We had seven delegates at the recent 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30), under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Belém, Brazil.

We have been recognised for our commitment to promoting gender equality through an institutional Athena Swan Silver Award.

Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a major Bronze Age settlement on the Kazakh Steppe region, shedding new light on a key phase of Central Asian prehistory.

On Monday 24 November we welcomed The Deputy Director of the National Museum of Japanese History and the Minister for Public Diplomacy and Media from the Japanese Embassy in London, to Durham.

Miranda Wang, a PhD student in our Law School, has won this year’s international Matariki Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. The competition challenges PhD students to explain their research to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes.

The use of e-fuels could be the way forward but there are some barriers. Jon Gluyas, who is a Professor in Geoenergy, Carbon Capture and Storage, takes us through the challenges.

We have been ranked third in the UK for interdisciplinary science research.

Lifestyle factors such as sleep, diet and physical activity are now widely recognised as important influences on mental health.

Dr Alex Brown and Dr Grace Owen from our Department of History explore the surprising range of workplace benefits that existed for peasant workers in medieval England.

Professor Gina Porter, from our Department of Anthropology, and Bradley Rink, Associate Professor of Human Geography at the University of the Western Cape, explore the realities of walking in low-income urban communities. Drawing on peer-led research in Cape Town and London, their study challenges the common assumption that young men move freely and without fear.

Four undergraduates have been announced for the men’s and women’s U21 hockey squads for England, Scotland and Wales in the forthcoming Junior Hockey World Cup.

A new University College rowing boat has been named in honour of one the College’s most notable alumni: Guillaume V, the Grand Duke of Luxembourg.

We’ve been awarded £1.7 million to help deliver courses that will increase opportunities for students and support economic growth.

Professor Jonathan Darling, from our Department of Geography, explores the UK Home Secretary's proposed reforms to the asylum system.

Imagine a busy classroom with children hearing and interpreting lots of sounds around them. PhD student, Katherine Collier, from our School of Education has looked at the academic impact on children with mild and unilateral hearing loss.

Professor Justin Willis, from our Department of History, shares his deep knowledge of Sudan’s political history in the following piece, which is co-authored with Dr Willow Berridge (Newcastle University). Together, they combine their expertise to explain the complex historical and political forces behind Sudan’s descent into violence.

A memorial has been installed to a councillor believed to be the first openly gay politician elected in the UK, with support from two of our historians.

Following a hugely successful first six months, we’re extending our Shakespeare Recovered exhibition showcasing Durham’s copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio.

Plans to develop an innovation district of national significance in Durham City have taken a major step forward, with the signing of a key agreement.