The 100+ Ways Universities Have Improved Everyday Life
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THE 100+ WAYS UNIVERSITIES HAVE IMPROVED EVERYDAY LIFE Explore The UK’s Best Breakthroughs List is a celebration waste without the need for water; the development of the everyday impact that universities have on of a new scrum technique to make rugby safer; a people, lives and communities across the UK. sports initiative that aims to use football to resolve conflict in divided communities; – and even work UK universities are at the forefront of some of the to protect the quality of the chocolate we eat. world’s most important discoveries, innovations and social initiatives, including the creation of the It was put together in partnership with universities internet, work tackling plastic pollution, ultrasound across the UK. As part of the MadeAtUni campaign, scans to check the health of unborn babies and the every university in the country was invited to establishment of the Living Wage. nominate the one thing from their institution which they believe has had the biggest impact on people, The list also highlights the less celebrated lives or communities. breakthroughs that transform lives, regardless of whether you’ve been to university or not. These Over 100 universities submitted a nomination and include a specially-designed bra to help women the entries cover health, technology, environment, undergoing radiotherapy; a toilet that flushes human family, community, and culture & sport. Explore DISCOVER WALES’ UNIVERSITY NOMINATIONS OR EXPLORE ALL THE BREAKTHROUGHS BY THEME THEMES > University of Aberystwyth > Bangor University > Cardiff University > Cardiff Metropolitan University > University of Swansea > University of South Wales > Wrexham Glyndŵr University ABERYSTWYTH UNIVERSITY New varieties of grass to help the environment There’s science behind the green, green Today almost a third of the perennial grass of home. Science has led to the ryegrass grown by UK farmers comes production of new varieties of high sugar from seed developed by Aberystwyth grasses for feeding livestock with huge University researchers, with varieties environmental and economic benefits. including AberMagic, AberDart and Greenhouse gas emissions from livestock AberGreen also used internationally. have been drastically reduced while at The development of these high sugar the same time the yield from livestock grasses is just one example of how the products has increased, so helping to university’s scientists are combining feed the world’s population. fundamental research on plant genetics The research has been carried out at the with plant breeding techniques to develop Institute of Biological, Environmental and new commercially viable plant varieties Rural Sciences (IBERS) at Aberystwyth that are designed to tackle the challenges University, which celebrates a 100 years of food, water and energy security facing of plant breeding in 2019. communities across the world. THEMES ENVIRONMENT BANGOR UNIVERSITY Helping farmers in Nepal and India Research by Professor John Witcombe at They are grown on at least 500,000 Bangor University led to the creation of hectares and provide up to 40% yield 10 new rice varieties which have brought advantage over the traditionally grown huge benefits for farmers in Nepal varieties. It is estimated that two of the and India and has helped improve the rice varieties – known as Ashoka – alone livelihoods of over five million households. are providing benefits of £17 million These varieties of rice are superior in their annually to the poorest farming good taste, drought tolerance and have households in India. high pest-resistance properties. THEMES ENVIRONMENT CARDIFF UNIVERSITY Community project to strengthen local ties Cardiff University’s award-winning Grangetown also has an annual mental Community Gateway is helping to make health day event, arts therapy programmes, the diverse Cardiff district of Grangetown a citizen scientists programme and a safety a better place to live and work. week involving the emergency services. Working closely with community partners A major piece of work has been the Grangetown Community Action and renovation of a vacant bowls pavilion to Grange Pavilion Project, it is helping to trial community-led activities, including strengthen relationships with Grangetown the launch of the locally-run community- residents. Projects so far have included the focused Hideout Café, which hosts a award-winning Grangetown Youth Forum; monthly Culture Café aimed at bringing a regular Grangetown Business Forum the communities of Grangetown closer which led to the launch of Grangetown’s together through discussion and debate first World Street Market, and a research over great coffee. project to identify the needs of the Somali communities in Grangetown. THEMES COMMUNITY CARDIFF METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY Breast prosthetics for breast cancer patients Design researchers at Cardiff The research-led technique produces Metropolitan’s International Centre for breast patterns and tools which in turn Design and Research (PDR) have worked produce a silicon breast prosthesis with NHS clinicians to develop bespoke bespoke to each patient, through the prosthetic breasts for women who have use of advanced digital design and undergone a mastectomy. manufacturing processes. The research project, which is informing the The project aims to reduce the development of more realistic and better psychological impact of post-surgical fitting breast prostheses, has developed rehabilitation and therefore the emotional from a partnership of more than 20 years, impact of breast cancer on patients and which has seen specialists from PDR work their families. closely with medical professionals to offer a wide range of cutting-edge solutions to meet patient needs. THEMES HEALTH UNIVERSITY OF SWANSEA Using Salmonella to improve cancer treatment Research at Swansea University Medical Professor Paul Dyson, who is leading this School has shown that Salmonella work, has previously used this technology could be used to create better cancer to develop a pesticide-free weapon treatments. Unlike chemotherapy and against insects that cause sleeping radiotherapy, these treatments would sickness and damage crops. be non-toxic and would target only the In the next phase, the team will test tumour (leaving healthy tissue unaffected) whether bacterial strains can be and could require only one dose. combined to target the different cancer- The technology at the heart of the causing genes (‘oncogenes’) in different approach is called RNAi, a natural process types of cancer including breast cancer that cells use to turn down, or silence, and colorectal cancer. the activity of specific genes. THEMES HEALTH UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH WALES Improving patient hydration in hospital A group of adult nursing students at the One student nurse said: University of South Wales (USW) have “Although nursing staff make every effort come up with a simple idea that could to ensure patients are getting the correct help hospital staff monitor a patient’s fluid fluids, we all agreed that it can be quite intake. They are proposing that hospitals difficult to know which patients are having introduce jugs with yellow lids, rather than their fluids monitored on a ward. the traditional blue lids, for patients who Some patients, for example, may be on are either having their fluids restricted fluid restrictions following complications or monitored. such as heart failure, whilst others might The lids, which cost as little as 70p each, be being encouraged to drink more would provide hospital staff on busy because they are dehydrated. wards with an easy visual clue about Yellow was chosen as it is considered a which patients require careful monitoring. colour that is positive for people living with dementia as well as people with impaired vision.” THEMES HEALTH WREXHAM GLYNDŴR UNIVERSITY Personal academic tutors for each student Wrexham Glyndŵr University is nationally recognised for its inclusion services which provides individualised learning support and academic opportunities to ensure that all students, regardless of their background and ability can thrive. Their dedicated support for students includes a specialised Assistive Technology suite which provides specialist software and equipment and on-hand support and training for students. THEMES TECHNOLOGY CLICK TO EXPLORE BY BREAKTHROUGH THEME We live healthier, longer lives because of UK universities. Ultrasound scans can detect unhealthy babies in the womb; MRI scans can see inside our bodies; and portable defibrillators give us a second chance of life after a heart attack. > Anglia Ruskin University > University of Huddersfield > Newcastle University > University of Aberdeen > Keele University > University of Northampton > Queen’s University Belfast > University of Kent > Oxford University and > University of Birmingham > University of Lincoln The University of Sheffield > Cardiff Metropolitan University > University of Liverpool > Scotland’s Rural University > Edinburgh Napier University > UCL > University of the West of Scotland > Queen Margaret University > The London School of Hygiene > Sheffield Hallam University > University of Edinburgh & Tropical Medicine > University of Stirling > University of Exeter > St George’s, University of London > University of Swansea > University of Glasgow and > University of West London > University of South Wales The Glasgow School of Art > Middlesex University and > University of York THEMES University of Bedfordshire Every time you use your smartphone, turn on your flat screen television, surf