July | News and features | University of Bristol

New survey reveals British public generally think disruptive, non-violent protesters should not be imprisoned 1 August 2023 In the wake of UK government plans to grant new North Sea oil and gas licences, a survey has shown the vast majority of the British public consider climate change and the environment to be key issues. But most people frown upon the Just Stop Oil campaign group, according to the poll.

Bristol researcher shortlisted for BHF Heart Hero Award for work on children’s heart plaster 31 July 2023 A University of Bristol researcher who developed a new revolutionary type of ‘heart plaster’ that could improve the way surgeons treat children living with congenital heart disease has been shortlisted for the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) Research Story of the Year, part of the charity’s annual Heart Hero Awards.

‘Inspiring’ human rights activist receives honorary degree for lifetime fighting inequality 27 July 2023 A charity leader who has dedicated her life to ending inequality received an honorary degree from her old university.

New Bristol Evidence Synthesis Group awarded £2.5m 27 July 2023 A new University of Bristol-based evidence synthesis team has been awarded £2.5 million from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

World-first cinema capable of measuring audience response to open in Bristol 27 July 2023 One of the world’s most innovative cinemas, capable of monitoring audience reactions like never before, is coming to Bristol.

Arctic terns may navigate climate dangers 26 July 2023 Arctic terns – which fly on the longest migrations of any animal on Earth – may be able to navigate the dangers posed by climate change, new research suggests.

Dogs provide critical support for homeless people, study finds 25 July 2023 Homeless people and their dogs have a mutually beneficial relationship, with the dogs providing critical support for their owners' emotional and mental health while owners make every effort to protect the dog and meet their welfare needs, new research has found.

Writer and teacher wins 2023 Kevin Elyot Award 25 July 2023 Samuel Adamson, a writer and teacher, who studies dramatic composition and the representation of the main elements of drama on the stage, has been chosen as the seventh recipient of the annual Kevin Elyot Award by the University of Bristol's Theatre Collection.

Pioneering study signals new era of environment-friendly programmable bioelectronics 25 July 2023 Researchers have created a unique microscopic toolkit of ‘green’ tuneable electrical components, paving the way for a new generation of bioelectronic devices and sensors.

NASA astronaut returns to University of Bristol for public talk and Q&A 24 July 2023 A NASA astronaut who spent 204 days in space will talk about her life and career in a special event at the University of Bristol.

Bats struggle during organic farming transition 21 July 2023 Bat activity falls as farms make the transition to organic agriculture, new research shows.

Charity led by 23-year-old lifts 13,000 women out of period poverty 21 July 2023 A non-profit that has lifted 13,000 refugees and vulnerable people out of period poverty has now been awarded charity status.

Dr WM Gibson, 1926-2023 21 July 2023 (William) Martin Gibson, a member of the University’s then Physics Department from 1949-53 as a Research Associate and 1960-85 as Senior Lecturer and Reader, died in February aged 96 at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge. His colleague, Vincent Smith, offers a remembrance.

Patients need better information on usefulness of blood tests finds new audit of UK primary care tests 21 July 2023 An audit of blood tests in UK GP practices has found that 6.2% of test results led to a new diagnosis or confirmation of a diagnosis, and abnormal or borderline results were common with only around a quarter (26.6%) of patients having results in the normal range.

University of Bristol historian elected as Fellow of the British Academy 21 July 2023 A University of Bristol historian who is an expert in colonialism, and in particular the British empire and its relations with China, has been elected as a Fellow of the British Academy

Bristol professor wins prestigious RCGP award 20 July 2023 A University of Bristol Professor of Primary Health Care and an NIHR Senior Investigator has been awarded the George Abercrombie Award for his outstanding contributions to the literature of general practice.

New report explores the relationship between teaching and research in UK universities 20 July 2023 A new report which considers the relationship between teaching and research in Higher Education has found that the relationship is contested and needs more transparency.

Steven Lewis, 1960-2023 20 July 2023 Steven Lewis, a Leading Cleaner with Site Services since 2019, passed away recently. His colleagues offer their memories of Steven’s time working at Bristol.

Celebration event as wildlife film archive added to UNESCO ‘Memory of the World’ 20 July 2023 A special celebration event is being held to mark the Wildlife Filmmaking Oral Histories Collection, held by the University of Bristol, being added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) ‘Memory of the World’ programme.

Bristol weather expert wins prestigious national accolade for advancing understanding of extreme heat and health 19 July 2023 A leading climate scientist from the University of Bristol, has today won an award in recognition of his pioneering work to advance understanding of global weather extremes and their impact on society.

