News archive

September 2014

Exeter academics elected to the Academia Europaea

Exeter academics in both the Arts and Sciences have been honoured with election to the prestigious Academia Europaea.

Why plants in the office make us more productive

‘Green’ offices with plants make staff happier and more productive than ‘lean’ designs stripped of greenery, new research shows.

Computer Scientists take top award at international conference

A team of Computer Science experts from the University of Exeter are celebrating after being bestowed with a prestigious award at a major international conference.

New School begins recruiting scientists and engineers of the future

Tomorrow’s scientists and engineers can now apply for places at Devon's newest school, the South Devon University Technical College in Engineering, Water and the Environment.

Professional Mining Programme launched by Camborne School of Mines

Camborne School of Mines has announced the launch of a pioneering new Programme, designed to deliver key learning and professional development to employees and stakeholders within the mining industry.

Behind the scenes at 'the biggest fish tank you have ever seen'

An unusual large scale experiment being led by a group of scientists at the University of Exeter investigating how fish respond to underwater noise is the subject of a new NERC Planet Earth podcast.

New investment unites Exeter and Plymouth researchers to defeat dementia

Researchers in Exeter and Plymouth have been brought together in an exciting new venture to defeat dementia.

Burnt out birds suggest hard work could be bad for your health

Unequal sharing of workloads in societies could leave the most industrious individuals at higher risk of poor health and prone to accelerated ageing, according to a new study of a cooperative bird in the Kalahari Desert.

Carbon stored in the world’s soils more vulnerable to climate change than expected

The response of soil microbial communities to changes in temperature increases the potential for more carbon dioxide to be released from the world's soils as global temperatures rise.

University of Exeter recognised for advancing gender equality in the arts

Five universities and 17 individual departments have today been recognised for their progress in advancing gender equality in arts, humanities and social science careers in higher education. 

University shortlisted for three Times Higher Education awards

It was announced today (4 September) that the University of Exeter had been shortlisted for three Times Higher Education (THE) awards.

Innovation in frontline healthcare strengthened by new collaboration

Excellence in frontline healthcare in the South West is being boosted by the launch of a new collaboration designed to put the region on the map.

Film student secures Library of Congress fellowship

A PhD Film student has won a prestigious fellowship to enhance their research at the largest library in the world, the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. 

Devon children act up for healthy living

An innovative programme which brings actors into the classroom to encourage and support children to make healthier choices on diet and exercise has been selected to feature in this week’s British Science Festival.

New leaflet emphasises that "it's safe to talk about suicide" on World Suicide Prevention Day

A new public education leaflet, informed by University of Exeter Medical School research, has been launched to build confidence in talking to people about suicide, and could help save lives.

Exeter host BBC’s Sky at Night

Pioneering research carried out at the University of Exeter into the remarkable atmospheric properties of exoplanets will feature in a forthcoming episode of the BBC’s much-loved astronomy programme, the Sky at Night.

Genetics reveals patients susceptible to drug-induced pancreatitis

Doctors have discovered that patients with a particular genetic variation are four times more likely to develop pancreatitis if they are prescribed a widely used group of drugs.

 

Lord of the Flies 60th anniversary marks handover of Golding archive to University

Lord of the Flies, the classic novel by William Golding, marks the 60th anniversary of its publication on 17 September.

Exeter professor bestowed with major international award

A leading professor from the University of Exeter has secured a significant international award, in recognition of his pioneering research.

Expedition finds Nemo can travel great distances to connect populations

New research shows that as babies clownfish sometimes travel hundreds of kilometres across the open ocean.

Times Good University Guide votes Exeter as top university in South West

Exeter has been named the top university in the Southwest according to The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2015 after reaching a new high of 7th place in the national rankings.

CO2 emissions set to reach new 40 billion tonne record high in 2014

Remaining CO2 emission ‘quota’ may be used up in one generation and half of all fossil fuel reserves may need to be left untapped.

Exeter Mathematics School officially launched

A prestigious new specialist school, designed to act as a regional centre of excellence for gifted young mathematicians, has been officially opened.

Exeter bioscientist awarded Royal Society University Research Fellowship

A University of Exeter bioscientist is one of 43 UK scientists to be made a Royal Society University Research Fellow for 2014. 

Working together to promote greater resilience to flooding

Researchers from the University of Exeter are working to help communities become more resilient to natural hazards like flooding. 

Skin colouring of rhesus macaque monkeys linked to breeding success

Skin colour displayed amongst one species of monkey provides a key indicator of how successfully they will breed, a new study has shown.

Eureka moments between the sciences and the arts

Exeter academics have secured two of seven research awards to explore the cutting edge relationships between the sciences and the arts and humanities.

Simple blood test could be used as tool for early cancer diagnosis

High levels of calcium in blood, a condition known as hypercalcaemia, can be used by GPs as an early indication of certain types of cancer, according to a study by researchers from the University of Exeter Medical School and the University of Bristol.

Heritage of Earth’s water gives rise to hopes of life on other planets

A pioneering new study has shown that water found on Earth predates the formation of the sun – raising hopes that life could exist on exoplanets, the planets orbiting other stars in our galaxy.

Exeter archaeologist ensures thousands of Roman coins in Devon are recorded

A hoard of 22,000 Roman coins has been unearthed on land near Seaton in Devon.

Cervical cancer symptoms not recognised by young women

New research led by King’s College London and involving the University of Exeter Medical School suggests that many women under 30 with cervical cancer are diagnosed more than 3 months after first having symptoms.

Genetic test for cancer patients could be cost-effective and prevent further cases

Screening for a genetic condition in younger people who are diagnosed with bowel cancer would be cost-effective for the NHS and prevent new cases in them and their relatives, new research has concluded.

A tall story: Great strides in identifying genetic factors in height

An international collaboration of scientists has identified a fifth of the genetic factors that cause height to vary between individuals.