Southampton scientist develops strongest, lightest glass nanofibres in the world
The University of Southampton’s Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) is pioneering research into developing the strongest silica nanofibres in the world.
York insulin scientists in anniversary breakthrough
Scientists at the University of York played a pivotal role in new research that has signaled a significant step forward in the understanding of how insulin works.
University of Leeds – Former student’s $4 million gift
A $4 million gift from a former student, Peter Cheney, will fund a programme of research and study at the University of Leeds. It is one of the biggest philanthropic gifts ever given to the University.
New study documents the natural relationship between CO2 concentrations and sea level
By comparing reconstructions of atmospheric CO2 concentrations and sea level over the past 40 million years, Southampton researchers have found that greenhouse gas concentrations similar to the present (almost 400 parts per million) were always associated with sea levels at least nine metres above current levels.
Quit smoking for new year – and feel less anxious, not more
Researchers have found that smokers who successfully quit feel less anxious afterwards – despite a widely held belief that smoking relieves stress and giving up makes you feel more on edge.
Leeds joins partners in offering free online access to education
Students from the UK and around the world will soon have free access to new online education resources generated by the University of Leeds and its partners.
Occasional family meals boost kids’ fruit and veg intake
Eating meals together as a family, even if only twice a week, boosts children’s daily fruit and vegetable intake to near the recommended 5 A Day, according to researchers at the University of Leeds.
Southampton astronomers help discover gorging black hole in Andromeda
Southampton astronomers have been involved in the discovery of a black hole on a massive binge in our nearest neighbour galaxy, Andromeda, which has revealed a new side to the mysterious class of “ultraluminous X-ray sources”.
WUN supporting global research collaboration
The Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) announced today the outcomes of its 2012 Research Development Fund (RDF), investing £239,000 directly into international research collaboration that addresses issues of global concern.
Improving energy efficiency in your home – find out how to reduce your bills
Households are being encouraged to take part in a new project by the University of Southampton to help reduce their energy bills.
Commonly prescribed antibiotics ineffective for treating uncomplicated chest infections
The findings are from the largest randomised placebo controlled trial of antibiotics for acute uncomplicated LRTI to date, which was led by the University of Southampton and published Online First in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
Coral researcher from Southamtpon recognised with prestigious award
Research by a scientist from the University of Southampton into a process that is threatening to wipe out coral reefs has been recognised with a prestigious award worth 1.29 million euros.
Professor Michael Arthur to take up new role as President and Provost of UCL
Professor Michael Arthur, currently Vice Chancellor of the University of Leeds and former Chair of the Worldwide Universities Network, was confirmed on 10 December as the new President and Provost of University College London (UCL). He will succeed Professor Malcolm Grant, who has led UCL since 2003 and who will be stepping down in September 2013.
Our universities must speak English
The following article was written by Associate Professor Leandro Tessler, internationalisaton adviser to the Rector of the State University of Campinas, Brazil and member of the WUN Academic Advisory Group. It appeared in the Folha de São Paulo on 25 November 2012.
Researchers investigate impacts of climate change on rare tropical plants
Research led by the University of York has found that the impacts of climate change on rare plants in tropical mountains will vary considerably from site to site and from species to species.
Removing sea defences may reduce impact of coastal flooding
A study involving a scientist from the University of Southampton, which shows that ensuring continued flood protection for low lying coastal areas may mean sacrificing cliff top communities to the sea, has won the <font color
Southampton professor calls for harder choices to be made on climate change adaptation
Uncertainty about how much the climate is changing is not a reason to delay preparing for the harmful impacts of climate change says Professor Robert Nicholls of the University of Southampton and colleagues at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, writing today in Nature Climate Change.
An Ascendant Asia-Pacific: International Higher Education in the 21st Century
The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) will host the 8th Annual Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) Conference and Exhibition during 11 – 14 March 2013 at the AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong.
Praise for York project to encourage tuberculosis patients to quit smoking
The BUPA Foundation has awarded a high commendation prize for research led by the University of York into effective ways of helping tuberculosis patients in Pakistan to give up smoking.
Unlocking ancient rice secrets to overcome rainfall extremes
Researchers from the UK, USA and India, led by scientists at the University of York, are embarking on a major four-year project which aims to develop new strains of rice to help to feed millions of people.
Scientists pioneer method to predict environmental collapse
Scientists at the University of Southampton are pioneering a technique to predict when an ecosystem is likely to collapse, which may also have potential for foretelling crises in agriculture, fisheries or even social systems.
