The discovery of how hormone-like molecules turn on antibiotic production in soil bacteria could unlock the untapped opportunities for medicines that are under our very feet.

An international team of scientists working at the University of Warwick, UK, and Monash University, Australia, have determined the molecular basis of a biological mechanism that could enable more efficient and cost-effective production of existing antibiotics, and also allow scientists to uncover new antibiotics in soil bacteria.

On the 11 May WMG hosted a live webinar led by Antony “Tony” Williams (Cheminformatician, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure) from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Over 25 researchers joined the webinar - the first joint activity to share the agency’s research/evidence base with the wider Warwick community.

Canada is quickly advancing efforts to respond to the current COVID-19 pandemic both at home and around the globe. Last week, Prime Minister Trudeau launched a CAD $1.1 billion medical research strategy.

As part of this response, the Canadian High Commission in London has shared information with Warwick regarding a COVID-19 Rapid Research Funding Opportunity which was recently launched by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and its partners.

Professor Stuart Croft, Vice-Chancellor, University of Warwick, and Professor Margaret Gardner AC, Vice-Chancellor, Monash University, have signed a new rolling agreement for the Monash Warwick Alliance. Replacing the previous five-year term, this open-ended partnership will enable more deeply embedded collaboration and wider transnational opportunities for students and staff.

On Thursday 20^th February Professor Mike Shipman, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International) led a senior Warwick delegation to visit the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) in Singapore. The two institutions signed a renewal agreement to recognise our shared commitment to the Warwick - A*STAR Research Attachment Programme (ARAP) in Molecular Biomedicine.

On Thursday 13 February Warwick welcomed former Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium and past-European Commissioner for Trade, Karel De Gucht, to speak about the future of Great Britain following its departure from the European Union. Over 50 Warwick Politics International Studies students and staff attended the lecture which took place at WBS London, The Shard.

 Four leading transportation start-ups have recently visited WMG to learn more about our expertise on Cyber Security for Automotive, Cooperative Vehicles and Intelligent Vehicles. The companies recently won the L.A. New Mobility Challenge, a major global startup competition focused on solving the challenges of urban mobility. The four award categories were 'shared and personal mobility', 'urban aerial mobility', 'smart infrastructure', and 'zero emission mobility'.

Warwick recently welcomed Professor Almeida, President of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, and Professor Saliba, Dean of International Affairs, to campus. A range of Warwick colleagues met with the delegation to discuss areas of mutual which map against UFMG’s priorities in their government-funded internationalisation project, PrInt. Discussions focussed on the thematic areas of Sustainability, New Technologies and Frontiers of Science, Health and Well-being, and Human Rights. With collaborations already being developed in the Departments of Chemistry, Statists, WBS and WMS, we have the opportunity to increase collaborative efforts through the increased exchange of staff and students.

Five Warwick students were recently chosen to attend the Global Young Scientists Summit (GYSS) in Singapore, January 2020. They joined 300 young researchers worldwide for a chance to interact with eminent scientists and technology leaders.