Press Office

2014

News in 2014

  • A 'Living Laboratory' in the heart of Newcastle

    The Urban Sciences Building is a £58m commitment by Newcastle University to lead international research into creating the cities we want to live and work in.

    published on: 4 December 2014

  • Engineering our future

    The new Urban Sciences Building will tackle one of the great societal challenges of our age – ‘How do we build cities people want to live and work in but which are sustainable for future generations?’

    published on: 4 December 2014

  • A smarter way to power our future

    A reliable, affordable and dependable flow of electricity is vital to power society in the 21st Century.

    published on: 4 December 2014

  • Cyber-physical systems

    Our cities of the future will be ever more dependent on the complex relationship between computer systems, engineering, physics and human behaviour.

    published on: 4 December 2014

  • Managing change in our future cities

    How cities adapt to change has been the focus of a major research project by Newcastle University.

    published on: 4 December 2014

  • Time to re-think what poverty means for Europe

    A leading academic says EU policies are flawed because they rely on data that fails to accurately reflect poverty issues.?

    published on: 4 December 2014

  • Chancellor announces national centre for ageing at Newcastle University

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, has pledged £20m towards the creation of a national centre for ageing at Newcastle University in his Autumn statement.

    published on: 3 December 2014

  • Newcastle University bestows Honorary Doctorates

    Broadcasting icon Angela Rippon, and philanthropist Paul Marshall, have received honorary doctorates from Newcastle University.  

    published on: 3 December 2014

  • Newcastle University to establish Transplant Research Unit

    Newcastle University has, in partnership with the University of Cambridge, been awarded £3.8 million from the National Institute for Health Research to establish a Blood and Transplant Research Unit which will open in October 2015.

    published on: 17 November 2014

  • North East winter prepares runner for the ‘coolest marathon on earth’

    A Newcastle University student has completed the coldest marathon on earth – and says training in the North East last January was the best preparation he could have had.

    published on: 13 November 2014

  • Business School launches its first ever online MBA

    Future industry leaders from all over the world can now gain an MBA from Newcastle University Business School while working in their home country thanks to a new, online-based MBA programme.

    published on: 13 November 2014

  • Innovative technology drives sustainable prawn farming in the North East

    Besides powering our cities, one Northumberland-based power station is fuelling sustainable prawn farming thanks to the business creativity of Newcastle University graduates.

    published on: 6 November 2014

  • Architect’s grand plan to wipe out Whitehall

    Prof Adam Sharr’s research into a dramatic idea to flatten Whitehall and replace it with a concrete megastructure has received an award from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

    published on: 6 November 2014

  • Newcastle set for region's biggest hackathon

    Budding programmers from across the country will flock to Newcastle this weekend for the biggest public hackathon ever held in the North East.

    published on: 5 November 2014

  • Using music to explore what it means to be human

    Researchers from Newcastle University are encouraging anyone who believes themselves to be unmusical to come along to a series of free workshops being organised as part of a project to explore what it means to be human.

    published on: 5 November 2014

  • Putting down roots after 100 years

    A state-of-the-art shore station that will provide research support and a unique teaching base for the next generation of marine scientists and engineers has been launched by Newcastle University.

    published on: 5 November 2014

  • SOLE Central leads the way for the future of learning

    Prof Sugata Mitra explains why chaos theory can help us build a new model for primary education ahead of Newcastle University’s launch of SOLE Central this week.

    published on: 5 November 2014

  • Behind every name a story: Remembering Newcastle University's forgotten heroes

    The stories behind the names on a Newcastle University First World War memorial are being brought to life in a special project.

    published on: 4 November 2014

  • Contactless cards fail to recognise foreign currency

    A flaw in Visa’s contactless credit cards means they will approve unlimited cash transactions without a PIN when the amount is requested in a foreign currency.

    published on: 1 November 2014

  • Capturing our coast

    Newcastle University has received initial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund for a £1.7m project to help protect our coastline for future generations.

    published on: 30 October 2014

  • Spinning around: Record labels in the spotlight

    The rise and the fall of the record label and its struggle for relevance in the digital age is one of the themes at an international conference at Newcastle University.

    published on: 29 October 2014

  • Genetic link to kidney stones identified

    A new breakthrough could help kidney stone sufferers get an exact diagnosis and specific treatment after genetic links to the condition were identified.

    published on: 29 October 2014

  • Gait and dementia link confirmed

    Researchers at Newcastle University have found a definitive link between gait - the way someone walks - and early changes in cognitive function in people with Parkinson's disease.

    published on: 22 October 2014

  • Diet for your DNA

    Personalised diet plans will not be widely accepted by the public until regulations are in place to protect information about our DNA, new research has shown.

    published on: 21 October 2014

  • Student-run business blooms in France

    While studying International Business and French offers a variety of employment options, launching her start-up abroad is opening an exciting career path for one Newcastle University student.

    published on: 20 October 2014

  • Childhood infection link to hearing loss

    Common childhood infections, such as tonsillitis and ear infections, may lead to hearing loss later in life, according to recent research from Newcastle University.

