New guide to diagnosing your health by Bristol doctor
A new book, Diagnosing Your Health Symptoms For Dummies® , by experienced family doctor and University of Bristol lecturer, Knut Schroeder is published this month.
News in 2010
Chemistry student ‘unbeaten’ in World Chess Tournament
Sarah Hegarty, a Chemistry undergraduate, represented England in the 2010 World Chess Olympiad – and was the only member of the England women’s team to be unbeaten.
Most distant galaxy ever discovered measured by scientists
An international team of astronomers involving the University of Bristol have confirmed that a recently discovered distant galaxy is the most remote object ever observed. It is so far away that light from it has taken 13.1 billion years to reach the Earth.
‘Junk DNA’ uncovers the nature of our ancient ancestors
The key to solving one of the great puzzles in evolutionary biology, the origin of vertebrates — animals with an internal skeleton made of bone — has been revealed in new research from Dartmouth College (NH, USA) and the University of Bristol.
Why the leopard got its spots
Why do leopards have rosette shaped markings but tigers have stripes? Researchers at the University of Bristol investigated the flank markings of 35 species of wild cats to understand what drives the evolution of such beautiful and intriguing variation.
Old age in medieval poetry
The British Academy’s prestigious Sir Israel Gollancz Memorial Lecture will take place in Bristol this year. The lecture, on Personifications of old age in medieval poetry, will be given by Professor Ad Putter in the Wills Memorial Building on Thursday 21 October at 4.15pm.
PhD student wins award at International Conference on Systems Biology
Tom Gorochowski, a PhD student at the Bristol Centre for Complexity Sciences, has been commended for his work at the world’s leading systems biology conference.
Bristol surgeon wins prestigious award for research paper
Pradeep Narayan, Senior Registrar in Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Bristol Heart Institute and a postgraduate at the University, has become the first UK winner of the Hans G Borst Award for Thoracic Aortic Surgery.
Experts discuss Robin Hood tax at Bristol Festival of Ideas
Should there be a Robin Hood tax on financial transactions to raise money to tackle climate change and poverty? That will be the question tackled by a panel of distinguished experts as part of the Bristol Festival of Ideas.
Speaking the internet's language
What influence is the internet having on language, and what is happening to language as it comes to be used on the internet? This and other questions will be addressed by prominent linguist David Crystal in the annual Bristol Institute for Research in the Humanities and Arts (BIRTHA) lecture at the University of Bristol this evening.
Colourful lectures for autumn
Cézanne, synaesthesia and sensory design are just some of the subjects covered by the Autumn Art Lectures at the University of Bristol which this year take colour as their theme. The series starts on Tuesday 19 October and runs for six consecutive Tuesdays at 6pm in the Reception Room of the Wills Memorial Building.
Children of the 90s: more volunteers welcome
The team behind University’s long-running health research project, Children of the 90s, are looking for more people to take part in their research studies.
Physical activity firmly on the agenda for public health
Professor of Exercise and Health Sciences Ken Fox has received a Fellowship by Distinction (FFPH) of the Faculty of Public Health of the Royal College of Physicians. This is the first award of its kind to a specialist in physical activity.
Bristol task force to address torture prevention in Nairobi, Kenya
Academics from the University of Bristol will be travelling to Nairobi, Kenya this week [18 – 19 October] to address the implementation of torture prevention standards in Africa.
Law student earns England Bronze at Commonwealth Games
Georgie Twigg, a University of Bristol student, scored England’s Bronze medal-winning goal in the women's hockey at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.
I win, you lose
A new study by a team at the University's Graduate School of Education and Department of Computer Science has used brain imaging to reveal how people and animals learn from failure and success.
Are patient surveys a reliable way to assess the performance of doctors and practices?
To assess the performance of general practices, it is better to ask patients about their actual experiences of care rather than ask for satisfaction ratings, according to new research from the University of Bristol published on bmj.com today. The findings call into question the reliability of using surveys to evaluate practice performance.
Dogs may be pessimistic too
Research by academics at the University of Bristol, and funded by the RSPCA, has gained new insight into the minds of dogs, discovering that those that are anxious when left alone also tend to show ‘pessimistic’ like behaviour.
Screen time linked to psychological problems in children
Children who spend longer than two hours in front of a computer or television screen are more likely to suffer psychological difficulties, regardless of how physically active they are.
Teenagers targeted in innovative anti-smoking programme
Students from schools in England and Wales are being enrolled in a pioneering social enterprise programme which will aim to cut the rates of teenage smoking across the UK.
