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Reflections on COP29

This year, we sent six delegates to the Conference of Parties in Baku, Azerbaijan. Learn how their work helps to address the challenges of an ever-changing and complex world – and inspires the next generation of problem-solvers.
Five headshots of our COP29 delegates.

National biodiversity award for MammalWeb project

Our MammalWeb project has won a national biodiversity award for its work to gather information on the distribution, abundance, habits and behaviours of UK and European wild mammals.
Otters stare at the camera after being caught on a camera trap

Exhibition donated by ‘Knitting Bishop’ highlights links with Korea

A new exhibition ‘Knitted Together: The Korean Lives and Legacies of Richard and Joan Rutt’, focusing on the lives of two of the main donors to the Oriental Museum’s Korean collection, is now on display.
Korean Exhibition at the Oriental Museum, Knitted Together. Reverend Richard Rutt & wife Joan, black and white photo

Weather warnings in a changing climate to be explored thanks to Wellcome Award

Three of our scholars have been selected for the prestigious Wellcome Award, offering a combined £1,660,000 to work toward improving wellbeing through scientific research.
A person standing on sand holds a phone showing a high temperature.

Scientists reveal new breakthrough in OLED technology

Scientists from our top-rated Physics department and Newcastle University have developed a groundbreaking method to improve the stability and efficiency of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), a technology used in smartphones, TVs, and other electronic displays.
Futuristic portrayal of screens on a black background

New study highlights how friendly social behaviours are contagious for chimpanzees

Researchers from our top-rated Psychology department have discovered that social bonding behaviours in chimpanzees, like grooming and play, can spread through groups much like contagious yawns or laughter in humans.
Two chimpanzees play on the ground outside. Photo credit: Dr Jake Brooker

Durham researchers are among the most cited in the world

Five Durham researchers have been named on a prestigious list for their world-leading research.
From left to right: Professor Tom Theuns, Professor Yunfei Chen, Professor Adrian Jenkins and Professor Carlos Frenk.

Celebrating our success in the Green Gown Awards 2024

We were delighted to attend the UK & Ireland Green Gown Awards Ceremony at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh on 13 November 2024 as we reached the finals in two categories including Creating Impact and Sustainability Institution of the Year.
A bird standing on a lush green field

New cosmic map supports Einstein’s prediction about gravity

Albert Einstein’s transformational prediction about how gravity behaves has been backed by an international team of researchers who studied how the force acts on cosmic scales.
The dome of a telescope on top of a hill with a starry sky behind it.

Durham Drama Festival celebrates its 50th anniversary

This annual festival of new student writing for theatre will launch celebrations to mark its 50th year in 2025.
A graphic reading 'Durham Drama Festival' and showing the dates for 2025

Supercomputer simulations offer new explanation for the formation of Mars’ moons

Scientists from NASA and our Department of Physics have used supercomputer simulations to reveal that Mars’ moons may have been formed from destroyed asteroid fragments.
Graphic showing asteroid fragments orbiting Mars t

Supporting local charities with this year’s Christmas Wish Tree

Students and staff are being invited to support three local charities this festive season, by donating to our annual Christmas Wish Tree campaign.
Christmas Wish Tree 2024 graphic with a Christmas tree to the right-hand side and the words