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Durham Global Awards Success!

Congratulations to three of DSES’ own, Professor Brett Smith, Professor Stacey Pope, and Adam Dickson (PhD candidate), who were all nominated for Durham Global Awards this week at an evening reception at the Oriental Museum.
A group photo of Adam Dickson, Stacey Pope and Brett Smith at the Oriental Museum

Children’s perception of normal body shape is affected by who they see around them – new research

Professor Lynda Boothroyd, from our Department of Psychology, discusses the flexibility of body weight perceptions in children and young adults, as part of a first-of-its-kind study.
Silhouettes of a child growing through to an adult

Archaeologists discover ancient irrigation network in Mesopotamia

Researchers have uncovered a vast and well-preserved network of ancient irrigation canals in the Eridu region of southern Mesopotamia, shedding new light on early farming practices.
A desert landscape with a faint channel running through it and a person walking along it

Entrepreneurship can help former prisoners reintegrate, but more support is needed

Former prisoners have a strong chance of successfully reintegrating into society if they pursue entrepreneurship, but a lack of structured support hampers their progress, according to research from Durham University Business School and Leeds University Business School.
monochrome photo of people shaking hands in front of a horizontal blind

How our bodies react when we use social media – and when we stop

Dr Niklas Ihssen, from our Department of Psychology, explores what happens to our bodies when we social media - and what happens when we stop.
Several hands holding mobile phones

Body image perceptions take shape from early childhood

New research by our Department of Psychology has determined that our perceptions of body image are shaped by what we see from as early as seven years old.
Child observing body image stimuli on a computer screen

Spotlight on: Professor Robin Coningham - using archaeological expertise to protect global cultural heritage

Our ‘Spotlight on’ series highlights how our researchers are leading their field and transforming lives. Robin Coningham, Professor of Early Medieval Archaeology and UNESCO Chair in Archaeological Ethics and Practice, focuses on South Asia with a dedication to protecting cultural heritage.
Professor Robin Coningham facing the camera against a backdrop of various names and logos of cultural protection organisations

Tiny changes in gene expression can lead to big differences in eye size

We’re part of an international team of scientists which has discovered that tiny changes in the timing of the expression of a single gene can lead to big differences in eye size.
A close up of a fly's eye. The is red and you can see the hexagonal components of the eye.

‘Culture – Connect – Community’: Researching Local Challenges around the World

Research in the Sociology Department focuses on the lives of people in very different contexts around the world.
Global week images

Summer Course on International Arbitration (21-25 July 2025)

The Durham Law School Summer Course on International Arbitration was highly successful between 2022 and 2024, and is set to return in 2025. This course is designed for individuals looking to expand their skillset or discover a new field of practice. It also benefits scholars seeking to gain expertise in the application of concepts and norms in international arbitration, as well as students looking to gain exposure to international dispute resolution.
Law School Summer Course Ifeoma Blog

Global partnerships and research working in India

Durham is well-established as a significant academic collaborator in India with over 20 institutional partnerships spanning engineering, climate science, law, heritage and education. Key partnerships include Delhi University, IIT Madras and Amrita University. We value international collaboration as central to enhancing global knowledge and developing global citizenship. International collaboration is key to our excellence in teaching and research.
A telescope pointing to a starry sky

Exploring food culture through the RELISH project

RELISH (Reframing European gastronomy Legacy through Innovation, Sustainability and Heritage) is an international project led by Durham that explores how we engage with food culture in a globalised world.
A group of young people in the sunshine outdoors standing at a table eating