THE 100+ WAYS UNIVERSITIES HAVE IMPROVED EVERYDAY LIFE The UK’s Best Breakthroughs List is a celebration a toilet that flushes human waste without the need of the everyday impact that universities have on for water; the development of a new scrum technique people, lives and communities across the UK. to make rugby safer; a sports initiative that aims to use football to resolve conflict in divided UK universities are at the forefront of some of the communities – and even work to protect the world’s most important discoveries, innovations quality of the chocolate we eat. and social initiatives, including work tackling plastic pollution, ultrasound scans to check the health It was put together in partnership with universities of unborn babies and the establishment of the across the UK. As part of the MadeAtUni campaign, Living Wage. universities around the country were invited to nominate the one thing from their institution which The list also highlights the less celebrated but vital they believe has had the biggest impact on people, breakthroughs that transform lives, regardless of lives or communities. whether you’ve been to university or not. These include a specially-designed bra to improve the Over 100 universities submitted a nomination and treatment of women undergoing radiotherapy; the entries cover health, technology, environment, family, community and culture & sport. DISCOVER NOMINATIONS FROM WELSH UNIVERSITIES OR EXPLORE ALL THE BREAKTHROUGHS BY THEME
THEMES
> University of Aberystwyth > Bangor University > Cardiff University > Cardiff Metropolitan University > Swansea University > University of South Wales > University of Wales Trinity St David > Wrexham Glyndŵr University CARDIFF METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
Breast prosthetics for breast cancer patients
Design researchers at Cardiff Metropolitan The aim is to reduce the psychological University’s International Centre for Design impact on patients of post-surgical and Research have worked with NHS rehabilitation and help them and their clinicians to develop bespoke prosthetic families cope better with the emotional breasts for women who have undergone a strain of breast cancer. mastectomy. The research project, which is informing the development of more realistic and better fitting breast prostheses, has developed from a partnership of more than 20 years. This partnership has seen product and design specialists work closely with medical professionals to offer a wide range of cutting-edge solutions for patients.
THEMES HEALTH SWANSEA UNIVERSITY
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 have come up “Although nursing staff make every effort with a simple idea that could help hospital to ensure patients are getting the correct staff monitor a patient’s fluid intake. They fluids, we all agreed that it can be quite are proposing that hospitals introduce difficult to know which patients are having jugs with yellow lids, rather than the their fluids monitored on a ward. traditional blue lids, for patients who are “Some patients, for example, may be on either having their fluids restricted fluid restrictions following complications or monitored. such as heart failure, while 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 because it is thought which patients require careful monitoring. to be a colour that is positive for people living with dementia as well as for people with impaired vision.
THEMES HEALTH WREXHAM GLYNDŴR UNIVERSITY
Assistive technology suite to support students
Wrexham Glyndŵr University is nationally recognised for its inclusion services which provides tailored support and educational opportunities for people, regardless of their background. Support includes a specialised Assistive Technology suite which provides specialist equipment and support and training for students.
THEMES TECHNOLOGY ABERYSTWYTH UNIVERSITY
New varieties of grass to help the environment
There is 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 at Aberystwyth University, that are designed to tackle the challenges which celebrates 100 years of plant of food, water and energy security facing 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 – are livelihoods of over five million households. providing benefits of £17 million annually These varieties of rice are superior in their to the poorest farming households in taste, drought tolerance and have high India. 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 Grange Pavilion Project, it is helping to to trial community-led activities. This strengthen relationships with Grangetown includes the launch of the locally-run residents. Projects so far have included the community-focused Hideout Café, award-winning Grangetown Youth Forum; which hosts a monthly Culture Café a regular Grangetown Business Forum aimed at bringing the communities of which led to the launch of Grangetown’s Grangetown closer together through first World Street Market; and a research discussion and debate. project to identify the needs of the Somali communities in Grangetown.
THEMES COMMUNITY UNIVERSITY OF WALES TRINITY ST DAVID Supporting children with neurological conditions
The Assistive Technologies Innovation Over 10 years, the team has developed Centre (ATiC), combines creativity and many bespoke products to aid the practice-based research to support daily living challenges of children with medical companies and healthcare conditions such as autism and cerebral charities. ATiC has an established palsy. These include a stable canoe and partnership with Cerebra, a leading a running/cycling wheelchair to enable research charity working to support children to take part in triathlons; and a children with neurological conditions. scanning and moulding process to enable The team has developed several bespoke the manufacture of a bespoke helmet to product design solutions to enable make horse riding accessible. children to play, increase their mobility and to make family life easier.
THEMES FAMILY Get in touch
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December 2018