John Hurrell Crook, 1930-2011
Dr John Crook, a major figure in British primatology and socio-ecology, has died. Innes Cuthill, Professor of Behavioural Ecology, offers a tribute.
News in 2011
Bristol physicists break 150-year-old law
A violation of one of the oldest empirical laws of physics has been observed by scientists at the University of Bristol. Their experiments on purple bronze, a metal with unique one-dimensional electronic properties, indicate that it breaks the Wiedemann-Franz Law. This historic discovery is described in a paper published today in Nature Communications.
Rousseau comes to town
The University of Bristol is hosting the Seventeenth Biennial Colloquium of the Rousseau Association at Clifton Hill House this week (21-23 July), on the theme of ‘Rousseau’s republics’.
US university president honoured in Bristol
The president of one of the United States’ top universities has travelled to Bristol to collect an honorary degree today [19 July] in recognition of his contribution to education throughout the world.
From Bristol schoolboy to leading figure in the world of medicine
Bristol University is today [July 19] honouring a proud Bristolian who has become one of the most distinguished figures in academic medicine.
Honorary degree for motivational student advocate Alison
Alison Bernays' passion for improving the student experience at Bristol University is to be recognised in today’s [18 July] graduation ceremony.
Seismic success for Chinese students
Six Chinese students, who won the 2011 Dynamic Designs China competition, will visit the University of Bristol this week [18-22 July] for a week-long masterclass on sustainable engineering.
‘Capability’ Brown exhibition at Compton Verney
Professor Tim Mowl, Director of the Institute for Landscape and Garden History, is co-curator of the first-ever exhibition about landscape designer Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown – and a book by one of his recent PhD students is being published to tie in with the exhibition.
Kyoto delegation visits Bristol to explore collaborative research opportunities
A top-level delegation from Kyoto University, an institution with a global reputation for academic excellence, is visiting the University of Bristol today [18 July] as part of an ongoing relationship aimed at exploring collaborative research opportunities.
Prestigious honour for inspirational role model and leader
A year of enforced childhood quarantine led to a love of literature and subsequent commitment to education for Professor Paul O’Prey, who is today [18 July] being honoured by the University of Bristol.
Support Process Review: an update
An update from the Vice-Chancellor with regard to Support Process Review.
Towards a nation of savers
Policy-makers need to find new ways to encourage saving among poorer people, new research from the University of Bristol’s Personal Finance Research Centre has found.
Young researcher wins Europe-wide prize for PhD thesis
Dr Georg Fuchsbauer, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Computer Science, has won an award from the European Research Consortium in Informatics and Mathematics (ERCIM) for his recent PhD thesis.
From the cow pats of Bristol to a pioneering evolutionary biologist
Bristol graduate Professor Geoffrey Parker, famed as a pioneering thinker in the field of natural selection, is being honoured by the University today [15 July].
Oscar-winner Ben walks the golden road to Hollywood via Bristol
Bristol graduate Ben Morris will receive an honorary degree today [15 July] in recognition of his achievements in the film industry.
Reversing the 47 per cent decline in UK electronics degree students
The University of Bristol's Faculty of Engineering hosted the inaugural UKESF summer school [10-14 July], which was established to attract post-16 school students onto electronic engineering degree courses.
Dr Brunstrom receives award for dietary behaviour research
Dr Jeff Brunstom from the School of Experimental Psychology has been awarded the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior's 2011 Alan N Epstein Research Award for his work on dietary behaviour and food choice.
National Composites Centre receives keys to the building
The University of Bristol’s National Composites Centre (NCC) today [13 July 2011] took formal possession of its building, and its Chief Executive received a large, symbolic key to mark the occasion.
Spin-out company gets approval for new nicotine gum
A new generation of nicotine gum, developed by the University of Bristol spin-out company Revolymer® Ltd, has been given approval for sale in Canada. The gum uses new technology to mask the nicotine taste.
Students’ Big Give extends helping hand to local causes
Dedicated volunteers from the University of Bristol have helped to convert tonnes of unwanted items into thousands of pounds for local charities.
UK scientists tackle food security
The Universities of Exeter and Bristol, in partnership with Rothamsted Research, are joining forces to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing humanity: how can we feed a growing population?
Bristol's submission to OFFA approved
An update from the Vice-Chancellor with regard to the University's submission to the Office for Fair Access.
