Research and Impact - Durham University

Research, Impact and Engagement

We are one of the largest departments of Anthropology in the UK, spanning social anthropology, evolutionary anthropology and the anthropology of health.

In each of these fields we are opening up new areas of enquiry and have world-leading expertise in a range of topics such as energy use, temporality, aesthetics, the evolution of brain and cognition, primatology, global health, and infant sleep. Diversity across our corridors makes for an intellectually inclusive environment, fostering the academic freedom and confidence to work in new spaces that reinvigorate both the core and boundaries of anthropology in exciting ways.

Our Research Projects

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Research Groups

Our three thematic subject groups enable development and exchange of knowledge and expertise. Staff and graduate students belong to one or more of these groups, as suited to their academic interests. The Department supports interdisciplinary research across a number of the University’s Institutes,

SARG: Social Anthropology Research Group

Durham Centre for the Anthropology of Health

EARG: Evolutionary Anthropology Research Group

Exterior of Dawson building, Durham University

Research Centres and Institutes

Durham University produces world leading and world changing research. The Anthropology Department is involved in a diverse range of research centres and institutes.

Research Centres and Institutes Our Research Groups

What's new?

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Spotlight on: Professor Jane Macnaughton - Understanding the lived experience of health and illness

How can we use people’s lived experience of health and illness to improve clinical practice? This has been the focus for Professor Jane Macnaughton as the founder of our Institute for Medical Humanities. For the last 25 years, Jane has been at the forefront of this area of research, striving to humanise medical education.

Global research
New report exposes alarming conditions in UK asylum housing

A new report from our top-rated Anthropology department has revealed the shocking conditions endured by mothers and babies in dispersal asylum accommodation across the UK.

Research news
National biodiversity award for MammalWeb project

Our MammalWeb project has won a national biodiversity award for its work to gather information on the distribution, abundance, habits and behaviours of UK and European wild mammals.

Research news
Medical humanities pioneer to oversee influential bioethics council

Professor Jane Macnaughton from our Institute for Medical Humanities and Department of Anthropology has been chosen as the next Chair of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics Governing Board.

Durham news
Alumnus Jeremiah Thoronka makes Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list

Innovator and Founder of Optim Energy, Jeremiah Thoronka has been featured in Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 list for his success and impact in the Climate Change and Sustainability (Social Impact) sector.

Student news
Monitoring the UK’s at-risk hedgehogs

We’ve joined a pioneering new three-year pilot to monitor the UK’s hedgehogs and try to reverse the fall in their numbers.

Research news
New spy cameras reveal surprising behaviours of chacma baboons

An ingenious new camera collar has offered researchers from our Anthropology department an unprecedented glimpse into the secret lives of wild baboons in South Africa.

Research news

Spotlight on: Professor Jane Macnaughton - Understanding the lived experience of health and illness

How can we use people’s lived experience of health and illness to improve clinical practice? This has been the focus for Professor Jane Macnaughton as the founder of our Institute for Medical Humanities. For the last 25 years, Jane has been at the forefront of this area of research, striving to humanise medical education.

Global research

Professor Jane Macnaughton looking directly into camera, smiling, against a grey stone background

New report exposes alarming conditions in UK asylum housing

A new report from our top-rated Anthropology department has revealed the shocking conditions endured by mothers and babies in dispersal asylum accommodation across the UK.

Research news

National biodiversity award for MammalWeb project

Our MammalWeb project has won a national biodiversity award for its work to gather information on the distribution, abundance, habits and behaviours of UK and European wild mammals.

Research news

Otters stare at the camera after being caught on a camera trap

Medical humanities pioneer to oversee influential bioethics council

Professor Jane Macnaughton from our Institute for Medical Humanities and Department of Anthropology has been chosen as the next Chair of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics Governing Board.

Durham news

Professor Jane Macnaughton looking directly to camera with a light coloured background

Alumnus Jeremiah Thoronka makes Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list

Innovator and Founder of Optim Energy, Jeremiah Thoronka has been featured in Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 list for his success and impact in the Climate Change and Sustainability (Social Impact) sector.

Student news

Monitoring the UK’s at-risk hedgehogs

We’ve joined a pioneering new three-year pilot to monitor the UK’s hedgehogs and try to reverse the fall in their numbers.

Research news

A hedgehog on the grass facing the camera

New spy cameras reveal surprising behaviours of chacma baboons

An ingenious new camera collar has offered researchers from our Anthropology department an unprecedented glimpse into the secret lives of wild baboons in South Africa.

Research news

More news

Spotlight on: Professor Jane Macnaughton - Understanding the lived experience of health and illness

How can we use people’s lived experience of health and illness to improve clinical practice? This has been the focus for Professor Jane Macnaughton as the founder of our Institute for Medical Humanities. For the last 25 years, Jane has been at the forefront of this area of research, striving to humanise medical education.

