News archive

July 2014

Exeter expert wins prestigious Physics award

A University of Exeter physics expert has been bestowed with a prestigious award, for his significant widening participation and outreach work.

Regional weather extremes linked to atmospheric variations

Variations in high-altitude wind patterns expose particular parts of Europe, Asia and the US to different extreme weather conditions, a new study has shown.

Exeter scientist reveals secrets of Scotland’s basking sharks in new report

Seas between the islands of Skye and Mull on Scotland’s west coast are highly important for basking sharks, according to a report published today by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).

Rory re-emerges as an award winning artist

The University’s Community Liaison Officer, Rory Cunningham, has won an art award

National award for university and students' union partnership

The University of Exeter, University of Exeter Students’ Guild and Falmouth & Exeter Students’ Union (FXU) have been awarded the 2014 Students’ Union and Institution Partnership Award by the Higher Education Academy and National Union of Students.

Fal-moth study needs your garden

Falmouth residents are being sought by a student at the University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus who is conducting research into the causes of moth declines.

University of Exeter announce three finalists in Green Gown Awards 2014

The University of Exeter has been shortlisted for three prestigious Green Gown Awards in recognition of best practice within higher education.

William steps onto the podium after securing world-class role with Infiniti Red Bull F1

A student from the University of Exeter has won the career opportunity of a lifetime with World Championship-winning Formula One team, Infiniti Red Bull Racing.

‘Amazonian savannah’ supported ancient civilizations before rainforest took over

Large parts of the Amazon basin may have supported farming communities and looked more like open savannah than rainforest, prior to the arrival of Europeans in South America, scientists have found.

First scientific UAV facility in the UK launched in Cornwall

Cornwall is home to the UK’s first scientific facility dedicated to research involving Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), with a series of talks taking place on July 10-11 to mark the exciting launch.

Showcase highlighted innovation to improve healthcare and treatment

A wide range of research which is advancing knowledge on some of the greatest health challenges of our time was showcased at a dynamic event.

Rotten egg gas holds key to healthcare therapies

It may smell of flatulence and have a reputation for being highly toxic, but when used in the right tiny dosage, hydrogen sulfide is now being being found to offer potential health benefits in a range of issues, from diabetes to stroke, heart attacks and dementia.

Researchers discover ‘Nano-pixels’ that promise thin, flexible high-res displays

A new discovery will make it possible to create pixels just a few hundred nanometres across that could pave the way for high-resolution low-energy flexible displays for applications such as ‘smart’ glasses, synthetic retinas, and foldable screens.

Superheroes to the rescue, to religious education and beyond

A new initiative that uses superheroes to teach Religious Education at a school in Cornwall has won a national award.

University of Exeter announces new Director of Campus Services

Following 14 years as University of Exeter Director of Sport, Phil Attwell has been promoted to the position of Director of Campus Services. 

Rediscovered World War One novel turned into play

A lost novel by a popular World War One soldier poet has been discovered in a garage and turned into a play which is soon to be performed at the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham.

Feedback control could be key to robust conservation management

Mathematical algorithms used to control everyday household items such as washing machines could hold the key to winning the fight for conservation, a new study has claimed.

University of Exeter toasts summer graduands

Celebration is in the air as the University of Exeter prepares for Summer Graduation.

Petals power the University as it prepares for Britain in Bloom judging

Judges from the Royal Horticultural Society will descend on Exeter this week to assess the city's entry for Britain in Bloom. 

Honorary degrees for South West stalwarts

The University is bestowing key figures from the South West region with Honorary Degrees this week, among 14 Honorary Graduates. 

Study reveals how gardens could help dementia care

A new study has revealed that gardens in care homes could provide promising therapeutic benefits for patients suffering from dementia.

Baronesses team up – University honours Baroness Lawrence

Baroness Doreen Lawrence of Clarendon has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by the University’s Chancellor, Baroness Floella Benjamin. 

Exeter Science Park secures further links with the University of Exeter

The Exeter Science Park Company has strengthened its links with the University of Exeter through an agreement which will see the University’s innovation arm manage the new Science Park Centre.

Professional Services staff recognised at annual awards ceremony

The Professional Services Recognition Awards entered its fourth year, with a ceremony in Holland Hall on Friday 11 July.

Ambition advantage for Abigail after active time at Exeter

A graduate from the University of Exeter is embarking on a career helping refugees, following her voluntary activity while studying. 

