News | School of Geographical Sciences

New research shows recovering tropical forests offset just one quarter of carbon emissions from new tropical deforestation and forest degradation 15 March 2023 A pioneering global study has found deforestation and forests lost or damaged due to human and environmental change, such as fire and logging, are fast outstripping current rates of forest regrowth.

Pioneering analysis projects extreme rainfall in UK may be more common and erratic over next century as impact of climate change intensifies 7 March 2023 A new set of 100-year climate projections has been created to assess the likelihood of heavy rain downpours in the UK, which can cause flash flooding, over the coming years and decades.

Pioneering study shows flood risks can still be considerably reduced if all global promises to cut carbon emissions are kept 7 March 2023 Annual damage caused by flooding in the UK could increase by more than a fifth over the next century due to climate change unless all international pledges to reduce carbon emissions are met, according to new research.

Large-scale fossil study reveals origins of modern-day biodiversity gradient 15 million years ago 15 February 2023 Researchers have used nearly half a million fossils to solve a 200-year-old scientific mystery: why the number of different species is greatest near the equator and decreases steadily towards polar regions.

Scottish households have lower levels of financial wellbeing than those in the rest of the UK 10 February 2023 New analysis finds one-in-five households (21%) in Scotland are currently living in serious financial difficulty – equivalent to 1.2 million people. In the rest of the UK, the figure is 17% of households.

From eating disorder to Ironwoman: The amazing student who loves helping others 2 February 2023 When Megan Hamill crosses the finish line of Ironman Austria, it won’t just be down to months of punishing training.

Graduate: ‘Visualisation saved my life – now I want to make it mainstream’ 31 January 2023 A wellbeing start-up hopes to help millions with visualisation techniques that are credited with saving its co-founder’s life.

New report shows living with cystic fibrosis comes with annual extra £6.5k price tag 24 January 2023 At a time of financial strain, a new report out today shows the extra cost of having cystic fibrosis is more than £6,500 a year on average.

Indian activist picks up 360kg of rubbish during 30-city UK ‘plogging’ challenge 6 January 2023 An Indian environmentalist and local volunteers who came out to support him, picked up 360kg of rubbish during a 30-day, 30-city ‘plogging’ tour of the UK.

World-first satellite to measure Earth’s water levels blasts into space 16 December 2022 A UK-backed mission involving the University of Bristol, which will observe huge swathes of ocean and surface water in unprecedented detail, has launched into space.

New research reveals more than a third of all UK households are concerned about their finances 14 December 2022 This time last year, 5.6m UK households told researchers they lacked confidence in their financial outlook over the next three months. New research released today finds that figure has now increased to 10m households – a 77% increase, meaning 35% of all households.

Influential Bristol academics recognised on Highly Cited Researchers 2022 list 15 November 2022 Eighteen University of Bristol academics have been named on Clarivate’s Highly Cited Researchers 2022 list.

Africa droughts became more frequent, more intense, and widespread over the last four decades 3 November 2022 Vast swathes of Africa have been experiencing more frequent and intense episodes of drought since 1983, according to new research carried out by University of Bristol scientists and released today by WaterAid.

Top Bristol climate experts set to share expertise on global stage at COP27 2 November 2022 A team of leading University of Bristol researchers on hot topics, ranging from climate change policy to adapting to a warming world and ensuring the transition to a net zero economy is fair, are poised to join the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference.

Philip Leverhulme Prizes awarded to three University of Bristol academics 21 October 2022 Three academics from the University of Bristol have been awarded prestigious Philip Leverhulme Prizes.

Timely study on rising groundwater offers hope for drought-stricken East Africa 19 October 2022 New research indicates better groundwater supply management could hold the key to help combat the impact of climate change in East Africa, where countries are currently facing the worst drought and food insecurity in a generation.

Gambling needs more holistic management to reduce harm when it causes debt, new research suggests 18 October 2022 Gambling treatment and support services need to dovetail better with debt advice, to ensure recovery pathways for people affected by gambling harm are more likely to succeed, according to a new report by the University of Bristol.

Chief Strategy Officer of world-leading tech company appointed to new honorary professor role 5 October 2022 Anike Te, Chief Strategy Officer for International Materials company Lucideon, will join the University of Bristol as an Aegis Professor in Engineering Biology this month. This prestigious appointment strongly aligns with Bristol’s identity as a world-leading institution for research and innovation with global impact.

Bank closures drive people to the Post Office to handle cash 26 September 2022 The rise in local banking branches closing across the UK has increased the demand for access to cash deposit services at Post Offices, new research has found.

New report shows Bristol is making headway in tackling carbon emissions but social inequalities persist 23 September 2022 Carbon emissions and unemployment have both fallen significantly in Bristol over the past decade, according to a new report holding the city to account for its progress in achieving global goals which are key to the future wellbeing of people and the planet.