Global Impact - Durham University

Research to empower and inspire

We are a globally outstanding centre of teaching, learning and research excellence. We are a world top 100 university, with 12 of our subjects ranked in the world top 50 and 19 in the world top 100. We conduct innovative and impactful research to transform lives and make a difference, globally and locally: research to empower and inspire.

Explore our latest research news

Explore our global research

Discover how our research is changing lives around the world using the button below. We also have a static PDF version available.

Read our research brochure

Static PDF version

Latest news

Durham University start-up named as a finalist in prestigious Earthshot Prize 2022

Durham University start-up, Low Carbon Materials, has recently been announced as one of three international finalists in the Fix Our Climate category in the world’s most prestigious environmental prize, The Earthshot Prize 2022.

Low Carbon Materials CEO Natasha Boulding (1050 x 350px)

Durham University and partners create first international network for Nineteenth-Century Studies

Durham University and over 30 partner organisations have created an international network that will open new research and collaboration opportunities for Nineteenth-Century Studies.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Karen O'Brien and Professor Bennett Zon, Director of CNCS, holding the Memorandum of Understanding

A world leader in sustainability

We’ve been recognised as one of the top universities in the world for taking action to address the most pressing Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) challenges facing society today.

Does loving your country hinder international collaboration?

Having a positive attitude towards your home country is more likely to stop you from collaborating internationally, according to new research undertaken by Professor of Experimental Economics Jason Shachat, alongside colleagues from Chapman University, USA, and Wuhan University, China.

A group of people having a discussion in a meeting room

Durham students take part in Memorandum of Understanding ceremony at Canadian High Commission

In a ceremony yesterday (20 October), Durham students Risako Takamura (Law) and Hannah Moore (Geography with Year Abroad) were invited to London to deliver short speeches at the Canadian High Commission.

Durham students Risako Takamura and Hannah Moore at the Canadian High Commission in London in October 2022

First Sir Harry Evans investigative journalism fellow announced

Reuters, Durham University and Tina Brown have announced Texas-based journalist and photographer Waylon Cunningham as the first fellow of the Sir Harry Evans Global Fellowship in Investigative Journalism.

Prof Nancy Cartwright winner of the Barcelona Hypatia European Science Prize

Philosopher Nancy Cartwright selected as winner of the Barcelona Hypatia European Science Prize for her outstanding contributions to philosophical research

International physics honour for Durham University historian

A leading body representing physicists across the world has presented one of its most prestigious honours to a Durham historian.

Joseph D Martin smiles at camera standing in the countryside

Durham University start-up accepted onto world-leading space programme in British first

Durham University graduate start-up, Charter, has become the first British space company to be accepted onto the prestigious TechStars Space Accelerator programme, widely considered as the world’s leading programme for start-ups in the space sector.

Yuk Chi Chan giving a lecture to a room full of students

New Centre with University of Johannesburg

A new Centre for Philosophy of Epidemiology, Medicine, and Public Health (CPEMPH) has been launched by Professor Alex Broadbent, Professor of Philosophy of Science and a member of the Institute for Medical Humanities.

A market street in Kenya with various traders and pedestrians

“The Polyphony Meets China”: New collaborative initiative at The Polyphony

The Institute for Medical Humanities (IMH) at Durham University is delighted to introduce “The Polyphony Meets China”, a new collaborative project between our web platform The Polyphony and the Narrative Medicine Research Centre (NMRC) at Southern Medical University (SMU).

Teesside and Durham Universities embark on £11million project to support hydrogen innovation in the Tees Valley

We are collaborating with Teesside University on a ground-breaking project to accelerate decarbonisation and the use of hydrogen through supporting industrial research and development and capacity building in the Tees Valley.