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Our News

Read the latest news from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

The People’s Plinth

Do you have an object that helps tell the story of Tyneside?

Newcastle University announced as new sponsor of the Gordon Burn Prize

The announcement heralds a three year partnership between Newcastle University and New Writing North.

Comment: Changing banks' CSR reporting could prevent future failings

Writing for The Conversation, Dr Erwei (David) Xiang discusses why strengthened corporate social reporting can help banks’ financial stability during the current crisis.

Comment: Why interest rates should increase (a bit)

Writing for The Conversation, Dr Nikolaos Papanikolaou discusses how the Federal Reserve and Bank of England might address inflation and the current banking turmoil.

Comment: Britain and the invasion of Ukraine one year on

One year on from the invasion of Ukraine, Dr Martin Farr analyses the role Britain has played in the response.

Comment: Four lessons from history for a 'government-in-waiting'

Writing for The Conversation, Dr Martin Farr outlines how Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, can learn from the experiences of previous opposition leaders.

UK Government failing rural people living in poverty, say experts

The needs of the poorest and most vulnerable people living in the countryside are ignored by the UK Government in a way that would not be acceptable in urban areas, say academics in a new book.

Comment: Rural poverty is getting worse – and welfare harder to access

Writing for The Conversation, Professor Mark Shucksmith discusses the issues facing people living in poverty in rural areas.

Informing policy for the creative industries

Newcastle University and the Royal Society of Arts have been named as new hosts of the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre.

Technical skills boosted for research excellence

Newcastle University is part of a £5.5 million national institute ensuring the UK has the technical capability and capacity across academia, research, education, and innovation to be a global leader.

Social sciences funding boost to change society

Newcastle University has been awarded £1.25m by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to support social science impact activities.

Comment: Fears for democracy prompt mass demonstrations in Mexico

Writing for The Conversation, Dr Rosario Aguilar discusses why electoral reforms proposed by the Mexican government have sparked huge protests across the country.

Comment: Why Estonia is worried about the war in Ukraine

Writing for The Conversation, Dr Maarja Luhiste and Zachary Greene outline why the war in Ukraine has been a key issue in the Estonian elections.

Newcastle University and Coram announce research partnership

Newcastle University and Coram are coming together in a new partnership designed to generate collaborative research aiming at shaping a better future for children and young people.

Entrepreneur Debra Leeves announced as new Goldman Professor

Serial entrepreneur, Debra Leeves, has been appointed as this year’s David Goldman Visiting Professor of Innovation and Enterprise at Newcastle University.

Prestigious Fellowship awarded to Newcastle academic

Professor Elaine Campbell has been awarded a Fellowship of the Academy of Social Sciences in recognition of excellence in her field and wider contributions to the social sciences.

RTS Student Awards success

Newcastle University graduate Olivia Barnett-Brown has won a Royal Television Society (RTS) award for a documentary about her grandparents.

Comment: Women, Peace and Security - NATO and the Russia-Ukraine War

NATO and its members must prioritise Women, Peace and Security in their support for Ukraine, writes Dr Katharine A.M. Wright.

Comment: The West must keep Ukraine on the public agenda

Dr Rob Dale comments that the West will need to support Ukraine for the long-term to ensure it achieves victory against Russia.

Newcastle University welcomes first exchange students from Ukraine

A group of students from the National University of Water and Environmental Engineering (NUWEE) in Ukraine has arrived at Newcastle University to start a semester-long exchange.

Discarded Roman artefact may have been more than a good luck charm

A unique artefact discovered at the Roman fort of Vindolanda may have been used as a device during sex rather than as a good luck symbol, archaeologists suggest.

Wilhelmina Barns-Graham: Paths to Abstraction

A large-scale exhibition that explores the work of the celebrated Scottish artist Wilhelmina Barns-Graham has opened Newcastle University’s Hatton Gallery’s 2023 exhibition programme.

Newcastle academic wins award for book about peace-making in Europe

Professor Stella Ghervas has won the prestigious 2023 Laura Shannon Prize in Contemporary European Studies for her book ‘Conquering Peace: From the Enlightenment to the European Union’.