Bristol’s best find business success in the ‘Dragon’s Den’
Bristol’s answer to Dragon’s Den saw innovative ideas compete for a share in a £35,000 prize fund.
Genetic study sheds new light on auto-immune arthritis
Researchers are one step closer to understanding how an individual’s genetic make-up predisposes them to Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), a common auto-immune arthritis which causes pain and stiffness of the spine, and in serious cases, progressive fusion of the vertebrae and other affected joints. The study is published today in Nature Genetics.
Research into ankylosing spondylitis widely reported
Research into the auto-immune arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, by Dr David Evans in the School of Social and Community Medicine was covered by The Independent, The Times and several medical websites.
SETsquared showcases cutting-edge technologies
An innovative system that aims to convert waste water to protein, creating algae farms for the fish and animal feed markets, and a spherical musical instrument that glows were just two of the pioneering technologies showcased at the annual SETsquared Garden Party and Innovation Showcase.
Do patients think GPs should be paid for performance?
A study exploring patients’ views of pay-for-performance in primary care will be presented today [Friday 8 July] at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Academic Primary Care hosted by the University of Bristol's Academic Unit of Primary Health Care.
SETsquared partners with SWAIN to kick-start the economy
SETsquared, a collaboration between the Universities of Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Southampton and Surrey that supports new business activities through spin-outs, licensing and incubation, has formed a new partnership with South West Angel and Investor Network (SWAIN) in a bid to accelerate investment in the region’s most exciting business opportunities.
Marianne Thoresen wins inaugural Vice-Chancellor’s Impact Award
Marianne Thoresen, Professor of Neonatal Neuroscience in the School of Clinical Sciences, has won the inaugural Vice-Chancellor’s Impact Award for her ground-breaking research into cooling the injured brains of newborn babies.
Historic China comes alive
One of the largest online collections of historical photographs of China is launched at the University of Bristol today. The Visualising China project, a unique virtual archive of Chinese life, gives users the opportunity to explore and interact with more than 8,000 digitised photographs of China taken between 1850 and 1950.
Lack of clarity about HPV vaccine and the need for cervical cancer screening
Some girls and their parents mistakenly believe the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination makes future cervical cancer screening unnecessary, according to a new study presented today at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society of Academic Primary Care, hosted this year by the Academic Unit of Primary Health Care, University of Bristol.
The role of GPs in helping women experiencing domestic violence
Women experiencing domestic violence want their GPs to raise the issue with them, a new study by researchers at the University of Bristol has found.
Using vital signs to predict severity of illness in children
Combining three vital signs (heart rate, temperature, and oxygen saturation) in a simple score can identify children at risk of serious illness, according to a new study presented today at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society of Academic Primary Care, hosted this year by the Academic Unit of Primary Health Care, University of Bristol.
Fossil jaws shed new light on early vertebrate feeding ecology
With the evolution of jaws some 420 million years ago, jawed animals diversified rapidly into a range of niches that remained stable for the following 80 million years, despite extinctions, habitat loss and competition, say researchers from the Universities of Bristol, Oxford and Leiden in the leading scientific journal Nature.
PhD student becomes first recipient of Jon Rasbash Bursary
Rebecca Pillinger, a first-year PhD student in the Graduate School of Education, has become the first recipient of a new bursary established by the Faculty of Social Sciences and Law as a memorial to Professor Jon Rasbash and as a mechanism to support world-class expertise in advanced quantitative methodology in the Centre for Multilevel Modelling (CMM).
Study reveals new factors that help to increase children’s physical activity
Physical activity has important benefits for children’s physical health and mental well-being but many children do not meet recommended levels. A new study into the factors which motivate children’s active play has found that overall physical activity is increased in children who have access to green spaces in their neighbourhood.
Bristol researcher's Nature paper covered by The New York Times
New research into the evolution of jawed animals by Dr Philip Anderson in the School of Earth Sciences, was reported in The New York Times, Scientific American and The Australian.
New research into why obesity can lead to osteoarthritis
Scientists at the University of Bristol’s Musculoskeletal Research Unit are investigating why people with very dense bones are more likely to develop the painful condition of osteoarthritis.
Nationwide mission to save conkers from alien invaders gets underway
Conker fans from across the country are being called upon to help save the beloved trees from a perilous moth which is threatening their beauty.
Engineering students visit aerospace manufacturer Thales
A group of undergraduates from the University’s Faculty of Engineering recently visited Thales UK’s flagship site at Crawley for a briefing about some of the company’s most exciting technologies.