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Research Impact
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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.
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Research Impact at Durham

Read about our Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 impact case studies.

Impact Case Studies

Latest news

Key climate temperature goals could be too high

Scientists – including one of Durham’s leading glaciologists - and several countries highly vulnerable to climate change have warned that key global temperature goals might be too high.
A snow and icy landscape with a clear blue sky

Development of communication in chimpanzees echoes that of human infants

Our closest living relatives could help us better understand how communication evolved in humans and how our own language skills emerge.
A young chimpanzee stands in grassland

European birds move to cooler areas but natural obstacles ‘control the traffic’

European birds have shifted towards northeast Europe in the last 30 years in search of cooler temperatures but natural obstacles are causing problems.
A barn owl flying through the sky

Firms with CEOs under clan culture influence are more likely to be internationally-focused

Firms that have CEOs with a sense of working in the name of their enduring family are much more likely to be internationally focused.
Businesswoman stands to address meeting around board table

Circular economy paves the way in tackling plastic pollution

The agility and capability of Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to adopt digital technologies to enhance and promote an effective circular economy could pave the way for effectively combatting plastic pollution.
underwater photo of trash dumped in the sea

Visual and Material: A Discovery Research Platform for Medical Humanities Lab

Announcing the Visual and Material Lab as part of the Discovery Research Platform for Medical Humanities at Durham University.
Vintage pharmacy bottles

ChatGPT can’t think – consciousness is something entirely different to today’s AI

Dr Philip Goff from our Department of Philosophy explains the difference between artificial intelligence (AI) and consciousness.
digital brain projected from a screen

Scientists unearth forgotten children of the past

Scientists have unearthed a harrowing story of forgotten children of the past, providing the first direct evidence of the lives of early nineteenth century ‘pauper apprentices’.
Image of a young child in a cotton mill factory setting

First-of-its-kind measurement of Universe’s expansion rate

Our physicists are part of an international team that has successfully used a first-of-its-kind technique to measure the expansion of the Universe.
A supernova surrounded by stars

Research says talking to toddlers shapes early brain development

New research reveals that talking to babies and toddlers helps shape their developing brain.
An image of two parents interacting with a young child

The Centre for Catholic Studies' Newsletter, Easter Term 2023

CCS newsletter 45 is now available online.

Can a wind turbine handle hurricane speed winds? Simon Hogg comments on BBC news.

Offshore wind farm industries are increasing adopting large size wind turbines which survive hurricanes.
Wind turbine survives in hurricane
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Global Culture

Interested in how the cultural activities of Durham's staff and student bodies enrich life worldwide? Head to the Global Culture page to find out.

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