    published on: 20 October 2014

  • Newcastle University filmmaker nominated for top award

    A documentary about India’s young blind chess players has been shortlisted for a prestigious Grierson award.

    published on: 20 October 2014

  • Global recognition for Newcastle scientist

    Newcastle University’s Professor Angharad Gatehouse has been awarded the world’s top accolade in Entomology – the first woman to receive the award.

    published on: 16 October 2014

  • Institute for Ageing at Lib Dem conference

    The Rt. Hon. Norman Lamb MP, Minister for Care, joined researchers from Newcastle University’s Institute for Ageing (NUIA) and a pensions industry expert at a packed fringe event on Sunday at this year’s Liberal Democrats Party Conference.

    published on: 15 October 2014

  • Possible breast cancer 'achilles heel' discovered

    A leading team of Newcastle University scientists have found that 'turning off' two proteins reduces the ability of breast cancer cells to survive and grow.

    published on: 15 October 2014

  • Realising opportunities

    An award-winning partnership of leading universities has helped under-represented students win places at research intensive institutions, a new report has shown.

    published on: 14 October 2014

  • Adolescents with cerebral palsy as happy as able-bodied peers

    Adolescents with cerebral palsy face multiple challenges, but their quality of life (QoL) is on a par with their able-bodied peers, according to new research published in the Lancet.

    published on: 7 October 2014

  • Barbour Foundation donates £1 million to Future Fund

    The Future Fund campaign has taken a significant step closer to its goal of establishing a specialist children’s cancer research facility at Newcastle University after receiving a £1 million donation from the Barbour Foundation. 

    published on: 22 September 2014

  • Connecting up language learning

    Newcastle University is to help language teachers access support and advice to meet the needs of the new national curriculum, thanks to the ALL Connect project.

    published on: 19 September 2014

  • Newcastle receives special investment to boost research

    The Universities of Newcastle and Durham have both been awarded Impact Acceleration Accounts worth £1.3m by the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC).

    published on: 17 September 2014

  • David Burn appointed Parkinson's UK Clinical Director

    Newcastle University neurologist Professor David Burn has been appointed as Clinical Director of Parkinson's UK, in a bid to drive forward urgent improvements to the standard of care for people with Parkinson's.

    published on: 12 September 2014

  • Reading crisis facing UK's children

    One and a half million children will reach the age of 11 unable to ‘read well’ by 2025 unless urgent action is taken to tackle the reading crisis facing Britain’s pupils, according to new research.

    published on: 8 September 2014

  • Free online course explores the risks of falling

    Newcastle University is launching a new free online course to help people learn how to prevent falls and injury. 

    published on: 8 September 2014

  • The Great North Film

    Spectators at the Great North Run are being asked to get involved this year by helping to capture the event on their mobile phones as part of a major experiment being led by Newcastle University.

    published on: 4 September 2014

  • Mark Knopfler re-releases Local Hero to benefit Future Fund

    Dire Straits star Mark Knopfler has re-released the North East anthem Local Hero to commemorate the Bupa Great North Run reaching a world-first one millionth finish and to benefit the Future Fund.  

    published on: 3 September 2014

  • No increased risk of cancer from Sellafield or Dounreay sites

    Children, teenagers and young adults living near Sellafield or Dounreay since the 1990s were not at an increased risk of developing cancer according to research published in the British Journal of Cancer.

    published on: 25 July 2014

  • Falcons swoop in for Newcastle University student

    Newcastle University rugby star Will Witty has been signed by the North-East’s leading rugby team.

    published on: 25 July 2014

  • Dig reveals more about Maryport Roman Temples site

    A team of archaeologists and volunteers led by Newcastle University’s Professor Ian Haynes and site director Tony Wilmott have been uncovering more secrets of the Maryport Roman Temples.

    published on: 25 July 2014

  • Developing careers in gaming

    Four students from Newcastle University have joined Reflections, a Ubisoft studio, for internships during which they will help develop several highly anticipated video games.

    published on: 24 July 2014

  • Possible risk of folic acid overexposure

    A new study has shown that synthetic folic acid, the form taken in folic acid supplements we can buy over the counter, is not processed by the body in the same way as natural folates, the form found in green vegetables.

    published on: 24 July 2014

  • Raising the aspirations of young people

    Sending Newcastle University students into schools to raise the aspirations of young people has been highlighted as an example of good practice by the national organisation responsible for promoting fair access to higher education.

    published on: 24 July 2014

  • Mitochondrial plans move forward

    Plans to legalise the use of new techniques, developed by Newcastle University, to prevent mothers passing on serious mitochondrial diseases to their children, are to proceed, the Government has announced.

    published on: 23 July 2014

  • Technology tracks the elusive Nightjar

    Bioacoustic recorders could provide us with vital additional information to help us protect rare and endangered birds such as the European nightjar, new research has shown.

    published on: 21 July 2014

  • Newcastle Science Central achieves CEEQUAL ‘Excellent’ award

    Science Central in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK, has been presented with a CEEQUAL ‘Excellent’ design award at the Institution of Civil Engineers awards dinner.

