Bristol Bright Night illuminates city science
Bristol’s streets are set to be transformed into a living laboratory of innovation and experimentation as Bristol Bright Night sweeps through the city for the very first time.
News in July
Jazmin scoops silver as she jumps for joy
University of Bristol student Jazmin Sawyers was jumping for joy yesterday as she took silver in the women’s long-jump at the Commonwealth Games 2014.
Mathematicians analyse new 'racetrack memory' computer device
Competition to create the smallest, lightest and cheapest laptop on the market is motivating the ongoing search for a better computer-memory device then the current, conventional 2D hard-disk technology. Mathematicians from the University of Bristol have been analysing the potential of one such initiative: the 'racetrack memory' device, proposed by researchers at IBM.
Boat noise impacts development and survival of vital marine invertebrates
The development and survival of an important group of marine invertebrates known as sea hares is under threat from increasing boat noise in the world's oceans, according to a new study by researchers from the UK and France.
Corresponding with Conflict at the Theatre Collection
As part of this year’s First World War centenary commemorations, a new exhibition which aims to breathe new life into archival material dating from the 1914-1918 period and encourage fresh encounters with it, opens this Friday at the University of Bristol Theatre Collection.
Bristol student leaps into final at Commonwealth Games
University of Bristol law student, Jazmin Sawyers, will compete in the final of the women’s long-jump at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow tomorrow night [Thursday 31 July].
Bristol a partner in 19th-century medical books digitisation project
The University of Bristol is one of nine partner institutions whose 19th-century book collections will be digitised and added to the UK Medical Heritage Library (UK MHL), an online resource for the study of the history of medicine and related sciences.
Verifying the future of quantum computing
Physicists are one step closer to proving the reliability of a quantum computer – a machine which promises to revolutionise the way we trade over the internet and provide new tools to perform powerful simulations.
Prehistoric dairy farming at the extremes
Finland’s love of milk has been traced back to 2500 BC thanks to high-tech techniques to analyse residues preserved in fragments of ancient pots.
New research to tackle treatment for lung disease
Research into improving treatment for patients with one of the UK’s most common respiratory diseases has received a £810,000 funding boost.
Tribunal fees have ‘severely limited access to justice’ for workers
The introduction of employment tribunal fees a year ago has severely limited access to justice for workers, according to researchers who are calling for the regime to be overhauled.
Scissoring the lipids
A new strategy which enables molecules to be disconnected essentially anywhere, even remote from functionality, is described by researchers from the University of Bristol in Nature Chemistry today. The method is now being developed to explore the possibility of creating a tuberculosis (TB) vaccine.
Vet School academic receives AVMF/Winn Feline Foundation Award
This week the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) will recognise the University of Bristol feline medicine specialist Professor Timothy Gruffydd-Jones with the 2014 AVMF/Winn Feline Foundation Award at its 2014 meeting.
Girls enjoy an engineering experience
Last week, 97 girls aged 12- to 14-years-old from across the UK benefited from a unique hands-on learning experience at the University of Bristol. Financially supported by the ERA Foundation and Lloyd’s Register Foundation, this three-day residential programme [21-23 July] was organised by The Smallpeice Trust to provide students with the opportunity to learn about engineering through a series of presentations and practical workshops.
Noise pollution impacts fish species differently
Acoustic disturbance has different effects on different species of fish, according to a new study from the Universities of Bristol and Exeter which tested fish anti-predator behaviour.
Research shows impact of soft drinks in meal planning
New research by academics in the University of Bristol’s Nutrition and Behaviour Unit (NBU) has looked into whether we take liquid calories into account when planning meals.
Fossils found in Siberia suggest all dinosaurs had feathers
The first ever example of a plant-eating dinosaur with feathers and scales has been discovered in Russia. Previously only flesh-eating dinosaurs were known to have had feathers so this new find indicates that all dinosaurs could have been feathered.
Seeing the same GP at every visit will reduce emergency department attendance
Attendances at emergency departments can be reduced by enabling patients to see the same GP every time they visit their doctor’s surgery. This is just one of several recommendations made in a report published today, led by researchers at the University of Bristol.
Age of puberty in girls influenced by the parent they inherit their genes from
The age at which girls reach sexual maturity is influenced by ‘imprinted’ genes, a small sub-set of genes whose activity differs depending on whether the girl got her copy of the gene from her mother or her father, according to new research published today [23 July] in the journal Nature.
Fingers on buzzers! Bristol’s quiz team prepares for Paxman
The University of Bristol’s quest to prove its quizzing prowess begins on Monday, when they take on the Courtauld Institute of Art in the first round of the new series of University Challenge.
