Features

Posted on Thursday 21 December 2017

It has been a busy year for research at the University of York, with our stories making headlines around the world. Here are highlights from five topics and some of the amazing things we have learned from our researchers in 2017:

Posted on Thursday 30 November 2017

International Digital Preservation Day, the first celebration of significant collections preserved as digital materials, is bringing together experts and institutions across the world to raise the profile of digital preservation archives.

Posted on Tuesday 3 October 2017

With a state-of-the-art, three bedroom sleep laboratory, researchers at the University of York use a combination of experimental psychology, cognitive neuroscience and neurophysiology to understand what happens in the brain when we sleep.

Posted on Tuesday 1 August 2017

Since 2012, 1 August has been National Alpaca Day in Peru. Initiated by the Peruvian government to promote sales of alpaca products, Alpaca Day is widely celebrated across Peru and comprises a range of activities, from alpaca judging to alpaca parades and wool spinning competitions.

Posted on Friday 28 July 2017

A team at the University of York's Department of Education have developed situational judgment tests (SJTs) for selecting teaching candidates in Malawi schools. The test requires candidates to make judgments about optimal behaviours in realistic school scenarios.

Posted on Wednesday 24 May 2017

Angus Marshall, Lecturer in Cybersecurity at the University of York’s Department of Computer Science, discusses his work as a Forensic Advisor on Channel 4's The Trial: A Murder in the Family, and the difficulties surrounding an abundance of digital evidence in today's criminal investigations:

Posted on Wednesday 12 April 2017

Old Norse has been brought back to life by a team of PhD students at the University of York through the voices of new animatronic Viking characters at the world-famous JORVIK Viking Centre.

Posted on Monday 13 March 2017

The Konso Cultural Landscape, Ethiopia, consists of 200 km2 of stone walled terraces and fortified settlements. Designated as an UNESCO world heritage site in 2011, it provides a 600 year-old example of how human beings adapted to a dry and unforgiving environment.

Posted on Monday 13 March 2017

Dr Clementine Beauvais, from the University of York's Department of Education, discusses bringing Disney's classic tale, Beauty and the Beast, back to the big screen in a live-action remake featuring a more modern-day Belle:

Posted on Wednesday 1 March 2017

To celebrate World Book Day 2017, we asked children’s author and lecturer at the University of York’s Department of Education, Dr Clementine Beauvais, to nominate her top five children’s literary characters. She writes here about heroic characters, written by authors from across Europe, who have the ‘supernatural’ ability to make the world a better place:

Posted on Monday 27 February 2017

Rosie Smith, YorkTalks PhD student competition winner, from the Department of Sociology, is investigating media archives of high profile criminal cases to understand the public’s role in criminal justice and whether trials should be televised. She talks here about the link between media, community, and criminal justice, following the return of ITV’s crime drama, Broadchurch:

Posted on Sunday 18 December 2016

It has been a busy and exciting year for research and events at York, so we are taking a look back at a few of the highlights. From whales and elephants, to silent Shakespeare plays and Tim Peake, our researchers have made fascinating discoveries and taken part in many public engagement events. View a selection of our most popular stories of 2016 here and visit our news pages for more:

Posted on Friday 16 December 2016

Madeline Salzman, a Master’s student at the University of York’s Centre for Medieval Studies, discusses how the colour red became a focus of festive celebrations.

Posted on Thursday 1 December 2016

It has been a busy year for the York Experimental Archaeological Research (YEAR) Centre, with a diverse range of experiments, including the manufacture of Mesolithic headdresses, making and shooting bows from arrows, and replicating the cooking of ancient foods in clay pots!

Posted on Monday 14 November 2016

The University of York’s Astronomy and Space Science Outreach Support Officer, Adam Shore, outlines the top five things we should know about the November 2016 supermoon.

Posted on Tuesday 8 November 2016

Indian music legend, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, performed at the University of York's Scenic Stage alongside Tabla musician Gurdain Rayatt on Monday, 7 November.

