Bristol University – rarely out of the news – had an especially high profile last week.

On Wednesday, November 26, the Vice-Chancellor was interviewed for BBC national news at 6 and 10 pm.  The BBC selected Bristol as ‘one of the UK’s top universities’ to comment on tuition fees.

Professor Thomas said universities were desperately short of money:

“The income we currently get doesn’t cover the cost of that education.

“We need increased income to sustain the quality of that education.”

On Friday, November 28, a research team led by Dr Peter Brindle, a University researcher and city GP, had a paper in the British Medical Journal. The research suggested that current tests over estimate how many men are at risk of dying from coronary heart disease.

Dr Brindle appeared on Channel 5 News to talk about the research.  The Guardian, Telegraph and BBC News Online [Health] also covered the story.

David Nutt, Professor of Psychopharmacology and Head of the Department of Community Based Medicine at the University, was on BBC Points West last Thursday [November 27] and BBC Radio Bristol on Monday [December 1] commenting about research carried out in America on a drug used to treat tuberculosis that may also help people to overcome a fear of spiders or other phobias.