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News archive 2017


Exeter Law Professor Addresses NATO Secretary-General and North Atlantic Council on Cyber Law

On 19 January, Professor Mike Schmitt spoke on international law of cyber operation to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Deputy Secretary-General Rose Gottemoeller, and the North Atlantic Council (NAC).

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New translation opens a window into the world of the ‘father of genetics’

For decades the “father of genetics” Gregor Mendel has been portrayed as living an isolated, monk-like existence, cut off from society.

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Legal training for aid workers to help protect migrant children from exploitation

Aid workers in refugee camps and shelters in Greece are receiving legal training to help keep migrant children safe thanks to an expert from the University of Exeter.

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Celebrity divorce lawyer backs research to help strengthen couple relationships

Prominent divorce lawyer Baroness Shackleton is funding new University of Exeter research which could help uncover the secret of finding life-long love.

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University of Exeter expert urges Government to implement new laws to protect the environment

Progress on the Government’s long term plan for the environment is too slow and politicians should act more quickly to safeguard our natural resources, a University of Exeter expert has said.

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Exeter Primary School Children take on Plato and Aristotle

Great philosophical questions such as ‘What is art?’ and ‘Should you always tell the truth?’, are being debated by Exeter primary school children, with the help of University of Exeter philosophers.

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University of Exeter Law School expert honoured by the Estonian Government

A University of Exeter expert has been honoured by the Estonian Government for his pioneering work in international law.

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Listening to music can improve unconscious attitudes towards other cultures

Listening to five minutes of West African or Indian pop music can give the listener more positive attitudes towards those cultures, research from the Universities of Oxford and Exeter has found.

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First comprehensive legal guide for cyber behaviour published by University of Exeter expert

The first comprehensive guide covering the legal rules of behaviour in cyberspace, which will be used by governments around the world, has been published by a University of Exeter academic.

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Secrets of light and colour in butterflies and photography revealed at science masterclass

Children learned how physics brings light and colour to photography and makes insects iridescent as part of a fun masterclass at the University of Exeter. 

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Biggest ever archive of children’s writing created to help experts assess language skills

Experts will collect the most extensive archive to date of children’s school work as part of a major project seeking to track how the way they use language changes as they get older.

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Exploring the economic value of trees’ social and environmental benefits

The social and environmental outputs of woodlands play a much broader role in the economy than is often recognised, according to a new Research Report by the University of Exeter for the Forestry Commission.

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Project tackling barriers to Higher Education receives £500,000 funding boost

A pioneering new project which seeks to tackle potential barriers faced by students with vocational qualifications when they enter higher education, has received a significant funding boost.

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Celebrating 10 years of European Research Council funding

The University of Exeter will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the European Research Council (ERC) with a celebratory public event at the Streatham Campus.

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Austrian university and South West college students join to brush up on their mooting skills

Unique collaborative mooting event hosted by the University of Exeter brought together students from the University of Graz in Austria and students from Petroc College.

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PhD studentships for September 2017 entry announced

We’re delighted to announce four PhD studentships supervised by LEEP colleagues, which are funded thanks to our links with external research partners, The John Oldacre Foundation, and our alumni.

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Top social scientist boosts Exeter’s research excellence

One of the UK’s leading social scientists is joining the University of Exeter from her previous post as Chief Executive of the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC).

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Republicans less likely to be critical about Obamacare when reminded about their own medical needs

US Republican voters are less likely to be critical about the performance of the controversial “Obamacare” health reforms when they are reminded about their own medical needs, new research shows.

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University of Exeter expert helping to boost open science in Europe

Dr Sabina Leonelli is helping to boost the amount of science research in Europe which will be openly available for all to read without charge.

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Cabinet Minister visits University - and gives students tips on how to become an MP

Cabinet Minister David Lidington visited the University of Exeter today and met academics who have given evidence to Parliament and students studying politics and history.

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Politics academics complete high profile visit to Korea.

The visit helped to reinforce and celebrate the excellent relationship that Exeter enjoys with the South Korean Government.

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Outdated divorce law causes needlessly painful and destructive breakups, new research finds

Outdated divorce law is causing needlessly painful and destructive breakups and exacerbating conflict between couples, a major new study has found.

