Biosciences News
British Ecological Society awards Founders' Prize to Dr Rebecca Senior
We are delighted to announce that Dr Rebecca Senior from our Department of Biosciences has been awarded the Founders' Prize by the British Ecological Society.
New study finds European breeding birds respond slowly to recent climate change
In a new study, leading scientists from our Department of Biosciences have found that local colonisation and extinction of European breeding birds are very weakly influenced by climate change.
Durham Centre for Crop Improvement Technology awarded £1m grant from Wolfson Foundation
Durham Centre for Crop Improvement Technology is one of the country’s leading centres for crop research, with a long-standing internationally recognised record of research excellence.
Funding success for Magnitude Biosciences
Dr David Weinkove, CEO and CSO of Magnitude Biosciences talks about ageing and recent funding success
Near atmospheric carbon dioxide activates plant ubiquitin cross-linking
Following on from a recent paper in Science Advances demonstrating that ubiquitin is a carbon dioxide binding protein in mammals, Harry Gannon and Martin Cann demonstrate in a new paper in BBA Advances that near atmospheric carbon dioxide also regulates plant ubiquitin cross linking.
Unmasking Pain Presents International Yoga Day
Paul Chazot (Biosciences) and Durham WRIHW Fellow Balbir Singh with members of his dance group hosted a special event for the 9th International Yoga day as part of the Celebrating Health Festival, here in the Durham University Botanic Gardens.
Strengthening and expanding protected areas of existing parks is crucial for biodiversity conservation
In a new study, bioscientists argue that strengthening the protection given to areas already protected under law or by local communities is as critical for safeguarding biodiversity as creating new protected areas.
Global biome patterns of the Middle and Late Pleistocene
A newly published study led by Emeritus Professor Brian Huntley shows the key role that atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration has played in past changes in global vegetation patterns, provides evidence that past biome extent plays a key role in determining present patterns of biodiversity, and demonstrates that potential future global vegetation patterns are unlike any during the past 800,000 years.
Biosciences partnership awarded £1million in Ofwat innovation competition for eco-friendly Root Defender project
Researchers at the Department of Biosciences have been awarded a major grant from Ofwat in partnership with environmental gel innovator Intelligent Gels, Northumbrian Water and technology innovation catalyst CPI. This is one of 16 initiatives being awarded a share of £40 million in Ofwat’s latest innovation competition – the Water Breakthrough Challenge.
Our scientists are supporting Durham Cathedral to bring swifts to nest
Leading scientists from our Department of Biosciences and Mathematical Sciences are encouraging breeding swifts to nest by setting up high powered speakers in Durham Cathedral’s iconic Belfry Tower.
World Parkinsons Day Picnic 2023
In celebration of World Parkinson’s Day 2023, the Durham Parkinson’s UK Branch, Durham University, Space 2, and Balbir Singh Dance Company collaborated for an afternoon exploring the classical Indian dance of kathak at Durham University Botanic Gardens. This builds on the previous work of the ‘Unmasking Pain’ project with Balbir Singh Dance company backed by Arts Council England, offering similar days for people living with chronic pain.
Trait evolution during a rapid global weed invasion despite little genetic differentiation
New research just published by Dr Adrian Brennan and a team of researchers: Invasive species often possess a great capacity to adapt to novel environments in the form of spatial trait variation, as a result of varying selection regimes, genetic drift, or plasticity.