News in February
- School admissions: how to make the system fairer for all 27 February 2020 With the highest performing schools accepting around half the rate of disadvantaged pupils as the national average, a new report co-authored by the University of Bristol presents a series of reforms to make the school admissions system fairer.
- Intervention to help GPs identify, assess and treat patients with hepatitis C found to be effective 27 February 2020 The first UK clinical trial to increase the identification and treatment of hepatitis C (HCV) patients in primary care has been found to be effective, acceptable to staff and highly cost-effective for the NHS. The University of Bristol-led Hepatitis C Assessment to Treatment Trial (HepCATT), published in the British Medical Journal today [27 February], provides robust evidence of effective action GPs should take to increase HCV testing and treatment.
- Innovative health-coaching app for pregnant women is focus of newly-funded project 26 February 2020 Bump2Baby and Me is a new project awarded funding from the EU's Horizon 2020 research and development programme. Led by researchers from the University College Dublin and the University of Bristol, this five-year project will address weight management during and after pregnancy.
- Public Statement about Coronavirus from the University of Bristol 26 February 2020 The health, welfare and safety of students and staff is the top priority for University leaders following the Coronavirus (COVID-9) outbreak.
- Deaf moths evolved noise-cancelling scales to evade predators 26 February 2020 Some species of deaf moths can absorb as much as 85 per cent of the incoming sound energy from predatory bats — who use echolocation to detect them. The findings, published in Royal Society Interface today [26 February], reveal the moths, who are unable to hear the ultrasonic calls of bats, have evolved this clever defensive strategy to help it survive.
- Advice for students and staff concerned about Coronavirus 25 February 2020 The World Health Organisation has declared a public health emergency of international concern over the continuing spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19). The UK Chief Medical Officers have raised the risk to the public from low to moderate.
- Helpful customization or furtive manipulation? How Germans see personalisation of online services 25 February 2020 Whether we are looking for a restaurant tip, researching health information, or scrolling through social media posts, algorithms use the personal data they gather on us to determine what we are shown online. But how aware are people of the impact algorithms have on their digital environments? A team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and the University of Bristol has conducted a survey of 1,065 people in Germany to address these questions.
- Research shows how glacier algae creates dark zone at the margins of the Greenland Ice Sheet 24 February 2020 New research led by scientists from the University of Bristol has revealed new insights into how the microscopic algae that thrives along the edge of the Greenland Ice Sheet causes widespread darkening.
- Gene loss more important in animal kingdom evolution than previously thought 24 February 2020 Scientists have shown that some key points of animal evolution — like the ones leading to humans or insects — were associated with a large loss of genes in the genome. The study, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution [today 24 February], compared over 100 genomes to investigate what happened at the gene level during the evolution of animals after their origin.
- Development of new blood test for GPs could help diagnose brain tumours earlier 24 February 2020 A new simple blood test for brain tumours that could be used by GPs in primary care will be developed thanks to funding of nearly £500,000 by Cancer Research UK. Around 60,000 patients in the UK are living with a brain tumour but only 20 per cent of patients are still alive five years after diagnosis, partly because they present late with large inoperable tumours.
- Renowned artist Luke Jerram receives honorary degree 21 February 2020 Luke Jerram, the internationally renowned artist famous for his contemporary live arts projects, has been awarded an honorary degree by the University of Bristol.
- Charity founder recognised for his work with homeless community 20 February 2020 Jasper Thompson, who founded the charity Help Bristol’s Homeless in 2017, has received an honorary degree from the University of Bristol today[20 February], for his dedicated service to Bristol’s homeless community.
- Mya-Rose Craig becomes youngest Briton to be awarded honorary degree 20 February 2020 A 17-year-old birder, conservationist and environmental campaigner became the youngest British person to be awarded an honorary degree today [20 February].
- University divests from investment in fossil fuels companies and calls for sector pension scheme to take more action to combat climate change 20 February 2020 Following a pledge made in March 2018 and being the first UK university to declare a Climate Emergency last year, the University of Bristol is pleased to announce that it has completely divested from all investments in fossil fuel companies.
- Honorary degrees awarded at the University of Bristol – Thursday 20 February 20 February 2020 Today [20 February 2020], the University of Bristol is awarding honorary degrees to Mya-Rose Craig, Jasper Thompson and Luke Jerram.