Commonwealth Bronze for Bristol student
Lawrence Clarke, a student from the University of Bristol, has won the Bronze medal in the men’s 110m hurdles in the XIX Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India.
Two AHRC Fellowships awarded to School of Humanities
AHRC Fellowships have been awarded to two researchers in the School of Humanities: Dr Nicoletta Momigliano in the Department of Classics and Ancient History and Dr Kirsty Reid in the Department of Historical Studies - History.
University author on shortlist for book prize
A gripping account of one of the most exciting success stories in the history of medicine – the eradication of smallpox – has been nominated for the 2010 Wellcome Trust Book Prize. Angel of Death by Gareth Williams, Professor of Medicine at the University of Bristol, is one of six books in contention for the prize which is awarded annually to the finest fiction or non-fiction book centred around medicine.
Bristol scientists make The Times' Top 100
Two scientists from the University of Bristol have been named among the 100 most important people in British science and engineering in a list published today. The list was compiled for the first anniversary edition of The Times’ science magazine, Eureka.
New online ‘eBiolabs’ resources to support first-year teaching
The School of Physiology and Pharmacology is about to roll out novel, interactive web-based support for first-year undergraduate practical teaching at Bristol.
Salisbury show for Bristol's AHRC Creative Research Fellow
A one man exhibition of works by video artist Terry Flaxton, AHRC Creative Research Fellow at the University of Bristol, runs throughout October at Salisbury Arts Centre.
Diamonds - clues included
A study of Brazilian diamonds by Earth scientists from the University of Bristol has found that tiny inclusions in the diamonds contain traces of oceanic crust and sedimentary rocks, formed originally on the surface of the Earth then transported to depths of more than 300km.
Human Rights Implementation Centre and partners awarded over €2 million for international torture prevention projects
The University of Bristol’s Human Rights Implementation Centre (HRIC), which seeks to address the effective implementation of human rights, together with partners in Africa and Europe, have been awarded two grants totalling nearly €2.4 million by the European Commission (EC). The funding will contribute towards research into torture prevention in Africa and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Public lecture: Alan Turing – Computing for Life
The personal and intellectual motivations of one of the 21st century’s great mathematical logicians, credited with discovering Artificial Intelligence and posthumously celebrated for his crucial code breaking role in the Second World War, will be explored at a University of Bristol public lecture.
Teenage adventures in orchid conservation
The Director of the Writhlington School Orchid Project will give the 2010 Annals of Botany Lecture organised by the University of Bristol's Botanic Garden tomorrow, Thursday 7 October.
Why universities are good for your health
From preventing 100,000 cot deaths worldwide to pioneering a new treatment for heart disease, the wide-ranging, global impact of university research s being showcased at an event in Westminster.
Comprehensive Spending Review: The road ahead
On 20 October the Chancellor of the Exchequer will announce the Comprehensive Spending Review to Parliament.
Specific kidney cell could be key in the treatment of kidney failure in diabetes
New research by academics in the University's School of Clinical Sciences has found a cell in the kidney called the podocyte could be the key to understanding why kidney failure in diabetes happens.
Sparking student ideas for business
Budding entrepreneurs were given a financial boost in the University of Bristol’s annual Spark start-up course which helps students turn their bright ideas into new business.
Professor Mildred Blaxter, 1925-2010
Professor Mildred Blaxter, who held an Honorary Chair in Social Medicine at the University, passed away recently.
Treatments for postnatal depression assessed
Giving antidepressants to women with postnatal depression early in the course of the illness is likely to result in the greatest improvement in symptoms, according to new research from the University of Bristol, funded by the National Institute for Health Research, Health Technology Assessment (HIHR HTA) programme.
Life threatening breathing disorder of Rett syndrome prevented
A group of researchers at the University of Bristol have sequestered the potentially fatal breath holding episodes associated with the autistic-spectrum disorder Rett syndrome.
Revolutionary removable chewing gum hits the market
The world’s first easily removable* and degradable* chewing gum has been launched on the multi-billion dollar US consumer market.
Bristol engineer receives international ‘Student of the Year’ award
A Bristol student has been named as one of the winners of the 2010 Science, Engineering & Technology [SET] Student of the Year awards. An international awards programme, the event provides a showcase for educational excellence by recognising the exceptional achievements of both students and universities.
Does wealth increase parental investment biases in child education?
Wealth does affect parents’ investment in their children’s education, according to new research from the University of Bristol and the London School of Economics, published in Current Anthropology.