Posted on Friday 4 November 2016

In the tropical climate of the South Pacific islands of Vanuatu, rural communities are coming to terms with one of the biggest natural disasters in its history. Cyclones are not uncommon to the region, but Tropical Cyclone Pam, which hit the island in 2015, resulted in unprecedented damage and injuries.

Posted on Thursday 27 October 2016

If you are taking part in trick-or-treating this Halloween, you are bound to bump into a very familiar monster representing a character that has captured people’s imaginations for 200 years. PhD student, Anna Mercer, tells us more about the 'waking dreams' that inspired a literary masterpiece.

Posted on Tuesday 18 October 2016

To celebrate the opening of the University of York’s new Department of Environment Building and its season of public lectures, researchers opened a photography competition for staff and students with the aim of capturing some of the world’s most striking landscapes, animals, and global communities.

Posted on Tuesday 23 August 2016

Archaeologists at the University of York, supported by Newton funding, have been working with coastal communities in Brazil to understand how they are using pre-Columbian fishing practices to sustain their way of life.

Posted on Friday 19 August 2016

The fast emerging economies of East Africa are changing land use across the region with significant impacts on stores of carbon and water flows. Areas of agricultural wealth, varied wildlife, and cultural heritage, are evolving rapidly and in some cases cease to exist.

Posted on Thursday 18 August 2016

PhD student Anna Mercer, from the University of York’s Department of English and Related Literature, discusses the evidence behind one of the most intriguing creative collaborations of the past two centuries.

Posted on Wednesday 17 August 2016

Students studying Interactive Media at the University of York have showcased new digital games, based on Leap Motion technology, at the Department of Theatre, Film and Television’s Luma Festival.

Posted on Friday 22 July 2016

Professor Gulcin Ozkan reflects on recent events in Turkey.

Posted on Thursday 16 June 2016

York hosts Question Time, BBC One’s political debate programme, on Thursday 16 June.

Posted on Tuesday 14 July 2015

This week’s Graduation Ceremonies are the final ones over which the University’s Chancellor Greg Dyke will preside.

Posted on Tuesday 14 July 2015

Ekaterina (Kate) Tckhakaia, 23, from Russia, will graduate with a BA in Management this summer having presented her undergraduate work at five international conferences.

Posted on Tuesday 14 July 2015

Myriam Grace Day, 22, graduated with a First Class honours degree in Linguistics with Spanish despite taking a year out to help look after her mother as she recuperated from a liver transplant.

Posted on Tuesday 14 July 2015

Tina Gale admits her studies at the University of York went a little “awry” - initially after she fell pregnant and then when she went into premature labour.

Posted on Tuesday 14 July 2015

Enduring cold showers at sunrise, making fuel briquettes from zebra dung and even coming through a bout of malaria may not sound like everyone’s idea of fun, but Environmental Geography graduate Sophie Pierce, 21, took it all in her stride while on a course placement in Africa.

Posted on Tuesday 14 July 2015

Ahmed Khaleel, 37, who was an academic and human rights activist in Iraq, says he has a lot to thank the University of York for after the trauma of being tortured and threatened with death in his homeland.

Posted on Tuesday 14 July 2015

Will Howard, 21, from Oxford, learned to play piano at the age of eight and has gone on to build his own piano while studying Music at York. Sourcing parts for the custom-designed instrument, he plans on donating it to the Department of Music on completion. Alongside his passion for music, Will has set up different businesses every year at York, and hopes to launch his latest venture, new social network Börd, on graduation.

Posted on Tuesday 14 July 2015

Emily Chandler, 23, from Brighton, has overcome significant medical problems to attain an MChem degree while working full-time during her Master’s year.

Posted on Tuesday 14 July 2015

Sam Heather, 21, from Probus in Cornwall, learnt to code at the age of 9 and released an app at 15 which has now been used over 22 million times worldwide. Developing some 20 apps since, he came to York to study Computer Science, completing summer internships at Google and Morgan Stanley. Following graduation, he will launch his latest business venture, safety app pingWHEN.

Posted on Monday 18 May 2015

The future of attendees at the most recent University of York Shine residentials is certainly looking sunny – after another successful programme run by staff and students.

