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Young Coventry performers use Warwick experts to help with climate science in new production
University of Warwick researchers have shared their knowledge in the development of a new play showing at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry this week.
Dr Erin Dilger, a researcher in tropical disease, spent time with the cast and writers of the new production to help feed in and break down scientific facts about climate change and environmental issues. On Friday 13 March, Dr Dilger and other Warwick academics will join in a panel discussion after the performance.
Microbial interactions in aquatic environments to be investigated
The microbes found in aquatic environments and their interactions will be investigated by Warwick researcher Professor Orkun Soyer, thanks to an investigator award from The Gordon and Betty Moore foundation.
Coronavirus:Your Questions
Dr Mike Tildesley answers viewers' questions about coronavirus on the BBC News Channel (Broadcast 09.03.2020).
Arctic's Global Seed Vault to receive 1000 types of seeds from Warwick's Vegetable Genebank
Just under 1000 seed samples from different crop species including kale, carrots and cauliflower are to be deposited at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Arctic Norway on Tuesday 25 February 2020, from the UK Vegetable Genebank (UKVGB) at the University of Warwick Wellesbourne campus.
UK researchers aim to tackle top horticultural pests and diseases
National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB) researchers are taking on four new research programmes tackling high priority pests and diseases, thanks to a new £250,000 initiative from Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and AHDB.
This pilot initiative between AHDB and BBSRC will address critical research questions associated with high priority pests and diseases that present a significant threat to UK horticultural production. The projects will run from late 2019 until March 2020 and the results will be shared with the industry when available.
Dr John Clarkson is a collaborator with NIAB Research Scientist Dr Helen Bates on a project to develop disease prediction of onion basal rot using a quantitative molecular test.
Check your pulses
The Knowledge Centre look at research by Professor Eric Holub into new haricot bean varieties which are suitable for growing in the UK climate.
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Learning and Teaching Workshop: Re-imaging the first year student experience - 20 March 2020
SLS is hosting a FREE Royal Society of Biology sponsored HUBS learning and teaching workshop on 20 March 2020 to develop ideas and strategies to inform our understanding of what makes for the best possible undergraduate bioscience first year.
Professor Andrew Easton comments on the Coronavirus outbreak
Professor Andrew Easton talks live to Sky News about the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak:
Infectious diseases to be detected and prevented thanks to £4m grant
A £4 million grant from The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) was awarded to researchers led by Professor Xavier Didelot, to set up a new Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Genomics and Enabling Data. This unit will ensure that cutting edge genomic methods are being used to protect public health.
Warwick ranked as one of UK’s top 3 Universities for “High Flier” graduates most sought after by leading employers
Leading employers have ranked the University of Warwick as one of UK’s top three universities for “High Flier” graduates most sought after.
School of Life Sciences retains Royal Society of Biology advanced accreditation for its 4 year MBio degrees
The School of Life Sciences is proud to announce that it has been awarded another 5 years of Royal Society of Biology (RSB) advanced accreditation for its 4 year integrated Masters (MBio) degrees. Our new Neuroscience degree has gained interim accreditation which should be awarded full advanced accreditation upon graduation of the first cohort.
Advanced Degree Accreditation by the Society recognises academic excellence in the biosciences, and highlights degrees that educate the research and development leaders and innovators of the future. The Advanced Accreditation criteria require evidence that graduates from the programme meet defined sets of learning outcomes, including gaining a substantial period of research experience.
Graduates from these programmes will receive one year of free membership to the RSB at Associate level. They can also apply for membership of the RSB at member (MRSB) level after two years of practice rather than the usual three years, due to the significant research experience gained.
The RSB is the leading professional body for the biological sciences in the UK. It represents over 17,000 biologists from all areas of the life sciences, as well as over 100 organisations which make up the diverse landscape of biology in the UK and overseas. It offers members unique opportunities to engage with the life sciences and share their passion for biology.
