News archive

February 2019

Multilingual MP guest of honour at University of Exeter event to celebrate language learning

Multilingual MP Ben Bradshaw shared his experiences of how speaking German and Italian had shaped his career as a journalist and politician as part of a University of Exeter event for young people learning languages.

Funding boost supports next generation of highly skilled scientists and engineers for offshore renewable energy industry

The University of Exeter’s role in developing the next generation of offshore renewable energy has received a significant boost, it has been announced.

Graphene biosensor could provide early lung cancer diagnosis, research shows

The wonder-material graphene could hold the key to unlocking the next generation of advanced, early stage lung cancer diagnosis.

Poor diet may have caused nosedive in major Atlantic seabird nesting colony

The observed population crash in a colony of sooty terns, tropical seabirds in one of the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs), is partly due to poor diet, research led by the University of Birmingham has found.

Professor Sir Steve Smith made Freeman of the City of Exeter

Professor Sir Steve Smith’s extraordinary contribution to Exeter and the local community has been recognised at a ceremony today in the historic Guildhall where he was awarded Freeman of the City.  

Experience the Magic of the Oscars at The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum

A fascinating selection of memorabilia, collectibles and curios that showcase the glitz and glamour of the world’s premier film award ceremonies has been put on public display.

Progression agreement with the University of Exeter paves the way for talented CATS College students

CATS Colleges and the University of Exeter have formalised a progression agreement to give CATS Colleges’ students guaranteed progression to the University of Exeter upon meeting the agreed entry criteria.

Being kind to yourself has mental and physical benefits, research shows

Taking time to think kind thoughts about yourself and loved ones has psychological and physical benefits, new research suggests.

What do coffee, work-outs and a vivid imagination have to do with bipolar disorder?

Drinking tea or coffee, exercising and imagining events are things that most of us do sometimes, but they might tell us more about how people with bipolar disorder can manage their condition.

Exeter’s pioneering progression programme ‘Exeter Scholars’ recruits record numbers

A pioneering programme at the University of Exeter, designed to support and nurture high-achieving pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, is celebrating record success.

New support for students sees NHS Senior Mental Health Practitioners based on University of Exeter campus

Three NHS Senior Mental Health Practitioners are now based on the University of Exeter’s Streatham campus, in order to provide direct support to students.

University of Exeter Campaign reaches £50 million in donations

The University of Exeter’s fundraising campaign, ‘Making the Exceptional Happen’ has exceeded £50 million of philanthropic donations, taking the total to nearly 84% of target with less than two years to go.

Million pound grant for researchers working to solve social and economic challenges

University of Exeter researchers have been given a £1.1m grant to help improve people’s lives by working in partnership to solve pressing social and economic challenges.

MDMA users more empathetic than other drug users

Long-term MDMA users have higher levels of empathy than cannabis and other drugs users, new research suggests.

Skyglow over key wildlife areas

Light pollution affects the skies over most of the world’s key wildlife areas, new research shows.

Exeter expert backs calls for bold national Plastic Packaging Plan to help protect oceans

One of the world’s foremost experts in microplastics research has backed calls for a bold new national policy framework to help reduce the amount of ocean plastic pollution.

Efforts to tackle antibiotic resistance must take account of fourfold difference in use across Europe, report says

Global efforts to tackle antibiotic resistance will be more effective if they focus on the cultural context behind the fourfold difference in total antibiotic use and consumption across Europe, according to a new report.

Blood clot discovery could pave way for treatment of blood diseases

Scientists have discovered new ways in which the body regulates blood clots, in a discovery which could one day lead to the development of better treatments that could help prevent and treat conditions including heart diseases, stroke and vascular dementia.

Awards for Exeter’s apprenticeship scheme

The University of Exeter’s innovative apprenticeships scheme has been recognised, by securing a number of honours at a regional awards ceremony.

Controversial science critics who turn into believers can sway others, research shows

People who experience their own “Road to Damascus” moment over hotly-debated scientific issues can then become key advocates on the subject, new research has shown.

Lost buildings and artworks of Renaissance Florence to be reunited for the first time in hundreds of years

People will be able to step back in time and experience the extraordinary treasures of Renaissance Florence as they would have looked hundreds of years ago thanks to new University of Exeter research supported through the Digital Art History initiative of the Getty Foundation.  

Natural resources valued differently by men and women, study shows

Men and women value, access and use resources from the natural environment in distinct and different ways, a new study has shown.

New research to investigate impact of AIDS crisis on masculinity and sexual behaviour

Three decades after the AIDS crisis, a new study will investigate the impact the disease has had on masculinity and sexuality in the gay community.

Cornwall’s granite could hold key to South West England's geothermal potential

Granite from Cornwall will be examined by UK scientists as part of a £1.8 million project in order to help the country increase its use of geothermal energy.

People more likely to be generous towards charities if they donate before a windfall

People will donate more to charity if they make a pledge before receiving an unexpected cash windfall, a study has shown.

