What do scientists really think about signs of alien life? Professor Peter Vickers, Head of our Department of Philosophy, takes a look.

Professor Anna Rowlands, in our Department of Theology and Religion/Centre for Catholic Studies, has helped Pope Leo XIV launch his first social encyclical focused on being human in a time of AI. Here she talks about the importance of Magnifica Humanitas (Magnificent Humanity).

Our Vice-Chancellor Professor Karen O'Brien, with Professors Chris Day, Peter Mathieson, Evelyn Welch, and Shearer West, vice-chancellors of the universities of Newcastle, Edinburgh, Bristol, and Leeds, respectively, have written on UK-EU partnership for The Coimbra Group.

This international conference is organised by Professor Arlene Holmes-Henderson (Durham University, UK) and Dr André Simões (University of Lisbon, Portugal) as part of their collaboration funded by The Centre for Classical Studies (CEC), in the School of Arts and Humanities at the University of Lisbon. It occurs during Arlene’s term as the Gulbenkian Foundation’s Visiting Professor in the Humanities in 2026-2027.

Professor Elisa Morgera conducted an academic visit to Australia in mid-May in her capacity as UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change and Human Rights, contributing to national and international discussions on human rights, climate governance, and the energy transition.

An international team of researchers led by our Physics Department is developing a new way to tackle soil degradation in sub–Saharan Africa.

Experiencing bitter or non-bitter flavours before birth can shape taste likes or dislikes after being born, according to new research led by our Department of Psychology.

Professor Martin Evans, Executive Dean in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Health, has been made an honorary fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (RGS).

New research from our Management and Marketing Department shows that misunderstandings between investors and founders are a major reason why social innovation ventures fail to grow. In many cases, they collapse altogether.

We welcomed Dr Francesco Bongarrà, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in London, and Mr Gabriele Magagnin, Italian Consul General (Manchester), to celebrate and strengthen our longstanding ties with Italy. We marked our strong international profile and our deep and enduring connections with Italian institutions, underpinned by close collaborations with the Italian Cultural Institute in London since 2015.

Remote working can damage work-life balance, wellbeing and productivity unless clear boundaries are in place, new research finds.

Durham University’s Department of Philosophy is at the centre of two high‑profile public events this year, bringing together leading thinkers to explore faith, disagreement, and the deepest questions about the origins of reality.