New dating of sea-level records reveals rapid response between ice volume and polar temperature
An international team of scientists, led by Eelco Rohling, Professor of Ocean and Climate Change at the University of Southampton, has developed a new method of dating the RSL record by using Mediterranean data from radiometric (Uranium-series) dating of cave deposits.
University of Bergen awarded three new Centres of Excellence for research
The University of Bergen, Norway, has been awarded three new Centres of Excellence by the Research Council of Norway.
Southampton to help develop new crops for water-stressed environments
The University of Southampton is to lead a new €11.6 million EU funded research project to develop new drought tolerate crops for bioenergy and bio-products.
Brazilian trailblazers take up their places at University of York
The University of York has welcomed its first students from Brazil under the Science without Borders scheme.
University of York’s green chemistry alliance with Korea takes off
Scientists from the University of York and Korea will gather in York this week for a conference that will showcase ways of advancing green chemical technology.
Protected areas in East Africa may not be conserving iconic plants
A new study led by researchers from the University of York suggests protected areas in East Africa are not conserving plants such as the iconic Acacia tree.
University of Southamtpon: Clues that could lead to a universal flu jab honoured
A study which has found a way to develop a universal vaccine for influenza, one that gives people immunity against all strains of the disease, has been recognised by the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and gained its lead researcher a prestigious award.
The Great Game of Today
The following op-ed piece was written by Professor John Hearn, Chief Executive of the Worldwide Universities Network and appeared in the Australian Financial Review on 5 November 2012. The opinions presented are his own.
Churchill was right when he predicted that the empires of the future would be empires of the mind. Around the world, universities with international ambitions are engaged in a furious scramble for resources, alliances and manpower that evokes the imperial conflicts of the nineteenth century in the era of the Great Game.
University of Southampton physiotherapist gains top medical research award
Dr Anne Bruton, an expert in respiratory rehabilitation at the University of Southampton, has become the first Physiotherapist in the UK to receive a National Institute for Health Research Senior Research Fellowship Award.
Protecting fish from river development
Research at the University of Southampton is protecting fish that inhabit rivers and estuaries impacted by dams and power plants.
Mobilising Solutions to Global Development Challenges
The Sustainability Science at Southampton will be hosting an evening seminar on the UN World Development and Information Day titled ‘Mobilising Solutions to Global Development Challenges’, 24th October, 5.30-7.30pm.
A new take on the Midas touch – changing the colour of gold
A University of Southampton team have discovered that by embossing tiny raised or indented patterns onto the metal’s surface, they can change the way it absorbs and reflects light – ensuring our eyes don’t see it as ‘golden’ in colour at all.
Enactus Southampton reach semi-final in worldwide competition
The University of Southampton Enactus team (formerly known as SIFE, Students in Free Enterprise) has reached the semi-final of the Enactus World Cup. Students from Southampton represented the UK in the international competition for business leaders of the future, for the second year running.
York Exhibition explores history and lessons of smallpox eradication
A multimedia exhibition at the University of York will chart the eradication of smallpox – widely regarded as the greatest triumph of global public health in the 20th century.
New study to combat the most common form of liver cancer
Scientists at the University of Southampton are to investigate the best way to use natural killer cells (NK) to target the most common form of liver cancer.
York law students lend a helping hand abroad
University of York law students are offering free legal advice to local communities in the United States, Canada, India, El Salvador and South Africa.
Brain gain is a hot issue in a continent still learning to learn
Written by Professor John Hearn, Chief executive of the Worldwide Universities Network and Chairman of the Australia Africa Universities Network. Originally published on 10 October 2012 in The Australian.
I am standing near the southern tip of Africa with the great mass of Table Mountain at my back. To the north, the sub-Saharan Africa stretches into the distance.
Superheroes needed to tackle public health challenges
Public health ‘superheroes’ are needed to help tackle the growing challenges posed by obesity, alcohol, smoking and other public health threats, according to new research from the University of Leeds.
University of Southampton improves across the board as National Student Survey results are released
The University of Southampton has improved in all 22 areas of the latest National Student Survey (NSS) results, published today (Thursday 27 September).
In particular, Southampton has received 100 per cent satisfaction ratings in four subject areas: Ocean and Earth Sciences (Geology), Modern Languages (French), Modern Languages (German) and Ship Science.
Secrets in small blood vessels could reveal the risks of heart disease and diabetes
Researchers at the University of Southampton together with colleagues at King’s College London have embarked on a unique study that will shed new light on the risk of heart disease and diabetes in later life.
A healthy diet for pregnant women is important for the health of the baby. Having a poor diet in pregnancy, such as one that is too high in fat, may cause problems in the offspring’s later life. However, the exact mechanisms controlling the effect of diet during pregnancy on the long-term health of children are not well understood.