- Big investment needed to eliminate hepatitis C in Pakistan could deliver huge health benefits 19 February 2020 A large investment of at least US$3.9 billion needed to meet the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) target for the elimination of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Pakistan could deliver huge benefits in terms of lives saved and reduced ill health, according to University of Bristol led research published in The Lancet Global Health today [19 February].
- Honorary degrees awarded at the University of Bristol – Wednesday 19 February 19 February 2020 Today [19 February 2020], the University of Bristol is awarding honorary degrees to Lesley Silvester and Sir Peter Estlin.
- Could statins lower the risk of ovarian cancer? 18 February 2020 In the UK, ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer in females*. A new study has found evidence to suggest that statins could lower the risk of women developing ovarian cancer. The research led by the University of Bristol, and funded by Cancer Research UK, is published today [18 February] in JAMA.
- Honorary degrees awarded at the University of Bristol – Tuesday 18 February 18 February 2020 The University of Bristol is awarding honorary degrees to Michael de Giorgio and Professor Ineke Sluiter at degree ceremonies taking place today [18 Feb] in the Wills Memorial Building.
- CT scanning an ancient armoured reptile 17 February 2020 The aetosaurs were heavily armoured reptiles that lived in many parts of the world in the Triassic period, some 225 million years ago. For the first time, a student at the University of Bristol has CT scanned a specimen to understand how the armour worked.
- South West to host Europe's largest Arm supercomputer 17 February 2020 The region's leading universities, the GW4 Alliance, together with the Met Office, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), and partners, have been awarded £4.1 million by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to create Isambard 2, the largest Arm-based supercomputer in Europe.
- Researchers looking for men to take part in new domestic violence study 17 February 2020 Researchers are looking for men who are concerned that they are, or have been, abusive in their relationships with women to take part in a new study that will help improve how we support men in changing their behaviour.
- Boom and bust for ancient sea dragons 13 February 2020 A new study by scientists from the University of Bristol's School of Earth Sciences, shows a well-known group of extinct marine reptiles had an early burst in their diversity and evolution - but that a failure to adapt in the long-run may have led to their extinction.
- Secularism and tolerance of minority groups predicts future prosperity of countries 12 February 2020 Secular cultures which are tolerant of minority groups and respectful of individuals’ rights tend to have more wealth, education and democracy, a new study by University of Bristol scientists has found.
- Bristol academic appointed Global Health Challenge Leader by UKRI 11 February 2020 An academic from the University of Bristol has been appointed a Global Health Challenge Leader by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and will join the flagship international development research scheme, the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF).
- Technology takes a step forwards in genetic research 11 February 2020 New research brings combined computational and laboratory genome engineering a step closer following the design of smaller and smaller genomes, to advance genetic manipulation, using supercomputers by researchers at the University of Bristol.
- GPs and pharmacists need to develop trusting relationships, study finds 11 February 2020 GPs and pharmacists work best together when they understand and value one another's expertise, according to a new study by researchers at the Centre for Academic Primary Care at the University of Bristol.
- The Body is (not) Here - Franko B's Archive 11 February 2020 A new exhibition at the University of Bristol’s Theatre Collection, which opens on Friday 14 February, explores the archive of the renowned visual artist, curator and teacher Franko B.
- Enterprise hub Engine Shed launch school Tech Tours 6 February 2020 Bristol’s leading enterprise hub, Engine Shed, has launched Tech Tours for school pupils to ignite long-term interest in STEAM subjects, set up in partnership with award-winning technology and business consultancy BJSS and the University of Bristol spin-out haptics firm Ultraleap.
- Sheep know the grass isn’t always greener when it comes to their health 5 February 2020 Sheep appear to forage and avoid parasites differently depending on how healthy they are, according to new University of Bristol research published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B. The study, which used remote GPS sensing data to monitor the foraging patterns of sheep, revealed less healthy animals chose to avoid high-quality vegetation due to a higher prevalence of ticks.
- Researchers to investigate method of growing new blood vessels 4 February 2020 A new treatment for stimulating the growth of new blood vessels in the heart will be investigated by researchers at the University of Bristol thanks to funding of over £100,000 from national charity Heart Research UK.
- How the development of skulls and beaks made Darwin’s famous finches one of the most diverse species of birds 3 February 2020 Darwin’s finches are among the most celebrated examples of adaptive radiation in the evolution of modern vertebrates and now a new study, led by scientists from the University of Bristol, has provided fresh insights into their rapid development and evolutionary success.
- Scientists discover new non-sticky gels 3 February 2020 Scientists from the University of Bristol and Université Paris-Saclay have discovered a new class of material – non-sticky gels.
