Thought Leadership

Heritage, historic urban infrastructure, disasters and sustainable development

Professor Robin Coningham is UNESCO's Chair on Archaeological Ethics and Practice in Cultural Heritage, the Chair of Early Medieval Archaeology and is Associate Director (World Heritage) in Durham's Institute of Mediaeval and Early Modern Studies (IMEMS) and Co-Director of Durham's MA International Cultural Heritage Management programme. Here Robin discusses the role of archaeology in urban infrastructure, climate change, disaster and risk, as part of Durham’s Global Lecture Series

An image of an archaeological excavation site

Let’s protect nature, but not merely for the sake of humans

Professor Simon James from our Department of Philosophy explains why we must protect nature and his reasoning extends beyond prioritising human needs.

The importance of solitude – why time on your own can sometimes be good for you

Dr Thuy-vy Nguyen from our Department of Psychology explains what solitude is and why it can be beneficial.

The power of small changes in an energy transition

Professor Grant Ingram is the Programme Director of our MSc in Energy Engineering Management at Durham. Grant is an expert in sustainable business engineering development. Here he explains the importance of the power of collaboration and small changes in an energy transition.

An image of solar panels and wind turbines with a distant industrial landscape

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

Ofsted inspections cause teachers stress and aren’t backed up by strong evidence – things could be done differently

Dr Karen Jones from our School of Education explains the downfalls of the Ofsted system.

Evan Gershkovich: Wall Street Journal reporter latest in long line of journalists punished for doing their job

Principal of South College Tim Luckhurst explains the censorship of journalists during war.

More than 650 refugees arrived in this regional town. Locals’ welcoming attitudes flipped the stereotype

Dr Stefania Paolini from our Department of Psychology collaborated with Dr Sue Watt from the University of New England and Dr Tadgh McMahon from Flinders University to explain a case study on refugees settling in Armidale, Australia.

refugees welcome sign placed on building

What science can tell us about the experience of unexplainable presence

Dr Ben Alderson-Day from our Department of Psychology provides an introduction to the science of felt presence.

Schools and teachers are as important as policy in the promotion of quality and equity in education

Professors emeriti in our School of Education Mike Fleming and Michael (Mike) Byram examine the importance of quality and equity in education policy.

A male teacher smiling at two primary school pupils sitting at a desk in a classroom

The rise and rise of property guardianship and what it says about our broken housing system

Dr Chris Bevan from our Law School explains what property guardianship is and the history behind the alternative housing system.

Fearmongering about people fleeing disasters is a dangerous and faulty narrative

Dr Corey Robinson from our School of Government and International Affairs collaborates with Dr Yvonne Su from York University, Canada, on explaining why fearmongering about migrants is dangerous.