Sir Jeremy Morse, 1928-20165 February 2016Sir Jeremy Morse KCMG, Chancellor of the University of Bristol from 1989 to 2003, died on 4 February. Sir John Kingman FRS, former Vice-Chancellor of the University, offers this remembrance.
New website aims to improve understanding of chronic kidney disease12 March 2015A new website is launched today that will help bridge the communication gap between healthcare professionals and patients diagnosed with mild chronic kidney disease (CKD) after research revealed a disparity between what GP’s explain and what patients understand about the condition. The resource has been developed by University of Bristol academics.
Educating economists after the 2008 recession10 March 2015Ensuring the future generation of economists are equipped with the ‘real-world’ skills they need in light of the recent financial crisis is one of the issues being addressed at a Bank of England event on Tuesday 17 March. The one-day conference, organised by the Economics Network at the University of Bristol, will explore a range of issues concerning economics education with a particular focus on the practical challenges of implementing change to the economics curriculum.
Black men less willing to be investigated for prostate cancer
2 March 2015The incidence of prostate cancer among men of Afro-Caribbean origin is higher than in white men, they are more likely to be diagnosed as emergencies and their mortality rates are higher. Until now, it has been unclear why these disappointing outcomes exist. Researchers at the Universities of Exeter, Bristol and College London studied the preferences and choice of more than 500 men who were presented with a realistic hypothetical prostate cancer investigation scenario while attending general practices in Bristol.
BBC debate programme to be broadcast live from Bristol26 February 2015Political heavyweights will be in Bristol this week as BBC Radio 4’s topical debate programme Any Questions? is broadcast live from the University of Bristol.
Management consultants “only partly successful” in improving the quality of NHS commissioning
26 February 2015The NHS uses an increasing number of commercial and not-for-profit management consultancies in healthcare commissioning but there are concerns about whether knowledge and expertise they generate is of benefit to commissioners and whether it improves the quality of commissioning. In the largest study of its kind in the UK, researchers from the Universities of Bristol and Southampton have for the first time observed this processes of knowledge exchange and assessed the perceived impact on commissioning decisions.
Bristol medics receive NICE Scholarships25 February 2015Two trainees in the School of Clinical Sciences have been awarded a prestigious scholarship by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
BHF funds renewed study of screen-viewing and physical activity in children25 February 2015Researchers from Bristol, with colleagues from the University of Birmingham, have been awarded funding from the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to continue their study of children’s physical activity and screen-viewing patterns.
Move over Wallace and Gromit - it’s the right trousers24 February 2015With an ageing UK population, older people could have the opportunity to stay independent for longer thanks to a pioneering project announced today [Tuesday 24 February]. New research, led by the University of Bristol, will develop smart trousers using artificial ‘muscles’ in its soft fabric to help disabled and older people move around easily and unaided.
Save lives - be a brain tumour tissue donor24 February 2015Brain tumour tissue is removed everyday by surgeons but very few patients know they can donate brain tumour tissue to research. A new national campaign launched today [Tuesday 24 February] at the University of Bristol seeks to raise awareness for patients and healthcare professionals about donating brain tumour tissue and helping researchers find a cure for this disease. The campaign is led by leading medical researchers and the charity, brainstrust.
Sir Winston Churchill's legacy to Bristol23 February 2015A series of special events in Bristol will celebrate the life of Sir Winston Churchill - one of the greatest wartime leaders of the 20th century.
Crucial quarter final tie for University Challenge team23 February 2015The University of Bristol’s quiz team faces a crucial quarter final tie against Oxford Brookes on University Challenge continues tonight [23 February]. After losing its first quarter final match against the University of Liverpool last month (175 to 115), the team must win to remain in the competition and be in with the chance of a semi-final place.
Managers risk threatening the future of management consultancy19 February 2015New research by academics from the Universities of Bristol and Sydney, and Oxford Brookes University, reveals that the future of the multi-billion dollar management consultancy industry may be threatened by the increasing trend of managers adopting consultancy practices as their own.
Bristol welcomes the Year of the Sheep18 February 2015People will be flocking to the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery this weekend for a cultural spectacular to welcome in the Year of the Sheep. Students and staff from the University of Bristol will be helping visitors to celebrate Chinese New Year in traditional style, with dancing dragon and lion performances, martial arts, traditional Chinese dances, storytelling, family trails, arts and craft activities, live music and much more on Saturday and Sunday [21 and 22 February].
Who cares? Why evolution suggests parenting responsibility is seldom equally shared18 February 2015Why is caring for young shared unequally between the sexes in so many animal species? Research from the University of Bristol suggests that small initial differences which predispose one sex to care more are exaggerated once the ability to care evolves. As a result, one sex evolves attributes – such as mammary glands in female mammals or increased brain size in some fish – that enhance the ability to care, and so this sex does most or all of the care.
