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Friday, May 1

10

Children’s voices overlooked in research consent processes, experts warn

Researchers from The University of Manchester are calling for urgent changes to how children and young people are asked to take part in research, warning that current consent systems often fail to reflect their voices, experiences and…

01

The University of Manchester hosts first Geothermal Energy Symposium to explore low carbon heat opportunities

The University of Manchester hosted its first Geothermal Energy Symposium last month, bringing together researchers, policymakers, industry specialists and local stakeholders to examine the role geothermal energy could play in supporting…

Thursday, Apr 30

13

Co-Creation for Innovation in Creative Industries explored at MIOIR symposium

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Held at the Alliance Manchester Business School on Thursday 16 April, this dynamic event brought together researchers, creative practitioners and industry stakeholders to map the co-creation landscape across the creative industries.

Global Development Institute Launches New PhD Award with University of Ghana

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The award represents part of GDI’s efforts to build more equitable collaborations with partners in the global South, including the University of Nairobi, Birzeit University, BRAC-University and Slum Dwellers International (SDI). Such…

Look Back: The Past, Present and Future of the Computer in Electronic Music

www.manchester.ac.uk

On 25 March, Creative Manchester hosted a research café exploring Manchester’s role in the development of electronic music, from the earliest computers through to present advances in human-machine collaboration.

11

April 2026 Open Research Digest

www.manchester.ac.uk

The April 2026 issue of the Open Research Digest is now available, bringing together the latest news, updates and opportunities from the world of Open Research at The University of Manchester.

Teenage girls and experts call for changes to tackle worsening mental health

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Researchers from The University of Manchester have worked directly with teenage girls to uncover what they believe could help turn the tide on rising rates of anxiety and low mood.

Wednesday, Apr 29

15

World renowned dental researcher takes the helm of The University of Manchester’s dental division

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Professor Peter Thomson has been appointed as the new Head of the Division of Dentistry in the School of Medical Sciences at The University of Manchester.

13

University of Manchester Professor elected as Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales

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Professor Apala Majumdar, Professor of Applied Mathematics at The University of Manchester, has been elected a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales (LSW).

Tuesday, Apr 28

15

University of Manchester hosts expert roundtable on securing the future health workforce

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The University of Manchester hosted a roundtable, ‘From Pipeline to Practice: Skills, Social Mobility, and the Future Health Workforce’ on 28 April, bringing together stakeholders from across the Greater Manchester health ecosystem to…

Monday, Apr 27

Manchester Urban Ageing Research Group recognised with national Team Achievement Award

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Led by Professor Tine Buffel, MUARG brings together researchers from across social sciences, architecture, geography, public health and the arts to explore the relationship between population ageing and urban change. Central to its work is…

12

Shortages, substitutes and uncertainty: the new reality of drugs supplies

www.manchester.ac.uk

The reliable supply of drugs is fundamental to any healthcare system, yet shortages remain a persistent problem.

RISE awards £450,000 to innovative projects addressing violence against women and girls

www.manchester.ac.uk

Nine interdisciplinary research and innovation projects have been awarded up to £50,000 each through RISE, an accelerated programme tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) led by researchers at the University of Manchester.

Study reveals why epithelial cancer is more aggressive in some tissues

www.manchester.ac.uk

A team lead by scientists from the Universities of Manchester and Liverpool have revealed why a group of cancers common in older adults exposed to environmental damage behaves so differently depending on where they develop in the body.

