Volunteers from the University of Exeter have teamed up with the local community to build thousands of disposable face shields, to help protect frontline NHS workers during the COVID-19 epidemic.
The team from the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences (EMPS) have assembled around 2,000 face shields for the local healthcare community, including the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.
The volunteers, who are PhD students, researchers and professional services staff, collaborated with a consortium of local businesses to make the face shields in a specially...
One in four people already own a disposable face mask to protect themselves against COVID-19, a new study says – despite the UK government saying evidence for their use is “weak”.
An online survey of 949 members of the public representative of the UK population by age, gender and ethnicity, conducted by senior academics at the University of Exeter Business School, found that 26% already have disposable face masks at home, and 57% have disposable gloves.
“It has now become clear that the UK government is reluctant to recommend the widespread usage of disposable masks, or...
Artists from across Devon and Cornwall have harnessed their creative talents and shown that home is where the art is, to produce an inspirational set of new, small-scale arts commissions.
Ten freelance artists from across the West Country have create a series of playful and innovative projects, using inspiration only found in their homes, as part of a specially-designed local project.
The scheme, called Hyperlocal, was launched last month as a collaboration between Arts and Culture, University of Exeter, Exeter Phoenix, Kaleider and Exeter Northcott Theatre and designed...
The impact of COVID-19 on cancer diagnosis and survival will be explored through research led by the University of Exeter.
Early diagnosis is crucial to cancer survival rates, but since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the UK, resources have been redeployed and patients have been significantly less likely to visit doctors, who in turn are finding it hard to get patients tested. Research has warned that the crisis could lead to 18,000 more cancer deaths nationally, while early estimates suggest a drop of around 40 per cent in urgent investigations in the South West. Under normal...
A leading scientist from the University of Exeter has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.
Professor Gordon Brown , Director of the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology , is among 51 new Fellows, 10 Foreign Members and one Honorary Fellow selected for their “outstanding contributions to scientific understanding”.
Professor Brown’s primary research interests are C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) and their role in homeostasis and immunity, with a particular focus on antifungal immunity.
“I am honoured and delighted to have been elected to the Royal Society, an...
Researchers from the University of Exeter and the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration South West Peninsula (PenARC), in partnership with the NHS, have developed a crucial new tool to ensure health trusts maintain sufficient levels of life-saving equipment and bed spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The research team, led by Professor Gavin Shaddick from the University of Exeter, has developed a new data modelling tool to help forecast demand on crucial NHS resources in the region.
The forecasts have been used to help predict the demand for in-patient beds, intensive...
A University of Exeter expert has been elected to one of the world’s most prestigious academic organisations.
Professor John Dupré joins Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein in becoming a member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.
Professor Dupré researches the philosophy of science, including biological classification, evolution, the limitations of evolutionary psychology, the biological basis of sex and gender and the philosophy of economics. His recent work has been directed towards developing a fully processual account of the nature of living systems....
A consortium featuring the University of Exeter has been awarded £3.7m in funding to develop a suite of postgraduate conversion courses in AI and data science.
The Institute of Coding (IoC) consortium, which includes 11 Higher Education institutions, has received the significant funding boost from the Office for Students, it was recently announced.
The move is in response to a shortage of skilled graduates and accelerating demand in the area of data science and AI. The Government's Digital Strategy predicted that within 20 years, 90 per cent of all jobs will require...
A new test which could detect whether people who have had COVID-19 are still infectious is under development, thanks to funding from Animal Free Research UK.
The charity is providing funding of £52,000 to Professor Lorna Harries at the University of Exeter, who is developing a test that will aim to detect how much active virus an infected person is harbouring – known as viral load. Unlike current tests, which do not separately measure the inactive (non-infectious) and the active parts of the virus, the team is refining a test that could tell users not only whether they are...
Digital training experts have responded to the coronavirus pandemic by rapidly making new personal protective equipment (PPE) training for NHS staff.
Experts in training and human performance from Cineon Training and the University of Exeter switched focus several weeks ago to help the NHS.
The new online training is based on VR tuition which teaches nuclear workers how to use protective clothing. It has been created for online use, for easy access by NHS workers.
The training, based on current Public Health England guidelines, is ready for use and will support...