Researchers hope to identify new drug targets to treat brain tumours
Around 7,000 people in the UK develop primary brain cancer each year but only ten per cent of patients are still alive five years after diagnosis. A new research project has been awarded a grant of over £200,000 to look at a pathway in brain tumours called peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) and identify any possible new drug targets to treat the disease.
£614,000 to continue exploration beneath Greenland Ice Sheet
Last summer, scientists from the University of Bristol discovered the longest canyon in the world buried beneath three kilometres of ice in Greenland.
Honorary Degree Awarded at the University of Bristol – Friday, 18 July
The University of Bristol is awarding an honorary degree to Mr Paul Stephenson at a degree ceremony taking place today in the Wills Memorial Building.
Former Habitat building to become student hub
The former Habitat store is to be given a new lease of life thanks to the University of Bristol, which has today announced its acquisition of the flagship building.
Bristol academics elected Fellows of the British Academy
Professor Carol Propper of the Department of Economics and Professor Tony Prosser of the University of Bristol Law School have achieved the rare distinction of being elected Fellows of the British Academy, the national academy for the humanities and social sciences.
Bristol students celebrate graduation from innovative new programme
A cohort of students graduated today [18 July] as the first group to complete the University of Bristol’s unique BA English Literature and Community Engagement (BA ELCE) degree
Honorary Degrees Awarded at the University of Bristol – Thursday, 17 July
Bristol University is awarding honorary degrees to Mr Bob Reeves and Mr Robert Dufton at degree ceremonies taking place today in the Wills Memorial Building.
John Dixon, 1938-2014
John Dixon, a former lecturer in the French Department, died on 17 June after a long illness. Professor John Parkin offers a tribute.
Honorary Degrees Awarded at the University of Bristol – Wednesday, 16 July
Bristol University is awarding honorary degrees to Dr Moger Woolley, Professor Steven West and Professor Eric Sheppard at degree ceremonies taking place today in the Wills Memorial Building.
UK’s first masters research studentships for veterinary nurses
Veterinary nurses across the UK will, for the first time, have the opportunity to study for a Masters by Research degree in a small animal clinical research environment.
Can video streaming over mobile broadband networks be improved?
Due to the increase in smartphone video applications, mobile video traffic is rising significantly. New research has shown how videos can be better transmitted over wireless links such as Wi-Fi and 4G.
Bristol students win prizes at hydrology conference
Two Bristol students, in the Department of Civil Engineering and the School of Geographical Sciences respectively, have won prizes at the recent Peter Wolf Early Career Hydrologists’ Symposium at Cardiff University.
Honorary Degrees Awarded at the University of Bristol – Tuesday, 15 July
Bristol University is awarding honorary degrees to Professor Sir John Temple and the Right Honourable Lady Justice Victoria Sharp DBE, at degree ceremonies taking place today in the Wills Memorial Building.
Vets of the world unite
More than 170 delegates from over 50 veterinary schools and institutions around the world gathered at Bristol’s School of Veterinary Sciences in Langford last week for the VetEd Symposium 2014.
Artwork that rocks
Neville Gabie, until recently Artist in Residence at the University’s Cabot Institute, is to present work undertaken at the institute at WOMAD UK 2014 later this month. This is the first time WOMAD has commissioned artwork for the annual music and arts festival.
A sea change: learning from small islands with big challenges
Beautiful Caribbean beaches and colourful coral reefs are familiar picture postcard scenes. Despite the idyllic vistas, many of the small islands featured in tourist brochures are faced with a variety of social and environmental challenges posed by their unique geographies.
Honorary Degrees Awarded at the University of Bristol – Monday, 14 July
Bristol University is awarding honorary degrees to Steve Dayman MBE, David Scott and Princess Campbell MBE at degree ceremonies taking place today in the Wills Memorial Building.
From frontiers to football
A new book by Dr Matthew Brown of the Department of Hispanic, Portuguese and Latin American Studies which presents an alternative history of Latin America is published today.
Honorary degrees awarded at the University of Bristol - Friday, 11 July
The University of Bristol is awarding honorary degrees to Dr Julian Hector, Roz Savage and Professor Sir Mark Welland at degree ceremonies taking place today [11 July] in the Wills Memorial Building.
Cooling treatment improves survival without brain damage in later childhood
The cooling of newborn babies suffering from perinatal asphyxia – a lack of oxygen at the time of birth – significantly increases their chance of survival without brain damage to later childhood (age six to seven years), according to a Medical Research Council (MRC) funded clinical trial by a team of researchers from the universities of Bristol, Oxford, Leeds, University College London, Imperial College London, Queen’s University Belfast and Homerton University Hospital, London.