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Thought Leadership

The diversity of the university experience helps students become good citizens

How do universities produce good citizens? For Mathew Guest, Professor of the Sociology of Religion, research on interfaith relations may have the answer.
An image of a crowd or people icons on a white background

Decoding Inequality: New Maths Project Aims to Unlock Social Puzzle

Dr Alpár Mészáros from our department of Mathematical Sciences sheds light on inequality through the lens of math. He is teaming up with Dr Mauro Bambi of Durham University Business School to solve inequality's code using the surprising key of partial differential equations (PDEs).
Picture of people in the library

Many physicists assume we must live in a multiverse – but their basic maths may be wrong

Professor Philip Goff, from our Department of Philosophy, explores the idea of the multiverse and how physics appears to be fine-tuned for life.
An abstract image of the multiverse.

Offering oil and gas licences every year distracts from the challenge of winding down UK North Sea

Professor Gavin Bridge, from our Department of Geography, is joined by Gisa Weszkalnys, an Associate Professor of Anthropology at London School of Economics and Political Science, to give their thoughts on proposals by the UK government for new oil and gas licences.
An image of an oil rig in the sea.

Boudica: Queen of War reviewed by an expert in the real ancient British ruler

Richard Hingley from our Department of Archaeology was invited to write a review of the recently released film Boudica: Queen of War starring Olga Kurylenko as the title character. Warning: this review contains spoilers for Boudica: Queen of War.
The statue Boadicea and Her Daughters near Westminster Pier, London by Paul Walter - Boudica statue, Westminster

Climate labels similar to cigarette packet warnings could cut meat consumption – new research

PhD candidate Jack Hughes, Associate Professor Milica Vasiljevic and Professor Mario Weick from our Department of Psychology share the findings of their recent research into cigarette style warning labels on meat products.
A burger in a bun with meat labelling added on cocktail stick

Britain’s new Faith Museum is the ideal place to set aside your preconceptions about religion

Professor Alec Ryrie from our Department of Theology and Religion visits the new Faith Museum in Bishop Auckland and explains how it provides a rare opportunity to set aside preconceptions about religion and faith.
Church window

Himalayan communities are under siege from landslides – and climate change is worsening the crisis

Postdoctoral research associate Ellen Beatrice Robson from our Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience has co-written on how climate change and human activity is worsening landslides in the Indian Himalayas.
Himalayan mountains

Concerns over pet food and vet costs affordability are as old as pet keeping itself

Professor Julie-Marie Strange from our Department of History and Professor Jane Hamlett from the University of London explore concerns over the cost of keeping pets in the UK.
Guinea pigs eating

The book that haunts me – seven experts on the scariest thing they’ve ever read

A truly scary story never really leaves you. It lurks in long evening shadows, calls out through mysterious bumps in the night and blows down your neck whenever you feel a sudden shiver. With Halloween approaching, The Conversation asked six academic experts, including PhD candidate Lucy Atkinson from our Department of English Studies, to tell us about the scariest book they’ve ever read...
A man in a jacket sits under a tree in the dark reading a book, with a light illuminating his face

Revitalising ancient water systems for future resilience within the Kathmandu Valley

Professor Robin Coningham and Dr Christopher Davis from our Department of Archaeology explain why sustainable access to water is so important and how Durham is helping.
One of Patan’s many brick-lined tanks (hiti), providing water to communities of the Kathmandu Valley

Young Minds Big Maths: combining expertise from mathematicians and early years educators

Dr Rachel Oughton from our department of Mathematical Sciences has been working with early years educators to expand the reach of maths among children. Here she talks about the Young Minds Big Maths project that she is leading.
children in school