University of Exeter

Medical School research ranks in UK top 10

Research at the University of Exeter Medical School has ranked in the UK top ten, for demonstrating world-leading impact on health and wellbeing across the globe.

From internationally-renowned research on diabetes to developing effective new therapies for people with depression, the Medical School’s work has been heralded as having an impact in the South West and worldwide.

In the Research Excellence Framework (REF), the only comprehensive UK-wide review of research quality since 2008, Exeter’s Clinical Medicine research was ranked 3rd in the country, based on research...

Uni a 'world leader' in research

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Thu, 12/18/2014 - 10:04am

82% of Exeter’s research has been rated as world-leading or internationally excellent in the Research Excellence Framework (REF2014).

This is the first national evaluation of research quality in the UK since 2008 and looked at the economic and societal impact of research for the very first time. Exeter has made a huge rise since 2008 (from 56% to 82% world-leading/internationally excellent research) and now ranks first in the South West (BBC region), equal 19th nationally and 18th in the Russell Group on this measure. Exeter performed extremely well in humanities and social...

University of Exeter students visit ARRC

Twenty two students and staff from the University of Exeter made the journey to RAF St Mawgan to observe the Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) deployed on Exercise ARRCADE FUSION, 14 November 2014.

The post-graduate students are studying a range of political, civil, military, and diplomatic relations topics at Exeter’s Strategy and Security Institute.

One aim of their visit was to see how policy at the strategic level begins to take shape in an operational headquarters in order to be implemented at a tactical level. Walking the ground and seeing how planning...

NATO security chief to give open lecture

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 11/18/2014 - 12:18pm

Dr Jamie Shea, Deputy Assistant Secretary General to NATO will be talking to students, staff and members of the public at an open lecture on Thursday 20 November 2014 at the University’s Streatham Campus.

Entitled ‘International security: is it as bad as it seems?’ the lecture will explore how recent events have given many people the impression that the world is sliding into disorder and in some places (such as the Middle East) even anarchy.

It will pose questions such as ‘Are we experiencing the twilight of the West as many have predicted?’ and ‘Are the challenges from a...

Citizen science helping our cuckoos

Dartmoor Cuckoos have reached the Congo rainforest ahead of schedule this year, at a time when they would normally be taking a break and recovering body condition during their long migration.

It seems the dry weather conditions may have encouraged them to head south weeks earlier than expected. The cuckoos have been fitted with satellite tags as part of a national project to monitor migration routes.

The project is being co-ordinated by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). Emsworthy was amongst the first UK Cuckoos to arrive in the Congo rainforest and has been joined...

Virtual worlds to be used to trial potential new water systems

Virtual worlds similar to those experienced by game-players of the global phenomena Minecraft and SimCity could be used to help test potential new water infrastructure development in the UK.

Experts from the University of Exeter are pioneering a new computer platform in which water engineers can simulate how existing and prospective new water systems will cope with issues, threats and risk such as land management and flooding.

They believe that the innovative new approach to water infrastructure and security could help alleviate serious environmental impacts, such as the...

Epigenetic breakthrough bolsters understanding of Alzheimer’s disease

A team led by researchers at the University of Exeter Medical School and King’s College London has uncovered some of the strongest evidence yet that epigenetic changes in the brain play a role in Alzheimer’s disease.

Epigenetic changes affect the expression or activity of genes without changing the underlying DNA sequence and are believed to be one mechanism by which the environment can interact with the genome. Importantly, epigenetic changes are potentially reversible and may therefore provide targets for the development of new therapies.

Globally, more than 26 million...

Exeter study dispels magpie folklore

Magpies are not attracted to shiny objects and don’t routinely steal small trinkets such as jewellery, according to a new study.

In European culture, it is widely accepted that magpies (Pica pica) are the pilferers of the bird kingdom, unconditionally attracted to sparkly things and prone to pinching them for their nests, almost as a compulsion.

But psychologists at the Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour (CRAB) at the University of Exeter are now countering this folklore, having shown that the species is actually frightened of new and unfamiliar objects, rather than...

First World War postcards from 2014 to 1914

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Sat, 08/02/2014 - 3:22pm

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.

These letters are not only to the soldiers, medics and the war horses that served, but also to the millions of civilians who remained at home and contributed to the war effort.

As part of a University of Exeter engagement project, The Long Goodbye: a conversation across a century has encouraged members of the public and students to write postcards to those living at the time of the Great War. The aim is to address the...

Success for Rokk Media at Big Bang South West 2014

Authored by RokkMedia
Posted: Tue, 07/08/2014 - 3:15pm

The South West’s leading scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians were recently brought together for the Big Bang South West 2014 Fair, held at the University of Exeter on Thursday the 26th June 2014.

Designed to provide an innovative careers event, the fair aimed to introduce young students to the wide variety of careers available across Scientific, Engineering and Mathematical disciplines. The young technologists and scientists of the future were treated to an enjoyable day featuring elements of theatre blended with immersive learning experiences.

The fair...

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