Public inaugural lecture to address police accountability in relation to crimes of sexual violence 16 February 2015Over the last decade, repeated public concern has been expressed about the persistence of a low rate of conviction for rape relative to rising levels of reporting. Police attitudes and conduct towards such crimes have come under the public microscope as mounting evidence suggests that how the police handle and investigate rape complaints may be part of the problem rather than a solution. These important issues will be addressed at a free public inaugural lecture [19 Feb] given by Joanne Conaghan, Professor of Law and Head of School at the University of Bristol.
Discover the best of Bristol with free lecture series16 February 2015The most inspiring lecturers at the University of Bristol, as voted by students, will be sharing their wisdom with the public in a series of free lunchtime and evening lectures.
Estimating flood behaviour on a global scale12 February 2015Characterising flood behaviour for any river in the world is now becoming a possibility, according to new research from the University of Bristol published this month in Water Resources Research.
Plain packaging reduces ‘cigarette seeking’ response by almost a tenth 11 February 2015Plain tobacco packaging may reduce the likelihood of smokers seeking to obtain cigarettes by almost 10 per cent compared to branded packs, according to research from the Universities of Bristol and Exeter.
Transport Minister and Business Secretary launch VENTURER driverless car trial11 February 2015Transport Minister, Claire Perry and Business Secretary, Vince Cable will launch the VENTURER consortium’s driverless car trial today [Wednesday 11 February], giving the project the green light to test autonomous vehicles in the real world. The consortium includes the University of Bristol.
Large numbers of teenage girls experience sexual coercion in relationships11 February 2015More than four in ten teenage schoolgirls in England* have experienced sexual coercion, new research by University of Bristol academics launched today [11 February] reveals. Most were pressured to have sex or other sexual activity, and in some cases, this included rape. And many of the 13-17-year-olds had also suffered physical attacks, intimidation or emotional abuse from their boyfriends.
Honorary degrees awarded at the University of Bristol – Wednesday, 11 February11 February 2015The University of Bristol is awarding honorary degrees to Professor Russell Foster CBE and Professor David Clarke, plus an honorary fellowship to Professor Jeffrey Watkins, at degree ceremonies taking place today [11 February] in the Wills Memorial Building.
Study shows urban habitats provide haven for UK bees11 February 2015Urban environments might not seem the best habitat for pollinators at first glance but a new study, led by the University of Bristol, suggests that bees and other pollinating bugs actually thrive as well in towns and cities as they do in farms and nature reserves.
John Shepherdson, 1926-201510 February 2015Professor Philip Welch remembers Professor John Shepherdson, a leading light in 20th-century mathematical logic in the UK.
Public invited to get involved in dementia research in the West10 February 2015Scientists are inviting members of the public to find out about dementia research in the region at a free event [31 March] which aims to improve patient and public involvement in studies.
Understanding the copper heart of volcanoes9 February 2015The link between volcanism and the formation of copper ore has been discovered by researchers from the University of Bristol. Their findings, published today in Nature Geoscience, could have far-reaching implications for the search for new copper deposits.
Bristol Is Open to hit the ground running9 February 2015The city’s first joint venture between Bristol City Council and the University of Bristol can begin thanks to approval at the city council’s cabinet last week [Tuesday 3 February]. Bristol Is Open received unanimous support from cabinet members and enables University research and council owned infrastructure to come together for the first time.
Bee summit aims to 'get Bristol buzzing'9 February 2015Over 100 delegates will gather in Bristol today [9 February] for the largest local summit of its kind, being held to help bees and other pollinating insects.
From backbench to lab bench: MP meets Bristol researchers6 February 2015A Bristol MP swapped legislation for a lab coat when he visited the University of Bristol to learn more about the pioneering public health work taking place in the city.
Bristol hosts Newton International Fellow6 February 2015Dr Bahareh Shirinfar is being hosted by the University after receiving a prestigious Newton International Fellowship from two of the UK’s leading research academies – the British Academy and the Royal Society.
Engineering student wins award for best composites paper5 February 2015Broderick Coburn, a PhD student at Bristol's EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Advanced Composites for Innovation and Science, has received the American Society of Composites Best Student Paper in Composites award.
Donate, don’t ditch: election archive needs your political publicity5 February 2015With three months to go until the general election, the campaign trail is hotting up and election literature is being produced thick and fast. An archive of election material, believed to be the biggest of its kind, is urging the public not to throw away any publicity, but to help capture Britain’s political history.