His Royal Highness The Duke of York has met some of the rising stars of the UK’s next generation of young entrepreneurs, during a special visit to the University of Exeter

The Duke met with key representatives from the University’s Student Startup team, when he visited The Deck at the Streatham Campus on Monday, February 18.

Companies made to pay into pension schemes before shareholders would help keep pension schemes afloat

Compelling bosses to pay into their staff defined benefit pension schemes before they pay out to shareholders would help to make those defined benefit schemes more sustainable, according to new research from Sun Yat-sen University, University of Exeter Business School and Lancaster University Management School.

Make CEOs join the same pension scheme as staff to help protect it, say experts

Making company bosses join the same defined benefit scheme as their staff makes it more likely the scheme will survive, according to research carried out by the University of Exeter Business School.

Exeter receives major funding boost to train next generation of Artificial Intelligence leaders

The University of Exeter has received a major funding boost to lead pioneering new research into using Artificial Intelligence to increase society’s resilience to changes in our environment.

Exeter researcher awarded Pew Fellowship to discover if commercial fishing harms endangered penguin populations

Experts will work to discover if commercial fishing is harming endangered African penguins by making it harder to forage for food in the ocean.

Location, location, location: Proximity to the mainland determines how coral reef communities respond to major environmental disturbances

Severe weather and environmental disturbances, such as cyclones or thermal coral bleaching, affect specific areas of coral reefs differently, new research has shown.

South West pioneers to lead the way on reducing plastic waste

Pioneers on reducing plastic waste, backed by £1 million of government funding, are seeking to revolutionise the way the south west produce, recycle and utilise plastics.

Wild carnivores stage a comeback in Britain

Once-endangered carnivorous mammals such as otters, polecats and pine martens have staged a remarkable comeback in Britain in recent decades, a new review shows.

Live long and prosper: Mongooses enjoy lifelong benefits of ‘silver spoon effect’

The benefits of the ‘silver spoon effect’ in mongoose pups extend across their lifetime, a new study has shown.

Research unravels genetics of insomnia and links to disease

A large-scale genomic study has identified which genes could be responsible for keeping you awake at night – which in turn could cause depression or heart disease.

Maasai farmers only kill lions when they attack livestock

Maasai farmers do not kill lions for retribution whenever they lose sheep or cattle, new research shows.

Understanding the rich social lives of animals benefits international conservation efforts

An international group of researchers working on a wide range of species, from elephants and crows, to whales and chimpanzees, argues that animals’ cultural knowledge needs to be taken into consideration when planning international conservation efforts.

 

Nobel Peace Prize winner shares inspirational story of bringing democracy to Tunisia

Nobel Prize winner and influential African businesswoman Ouided Bouchamaoui spoke about her extraordinary role bringing democracy to Tunisia during a visit to the University of Exeter.

New genetic test improves safety of Inflammatory Bowel Disease treatments

A genetic discovery will make treatment for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis safer, by identifying patients who are at risk of potentially deadly drug side effects.

World leading researchers give insight into link between evolutionary medicine and early life effects

The quest to determine why people experience different long-term reactions to adversity in early life has received a new, ground-breaking boost.

New continuity of care tracking method for GPs

New research has outlined a simple way to measure continuity of care for GPs, to benefit patients.

Crohn’s Disease study reveals huge potential for personalised treatment to help more patients

The largest study ever to look at why an expensive and commonly used group of drugs fails patients with Crohn’s disease has concluded that standardised drug doses are often too low.

Exeter subjects ranked amongst world’s best

The University of Exeter’s science and humanities subjects have been ranked amongst the very best in the world, according to the latest influential global league table.

Research changes GP guidelines on frailty in diabetes

New guidelines will help GPs get the best outcomes for older people with diabetes after they were changed to include specific advice around frailty.

£250,000 for Centre of Excellence in Cornwall

The Garfield Weston Foundation has generously donated £250,000 to help fund the Stella Turk Building on the University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus.

University of Exeter names new building after revered Cornish scientist

The University of Exeter has named their new £12.4 million state of the art research facility in Penryn after Cornish scientist and honorary graduate, Stella Turk.

Child anxiety could be factor in school absences, research concludes

New research has concluded that anxiety can be a factor in poor school attendance among children and young people.

Ice-free Arctic summers could happen on earlier side of predictions

The Arctic Ocean could become ice-free in the summer in the next 20 years due to a natural, long-term warming phase in the tropical Pacific that adds to human-caused warming, according to a new study. 

Exeter researcher nominated for Health Scientist of the Year

A world-leading diabetes specialist at the University of Exeter Medical School is one of only two nominated to receive the highly prestigious NHS Healthcare Scientist of the Year award.

Wanted: Pet owners whose cats take a walk on the wild side

The University of Exeter is seeking cat owners to become researchers for a new study designed to test different techniques to reduce the amount of wildlife killed by domestic cats, while maintaining and improving cat health and welfare.