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

Research Impact at Durham

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

Impact Case Studies

Latest news

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.

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.

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.

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.

Masters students produce UK expansion strategy for electric transport company

MSc Management students have been collaborating with Einride, a Swedish transport company specialising in electric and self-driving vehicles, through consulting project engagements for the past two years.

Einride self driving transport vehicle parked in carpark with cityscape behind

Strengthening our North American partnerships

In April we celebrated our long-standing partnership with the University of Notre Dame in North America.

A group of people standing in they foyer of a large building.

New interdisciplinary health research awarded £9m grant

Our cutting-edge Institute for Medical Humanities (IMH) has been awarded a £9m Discovery Research Platform Award to develop a new Discovery Research Platform for Medical Humanities (DRP-MH).

Top 5 Ethical Transgressions in Consulting

A new study on ethical practice in business consulting has expanded the discussion by reviewing media reporting, interview transcripts and jokes made on the internet to identify five common ethical transgressions made by consultants.