News in 2015

A booklet written by a researcher from the University of Bristol with the aim of helping friends and family members to support victims of domestic abuse is being distributed to hundreds of locations across the city.

University receives garden design award for Life Sciences external realm

The University celebrated the official opening of the external realm of the Life Sciences Building last week, and received an award in recognition of excellence in garden design from the Clifton and Hotwells Improvement Society (CHIS).

Elizabeth Blackwell Early Career fellow awarded Medical Research Council clinical fellowship

Adam Chambers, a higher surgical trainee in the East Midlands Deanery and a recent Elizabeth Blackwell Clinical Primer fellow, has been awarded a Clinical Research Training Fellowship by the Medical Research Council (MRC).

Dr Christopher Holmes, 1953-2015

Dr Christopher Holmes, a senior lecturer and researcher in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology from 1984 to 2007, died recently. Professor Chris Paraskeva, former PhD student Dr Jim Houlihan, and other friends and colleagues offer their tributes.

Biochemist announced as winner of BBC science writing competition

Emily Coyte, an assistant teacher from the School of Biochemistry, is one of the winners of an international science writing competition run in conjunction with BBC Focus magazine.

Dr Sarah Ayres to chair Political Studies Association Research Commission

Dr Sarah Ayres from the School for Policy Studies has been appointed as chair of the Political Studies Association’s (PSA) new Research Commission to investigate how informal governance in shaping devolution in English cities.

Two new epigenetics grants to study how early life experiences affect health

Two researchers from the School of Social and Community Medicine have been awarded grants as part of £3 million project to study the impact of early life experiences on lifelong health.

University of Bristol appoints new Pro Vice-Chancellor

The University of Bristol has appointed Dr Erik Lithander as its new Pro Vice-Chancellor for International and Student Recruitment. Dr Lithander, currently Pro Vice-Chancellor (International and Outreach) at The Australian National University, Australia's leading research institution located in Canberra, will take up the post on 1 February.

Image of an artist's reconstruction of the Fractofusus community on the H14 surface at Bonavista Peninsula showing the clusters that arise from stolon-like reproduction.

Earliest evidence of reproduction in a complex organism

How some of the first complex organisms on Earth – possibly some of the first animals to exist – reproduced has been identified in a new study of 565 million-year-old fossils by researchers from the Universities of Cambridge, Bristol and Oxford.

Generic illustration showing synapse network

Scientists identify trouble spot in brain linked to learning difficulties in Down syndrome

New brain research has mapped a key trouble spot likely to contribute to intellectual disability in Down syndrome. In a paper published in Nature Neuroscience, scientists from the University of Bristol and UCL suggest the findings could be used to inform future therapies which normalise the function of disrupted brain networks in the condition.

New Associate Dean of Social and Clinical Medicine

Sarah Purdy, Professor of Primary Care in the School of Social and Community Medicine at the University of Bristol, has been appointed Associate Dean of Social and Clinical Medicine.

Exploring Deaf people’s life experiences in Bristol

The Deaf community in Bristol are invited to attend workshops on film-making and poetry writing in British Sign Language (BSL) this month as part of a project focussing on Deaf people’s life experiences in the city.

French Embassy representatives visit High Performance Networks group

31 July 2015

The University welcomed representatives from the French Embassy in London for a tour of the High Performance Networks Group (HPNG) laboratory in the Faculty of Engineering’s Merchant Venturer’s Building last week.

Getting smarter all the time

29 July 2015

Scientists from the University of Bristol joined representatives from other academic institutions, industry, local government and standards bodies earlier this month at a day-long workshop on high performance networks designed to accelerate the development of smart cities.

Bristol undergraduates publish parasite research

28 July 2015

A team of University of Bristol undergraduates have published a study on genetic diversity in the sexually transmitted parasite Trichomonas vaginalis that they carried out as part of project work for their degrees in the School of Biological Sciences.

Berlin Wall artist comes to Bristol for Upfest

27 July 2015

World famous artist Thierry Noir, famed for being the first street artist to paint the Berlin Wall, has taken to the streets of Bristol for Upfest – Europe’s largest free street art and graffiti festival.

End of an era: Sir Eric’s final degree ceremony

27 July 2015

Professor Sir Eric Thomas presided over his last degree ceremony as Bristol’s Vice-Chancellor on Friday 24 July in the Great Hall of the Wills Memorial Building.

