Elsa Hammond launches boat at Bristol’s MShed
Bristol student Elsa Hammond has celebrated the completion of her boat and is one step closer to the start of her Solo Pacific Row.
News in 2014
Little-studied man-made gases have big warming potential
The total warming impact of 25 major synthetic greenhouse gases has been examined by an international team, led by researchers from the University of Bristol.
Bristol hosts China-UK Higher Education Forum 2014
The University of Bristol played host on 25 March to an international conference on university research and collaboration. The China-UK Higher Education Forum 2014, jointly arranged by the University of Bristol, the British Council and the UK Higher Education International Unit, brought together Chinese and UK university professionals to hear about current best practice.
Vince Cable visits Bristol
Secretary of State for Business, Vince Cable, took part in a whistle-stop tour of some of Bristol’s most innovative businesses on Thursday 3 April.
Scientists unmask the climate uncertainty monster
Increasing uncertainty in the climate system compels a greater urgency for climate change mitigation, according to new research from the University of Bristol.
Quantum cryptography for mobile phones
An ultra-high security scheme that could one day get quantum cryptography using Quantum Key Distribution into mobile devices has been developed and demonstrated by researchers from the University of Bristol’s Centre for Quantum Photonics (CQP) in collaboration with Nokia.
University opens doors to budding vets
More than 100 Year 11 and 12 students from as far afield as Switzerland attended an interactive workshop at the Vet School in March to find out what’s involved in a Veterinary Science course at Bristol.
Exploring the tangled history of an iconic flower
A new book by Dr Nicholas Saunders of the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology on the history of that ever-enduring icon, the poppy, has been published in paperback this month.
Tackling torture: leading human rights experts meet in Bristol
Efforts by the UK to prevent torture and protect the human rights of prisoners and other people deprived of their liberty will come under the spotlight at a conference being held in Bristol next week.
A satellite view of volcanoes finds the link between ground deformation and eruption
Using satellite imagery to monitor which volcanoes are deforming provides statistical evidence of their eruption potential, according to a new study led by the University of Bristol published today in Nature Communications.
Bristol team win enterprise and employability competition
A team from the University of Bristol has emerged victorious from the UK’s premier enterprise and employability skills competition – the Universities Business Challenge 2013-2014 (UBC).
1,000th paper for world-leading health study
One of the world’s largest population studies, which collects vast amounts of data from 32,000 participants to give new insights into our health, is today celebrating an important landmark in its acclaimed research history.
Men who started smoking before age 11 had fatter sons
Men who started smoking regularly before the age of 11 had sons who, on average, had 5-10kg more body fat than their peers by the time they were in their teens, according to new research from the Children of the 90s study at the University of Bristol. The researchers say this could indicate that exposure to tobacco smoke before the start of puberty may lead to metabolic changes in the next generation.
UBU Student Election Results
After a week of campaigning, the results of the UBU (University of Bristol Students Union) Elections have been announced.
50 years of bringing molecules to life
Bristol Biochemistry is 50 years old this week.
Professor Jeremy O’Brien named in EPSRC list of inspirational scientists
Jeremy O’Brien, Professorial Research Fellow in Physics and Electrical Engineering and director of the Centre for Quantum Photonics, has been named a RISE Leader for 2014 by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
Researchers announce first phononic crystal that can be altered in real time
Using an acoustic metadevice that can influence the acoustic space and can control any of the ways in which waves travel, engineers have demonstrated, for the first time, that it is possible to dynamically alter the geometry of a three-dimensional colloidal crystal in real time.
Bristol scientists contribute to latest IPCC report on the impact of global warming on ecosystems and human systems
Members of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group II will publish their first update in seven years on the scale of impacts, adaptations and vulnerabilities to climate change at a meeting in Yokohama, Japan today.
Joan Langan, 1953-2014
Joan Langan, Senior Lecturer in Social Work at the School for Policy Studies, died recently. Her colleagues, Dr Liz Lloyd and Professor Randall Smith, offer a tribute.
Next generation Brunels explore the magic of science
A group of talented Bristol pupils explored the worlds of science and magic as part of a special programme which aims to inspire the city’s next generation of Brunels.
£4.1 million funding for new Centre for Doctoral Training in Condensed Matter Physics
A new Centre for Doctoral Training in Condensed Matter Physics at the University of Bristol and University of Bath has received £4.1 million funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), it was announced today by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, The Rt. Hon George Osborne MP.