Posted on Friday 6 March 2015

We’ve painted our homepage purple to mark International Women’s Day, a global celebration highlighting the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future.

Posted on Monday 2 March 2015

This week we are celebrating Giving at York week, which aims to highlight the fantastic support that our donors and volunteers provide to the University and our students.

Posted on Monday 2 March 2015

Third year Psychology student Ellie Whittaker is taking to the stage to support a major women’s football festival - and raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Posted on Monday 23 February 2015

From 8 to 17 May stage productions, puppet shows, comic opera and fascinating public talks will be held across the city. Tickets now on sale.

Posted on Friday 13 February 2015

By Damian Murphy, University of York

Posted on Friday 13 February 2015

York students launched preparations for the Chinese New Year with a colourful gala concert featuring dancing, singing, acrobats and a magic show.

Posted on Wednesday 4 February 2015

Health Sciences student Bill Clucas is back at his studies after five weeks working as a volunteer at the frontline of the Ebola crisis in one of the hardest hit areas of Sierra Leone.

Posted on Friday 30 January 2015

The University’s new Disabled Staff Network has been launched as part of a major drive to create an inclusive environment for our employees.

Posted on Monday 26 January 2015

Our staff and students are at the forefront of events taking place across the city this week to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.

Posted on Wednesday 21 January 2015

By Kate Pickett, University of York

Posted on Thursday 8 March 2018

The story of a “forthright” 20th-century Yorkshire woman who became an authority on botany despite never receiving a single formal lesson has been uncovered in the archives at the University of York.

Posted on Monday 19 February 2018

Organisations are being invited to nominate student volunteers from the University of York for student volunteering awards.

Posted on Wednesday 24 May 2017

Angus Marshall, Lecturer in Cybersecurity at the University of York’s Department of Computer Science, discusses his work as a Forensic Advisor on Channel 4's The Trial: A Murder in the Family, and the difficulties surrounding an abundance of digital evidence in today's criminal investigations:

Posted on Friday 16 July 2010

The way Hong Kong coped with a chronic water shortage in the 1960s provides important lessons for a world dealing with global warming, according to research by Dr David Clayton in the Department of History.

Posted on Wednesday 3 March 2010

The relationship between the urbanisation of the United States in the mid to late 19th Century and the landscape art of the period is the focus of research by Professor David Peters Corbett of the Department of History of Art.

Posted on Wednesday 13 January 2010

A new project led by the University of York aims to reduce biodiversity losses linked to palm oil production in tropical agricultural landscapes.

Posted on Monday 16 November 2009

Research in the Department of Physics is revealing the properties of some promising building blocks for nanotechnology.

Posted on Thursday 10 September 2009

A research partnership with a theme park aims to help conserve a forest in Tanzania and educate children and adults both there and in the UK.

Posted on Wednesday 12 August 2009

At first glance, the answer to the question “when does somebody die?” might appear to have a straightforward answer. However, scientific advances have made this one of the central ethical challenges facing medicine.

Posted on Friday 12 June 2009

The University of York is leading an international consortium that aims to revolutionise communications systems by giving them artificial intelligence.

Posted on Thursday 16 April 2009

Research that documents the recent history of a West Yorkshire community is challenging preconceptions of what heritage is and how it should be preserved.

Posted on Thursday 5 March 2009

Making it possible to make a telephone call on the move using a pocket-sized device and at an affordable price is a relatively recent technological achievement but consumers already expect far more from their mobile phone.

Posted on Thursday 15 January 2009

The role of women as investors and managers of their finances is the focus of research by Professor Josephine Maltby in The York Management School.

Posted on Friday 12 December 2008

The effect of face coverings on how people speak and how they are understood is the subject of research in the Department of Language and Linguistic Science.

Posted on Sunday 26 October 2008

The problem of 'water poverty' in England and Wales is the focus of investigation by a group of researchers from the University's Department of Social Policy and Social Work.

