Impacting the World

Anthropology Research at Durham covers a wide range of activity from the production of knowledge to advance the discipline, to applied research for public benefit. This has been a fundamental part of our Department for many decades. We engage with the public, external organisations, and public bodies in numerous ways to convey the importance of Anthropology to everyday life. This is reflected in our outreach programmes, case studies and Research Projects.

See how anthropological perspectives benefit people both in the UK and across the world.

Changing approaches to Infant Sleep Safety

Our research has underpinned a rethink of official infant sleep safety guidance in the UK and was awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2018.

Child Mobility and Health

Kate Hampshire's work aims to improve access to effective health care for people across Sub-Saharan Africa.

four people sitting on the ground chatting

Giving Vunerable People a Voice

Gina Porter works with vulnerable people in sub-Saharan Africa towards improving their access to quality services and livelihoods.

Human-Wildlife Conflict

Russell Hill works with commercial and communal farmers in South Africa to understand livestock predation by predators and crop-raiding by primates.

Infant Sleep

Helen Ball founded the Durham Infancy and Sleep Centre (DISC) which informs international practice & policy in infant sleep, breastfeeding and sudden infant death.

Introducing survivor-led guidelines for recording testimonies of sexual violence during conflict

Survivor-led guidelines are now being nationally and internationally used to follow ethical practices when recording testimonies of sexual violence.

Leadership-Interaction and Prestige

Matt Offord, Roger Gill & Jeremy Kendal are interested in what causes effective leadership in social groups that engage in collaborative behaviour.

Royal navy vessel, photo by Andy Holmes on Unsplash

Mandrills

Exploring Mandrill society with Professor Jo Setchell

Mother-infant proximity in the postnatal period

Our findings led to changes in recommended best practice in postnatal care, affecting 630,000 mothers and babies annually in the UK.

Museum Practice

Paolo Fortis works to translate his ethnographic research on indigenous visual and material culture into museum practice.

Man sitting in a chair outside a wooden shack in Panama

Watch Our Video Case Studies:

View some of our latest case studies from the Department of Anthropology.

Pioneering research in infant sleep safety

Our anthropologists have revolutionised research into infant sleep safety and helped reduce rates of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
The bedroom that helps parents and babies to sleep better

The research by the Parent-Infant Sleep Lab has helped to shape the way babies sleep and how parents care for them at night-time.
Helping parents and babies to sleep better

Substantially increasing parents’ understanding of babies’ sleep and how best to keep babies safe during the night.