Dreamtime™

The Cold War is Dead. Long live the Cold War.

Turkiye and Syria Earthquake

Our Registrar has written to students and colleagues following the devastating earthquake in Turkiye and Syria.

Glacial flooding threatens millions globally

Fifteen million people around the world are at risk from flooding caused by glacial lakes, with just four countries accounting for more than half of those exposed.

Universities improve support for care-experienced people

The five universities across the North East have become the first regional Higher Education partnership to collaboratively sign up to the Care Leaver Covenant.

Farrell Centre set to open in April

The Farrell Centre – a new centre for architecture and cities – opens to the public on Saturday 22 April 2023

Spring programme of public lectures and concerts unveiled

The new season of Newcastle University’s Insights Public Lectures begins with a Defence Lecture.

Reverend Professor Keith Magee honoured

The Not Alone Foundation, Inc. and the Academy of the Diamond Awards have honoured the Reverend Professor Keith Magee ThD with a Diamond Award for his commitment to global social justice.

CLASP set to return to campus

The sculpture CLASP by celebrated artist Antony Gormley is returning to campus.

New Year’s Honours celebrations for University’s finest

Today's New Year's Honours list recognises a number of outstanding University colleagues.

New Year’s Honours: Vice-Chancellor and colleagues honoured

The Vice-Chancellor and colleagues have been recognised in the New Year’s Honours.

Comment: Terry Hall defined the sound of youth in Thatcher's Britain

Writing for The Conversation, Adam Behr discusses how Terry Hall embodied the sound of disaffection in Thatcherite Britain.

Lifetime achievement award for Newcastle academic

Emeritus Professor Steve Juggins has received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his work to better understand past changes in ecosystems.

Researchers gather memories of Lockerbie disaster

Reflections on the immediate aftermath of the Lockerbie bombing from police officers and other first responders have been gathered as part of a Newcastle University research project.

Turner Prize nominee Ingrid Pollard becomes new Visual Arts Fellow

Newcastle University and English Heritage have teamed up to create new a Fellowship at historic Belsay Hall.

Regional leaders join forces for transport and health partnership

Academics at Newcastle University are part of a new cross-sector partnership focused on tackling health inequalities through sustainable transport solutions.

Two Newcastle-led archaeology projects up for prestigious awards

A community project to protect Hadrian’s Wall and research that has transformed knowledge of Roman art in Britain have been shortlisted in the Current Archaeology awards 2022.

Leading figures honoured by Newcastle University

A celebrated chemist, a literary scholar and the head of a global business have been awarded honorary degrees.

Comment: Uyghur people are too terrorised to join in Covid protests

Writing for The Conversation, Jo Smith Finley discusses how the Uyghur people have suffered most from draconian zero-COVID policies but Uyghur-dominant cities remain silent.

Comment: Christine McVie – the anchoring force of Fleetwood Mac

Writing for The Conversation, Dr Adam Behr discusses the musical legacy of Christine McVie.

The bees that are getting young dads buzzing about art

A beekeeping project with a difference is helping young men in the North East become more familiar with the worlds of art and conservation.

Newcastle expert to research retreating glaciers and water resources

Newcastle expertise will be central to a major new research project looking at retreating glaciers and the impact on depleting water resources in the Andes.

Gaming loot boxes harm children, says new report

Children and young people are at risk of financial and emotional harm from in-game purchases, new research shows.

New research will explore the environmental legacies of war

Academics at Newcastle University are to investigate the environmental legacies of war, including the public health impact of so-called ‘smart’ weapons.

Comment: Austerity will burden future generations, not government debt

Writing for The Conversation, Nicola Mulkeen discusses when long-term debt wrongs our successors and when it does not.

Key appointment for research partnership

The ground-breaking Insights North East project has been further boosted by the appointment of Liz Shutt as Programme Director.

Newcastle University recognised for its work to advance race equality

Newcastle University has been awarded a Race Equality Charter Bronze Award by Advance HE in recognition of its work towards tackling race inequality in higher education.

Comment: Arts Council cuts

Writing for The Conversation, Dr Adam Behr discusses the problem of levelling up with culture.