Shaping the future of science at Durham

Durham is building on its position as a global leader and innovator in science through a bold 10-year programme driving transdisciplinary, fundamental, and translational research. Anchored by our world-class expertise, we’re investing in exceptional talent, state-of-the-art facilities, and strategic partnerships to foster breakthrough discoveries and meaningful impact locally and worldwide.

Sustainability research through the Strategic Research Fund.

Our Strategic Research Fund (SRF) aims to stimulate significant growth in research income for the University through substantial investments in our research capability, community, and infrastructure. We have committed to invest around £18m over four years into six ground-breaking, transformative initiatives. With this investment, the projects will enhance our research capacity and work towards becoming financially sustainable. One of these projects is the SMART Soils project.

Supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with SMART Soils

We have established a world first research group – the Soil and Microbiome Augmentation and Restoration Technologies Lab (SMART Soils Lab). The SMART Soils Lab will enable environmental engineers and plant scientists to design soil and plant restoration technologies which can optimise the services that soil can provide for us all. Insights from social science will promote a necessary shift in how society thinks about soil, moving towards an understanding that soil is living, and helping Government and industry sustainably manage land in urban and rural environments. SMART Soils Lab brings together expertise from our Engineering, Biosciences, and Sociology departments, along with an array of local and international government, industry and academic partners. The initiative will support the recruitment of new key staff across the three departments. Our long-term vision is that the SMART Soils Lab is recognised for its pioneering work developing a new field of nature-based environmental engineering of the soil microbiome to reverse fifty years of degradation and significantly contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Just transitions to a net zero world

We will invest £5m over four years in JusTN0W through the Strategic Research Fund. The initiative aims to develop a world-leading interdisciplinary work programme to research sustainable and just solutions for accelerated decarbonisation of economies, and to achieve lasting societal well-being for present and future generations. JustNOW includes experts from Durham Law School, the Department of Computer Science, the Department of Economics and the Department of Biosciences. With this generous investment, JustNOW seeks to enhance our reputation and research by increasing our academic capacity and recruiting exceptional staff to join our institution, not only to generate significant growth in research income but also with a view to establishing robust pipelines of diverse talent. By collaborating across disciplines and harnessing our collective expertise, we are confident that JusTN0W will yield groundbreaking solutions to address the climate crisis.

The Worlds, Systems & Creations projection on the Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics

Supporting the North East England’s growing space industry

Another SRF-funded project is the recently opened £5m Space Research Centre (SPARC), which draws upon our considerable and world-renowned expertise in space technology and research. Dr Andrew Aldrin, son of legendary astronaut Buzz Aldrin, gave the keynote speech ahead of the Centre’s opening. Andrew is Associate Professor and Chair of the Master of Sciences Space Systems, and the Master of Space Operations programmes at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, USA, as well as a leader in the field of space innovation and operations.

The Centre will be an internationally recognised hub of excellence in space research. It is founded on the principle of open, rigorous and independent research to grow the capacity and capabilities of space applications while protecting the space environment for present and future generations.

Our vision encompasses not only the pursuit of cutting-edge technologies but also the holistic understanding of space and its broader societal, ethical, and environmental impacts. Through responsible, multi-disciplinary research, including novel sensors, environment modelling, machine learning, governance and operations, we aim to address the complex challenges and opportunities of space exploration. By fostering collaborations and partnerships with national and international institutions, industry and organisations, we aspire to lead the way in shaping the future of space research and governance. Our core partners include the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Satellite Applications Catapult. Planning is underway for a range of joint research projects, training initiatives, access to facilities, and participation in space missions. The Centre includes researchers from our Department of Physics, Durham Law School, School of Government and International Affairs, Department of Computer Science and the Business School.

Physics and Astronomy alumna Dr Rosemary Coogan has taken another giant leap towards space by becoming the UK’s newest astronaut.

Rosemary, who holds two master’s degrees from Durham, was one of six astronauts to graduate after passing a year-long basic training programme with the European Space Agency (ESA). In becoming the UK’s latest astronaut, Rosemary joins a prestigious group that includes Helen Sharman, the first British person in space, and Tim Peake, the first British ESA astronaut.

Durham to host leading scientists including alumna Dr Becky Smethurst

Durham University will be hosting the Royal Astronomical Society’s prestigious National Astronomy Meeting 2025 this year. Up to 1,000 astrophysicists, mainly early career researchers from the UK, but also some from abroad, are expected to attend the event. The event will feature latest research, advances in the field and any topical issues and is being organised in conjunction with our Centre for Extragalactic Astronomy, the Centre for Advanced Instrumentation, the Institute for Computational Cosmology, the Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology, and the Department of Mathematical Sciences.

Alumna Dr Becky Smethurst (Physics and Astronomy, St Aidan’s College, 2008-12) will be recording an episode of her podcast series ‘The Supermassive Podcast’ live from the event. The series on Apple Podcasts is recorded with fellow presenter Izzy Clarke, and explores topics related to space. These have included ‘What is gravity?’ and ‘Can we capture a primordial black hole?’

Two of our scientists have been awarded prestigious fellowships.

Two researchers from our Department of Physics have been awarded Quantum Technology Career Acceleration Fellowships by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). These two fellowships, totalling more than £3m, are part of a £15 million investment to support early-career researchers working on cutting-edge quantum technologies.

Dr Tobias Franzen and Dr Liam Gallagher are among only 11 Fellows chosen across the UK for their potential to shape the future of quantum science. The fellowships will allow them to establish new research activities complementing existing research within Durham.

Dr Tobias Franzen’s research will be focusing on quantum networking using Ytterbium (Yb) qubits. He will work with industry partner VEXLUM (Finland) to simplify the complex laser systems required to work with Yb qubits and with Professor Matthias Keller (University of Sussex) to develop optical interfaces for Yb qubits. This work could help build scalable quantum networks and open the door to more secure and efficient communications.

Dr Liam Gallagher is exploring ways to make particles of light (known as photons) interact more effectively. His research will involve coupling light with strongly interacting excitations in semiconductors. He will work with academic partners, Professor Geetha Balakrishnan (University of Warwick) and Dr Hamid Ohadi (University of St Andrews) as well as commercial partners BAE Systems FAST Labs who will assist with semiconductor growth. This could lead to the development of new quantum devices that can reliably entangle photons, which is a crucial step in building powerful quantum systems.

World-leading research, supported by alumni.

World-leading research, supported by alumni. The Physics department is very grateful for a second donation from alumni Dr Rodney Stubbs (Physics, Van Mildert College, 1968-71) and Dr Frances Stubbs (Physics, St Mary’s College, 1965-71). The couple’s shared passion for physics began in the late 1960s when they met whilst studying here in Durham. They married whilst they were PhD students. Their generous gift will fund two PhD scholarships to support the ground-breaking research of Dr Franzen and Dr Gallagher. The recipients of these scholarships will be in place during 2026. Together their work will help tackle challenges in areas like quantum computing, sensing, and communication, with real-world applications including drug discovery, encryption, and materials science.

Left: Dr Tobias Franzen. Right: Dr Liam Gallagher

The programme is a commitment to a new approach to science at Durham, fostering a thriving environment that prioritises interdisciplinarity and impact to the benefit of the local region, industry strategic partners, and society at large. Research remains a focus for us, particularly on the themes of energy futures, quantum technologies, sustainability challenges in resource management and infrastructure development, Molecular and health sciences and data science, AI and robotics.