Shaun in the City artist reveals jungle inspiration

The artist behind the exotic Shaun in the Jungle sculpture will be giving an exclusive insight into her work and inspiration when she visits the University of Bristol Botanic Garden on Tuesday [28 July].

University co-hosts Community Interest Company 10-year anniversary celebration

The Centre for Law and Enterprise at the University of Bristol Law School co-hosted an event earlier this month to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Community Interest Company (CIC), which helps social enterprises structure their businesses in ways that are compatible with their social, environmental and economic objectives.

Bridge constructed with marshmallows and lasagna

ACCIS students go back to school with composites research

Researchers from the University’s EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Advanced Composites for Innovation and Science (ACCIS CDT) led an outreach event with a difference for Year 7 students at the Crypt School in Gloucester earlier this month.

Image of flooding in the developing world

Reducing flood risk around the world

How global flood risk models are being used to reduce flood impacts around the world is the subject of a new review by an international team of researchers, including scientists from the University of Bristol.

Graduating grandfather celebrates degree, aged 69

A 69-year-old grandfather from Bristol has graduated after his dyslexia was finally diagnosed six years ago. Despite having a love of reading, Richard Abraham left school at 15 with no qualifications and had never written an essay in his life.

Honorary degrees awarded at the University of Bristol – Friday, 24 July

The University of Bristol is awarding honorary degrees to Ben Emmerson QC and Dr Wendy Darke at degree ceremonies taking place today [24 July] in the Wills Memorial Building.

First class honours for mum-of-four after ‘epiphany moment’

A single mum from Trowbridge, inspired to undertake a degree after a health scare and the death of her father, is embarking on her dream career after graduating with first class honours from the University of Bristol.

Chancellor completes the 52 Faces of Bristol

A year-long campaign, going behind the scenes and getting to know the many people who make up the University of Bristol, draws to a close today [23 July].

Bristol’s official fanfare to be played from the top of the Wills Memorial Tower

A fanfare specially composed for Bristol will be played for the first time on Monday [27 July] at four locations across the city, sounding the start of the Bristol Proms. Three trumpeters will play from the top of the tower of the University of Bristol’s Wills Memorial Building, in what promises to be an extraordinary acoustic experience.

Honorary degrees awarded at the University of Bristol – Thursday, 23 July

The University of Bristol is awarding honorary degrees to Professor David Stuart, Nik Gowing and Chrissie Iles at degree ceremonies taking place today [23 July] in the Wills Memorial Building.

Honorary degrees awarded at the University of Bristol – Wednesday, 22 July

22 July 2015

The University of Bristol is awarding an honorary fellowship to its Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Eric Thomas and an honorary degree to Professor Keith Beven at degree ceremonies taking place today [22 July] in the Wills Memorial Building.

Famous faces awarded honorary degrees by the University of Bristol

21 July 2015

With graduation under way at the University of Bristol, we take a look back at some of the world-famous people who have been awarded honorary degrees. Among them are great political leaders, eminent scientists, renowned actors, literary greats, broadcasting legends and cherished chefs.

University receives Outstanding Earth Champion Award

21 July 2015

The University of Bristol has been recognised for its valuable contribution to the environment of the Bristol region in the category of well-being by the Outstanding Earth Champions Foundation.

Honorary degrees awarded at the University of Bristol – Tuesday, 21 July

21 July 2015

The University of Bristol is awarding honorary degrees to Professor Elizabeth Morris OBE, Stephanie Hilborne and Bob Marshall-Andrews QC at degree ceremonies taking place today [21 July] in the Wills Memorial Building.

Digging for Kids Company

Staff volunteers from the University’s External Estates division used their horticultural skills to great effect when they took part in a renovation project at a Kids Company centre in Henbury last month.

Generic image illustrating obese man with plate of junk food

Gene variation identified for teen binge eating

A variation of a gene that can lead teenagers to binge eat has been identified by researchers. The work, carried out by academics at UCL and the universities of Bristol and Queensland, hope the finding will allow a better understanding of why binge eating develops, and inform the development of future preventative strategies for teens at risk before they become overweight or obese.

International consortium hopes to unlock spectrum above 6 GHz

The University of Bristol is part of an international consortium that aims to develop concepts and key components for a new 5G mobile radio access technology. The technology is expected to operate in a range of frequency bands between 6 and 100 GHz, including millimetre-wave (mmWave) frequencies.

Honorary degrees awarded at the University of Bristol – Monday, 20 July