Student undertakes landmark 3D scan of Hell-Fire Caves
A PhD student at the University of Bristol is raising money to undertake a ground-breaking 3D scan of one of the most mysterious sites in the UK - the Hell-Fire Caves of West Wycombe.
What psychosocial factors could help IVF patients?
After reviewing research that explored which psychosocial factors are associated with the emotional adjustment of IVF patients, researchers have highlighted which key psychosocial factors could help identify patients at high risk of stress.
Bristol youngsters set to be tomorrow’s sporting stars
Bristol is creating the next generation of sporting heroes thanks to the Bristol Festival of School Sport, which will see over 1,350 school children discover a range of new activities.
Ancient sea creatures filtered food like modern whales
Ancient, giant marine animals used bizarre facial appendages to filter food from the ocean, according to new fossils discovered in northern Greenland. The new study, led by the University of Bristol and published today in Nature, describes how the strange species, called Tamisiocaris, used these huge, specialized appendages to filter plankton, similar to the way modern blue whales feed today.
Launch of WUN collaborative MOOC on globalisation of higher education and research
A WUN (Worldwide Universities Newtork) inter-institutional MOOC (massive open online course) taught by Professor Susan Robertson in the Graduate School of Education and Professor Kris Olds (University of Wisconsin-Madison) has been launched on the Coursera platform.
Queen of herbs to talk about the forerunners of the modern botanic garden
Internationally recognised expert, author and broadcaster, who is known as the ‘Queen of Herbs’, will give a talk about these fragrant plants tomorrow [Thursday 27 March].
Economics student tops BAT Hall of Fame
First-year Economics student Robert Bell has achieved the highest score in Europe, the Middle East and Africa in an online test that assesses business and financial aptitude.
New project explores how television became embedded in our personal lives
In what ways might memories of television programmes be connected to personal memories? Dr Helen Piper of the University of Bristol is currently working on a project ‘Remembering Television’ that aims to explore the ways in which television became embedded in our personal lives.
New Enterprise Competition 2014: Round Two results
Meshing social media and broadcasting, supporting dyslexic children with creative resources, and a new assistive technology for people with visual disabilities are just some of the innovative ideas awarded through Round Two of the University’s 2014 New Enterprise Competition (NEC).
Bristol named ‘best city to live in the UK'
Bristol has been declared the best UK city to live in by The Sunday Times.
Vet School celebrates first UK equine sports medicine Recognised Specialist
Dr Kate Allen, Senior Lecturer in Equine Sports Medicine in the School of Veterinary Sciences, has been included in the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) 2014 Recognised Specialist list.
Students raise thousands in charity hitchhiking event
Over 40 daring students from the University of Bristol have spent their weekend racing across England and Europe in a bid to be crowned the winners of a popular Raising and Giving (RAG) event.
Joyce Ferrier, 1925-2013
Joyce Ferrier, former secretary in the Departments of French and Italian, died in late 2013. Professor John Parkin offers this appreciation.
Excavation of Neolithic chambered tomb on Anglesey begins
An archaeological excavation of Ynys Môn’s least known Neolithic chambered tomb – Perthi Duon, west of the village of Brynsiencyn on Anglesey – has begun. The work is being carried out by a team from the Welsh Rock Art Organisation under the direction of Dr George Nash of the University of Bristol and Carol James.
Life Sciences builds up to completion
Work on the construction of the University’s new Life Sciences building, which sits on the site of the Old Children’s Hospital at the top of St Michael’s Hill, is continuing apace.
New book explores the Roman paratext
‘What is a paratext, and where can we find it in ancient Roman texts? How do we interpret these texts 'paratextually'? And what does this approach suggest about a work's original modes of plotting meaning, or the assumptions that underpin our own interpretation? These are just some of the questions explored in a new book edited by University of Bristol classicist, Dr Laura Jansen.
Lifesaving meningitis vaccination programme gets green light
Campaigners are celebrating today after the Department of Health announced it would be working towards introducing a life-saving vaccine for Meningitis B into the childhood immunisation programme.
40 per cent of children miss out on the parenting needed to succeed in life
Four in 10 babies don’t develop the strong emotional bonds – what psychologists call ‘secure attachment’ - with their parents that are crucial to success later in life. Disadvantaged children are more likely to face educational and behavioural problems when they grow older as a result, new Sutton Trust research finds today [21 March].
David Blunkett examines the ‘politics of pessimism’ in Policy & Politics annual lecture
With worryingly high levels of distrust and disengagement with conventional politics, MP David Blunkett will address how to bring politics alive in the 21st Century when he gives a lecture at the University of Bristol.