Friday, Apr 24

15

New Self-Assembling Polymers Proven To Be Effective At Gene Delivery

www.manchester.ac.uk

A collaboration of scientists at the University of Manchester and the University of Birmingham have explored a more effective and less toxic way of delivering genetic material into cells, a challenge central to areas such as gene therapy,…

14

Education saves lives: new study reveals global link between learning and longevity

www.manchester.ac.uk

A major international study involving researchers from The University of Manchester has found that education is one of the strongest predictors of how long people live. Using a new statistical approach to overcome gaps in global data, the…

13

Manchester Physicists Celebrate A Second Consecutive Year Of Success At The Breakthrough Prizes For Decades-Long Muon Experiment

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The University of Manchester is celebrating a second consecutive year of success at the Breakthrough Prizes, with Manchester physicists again recognised for their leadership in one of the most ambitious and long‑running experiments in…

Manchester conference provides fresh perspectives on Falklands/Malvinas conflict

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The University of Manchester has hosted a major international conference examining the legacy of the Falklands/Malvinas Conflict, bringing together leading experts, veterans and students from both sides for two days of discussion and…

Thursday, Apr 23

19

Manchester engineers boost sustainable acrylic acid production using next‑generation membrane reactor

www.manchester.ac.uk

Researchers at The University of Manchester have developed a high‑performance membrane reactor that significantly improves the production of acrylic acid from waste glycerol, offering a more sustainable alternative to today’s fossil‑based…

14

Applications open for the 2026 return of Ideas with Impact Awards

www.manchester.ac.uk

The University’s Ideas with Impact Awards have opened applications for 2026. Made possible by donors to our Challenge Accepted campaign, the awards will provide prizes of up to £100,000 to entrepreneurial students, staff and recent alumni,…

13

RLUK 2026, and N8 CIR Digital Research Infrastructure Retreat 2026

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Last month saw the annual N8 CIR Digital Research Infrastructure retreat (at the Pendulum Hotel, Manchester and online) and Research Libraries UK (online) conference.

Simon Sadler’s visit to see the Sadler Scholars at The University of Manchester

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On Monday 20th April, Simon visited The University of Manchester to meet with 25 Sadler Bursary and Sadler Access Bursary Scholars currently studying in their first and second years.

New Faculty of Humanities Vice-Dean for Teaching, Learning and Students appointed at the University of Manchester

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Currently Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education Innovation and Enhancement, and Professor of Economics Education at the University of Bristol, Alvin will take up the Vice-Dean for TLS role on 1 August 2026. He will take over from…

Wednesday, Apr 22

17

Manchester hosts international conference on English pronunciation for first time

www.manchester.ac.uk

The 9th annual International Conference on English Pronunciation: Issues & Practices (EPIP) was hosted in Manchester for the first time this month, co-organised by colleagues within the Manchester Institute of Education in the University…

Cancer Research UK Open Access policy

www.manchester.ac.uk

Cancer Research UK (CRUK) has recently announced a significant change to its Open Access (OA) policy, affecting OA publishing for CRUK‑funded research in future.

Mandelson vetting scandal: why Whitehall is the worst of all worlds when it comes to accountability

www.manchester.ac.uk

Keir Starmer’s decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US keeps coming back to haunt him. It has now emerged that Mandelson was granted security clearance by the Foreign Office, despite concerns raised during the vetting…

16

Global appetite for beef is driving Amazon deforestation, new study finds

www.manchester.ac.uk

A major international study involving researchers from The University of Manchester has found that rising global demand for beef is a key force behind deforestation in the Amazon rainforest.

15

Sparking curiosity in children who are home-educated

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The number of children who are educated at home has increased markedly since the Covid-19 pandemic, with an estimated 175,900 (1.5%) of school-aged children being electively home educated in England during the 2024/25 academic year.

12

Iran’s AI memes are reaching people who don’t follow the news – and winning the propaganda war

www.manchester.ac.uk

A Lego-style Iranian military commander raps over a gangster beat: “Our inbox is flooded with Americans saying they don’t watch the news. They listen to our songs instead since your media is full of sh*t.”

Tuesday, Apr 21

18

Prof Sarah Sharples appointed to the Council for Science and Technology

www.manchester.ac.uk

Professor Sarah Sharples has been appointed to the Council for Science and Technology (CST), which advises the Prime Minister and the Cabinet on strategic science and technology issues.