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Educational equality expert to begin new role at the University of Exeter

A leading expert on social mobility and educational inequality has been appointed to work to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds who want to study at the University of Exeter.

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The University of Exeter has co-organised a workshop on Populism at the prestigious Fudan University in China.

Exeter academics from both the College of Social Sciences and International Studies and the College of Humanities came together with their counterparts at Fudan.

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Exeter collaborates with Chinese University on Takeover Law workshop

The University of Exeter and Tsinghua Law Schools are organising a joint workshop gathering together experts on takeover law. The workshop will be hosted at Tsinghua Law School on Sunday 20 May.

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Students graduate from Pathways to Law programme

29 students from 13 schools and colleges from across the South West region graduated from the Pathways to Law programme.

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University of Exeter teacher training rated as among the best courses in the country

Teacher training courses at the University of Exeter have been ranked as among the best in the country.

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Exeter Law School and Graduate School of Education success at the Teaching Awards 2017

The University of Exeter’s best lecturers were recognised by students at the Teaching Awards 2017 on 2 May, and two academic staff in the College of Social Sciences and International Studies were recognised for their contribution to their students’ experience.

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No evidence that enrichment activities encourage pupils to study STEM A-levels, research finds

There is no evidence to suggest enrichment activities run to interest pupils in science, technology, engineering and maths results in significantly higher numbers of teenagers studying these subjects at A-level.

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Rules for space warfare to be drawn up

An international coalition of lawyers is to draft the first ever legal manual of space warfare.

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Teachers who write themselves can boost children’s confidence in creative writing

Giving teachers time and support to become creative writers has helped them motivate their students, according to the findings of a two-year research project.

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Global schools programme provides ‘inoculation against extremist violence’, academics find

The Tony Blair Institute’s global dialogue programme makes teenagers more resilient to recruitment by extremists.

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New Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the University of Sydney

The MoU seeks to foster closer collaboration between Exeter’s Politics Department and the Sydney Democracy Network, an internationally influential network of researchers, activists, and policy makers. 

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New website to help voters make General Election choice

Voters struggling to decide where to put their mark on the ballot paper in the General Election can get advice from a new website which allows them to compare promises made by politicians.

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Ancient city found in Ethiopia sheds new light on country’s history

Archaeologists have uncovered an ancient, forgotten city in Ethiopia once thought to be the home of giants.

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An evidence gathering session to review the legal, education, and policy frameworks for religious education (RE), will be held at Exeter on 20th June

Experts and stakeholders will present evidence between 2.30pm-7.00pm. Members of the public are welcome to observe both sessions. 

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Exeter’s teaching excellence officially recognised as ‘gold standard’

The University of Exeter’s commitment to providing world-class teaching has been recognised with the award of a “Gold” rating in the first national Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) assessment.

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One year on from the EU referendum, Brexit voters describe themselves as middle class, educated but dissatisfied with life

A year since the vote to leave the European Union, new research has found that Brexit voters are more likely to describe themselves as middle class, educated and fed up, rather than angry and working class.

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Devon cohabiting couples needed to help researchers uncover the secret of finding life-long love

Devon cohabiting couples can help experts uncover the secret of finding life-long love by taking part in a University of Exeter research project.

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Ancient fish trap gives new clues about history of erosion on Britain’s coastline

An ancient Saxon fishing trap exposed for the first time in centuries thanks to radical environmental change has provided new clues about the history of coastal erosion in Britain.

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ESRC seminar on blockchain and capital markets

Dr Joseph Lee of Exeter Law School and Dr Naikuang Huang, Senior Executive Vice President held a seminar investigating the concept of distributed ledger technology and its implication for critical financial market infrastructure (FMI).

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Exeter workshop addresses ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ challenges and opportunities

Scholars from prestigious Chinese institutions including Tsinghua University have visited the University of Exeter for a discussion of China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

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Existence of ‘good faith’ obligations in English contract law to be debated by experts

Experts will debate whether or not the concept of good faith should be part of English contract law, with a senior judge leading calls for such a development.

