News archive

August 2018

Nature holds key to nurturing green water treatment facilities

The quest to develop greener and more affordable methods to treat wastewater has taken a new, innovative twist.

Mindfulness training for prisoners set to transform Kenyan jails

A project which has transformed the lives of hundreds of Kenyan prisoners through teaching them mindfulness is set to expand, potentially leading to fundamental changes to the country’s jail system.

Exeter student through to Women in Property national Awards final

Sally Kerr, a second year Civil and Environment Engineering student, has made it to the national finals of the Women in Property Awards.

World experts target guidance on managing dementia symptoms

New research which brings together the views of the world’s leading experts has concluded that non-drug approaches should be prioritised in treating agitation in people with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Simple factors that can avoid harmful side effects in type 2 diabetes

Clinicians can match people with type 2 diabetes to the right drug for them to improve control of blood sugar and help avoid damaging side-effects, simply by factoring in simple characteristics such as sex and BMI into prescribing decisions, new research has shown.

Medical Imaging student awarded research grant

An Exeter student has been awarded a grant to research how best to optimise peer support across Medical Imaging courses in the UK.

Academic Promotions August 2018

Congratulations to our academic colleagues below who have recently achieved promotion. 

Twin study highlights importance of both genetics and environment on gene activity

New research highlights the extent to which epigenetic variation is influenced by both inherited and environmental factors.

Fall armyworm will continue to spread

A devastating crop pest called the fall armyworm – discovered this week in India – will continue to spread, a researcher says.

Exeter smashes fundraising record, raising more than £15 million in single year

The University of Exeter’s ‘Making the Exceptional Happen’ Campaign has raised more than £15 million of philanthropic income during the academic year (to 31 July 2018), the best ever fundraising performance in the University’s 63-year history.

Top climate scientist on summer festival line-ups

Climate science is on the bill alongside acts like the Manic Street Preachers at this year's Beautiful Days festival.

Women in Fisheries website launched

New research exploring women’s roles in fishing families officially gets going this week, as the Women in Fisheries project launches its new website.

Forests crucial for limiting climate change to 1.5 degrees

Trying to tackle climate change by replacing forests with crops for bioenergy power stations could increase the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.

Key aspects of human cell ageing reversed by new compounds

The breakthrough could be “basis for a new generation of anti-degeneration drugs.”

Forgotten Lancashire poems written during misery of cotton famine found

Hundreds of moving poems written by desperate Lancashire cotton workers facing hunger and homelessness because of the American Civil War have been uncovered by experts.

Weird science served up in Falmouth

A jellyfish that looks like a fried egg and a crab that can live on land for 40 years are among the subjects for this year’s Science in the Square.

Plastic found in stomach of dead turtle on Cornish beach

Plastic has been discovered in the stomach of a leatherback turtle found dead on a Cornish beach on Sunday.

Exeter professor conferred as Honorary Fellow of Institute of Physics

Professor Roy Sambles has been made an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Physics – the highest honour the organisation can confer.

Exeter cements position amongst world’s best universities in influential ranking

Exeter has cemented its position as one of the best universities in the world, according to the latest influential rankings.

Discovering why basking sharks go to Scotland

Scientists seeking to discover whether Scotland’s seas are a mating ground for basking sharks have filmed new footage showing the sharks being sociable.

Students at the South West’s unique school for talented mathematicians achieve outstanding results

Students at the South West’s unique school for talented mathematicians have achieved some of the best A-level results in the country – setting them on the path towards becoming the much-needed engineers and scientists of the future.

Study confirms truth behind ‘Darwin’s moth’

Scientists have revisited – and confirmed – one of the most famous textbook examples of evolution in action.

Research reveals problems in the law on enforced mental health detainment

The current law on involving and informing the relatives or carers of people who are detained against their will on mental health grounds is not working well, according to new research.

South East Asia and Australia face fall armyworm threat

Countries including China, Indonesia and Australia all face a “high threat” of invasion by the fall armyworm, new research shows.

The bright ways forests affect their environment

Why do forests emit the gases that give pine forests their distinctive smell? Scientists think they've found out.

Therapy that helps people with dementia maintain lifestyles rolled out

A technique that helps people with dementia see satisfying progress in achieving everyday goals that help them live their lives is now being rolled out.

Scientists unravel history of lost harbour of Pisa

New insights into the evolution and eventual disappearance of Portus Pisanus, the lost harbour of Pisa, have been revealed.

See the magic of Victorian “magic” lanterns come alive at Exeter show

Beautiful Victorian images can be seen in spectacular style using a rare magic lantern at a special one-off show in Exeter.

Increase in storms could have ‘catastrophic impact’ on fishing industry

Potential changes in the frequency and intensity of storms off the coast of the UK and around the world could have a “catastrophic impact” on the livelihood of fishermen and sustainability of fishing industries, research led by the University of Exeter has shown.

Beluga whales and narwhals go through menopause

Scientists have discovered that beluga whales and narwhals go through the menopause.

From rehearsal to the stage, Cornwall medics perform first-rate care at Reading Festival

A group of Cornwall-based medical students took centre stage at the high-profile Reading Festival by helping to deliver top medical care to revellers.

Male and female tennis players decline at same rate

The physical abilities of male and female tennis stars decline at the same rate as they age, new research shows.

Two hundredth volunteer joins the search for Devon’s Roman history

The 200th volunteer has joined the search for more clues about the Roman occupation of Devon at a major archaeological dig in the county.

Wild dolphins learn tricks from each other

Dolphins learn tricks from each other in the wild, new research shows.

Drought increases CO2 concentration in the air

The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere rises faster during drier years because struggling ecosystems absorb less carbon, new research shows.

Exeter academics recognised for teaching excellence

Two leading academics at the University of Exeter have been awarded National Teaching Fellowships - one of the most prestigious awards for higher education teaching.

SETsquared set to contribute £26.9 billion to UK economy and 22,000 jobs by 2030

The SETsquared Partnership will contribute £26.9 billion to the UK economy by 2030, independent research has found.

Stroke doubles dementia risk, concludes large-scale study

People who have had a stroke are around twice as likely to develop dementia, according to the largest study of its kind ever conducted.