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.

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Latest news

Durham research secures Science and Nature front pages

Inspiring and impactful research from our departments of Biosciences and Physics has featured on the front covers of two of the world’s most prestigious journals in recent weeks: Science and Nature.

Front covers of Science and Nature magazines

Happy employees help make stock prices more accurate

Companies with high levels of employee satisfaction are associated with stock prices that more accurately reflect the value of the company, due to increased positive employee reviews giving more insight to investors on a firms performance, compared to firms with unsatisfied employees unlikely to leave a review.

Shot of an unrecognisable businessman superimposed over a cityscape

Changing African landscape may have influenced early human communication

The shift from dense forests to open plains in Africa may have caused our ancient ancestors to change their vocal calls, research involving our anthropologists has found.

COP28 and the role of data and measurement for credible policymaking

COP28 in Dubai can well be an economist’s dream come true as the instrumental role of data and measurement for credible policymaking has been central to the conference agenda.

Two men and two women standing in front of a large doorway at COP28.

Durham to Dubai: Findings at COP28 and counter questions

A Blog post by Prof Andrew Russell, Department of Anthropology.

Durham to Dubai: The ribbon of war zones in between hinders low carbon emissions for some, but represents a devastating catastrophe for many more

A Blog post by Prof Andrew Russell, Department of Anthropology.

Women value work-life balance more than men – unless they are managers

Women value their work-life balance much more than men do when at a junior-level on average, but not at the managerial-level, according to new research by Durham University Business School.

A young woman balances working at home with her family life, on a web conference while attending to her baby

COP28: The long-term goals of the Paris Agreement and the concept of Just Transition

This short piece reviews where the concept of just transition could be situated within the Paris Agreement’s architecture, an issue that is not well understood.

A group of people sitting in a room with their backs to the camera, looking at a green presentation slide.

Leading the Future of Healthcare project - School appoints Dr Helen Meese to Entrepreneur in Residence

The School has appointed Dr Helen Meese, an award-winning mechanical engineer with extensive experience in medical technology and healthcare innovation to join us in the new position of Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence (EiR).

Dr Helen Meese sitting at a round table in an old library

UK association to Horizon Europe – a win for global research

Professor Karen O’Brien, Vice-Chancellor and Warden, Durham University, Professor Evelyn Welch, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Bristol, and Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of Edinburgh, share their thoughts on the UK’s association to Horizon Europe.