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Energy efficient homes linked to asthma

The drive for energy efficient homes could increase asthma risks, according to new research.

Led by a team at the University of Exeter Medical School, the research has found that a failure by residents to heat and ventilate retrofitted properties could lead to more people developing the respiratory condition.

Working with leading UK social housing provider, Coastline Housing, the research team assessed data from the residents of 700 properties in Cornwall. They found that people living in more energy efficient homes had a greater risk of asthma, and that the presence of...

Researchers to use algae to clean up mine water

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Fri, 12/05/2014 - 6:18pm

A ground breaking research project by the GW4 Alliance aims to clean up water from a Cornish tin mine, using algae to harvest the precious heavy metals and produce biofuel at the same time.

GW4 brings together the South West and Wales’ four leading, research-intensive universities: Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter.

Researchers from all four universities, in collaboration with Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) are now working with the Coal Authority and Veolia to take untreated mine water samples from Wheal Jane tin mine in Cornwall into the laboratory and grow algae in them...

Exeter researchers go to town with badgers and meerkats

A team of researchers from the University of Exeter are heading to London today (14 November) to showcase their research on badgers and meerkats as part in the Great British Bioscience Festival.

The festival takes place between 14 and 16 November and is the culmination of a year-long tour offering visitors the chance to explore the fascinating world of biology through interactive science exhibits from real scientists.

Working with the At-Bristol science centre, Professor Robbie McDonald and team have built a virtual interactive farm landscape where badgers, cattle and TB...

Univeristy of Exeter Vice Chancellor joins Minister’s delegation to India

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Fri, 11/14/2014 - 4:35am

Professor Sir Steve Smith touched down in India this week as part of a delegation led by Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Minister for Universities and Science, to attend the India-UK Science Innovation Council meeting and the UK-India Bilateral Education Forum.

His seven day visit will also involve giving the keynote speech to open the second day of the global FICCI Higher Education Summit 2014 on 14 November and hosting a University of Exeter alumni and supporters reception in New Delhi.

Sir Steve said of the visit: “It is becoming increasingly important for the UK to forge...

Creatively exploring mental health

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 11/06/2014 - 10:50am

A workshop to increase awareness of alternative approaches to treating mental illness and fostering wellbeing is being held at St Stephen’s Church, High Street Exeter on Friday 7 November.

A University of Exeter historian of mental illness will be working in partnership with the Executive Director of ‘Magic Carpet’ one of Exeter’s leading arts for health charities, to encourage open conversations about mental health and the values of creative therapy for people with mental illness. With recent news about under spending by local authorities, celebrities such as the late Robin...

University of Exeter appoints new Chief Operating Officer

The University of Exeter is pleased to announce the appointment of Geoff Pringle as Chief Operating Officer. Geoff has been acting in the role since February, having previously held the role of Director of Campus Services at the University.

Since joining Exeter in 2009, Geoff has overseen many of the University’s most significant developments including the flagship student services centre at the heart of the Streatham Campus, the Forum, the redevelopment of the Sports Park and the significant investment in new student accommodation.

In his new role, Geoff will take overall...

Study reveals decline in European birds

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Tue, 11/04/2014 - 10:58am

Bird populations across Europe have experienced sharp declines over the past 30 years, with the majority of losses from the most common species, say researchers from the University of Exeter, the RSPB and the Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme (PECBMS) in a new study. However numbers of some less common birds have risen.

The study, published yeseterday in the journal Ecology Letters, reveals a decrease of 421 million individual birds over 30 years. Around 90 percent of these losses were from the 36 most common and widespread species, including house sparrows, skylarks, grey...

£1.6m for Exeter Medical School

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, this week visited Exeter’s centre of excellence in healthcare innovation, where he announced a new £150 million investment into technologies to revolutionise research into disease.

Mr Osborne revealed that £1.6 million of the Medical Research Council (MRC) cash pot will come to the University of Exeter Medical School, to fund a state-of-the-art facility that will unlock some of the hidden secrets of the genome. It is part of an overall investment by the partnership led by the MRC which totals £230 million.

As well as the...

Diwali celebrations to light up the sky

Diwali or Deepavali is the most important festival of the year for Hindus, which is also known at the Festival of Light and is being celebrated at the University of Exeter’s Streatham Campus on Sunday 26 October. The University of Exeter’s Student Guild Asian Society will be hosting the Hindu New Year festival which is free and open to everyone from the University and the city of Exeter, as a way of providing a cultural experience and an opportunity to connect with the culture and heritage of India. It is also an opportunity to explain the role of the Diwali in which prayers and special...

Men wanted to take to take part in Exeter fertility survey

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Wed, 10/22/2014 - 10:01am

University of Exeter researchers are looking for fathers, or men trying to conceive a baby, to spare a few minutes to fill in an online survey to help find out why increasing numbers of couples are suffering from fertility problems.

The study will investigate the effect that stress, smoking, alcohol and occupation may have on male fertility.

The causes of fertility problems in men are largely unknown as most research focuses exclusively on mothers. This study addresses the problem by asking questions about the environmental factors that are encountered by men in everyday...

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