Global research
New study shows how social bonds help tool-using monkeys learn new skills

Our researchers have studied wild monkeys problem-solving for food to better understand how social dynamics can influence behaviour and learning. 

Global research
International Day of Peace: Exploring the role of cricket in post-civil-war Sri Lanka

Since the end of Sri Lanka’s civil war in 2009, several former international cricketers, politicians and NGOs have made claims that cricket is an important tool for reconciliation. On International Day of Peace, Dr Ben Hildred, from our Department of Anthropology, explains how his research considers the role of cricket in development and peace efforts across the country.

Global research

Spotlight on: Professor Jane Macnaughton - Understanding the lived experience of health and illness

New study shows how social bonds help tool-using monkeys learn new skills

Our researchers have studied wild monkeys problem-solving for food to better understand how social dynamics can influence behaviour and learning. 

Two monkeys examining a food item with their heads close together

International Day of Peace: Exploring the role of cricket in post-civil-war Sri Lanka

Since the end of Sri Lanka’s civil war in 2009, several former international cricketers, politicians and NGOs have made claims that cricket is an important tool for reconciliation. On International Day of Peace, Dr Ben Hildred, from our Department of Anthropology, explains how his research considers the role of cricket in development and peace efforts across the country.

Sri Lankan children playing cricket. A batter has hit the ball.

Why I chose to study the MSc in Medical Anthropology

Anthropology student Amy Douglas tells us why she decided to study Durham's MSc in Medical Anthropology! She also tells us why the program is especially valuable to medical students interested in studying an intercalated degree.

Student news
Alumnus Jeremiah Thoronka makes Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list

Innovator and Founder of Optim Energy, Jeremiah Thoronka has been featured in Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 list for his success and impact in the Climate Change and Sustainability (Social Impact) sector.

Student news
Durham Anthropology Postgraduate Conference: Divided - Review

On 27th April 2022, students and staff participated in an exciting day of presentations and discussions at the Calman Learning Centre – the Postgraduate Conference, in what promised to be the department’s flagship event of the year.

Student news

Why I chose to study the MSc in Medical Anthropology

Anthropology student Amy Douglas tells us why she decided to study Durham's MSc in Medical Anthropology! She also tells us why the program is especially valuable to medical students interested in studying an intercalated degree.

A student in the grounds of Durham Castle

Alumnus Jeremiah Thoronka makes Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list

Durham Anthropology Postgraduate Conference: Divided - Review

On 27th April 2022, students and staff participated in an exciting day of presentations and discussions at the Calman Learning Centre – the Postgraduate Conference, in what promised to be the department’s flagship event of the year.

Poster for the Anthropology postgraduate conference 2022

Medical humanities pioneer to oversee influential bioethics council

Professor Jane Macnaughton from our Institute for Medical Humanities and Department of Anthropology has been chosen as the next Chair of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics Governing Board.

Durham news
Climate change and the so-called Third Pole

Dr Ben Campbell from our Anthropology Department explores increasing concern about climate change and the melting of the Earth’s North and South Poles, but challenges us to consider the so-called Third Pole, the Himalaya-Karakoram mountains, and look beyond climate change as a matter of technical solutions to re-thinking our relationship with the planet.

Durham news
Fairy Tales 'Explained': Prof. Jamie Tehrani features in Netflix series

Prof. Jamie Tehrani from our Anthropology department features in the Netflix series 'Explained'.

Durham news

Medical humanities pioneer to oversee influential bioethics council

Professor Jane Macnaughton from our Institute for Medical Humanities and Department of Anthropology has been chosen as the next Chair of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics Governing Board.

Climate change and the so-called Third Pole

Dr Ben Campbell from our Anthropology Department explores increasing concern about climate change and the melting of the Earth’s North and South Poles, but challenges us to consider the so-called Third Pole, the Himalaya-Karakoram mountains, and look beyond climate change as a matter of technical solutions to re-thinking our relationship with the planet.

A pictures of houses built into the Himalaya-Karakoram mountains

Fairy Tales 'Explained': Prof. Jamie Tehrani features in Netflix series

Prof. Jamie Tehrani from our Anthropology department features in the Netflix series 'Explained'.

Screenshot from Netflix Explained season 3 episode 14

Lecturer doing a presentation to an audience

Taught Masters Degrees

We offer a range of postgraduate taught programmes offering the opportunity to pursue advance specialist courses across Social, Health and Evolutionary Anthropology.

Explore our Taught Masters Degrees

Research Degrees

A vibrant postgraduate research community gives you one of the most diverse and exciting research environments in the UK. Together we carry out research on every inhabited continent including everything from primate behaviour to rhetoric culture and indigenous knowledge to internet technologies.