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Research Impact
Outside the Calman Learning Centre

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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Explore our global research

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  • Research Impact at Durham

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

    Aerial view of Durham

  • Global Culture

    Interested in how the cultural activities of Durham's staff and student bodies enrich life worldwide? Head to the Global Culture page to find out.

    Bollywood Dance group at the Oriental museum, Holi Festival, indian dance

Research Impact at Durham

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

Aerial view of Durham

Global Culture

Interested in how the cultural activities of Durham's staff and student bodies enrich life worldwide? Head to the Global Culture page to find out.

Bollywood Dance group at the Oriental museum, Holi Festival, indian dance

Latest news

Milky Way could be teeming with more satellite galaxies than previously thought

The Milky Way could have many more satellite galaxies than scientists have previously been able to predict or observe.
A simulation showing a bright white galaxy at the centre, surrounded by fainter galaxies, against a black backdrop.

Newly discovered ancient river landscapes control East Antarctic ice flow

Our geographers have discovered the remains of landscapes thought to have formed when ancient rivers flowed across East Antarctica.
A snow and ice landscape next to the sea

Working to answer the ultimate question – are we alone in the Universe?

Dr Cyril Bourgenot from our Centre for Advanced Instrumentation is part of a team developing cutting-edge technology to enable astronomers to look deeper into the Universe. He is presenting this work as part of the Royal Astronomical Society’s National Astronomy Meeting 2025, which is being hosted by Durham University this week. Here, Cyril tells us about his work and how it could help answer the ultimate astronomical question – is there life elsewhere.
Keck Observatory in Hawaii, taken at night with lasers shining into the sky

Leaders who fail to “walk the talk” suffer emotional and performance setbacks

Leaders who say one thing but do another aren’t just letting their teams down, they’re harming their own performance too.
Man working alone

Promoting diversity can alienate loyal customers: New research highlights risks and solutions

Brands risk losing loyal customers when diversity initiatives feel irrelevant or inauthentic to their customer base.
Group of diverse people seated around a table analysing data

National Astronomy Meeting 2025 - exploring Durham’s rich astronomical research

Almost a thousand of the world’s top space scientists will visit Durham University next week (7 to 11 July) as we host the UK’s National Astronomy Meeting (NAM) 2025.
Two people looking up at a dark, starry sky.

Spinout launches mental health programme for entrepreneurs in Denmark

Durham University spinout Mind Your Business has partnered with Danish Entrepreneurs to deliver a nationwide mental health and business development programme across Denmark.
Mature caucasian female facilitates a group session

Report tackles modern air pollution

Professor Brian Castellani, from our Department of Sociology, has made significant contributions to a new report identifying air pollution as a public health crisis.
RCP report cover on a navy background

Spotlight on: Dr Katherine McDonald – understanding the ancient world through language

The languages of the past can tell us more about human history than we might have thought. As a specialist in the ancient languages of Italy, Katherine McDonald uses linguistic detective work to uncover what life was like over 2,000 years ago.
Dr Katherine McDonald smiling and facing the camera whilst sat in an outdoor setting

ERC Spotlight: Professor Simon Cornish and global milestones in quantum physics

We will host the European Research Council's (ERC) Scientific Council Meeting this June. Leading up to the visit, we are highlighting some of the projects at Durham that are happening thanks to support from the ERC.
Professor Simon Cornish is pictured against the background of Durham Cathedral in the distance

ERC Spotlight: Professor Lynda Boothroyd and the body image intervention programme

We will host the European Research Council's (ERC) Scientific Council meeting this June. Leading up to the visit, we are highlighting some of the projects at Durham that are happening thanks to support from the ERC.
A classroom of children in Columbia taking part in a pilot body image awareness session

ERC Spotlight: Reconstructing Antarctic sea-ice evolution with Professor Erin McClymont

We will host the European Research Council's (ERC) Scientific Council meeting this June. Leading up to the visit, we are highlighting some of the projects at Durham that are happening thanks to support from the ERC.
Professor Erin McClymont (left) examines a new snow petrel deposit, recovered by PhD student Thale Damm-Johnsen (right) from Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica, for the ANTSIE project
Sample tubes being held by purple latex gloves over a light box

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