Pupils inspired by work of African-American scientist and Super-Soaker inventor in university taster 19 July 2023 Around 50 pupils from May Park Primary School recently visited the University of Bristol as part of a new initiative to give young children from less affluent areas of the city the chance to have a taster of what university life is like.

Student doctor wins Chortle Student Comedy Award 19 July 2023 A student who fell in love with comedy when he was 12 years old has won the Chortle Student Comedy Award 2023.

Large pterosaurs were better parents than their smaller, earlier counterparts, study finds 19 July 2023 Small pterosaurs were born with comparatively strong, large wings, which meant they could leave the nest swiftly, while larger, cumbersome baby pterosaurs required parental protection from predators, scientists have discovered.

Learning centre celebrates 10 years supporting young people 18 July 2023 A learning centre that has inspired 6,400 young people towards a brighter future yesterday celebrated its 10th birthday.

Major new research study to improve antibiotic prescribing for urinary tract infections in primary care 18 July 2023 New research led by the University of Bristol aims to help GPs choose the best antibiotic for treating urinary tract infections (UTIs) and reducing antimicrobial resistance (AMR), thanks to a £3 million award by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

Government delegates discuss Digital Research Infrastructure in Bristol visit 17 July 2023 A Government delegation from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), and HM Treasury visited Bristol on Monday 10 July to hear about the University’s Digital Research Infrastructure strategy and to see the new £10m GW4 Isambard 3 supercomputer facility.

Take a trip back in time to when Bristol harbour was a working dockyard 13 July 2023 This weekend thousands of people will descend on Bristol’s Docks for the popular annual Bristol Harbour Festival which takes place from July 14 to 16.

New research highlights and addresses public health gaps in the ‘levelling up’ agenda 13 July 2023 The UK government's levelling up agenda is set to fail in its mission to address inequalities unless it tackles the root causes of poor health, according to a new study.

Students and staff recognised at Student Social Mobility Awards tonight 13 July 2023 Students and staff have been praised for their “resilience and outstanding success” ahead of the Student Social Mobility Awards.

Traumatic injuries and violence remain a substantial cause of childhood deaths, new report shows 13 July 2023 Traumatic injuries and violence remain a substantial cause of childhood deaths; before, during and after the pandemic, according to a new report published today [13 July] by the University of Bristol's National Child Mortality Database (NCMD) team.

Butterfly species’ big brains adapted giving them a survival edge, study finds 13 July 2023 Heliconius butterflies’ brains grew as they adopted a novel foraging behaviour, scientists at the University of Bristol have found.

‘Fastball’ test to detect Alzheimer’s earlier gets major £1.5 million funding boost 12 July 2023 A simple but revolutionary test to improve early detection for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease could soon be helping patients and their families, thanks to a significant £1.5 million funding boost awarded to the universities of Bath and Bristol.

Innovative national initiative helps migrant entrepreneurs blossom in business 12 July 2023 Business is blooming for hundreds of entrepreneurs thanks to a unique project committed to boosting the prospects of migrants and refugees in the UK.

University of Bristol-led energy research centre bolstered by £5 million Government funding 12 July 2023 The Supergen Energy Networks (SEN) Hub, set up to help facilitate transition to a fully sustainable energy sector, has received substantial financial backing from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Marking and Assessment Boycott: an update from the Vice-Chancellor 11 July 2023 We are currently expecting the vast majority of Bristol’s students to graduate this summer. However, we are very disappointed that about 7%* out of 5,460 final year undergraduate students considered to date will have their degree outcome delayed beyond graduation due to the marking and assessment boycott. These students are concentrated in a small number of subjects at the University. Our examination boards continue to meet and we will be updating students on their results over the next few weeks.

Significant variations in hip fracture health costs and care between NHS hospitals and regions, study finds 10 July 2023 There are significant variations in healthcare spending and care delivery across NHS hospitals in England and Wales following hip fracture, a new study aimed at understanding how hospital care impacts patients’ outcomes and costs has revealed.

Beak shape can predict nest material use in the world’s birds, study finds 10 July 2023 The material a bird selects for its nest depends on the dimensions of its beak, according to researchers.

Research reveals nearly two million mortgage holders struggling to cover household bills 8 July 2023 As the cost of living crisis continues apace with the latest hike in interest rates, new research has shown a significant proportion of mortgage holders in the UK are so stretched financially they are short of money for food.

University of Bristol and Science Creates formalise unique partnership 6 July 2023 The University of Bristol and Science Creates have signed an enablement agreement to formalise their partnership which aims to drive the deep tech community in Bristol and the South West forwards.

Bristol researcher selected for 2023 Lister Prize 6 July 2023 Dr Helen Weavers, Senior Research Fellow in the School of Biochemistry, is one of six new Fellows of the Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine to be selected for the 2023 Lister Prize.

News in July