Slime Santa beard likes hot peppers
· A slime Santa beard has been made by Ian Hands-Portman at the University of Warwick’s School of Life Sciences
· The slime is a not a plant, animal or fungi it is a myxomycete, and feeds off oats, likes hot peppers, but doesn’t like chocolate
· Slime molds are useful to scientists and are being used to research cancer treatments as it is one cell with multiple nuclei, they also solve mazes and maps in a more efficient way than humans, so computer scientists are looking at using them for faster lower energy computers and sat-navs.
The Vegetables of Christmas Future
If you think about a traditional Christmas dinner, there’s turkey with pigs in blankets, or maybe you prefer a nut roast. But the rest is vegetables. A large proportion of our plate should be covered in vegetables, and the standard winter varieties, like carrots and sprouts, are grown very successfully in the UK.
But will this always be the case? Climate change is bringing with it new challenges as well as making known pests and diseases more difficult to tackle. Scientists at Warwick's Crop Centre, are working to understand the pests and diseases of the some of the UK’s major crops and developing, using traditional plant breeding and genetic expertise, new resistant varieties.
How sand fly mating habits are helping tackle tropical disease in £2.5M project
The tropical disease Leishmaniasis is being tackled by catching female sand flies who carry the parasite that causes the disease. Scientists led by Dr Orin Courtenay of Warwick University and Professor Gordon Hamilton of Lancaster University, developed the concept as part of a £2.5M project funded by The Wellcome Trust and published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.
Superbugs, stem cells and more at University of Warwick’s showcase of science
Whether you are fascinated by superbugs, stem cells, or circadian rhythms, a new programme of free events from the University of Warwick will give you the ideal vantage point on biological and medical science.'Science on the Hill' is a new programme of public engagement events jointly hosted by the School of Life Sciences and the Wellcome-Warwick Quantiative Biomedicine Programme at Warwick Medical School. These interactive two hour events taking place across the academic year will feature 20 researchers giving a birds-eye view of the latest exciting developments in their discipline.
NERC CENTA DTP funded studentships are recruiting for PhD study for 2020/21 entry
CENTA stands for Central England NERC Training Alliance, a consortium of Universities and research institutes that are working together to provide excellence in doctoral research training within the remit of the Natural Environment Research Council. As a CENTA student, you will belong to a consortium well-resourced to provide you with extensive training to give you confidence in all aspects of your research.
PhD Project themes:
· Climate and Environmental Sustainability
· Organisms and Ecosystems
· Dynamic Earth
Deadline for applications: 10 January 2020
MIBTP Recruitment for 2020/21 entry is now open
The Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP) is a BBSRC funded doctoral training partnership between the University of Warwick, the University of Birmingham, the University of Leicester, Aston University and Harper Adams University.
The MIBTP has an ambitious vision to deliver innovative, world class research across the life sciences to boost the growing bio-economy in the Midlands and across the UK.
PhD studentship projects are focussed in vital research areas such as Sustainable Agriculture and Food, Understanding the Rules of Life, Renewable Resources and Clean Growth and Integrated Understanding of Health and uses interdisciplinary and quantitative approaches to biology.
Students from a wide diversity of academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply: those with creative drive in both theoretical disciplines (for example, maths, computer science, statistics) as well as experimental science (for example, biology, biomedicine, chemistry, biotechnology).
Deadline for applications: 12 January 2020
Going viral: What are bacteriophages and how can they help us?
Antibiotics are going to stop working. Bacteria are developing resistance to the drugs we have to treat them and there is no doubt that without action getting an infection or having surgery is going to get a lot more risky. With a global health crisis on our hands, scientists across the world are now trying to find alternatives to the drugs which have kept us alive for the past decade.
One possible solution is the use of bacteriophages.
Dr Antonia Sagona is working on understanding how phages fight infections.
The real Frozen: What can we do with ice?
Dr Hendrik Schafer and colleagues are looking at the microbial cycling of trace gases in sea ice as part of an international research programme called MOSAiC.
Read Knowledge Centre article