How the Earth grew, 3 billion years ago16 March 2012The growth rate of the Earth’s continental crust was high during the first 1.5 billion years of the planet’s history then decreased markedly for the next 3 billion years to the present day, according to new research from the University of Bristol, published in Science.
English lecturer publishes fourth collection of poems16 March 2012Dr Jane Griffiths of the Department of English has just had her fourth collection of poems, entitled Terrestrial Variations, published by Bloodaxe Books.
Engineering Your Future16 March 2012Fifty year 11 and sixth-form students attended an evening of talks at the University earlier this month to find out what it’s like to study and work in the field of engineering.
University welcomes French Ambassador16 March 2012The French Ambassador to Great Britain, His Excellency, Monsieur Bernard Emié, was a distinguished visitor to the University this week, meeting staff and students from across the faculties.
Kind-hearted students lead campaign to thank paramedics16 March 2012A group of Engineering students at the University of Bristol have launched a kind-hearted campaign to encourage people to thank paramedics for their invaluable life-saving work. Over 1,000 messages have been left online praising the unsung heroes and the students are hopeful that their plight will continue to attract support.
Hospitality Services celebrates Fairtrade award16 March 2012The University's Hospitality Services has won silver in the Bristol Fairtrade Business Awards 2012. The Awards are the main event in the region for Fairtrade Fortnight and aim to recognise and celebrate local ethical businesses that promote fair trading.
Professor Colin Pillinger beams into Bristol for Royal Society lecture15 March 2012The man behind the British-led Beagle 2 mission to Mars is making a star appearance in his hometown of Bristol for a lecture looking at what can be learnt from Martian meteorites. Professor Colin Pillinger, one of Britain’s foremost scientists, has spent four decades analysing and writing about extraterrestrial objects – a famed career which has found tantalising evidence of life on Mars.
Could your memories bring the history of Wills Memorial Building to life?15 March 2012Wills Memorial Building, the symbolic centrepiece of the University of Bristol, is being featured in a new project which aims to collate people’s memories of 10 key places in the city for a new online resource to compliment the popular Doors Open Day annual event.
John Steer, 1928-201215 March 2012Professor John Steer died on 20 February aged 83. Michael Liversidge, Emeritus Dean of Arts, remembers the man whose appointment as the first Lecturer in European Art at Bristol marked the effective birth of the University’s Department of History of Art.
Diet or DNA: are we fated to be fat?14 March 2012New research from the universities of Newcastle and Bristol has found marks on the genetic ‘code’ that babies have at birth are different for children who go on to be obese or overweight compared to those who do not.
The future of animal testing in the UK14 March 2012Professor Max Headley from the University’s School of Physiology and Pharmacology was interviewed by BBC Radio 5 Live today [13 March 2012] on the future of animal testing in the UK following the announcement that the UK's main ferry operators, along with Eurotunnel, now refuse to bring animals into the country if used for medical research.
Size isn’t everything – it’s how sharp you are14 March 2012The tiny teeth of a long-extinct vertebrate – with tips only two micrometres across: one twentieth the width of a human hair – are the sharpest dental structures ever measured, new research from the University of Bristol and Monash University, Australia has found.
Annual check-up for UK dental students14 March 2012The British Dental Students’ Association (BDSA) 2012 conference, hosted by the University's Dental School, will take place from Thursday 15 to Saturday 17 March.
Students dream of French revolution at National Museum Cardiff14 March 2012A new art exhibition at National Museum Cardiff – the result of a collaborative research project between students from the University of Bristol and Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales – opens next week. Revolutionary Dreams will be on display from Saturday 24 March until Sunday 9 September 2012.
Local residents step out for dinner dance14 March 2012On Saturday evening, over 50 local residents gathered at St Matthew’s Church in Kingsdown to enjoy a dinner dance hosted by volunteers from the University of Bristol Students’ Union (UBU).
Nano Carta: Should there be an ethical code for nanotechnology?14 March 2012Part of a Europe-wide debate about the ethical, social and legal questions associated with nanoscience will take place in Bristol on Tuesday [20 March]. The debate, featuring a group of Bristol University PhD students from the Bristol Centre for Functional Nanomaterials [BCFN], will help form an ethical code for nanotechnology looking at privacy issues, acceptance, human health, access, liability, regulation and control.
Dr Andrews awarded Diabetes UK lecture13 March 2012Dr Rob Andrews, Consultant Senior Lecturer in the School of Clinical Sciences, was selected by Diabetes UK to give the Rank Nutrition Lecture 2012 at its Professional Conference last week.
International media coverage for metal-on-metal hip replacement study13 March 2012Research into high failure rates for metal-on-metal hip replacements by a team led by Ashley Blom, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery in the School of Clinical Sciences, was covered by BBC News, The Guardian and BBC Radio 4's Today programme and other media around the world.