    published on: 7 May 2014

  • Mountain legacies come to mind

    With mountaineering ascents and disasters hitting our headlines on an almost daily basis, mountains and those who climb them are capturing the public imagination as never before.

    published on: 7 May 2014

  • Independent body of experts needed to inform energy policy

    The UK’s energy industry is fragmented and a ‘system architect’ is needed to inform technical decisions and take a holistic view of the energy system in order to secure the country’s future energy supply, experts are warning.

    published on: 7 May 2014

  • Lord Patten Lecture on Social Renewal 2014

    A senior academic has proposed radical changes to the way social science is taught, researched and practiced in the UK at the annual Lord Patten Lecture on Social Renewal at Newcastle University.

    published on: 1 May 2014

  • Digitally Driven

    Bus-driver banter could become a thing of the past thanks to new technology installed to make sure there is always an equal distance between buses, experts reveal.

    published on: 1 May 2014

  • Delve into Newcastle's past and help form its future

    A grand plan to concrete over the River Tyne is one of the more intriguing stories being revealed at the Newcastle City Futures: People, Place and Change event next month.

    published on: 1 May 2014

  • Evidence that yoga can keep pregnant women stress free

    For the first time researchers in the UK have studied the effects of yoga on pregnant women, and found that it can reduce the risk of them developing anxiety and depression.

    published on: 1 May 2014

  • Past Paths: Bringing Tyne and Wear's museums to life on the web

    An innovative £122k project will use big data to enrich the experience of exploring Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums’ online collections.

    published on: 30 April 2014

  • Could you live on £1 a day for 5 days?

    Amy Anderson, a staff member from Civil Engineering and Geosciences at Newcastle University, is not content with simply signing a petition when it comes to global poverty. In fact, the Newcastle resident has committed to Live Below the Line and spend just £1 each day for five days on food.

    published on: 30 April 2014

  • A career in the fast lane

    A Newcastle University student is living the dream after landing a job in Formula 1 with Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP).

    published on: 30 April 2014

  • Whitefly confused by cacophony of smells

    Bombarding pests with smells from many different plants temporarily confuses them and hinders their ability to feed, new research has shown.

    published on: 28 April 2014

  • Testing 3D vision in praying mantises

    A new research programme aims to understand 3D vision in the praying mantis, the only invertebrate known to have this ability, and compare it with vision in humans.

    published on: 23 April 2014

  • Keeping older drivers on the road

    A unique research car which monitors our concentration, stress levels and driving habits while we’re sat behind the steering wheel is being used to develop new technologies to support older drivers.

    published on: 23 April 2014

  • Abstract art up for sale

    One of Victor Pasmore’s original prints being auctioned at Christie’s this week is likely to attract attention as it is a rare example of his later work.

    published on: 14 April 2014

  • Newcastle University is the place to be according to international students

    Newcastle University continues to climb when it comes to achieving international student satisfaction.

    published on: 11 April 2014

  • Google Glass puts the focus on Parkinson's

    The next generation of wearable computing is being trialled for the first time to evaluate its potential to support people with Parkinson’s.

    published on: 9 April 2014

  • Unique insight into life in the Far East

    The China Independent Film Festival, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary in Newcastle this week, offers a unique insight into the world’s most populated country.

    published on: 8 April 2014

  • Leading software company taps into graduate talent

    Two computing science students are soon to join the ranks of Newcastle University graduates at thriving North East software consultancy and development company, Scott Logic.

    published on: 3 April 2014

  • Heritage Lottery Fund green light for Hatton Gallery re-development plans

    An ambitious £3.5 million project to revitalise Newcastle’s Hatton Gallery has received a significant boost today, with initial support*, including £154,000 development funding, from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

    published on: 2 April 2014

  • Princess Royal given an insight into how technology is changing lives

    Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal, was at Newcastle University this week to see how technology is being used to tackle some of society’s biggest challenges.

    published on: 29 March 2014

  • Training the talent of the future

    A multi-million pound training centre designed to plug the skills gap in one of the fastest growing areas of computer technology is to be based at Newcastle University.

    published on: 28 March 2014

  • Weighing up equality challenges in Higher Education

    The Universities of Durham and Newcastle are to host a national conference on women in higher education to examine the issues surrounding gender equality and career progression.

    published on: 28 March 2014

  • New £10m project will look at novel treatment for epilepsy

    A new technique which could revolutionise the treatment of epilepsy is to be tested thanks to a £10m grant. Led by Newcastle University, teams from Imperial College London and UCL universities will also collaborate on the CANDO project to develop a brain implant, which uses light waves to try to counteract the disrupted brain activity which causes epileptic seizures. 

    published on: 27 March 2014

  • Solving the energy dilemma

    One hundred years after his death, Swan’s legacy burns brighter than ever.  Professor Tony Roskilly, Director of Newcastle University’s Sir Joseph Swan Centre, explains why the North East is still leading the way in energy research.

    published on: 26 March 2014