From globally impactful research to Olympian alumni and award-winning initiatives – it's been an exciting year here at Durham. In part two of our end of year review, we're reflecting on more of our successes in 2024.
This year our boundary-breaking research projects made the front covers of two of the world’s most prestigious journals: Science and Nature.
Science showcased biosciences research on the evolution of carnivorous plants, while Nature gave front page prominence to a physics study on an extragalactic discovery.
Research from across our departments made a global impact during 2024.
This included our archaeologists pinpointing the location of a famous early Islamic battle using declassified spy satellite images.
Our earth scientists uncovered a rare fossil in China named 'Youti yuanshi' which enhanced our understanding one of the earliest ancestors of modern insects, spiders, crabs and centipedes.
Our geographers embarked on an expedition to Greenland to study the region's rapidly decaying ice sheet and establish how it impacts on ocean and global climate systems.
Research from our psychology department challenged misconceptions about dyslexia.
And a four-year project from our Centre for Catholic Studies found that aspects of Catholic culture were implicated in how clerical child sexual abuse happened.
We’re always keen to celebrate the successes of our student and alumni community.
This summer we cheered on six Durham graduates who represented Great Britain at the Paris Olympics.
Durham alumni featured in in hockey, rowing and wheelchair fencing.
Our St Hild and St Bede College alumna, Lauren Irwin, was part of the women's eight rowing team to win a bronze medal.
Her success made her the first person from Peterlee in County Durham to become an Olympic medallist.
Our work on biodiversity was recognised via the Green Gown Awards 2024 and through our 22nd ranking in the 2025 QS World University Rankings for Sustainability.
One element of our successful biodiversity work is the MammalWeb project which gathers information on the distribution, habits and behaviours of UK and European wild mammals.
MammalWeb won a National Biodiversity Network award in recognition of its outstanding contribution to wildlife recording and data sharing.
Meanwhile, our beautiful Botanic Garden once again achieved a Gold Award in the Northumbria in Bloom Competition 2024.
Main image of Lauren Irwin (top, right) courtesy of Team GB.
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