New musical instrument to be showcased as BBC festival comes to the University13 March 2012A University of Bristol student will join famous faces from BBC Radio 4 when she showcases a new electronic instrument as part of BBC Radio 4’s More Than Words Listening Festival, which takes place in the city this weekend [16 to 18 March]. Victoria Bourne, who is an MA Music student, has composed four new pieces of music which she will play on The AlphaSphere – a pioneering instrument which is the size of a football and uses 48 touch pressure pads to trigger and manipulate sounds and rhythms.
Order! Order! — reforming the House of Commons13 March 2012One of the highest-ranking officials in the United Kingdom — the Speaker of the House of Commons — will be talking about the reform of the Commons to staff and students at the University of Bristol this week [15 March].
Latest data confirms high failure rates for metal-on-metal hip replacements13 March 2012A new study by academics at the University of Bristol has confirmed that stemmed metal-on-metal implants are failing at much higher rates than other types, particularly those with larger head sizes and those implanted in women, in whom failure rates are up to four-times higher.
Exploring the enigma of Bristol Cathedral12 March 2012The Medieval art, architecture and history of Bristol Cathedral is the focus of a new book by researchers at the University of Bristol.
Computer science students to take part in Appathon9 March 2012Fifty computer science students from the University of Bristol will be spending the weekend developing a smart phone App from scratch in a 28-hour marathon coding session.
Groundbreaking study reveals extent of global child poverty9 March 2012Poverty is currently the world’s biggest killer of children. Every day, many millions of children around the world enduring tremendous suffering and severe deprivation of their most basic needs, for shelter, food, water and education. A new book by academics at the University of Bristol, Global child poverty and well-being: Measurement, concepts, policy and action is the first to provide a global picture about how child poverty is understood, defined and measured.
Media coverage for St Helena slave burial ground discovery9 March 2012News that archaeologists from the University of Bristol have unearthed a unique slave burial ground on the remote South Atlantic island of St Helena was covered by The Guardian, British Archaeology and local media.
UK's largest humanities postgraduate conference held at Bristol9 March 2012The Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Bristol is hosting its 17th Joint Postgraduate Theology and Religious Studies Conference on Friday 9 March and Saturday 10 March.
A test of the senses in the search for a shoal mate9 March 2012Young coral reef fish use sounds, smells and visual cues to find their nursery grounds, according to new research from the School of Biological Sciences, published today in Ecology.
Fancy a cuppa? New mugs available in Icon Range8 March 2012Eye-catching mugs are the latest addition to a new range of merchandise, featuring iconic buildings and symbols linked to the University of Bristol. Local artist Susan Taylor created the Icon Range to celebrate the history and popularity of the University, initially turning her vibrant green, turquoise and black design into a tea towel.
Eastern Europeans in Bristol invited to share memories of life under socialism8 March 2012Researchers at the University of Bristol are looking for people originally from Eastern European countries who currently live in and around Bristol to participate in a research project in which they will be asked to share their memories of living under socialism.
Waste not, want not8 March 2012A partnership approach to tackling food waste has been key to the success of three very different composting schemes at the University over the past few months.
Bristol archaeologists unearth slave burial ground on St Helena8 March 2012Archaeologists from the University of Bristol have unearthed a unique slave burial ground on the remote South Atlantic island of St Helena. The excavation, which took place in advance of construction of a new airport on the island, has revealed dramatic insights into the victims of the Atlantic slave trade during the notorious Middle Passage.
Students dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge for Sport Relief8 March 2012The sport of Dodgeball, made famous by the film starring Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller, is a growing craze among students at the University of Bristol who are putting their dodging and ducking skills to good use by raising money for charity. Sport Relief looks set to benefit from the efforts of around 120 keen Dodgeball enthusiasts who are taking part in one of the biggest tournaments of its kind ever seen in Bristol.
The cutting edge: Exploring the efficiency of bladed tooth shape7 March 2012Using a combination of guillotine-based experiments and cutting-edge computer modelling, researchers at the University of Bristol have explored the most efficient ways for teeth to slice food. Their results show just how precisely the shape of an animal’s teeth is optimized to suit the type of food it eats.
Rehome your Penguin6 March 2012Staff and students are invited to donate unwanted Penguin, Puffin or Pelican books for use in readings during the Penguin Parade event at the Royal West of England Academy (RWA) from 10 March to 22 April.
Bristol philosophers awarded £960,000 by the European Research Council6 March 2012Professor Samir Okasha and Professor Ken Binmore in the Department of Philosophy have been awarded a European Research Council Advanced Grant worth £960,928 for their project Darwinism and the Theory of Rational Choice.
Arthur Potts-Dawson takes on Food Waste Challenge at Students' Union5 March 2012Chef Arthur Potts-Dawson from the Channel 4 Series ‘People’s Supermarket’ will rise to the Food Waste Challenge on Wednesday 7 March when he rustles up a three course meal for 120 students using ingredients that would otherwise have been thrown away. The event takes place at the FoodCycle Student Restaurant run by University of Bristol volunteers.