Ipplepen Archaeological dig in the driving seat

A Roman road discovered on an archaeological dig has repairs to the road surface, showing that pot holes in Devon's roads are nothing new.

Hannah looks to take the reins

Graduate Hannah Mann is putting her degree into practice on her family’s farm business in Shaldon, Devon.

Jerusalem Unbound: a City in Conflict

A new book, Jerusalem Unbound, plots the history and examines the underlying factors that make a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians so difficult.

Catering team cook up a storm for Summer Graduation

A team of dedicated University of Exeter caterers has put the icing on the cake for thousands of students, parents and honoured guests, at the Summer Graduation celebrations.

All change for Stocker Road entrance to Streatham Campus

The Stocker Road entrance to the University of Exeter’s Streatham Campus will undergo remodelling works from 21 July to 19 September 2014. 

Microplastics worse for crabs and other marine life than previously thought, study shows

The tiny plastic particles polluting our seas are not only orally ingested by marine creatures, but also enter their systems through their gills, according to a new study led by the University of Exeter.

Truro Cathedral hosts University of Exeter graduations

Celebration is in the air as 478 University of Exeter students graduate at Truro Cathedral on Monday 21 July.

Age of puberty in girls influenced by which parent their genes are inherited 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 which parent passes on that gene, according to new research published today in the journal Nature

New report takes stock of jellyfish in UK seas

A new report by the University of Exeter and the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) takes stock of where and when UK jellyfish occur in UK seas for the first time in over 40 years.

Should we listen to our genes, or does mother know best?

Breaking the mould of inherited family characteristics could help you survive in a fast-changing world, scientists have discovered.

Mapping legal crossroads of Empire summer exhibition

The Commonwealth Games is not the only one attracting a global audience, with the opening of an exhibition highlighting what was formerly the highest court of appeal for most colonies of the British Empire.

Stress can make hard working mongooses less likely to help in the future

Researchers studying banded mongooses in Uganda have discovered that those who work hard to care for pups may be less likely to invest in future offspring in the same way due to elevated stress hormones.

New device costing just £10 detects deadly lung disease

A scientist from the University of Exeter has developed a simple, cheap and highly accurate device for diagnosing a frequently fatal lung disease which attacks immune deficient individuals such as cancer patients and bone marrow transplant recipients.

£3.5 million for Exeter team’s national health technology assessment work

A team at the University of Exeter Medical School has been awarded £3.5 million to continue providing high-quality evidence to help the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) form key decisions on healthcare.

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 Exeter and Bristol which tested fish anti-predator behaviour.

The fantasy world of Ray Harryhausen comes to Devon

Ray Harryhausen is a legendary figure in the history of animation through the models that he created for films such as Jason and the Argonauts, One Million Years B.C, and The Golden Voyage of Sinbad.

Green Flags to fly over Exeter campuses once again

The University of Exeter’s Streatham and St Luke’s campuses are among the record-breaking 1,476 parks and green spaces that have received a prestigious Green Flag Award.

First World War postcards from 2014 to 1914

Hundreds of postcards have been written to those affected by the outbreak of the First World War from people today, as a form of memorial and recognition.

Problem drinking in midlife doubles chance of memory problems in later life

A study published today [Weds July 30] in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry indicates that middle-aged adults with a history of problem drinking are more than twice as likely to suffer from severe memory impairment in later life.

Major turtle nesting beaches protected in one of the UK's far flung overseas territories

Sea turtles are not a species one would normally associate with the United Kingdom. But on the remote UK overseas territory of Ascension Island, one of the world’s largest green turtle populations is undergoing something of a renaissance.

Bees able to spot which flowers offer best rewards before landing

Bumblebees are able to connect differences in pollen quality with floral features, like petal colour, and so land only on the flowers that offer the best rewards, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Exeter.

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.

African pupils taken on a scientific journey from the Rubik’s Cube to the building blocks of the universe

Professor Pete Vukusic has returned from a whistle-stop tour of schools in rural Tanzania, designed to help children better engage with science.

Primary care telephone triage does not save money or reduce practice workload

Demand for general practice appointments is rising rapidly, and in an attempt to deal with this, many practices have introduced systems of telephone triage. Patients are phoned by a doctor or nurse who either manages the problem on the phone, or agrees with the patient whether and how urgently they need to be seen.