Research impact stories
Themes
Impact stories
Model that shakes entire cities improves earthquake risk assessment
30 January 2013
Earthquake disasters have many catastrophic effects - loss of life and injury as well as direct physical and financial loss. In the aftermath of an earthquake event, these direct impacts can induce a cascade of indirect losses and distress that trickle down through society.
Monitoring the world’s forgotten volcanoes from space
30 January 2013
The eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano in 2010 left millions of travellers stranded and cost airlines an estimated €900 million. It was a wake-up call to the world that communities don't need to be perched on the side of a volcano to be profoundly affected by its activity. Geophysicist Dr Juliet Biggs is one of many scientists responding to that wake-up call.
Predictive model used to assess quality of carbonate reservoirs
25 January 2013
Scientists are studying the chemical composition of modern limestones and how water interacts with them to help understand the development of porosity in ancient carbonate builds-up through time. The research is helping to develop a model that is being applied by industry to predict the quality of carbonate oil reservoirs.
New approach to nano-iron composite materials improves environmental remediation
25 January 2013
Researchers at the University of Bristol have developed a nano-filter by grafting nanoscale metallic iron particles onto a porous substrate made of carbon glass. The nano-filter may help decrease costs associated with the remediation of contaminated sites as well as reduce risks to human health and the environment that are potentially associated with the use of free (unbound) nano-particles.
PROMPT training tackles emergencies in pregnancy and birth
15 October 2012
PROMPT (Practical Obstetric Multi-Professional Training) is an obstetric emergencies training package now used in 85 per cent of UK maternity units. With the potential to save millions in litigation costs for health services, PROMPT also looks set to achieve substantial reductions in preventable perinatal harm both in the UK and worldwide.
The Late Iron Age and Roman Ireland Project – a collaboration between Discovery Programme Ireland and the University of Bristol
3 October 2012
An exciting collaborative project adopts scientific methods to uncover the links between Ireland and the Roman Empire.
Contributing to the welfare of laying hens
13 September 2012
Research into the welfare of laying hens, undertaken by Professor Christine Nicol, contributed significantly to the UK Government's decision to sign up to the battery cage ban in January 2012.
Early season treatment of sheep could reduce the incidence of blowfly strike as climate warms
3 September 2012
Changing climate patterns are likely to put ewes at higher risk of parasitic disease, which could have important implications for farmers.
Volcanological input reduces uncertainty surrounding volcanic ash forecasts
3 September 2012
Models used to predict how much ash is pumped into the atmosphere and where it goes during a volcanic eruption are being informed by world-leading volcanology experts from the University of Bristol.
Research into rare Sorbus reproduction informs conservation of the Avon Gorge
3 September 2012
Conservation management plans for one of Bristol’s historic woodland sites are being shaped by new findings about the complex reproductive biology of some rare tree species.