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.

Explore our latest research news

Research Impact at Durham

Read about our Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 impact case studies.

Impact Case Studies

Latest news

Durham hosts international meeting on protecting cultural heritage

Experts from around the world met in Durham to discuss how to protect cultural heritage at risk of destruction from human and natural disasters.

Chancellor Sir Thomas Allen bows out with final Congregation

Opera star Sir Thomas Allen will take his final bow as Chancellor here at Durham University during Summer Congregation. His retirement was announced last year and he will say farewell to the University and our students as he hosts an extended programme of graduation ceremonies to be held in Durham Cathedral.

New study indicates worrying ice loss in West Antarctica

Two major glaciers in West Antarctica may be losing ice faster than they have in at least the last 5,000 years.

Scientists carrying out fieldwork in West Antarctica.

Influencing elections and governance in Africa

Our impact-making research in History is bringing a change in the political landscape in sub-Saharan Africa.

Acclaimed University of Colorado physicist and researcher Prof. Heather Lewandowski to deliver the 2022 Rochester Lecture

Prof. Heather Lewandowski is this year's invited speaker to deliver the 2022 Rochester Lecture, which will be held in the Ph8 Lecture Theatre, Wednesday 18 May 2022 at 4.30pm. This year's lecture is titled 'Watching chemical reactions happen one molecule at a time'.

Image of Prof. Heather Lewandowski and the JILA and Colorado University logos

Stopping the spread of malaria

We’ve shaped the World Health Organization’s policy on global mosquito control to tackle the spread of lethal diseases like malaria and dengue fever.

Working together to achieve environmental sustainability

Our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Karen O'Brien, explores how we are contributing to achieving environmental sustainability, locally and globally.

Professor Karen O'Brien, Vice-Chancellor and Warden of Durham University, stood smiling with arms folded, in front of bookshelves

Give bidi cigarette rollers a voice to find new jobs, researchers say

India’s bidi cigarette workers need to be at the heart of discussions about finding alternatives to working in the tobacco industry, according to a new study.

Durham recognised as global leader in sustainability

We’re excited to have been recognised as contributing more to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), demonstrating our commitment to a sustainable future.

Three females in conversation outside the University

Developing new gene variants to breed climate resilient chickpeas

Scientists from our top-rated Biosciences Department working with colleagues from Harran University in Turkey and University of California Davis in the USA, have discovered that flowering time in chickpeas and its wild relatives are influenced by one to three major genes.