professor Michael Lee, former Head of the Department of Politics, remembers The Hon Dr Alasdair Morrison - an "excellent university teacher", erstwhile High Sheriff of Gloucester, and orchid enthusiast.
Free dental checks for dogs
To highlight the issue of gum disease in dogs Bristol University's Langford Veterinary Services (LVS) will be offering free dental check-ups for dogs during March as part of national Oral Care Month.
Staff and students net cash for charity
Staff and students from across the University took part in a netball 'battle of the sexes' match last week to help raise money for charity.
Are families physically active together or couch potatoes?
A new study by the Department of Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences that examines how physical activity fits into family life has found families rarely take part in physical activity as a family because of the demands of work, school and the different interests of family members.
Bristol students win inaugural ‘enterprise varsity’ competition
Students from the University of Bristol won the first ‘Inter-University Business Challenge’ held on 17 February at Deloitte’s Bristol offices on Temple Quay.
Discover — from killer plants to ancient civilizations and a giant ice penguin
Make music from a giant penguin ice sculpture, explore the world of carnivorous plants and ancient civilizations, and discover how memories are formed and volcanic eruptions happen. You will find all of this and more when Bristol University moves into The Mall Bristol, Broadmead, and Cabot Circus this month [11 to 13 March] for Discover, the University’s biennial public celebration of research.
Community groups invited to apply for Raising & Giving Fund grants
The University of Bristol Students’ Union is inviting local voluntary and community groups in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset to apply now for grants of up to £1,000 from the Union’s Raising & Giving [RAG] Fund.
Subtext 11: Small talk, big ideas, changing times
Issue 11 of Subtext, the University’s award-winning magazine, is published today [Friday 26 February].
Tackling livestock diseases in developing countries
One of sixteen grants, worth a combined total of £13m, to tackle livestock diseases and the threat they pose to food security in developing countries has been awarded to Dr Eric Morgan of the School of Biological Sciences, along with colleagues in Scotland, Canada, South Africa and India.
Bristol professor curates major National Gallery exhibition
A new exhibition, 'Painting History: Delaroche and Lady Jane Grey', co-curated by Professor Stephen Bann of the University of Bristol opens at the National Gallery this week. The exhibition centres around the French artist's iconic masterpiece 'The Execution of Lady Jane Grey', 1833.
Andrew Hook 1948-2010
Andrew Hook, a technician in the Department of Earth Sciences, died suddenly at home on 13 February. Dr Mary Benton and Dr Liz Loeffler remember a 'gentle champion of undergraduates' who will be greatly missed.
Island of dwarf dinosaurs
In new work by Professor Mike Benton at the University of Bristol, and six other authors from Romania, Germany, and the United States, Nopcsa’s hypothesis is tested for the first time. They found that the Haţeg Island dinosaurs were indeed dwarfs.
Dig helps homeless learn about modern heritage
A team of homeless people in Bristol have taken part in a small-scale archaeological dig to explore the history of ‘Turbo Island’, a busy traffic island in the heart of the city, with the help of students from the University of Bristol, English Heritage and the police. The excavation is part of a wider project looking into heritage and contemporary homelessness, funded by the Council of British Archaeology.
Think before you bin
The University has introduced several new, dual-purpose, street bins around the precinct.
Careers in sport and fitness
The Careers Service and the Centre for Sport, Exercise and Health (CSEH) will be running an afternoon dedicated to career options in the sport and fitness sector on Monday 8 March. The event will take place in the University’s indoor Sports Centre on Tyndall Avenue from 12pm to 3pm.
John Piper at The Bristol Gallery
The Bristol Gallery is delighted to present a ten day only exhibition showcasing over 50 original prints for sale by twentieth century British artist John Piper (1903-1992) together with a select number of additional works by the artist Graham Sutherland (1903-1980).
Honorary degrees awarded [17 February]
Bristol University is awarding honorary degrees to Mr Mike Peirce, Chief Executive, The Southmead Project and Professor Patricia Broadfoot, Vice-Chancellor, University of Gloucestershire, at today’s degree ceremonies in the Wills Memorial Building [Wednesday 17 February].