Posted on Friday 26 September 2008

"Would an eighteenth-century gentleman wink? What’s a strong eighteenth-century swear word? Who were the Whigs anyway?" These were just a few of the questions York historian Dr Hannah Greig faced as historical advisor to The Duchess.

Posted on Tuesday 26 August 2008

Policy makers need to give greater priority to the housing needs of disabled children, according to research undertaken by Dr Bryony Beresford from the University's Social Policy Research Unit.

Posted on Sunday 4 May 2008

Alien invasive insect species (such as the Asian Longhorn Beetle) are being detected in a project that uses computing technology to study animal sounds (computational bioacoustics). Globalisation of trade is increasing the incidence of invasive pests in the UK, and in other countries around the world, often causing significant economic damage.

Posted on Friday 4 April 2008

The natural world is unpredictable, so how can we ever hope to exploit it sustainably? This question forms a major area of study in the York Centre for Complex Systems Analysis (YCCSA), a multi-disciplinary centre which studies complexity science. Complexity science uses mathematics and computational modelling to study the behaviour of systems across diverse scales and applications.

Posted on Tuesday 4 March 2008

We have all seen it and we all know what it means — but what is it called? The ‘hand with pointing finger’ symbol has been used for centuries to point us to places, to sell us things and to draw our eyes to important messages.

Posted on Monday 4 February 2008

Families in low-income households in Britain suffer daily hardships, research by staff in the Department of Social Policy and Social Work and the NSPCC has revealed.

Posted on Monday 3 December 2007

While today’s fishing industry is ruthlessly efficient, intense exploitation of the seas began not in the modern era, nor even with the dawn of industrialisation, but in the eleventh century in medieval Europe. This long and colourful history of commercial fishing and hunting is explored by Callum Roberts, Professor of Marine Conservation at the University of York, in his book The Unnatural History of the Sea: The Past and Future of Humanity and Fishing.

Posted on Monday 3 September 2007

A comparison of pay in the public and private sectors in Britain reveals considerable benefits for experienced and highly skilled men working in the public sector, particularly those from an ethnic minority.

Posted on Tuesday 3 April 2007

A new University research centre to monitor gases in the atmosphere has been set up in Cape Verde, the collection of islands in the North East Atlantic Ocean, about 300 km off the North African coast.

Posted on Thursday 1 February 2007

For more than 2,300 years, doctors have relied on their patients' faith in their ability to cure, faith that was misplaced, argues Anniversary Professor History David Wootton in his controversial book, Bad Medicine: Doctors Doing Harm Since Hippocrates.

Posted on Sunday 1 October 2006

It is difficult to accept that something as solid and unyielding as a tree is mostly made out of fresh air. Uproot a tree, pull it to bits, and you will discover that over half of the tree is carbon - sucked from the air as carbon dioxide. Forests not only store this carbon in the trees tissues, but also in the soils they develop, giving them their greener-than-green reputation as key players in the carbon cycle and our fight against global warming.

Posted on Tuesday 1 August 2006

A turbulent period in York's history, which included the execution of its Archbishop, underlies the text and images in the rare and richly illuminated medieval manuscript the Bolton Book of Hours, owned by York Minster Library. It is the subject of a new interdisciplinary study by Dr Sarah Rees Jones and Professor Felicity Riddy of the Centre for Medieval Studies.

Posted on Thursday 1 June 2006

Death is inexorably linked to history and culture, and the ritual and customs of death and burials provide a valuable insight into society. Emergency measures during the Second World War, and post-war changing attitudes saw England's death culture run counter to the Victorian trends still existing earlier in the century.

Posted on Monday 1 May 2006

With the physical devastation and human tragedy caused by recent climatic events, the new York Institute of Tropical Ecosystem Dynamics (KITE) is a timely initiative to plot way s in which the world can manage the impact of climate change through a better understanding of land use and conservation.

Posted on Saturday 1 April 2006

Constantine the Great, the Roman emperor responsible for promoting Christianity and arguably the most influential figure in the growth of the Church, is the focus of a major international exhibition in York at the Yorkshire Museum until 29 October 2006.