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New data experts graduate from the University of Exeter

The first of a new generation of social science students trained how to analyse vast amounts of data while completing degrees in politics or sociology have graduated from the University of Exeter.

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Outstanding new teachers honoured for their inspirational work

Outstanding new teachers have been honoured for their work in the classroom as well as their academic work as part of an awards scheme in honour of one of the UK’s best educators.

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University of Exeter Graduate School of Education part of regional network to help support teachers

The University of Exeter will be part of a new regional network to help teachers develop their skills and share knowledge.

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Evolved masculine and feminine behaviour can be inherited from social environment – not just from genes

The different ways men and women behave, passed down from generation to generation, can be inherited from our social environment – not just from genes, experts have suggested.

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Law undergraduate wins Brightside ‘Student Mentor of the Year’ Award

Joel Wish, a current law undergraduate, has recently won a prestigious mentoring award in his final year of studying law at University, in relation to his role of e-mentor on the Pathways to Law programme.  

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Generations come together to discuss Brexit and the UK’s future in Europe

On Thursday 29 June, an event which brought together retired/semi-retired citizens as well as secondary school aged children, ‘Brexit: A discussion of the UK’s future in Europe’, took place.

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Social Sciences placed amongst top 100 in THE global rankings

Exeter has been named as one of the top 100 places in the world to study a range of Social Sciences subjects, according to the latest influential rankings.

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Law as an asymmetric capability: Dr Aurel Sari presents on the legal aspects of hybrid threats

European nations and their allies must increase their capacity to deal with the legal challenges presented by hybrid warfare.

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Nobel Peace Prize awarded to University of Exeter academic

Anti-nuclear campaigners, including a University of Exeter academic, have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

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Experts advise government on 25-year environment plan

Degradation of the natural environment has to be reversed partly because it underpins economic growth and social wellbeing, experts say.

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New study to develop teachers’ skills as creative writers

Experts will help teachers develop their own skills as creative writers so they can help boost children’s confidence in writing.

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Divorce law in England and Wales increases conflict and suffering for separating couples and their children

Divorce law in England and Wales is incentivising people to exaggerate claims of ‘behaviour’ or adultery to get a quicker divorce, according to University of Exeter research.

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Law students to give free legal advice

University of Exeter law students are helping vulnerable people who are missing out on legal services by providing free information and advice clinics in Devon.

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New tool to support improvements to environment and rural employment

A new web-based tool will support policymakers and farmers to improve the environment and increase rural employment.

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Speed Networking for Careers with Politics and IR Alumni

To kick off the 2017/18 academic year, the SSIS Employability Team held an interactive ‘Speed Networking’ event which was attended by four prestigious alumni and over thirty current Politics and IR students.

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“Outdated and incoherent” curriculum turning children off Religious Education

The “incoherent, confusing and outdated” Religious Education curriculum is leading children to reject the subject and needs radical reform if it is to stay relevant, experts have said.

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Military veterans to take part in new study exploring how they make the transition to civilian life

Military veterans and their families will take part in a new University of Exeter study which will explore their experiences leaving military life behind.

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“Exceptional” University of Exeter trainee teachers significantly enhance education in the South West

“Exceptional” University of Exeter trainee teachers are helping to “significantly enhance” the quality of education in South West schools, inspectors have said.

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Polish ambassador visits University of Exeter

Poland’s ambassador to the UK gave a speech about UK-Polish relations and Polish foreign policy during a visit to the University of Exeter.

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Sixth formers discuss consent in the courtroom as part of the Festival of Social Science

As part of the Economic and Social Research Council's (ESRC) Festival of Social Science (FOSS), Lecturer in Politics, Dr Sarah Cooper hosted an event for engaged local sixth formers and delivered her current research on constructing consent in the courtroom

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Estonia awards medal to Exeter professor

A University of Exeter professor has received a medal from the President of Estonia for his work on cyber security.

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Grammar teaching leaves children confused, research shows

Children can be left confused and unable to write accurate sentences because of “uncertain” grammar teaching, experts have warned.  But confident teachers can enable students to use their grammar knowledge to help them craft and create their writing and positively support children’s development as writers.

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