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Research Impact
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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

New study links wealth inequality and human sustainability across millennia

Wealth inequality has been linked to human sustainability for over 10,000 years. That’s according to a new study led by Professor Dan Lawrence from our Archaeology department.
Leafy, residential area with large houses backing onto an area of compact, more deprived housing

ICYMI: Global Medical Humanities Roundtable

We are delighted to announce that the recording of our event ‘Global Medical Humanities: What next for the humanities in health research?’ is now available.
Medical Humanities Global Week event 2025

Mumbai Global Engagement

Professor Geetanjali Gangoli (Head of Department, Sociology) and Dr Hannah King (Associate Professor, Sociology) have just returned from a week’s trip to Mumbai, India building on existing academic partnerships.
Group of colleagues facing the camera

Empathetic leaders get the best out of remote workers

Empathetic leaders who show care and concern for their workers’ wellbeing are more likely to boost remote and hybrid staff performance.
Business woman working from cafe

European universities launch major declaration on tackling climate change

Thirty-nine European universities have come together to launch the Durham Declaration, which will shape our joint efforts towards sustainable development.
Coimbra Group members holding the Declaration

Building on an impactful partnership, from research to culture

Our long-standing relationship with Japan has been furthered, with a recent diplomatic visit focusing on research collaborations, language and cultural activities, and the local community.

Leading environmentalist opens university climate meeting with stark warning

Dr Tony Juniper CBE, Chair of Natural England, addressed leaders of 39 European universities at a climate symposium held at Durham University this week.
Dr Tony Juniper CBE speaking at the Coimbra Group Climate Symposium at Durham University.

Archaeologists unearth one of the UK’s largest Iron Age hoards

Our archaeologists have excavated one of the largest and most important Iron Age finds in the UK.
The cauldron from the Melsonby Hoard at the foreground of the picture with other objects behind.

Scientists help create biggest 3D map of the universe and it’s changing what we know about Dark Energy

Our scientists have played a leading role in creating the largest-ever 3D map of the universe, using data from 15 million galaxies and quasars.
DESI maps distant objects to study dark energy. The instrument is installed on the Mayall Telescope, shown here beneath star trails.

Durham astrophysicists’ key contributions to cosmic discoveries

Scientists from our Centre for Extragalactic Astronomy and our Institute for Computational Cosmology are playing a crucial role as part of a major international space mission to map the Universe.
This image shows examples of galaxies in different shapes, all captured by Euclid during its first observations of the Deep Field areas

‘Undercover anthropologist’ recognised for exceptional potential

Dr Sheina Lew-Levy, from our Department of Psychology, has been awarded a prestigious Philip Leverhulme Prize for Psychology.
Woman smiling, looking off camera to right

Department ranked 11th in the prestigious QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025

Our Department has been ranked 11th in the prestigious QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025.
Aerial view of Durham Cathedral with QS World University Rankings logo
Sample tubes being held by purple latex gloves over a light box

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