College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

2016

Archived news content from 2016.

Study maps brain’s ageing connections

Digital image and etching of the brain of a participant in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 study.
Brain connections that play a key role in complex thinking skills show the poorest health with advancing age, new research suggests.

Project empowers women to bring peace to Middle East

Edinburgh academics are key members of a project that aims to build lasting peace in some of the world’s most troubled spots by ensuring women are involved in rebuilding after conflict.

Major grant success for researchers

A male student in the Research Suite of the Main Library
Academics in art, history, classics and law have received a major funding boost from the Leverhulme Trust.

European grant success to study mediation

Business meeting
A Business School academic has secured European funding to examine the effectiveness of current mediation services in conflicts between employers and employees.

Kenyan solar bid scoops award

Turing Trust Kenya
An Edinburgh student’s bid to bring solar-powered computing to off-grid Kenyan communities has won support from a leading charity.

Study sheds light on Scots Muslims

Muslims in Scotland are more likely to be in higher education or self-employed than the population as a whole, a study shows.

Law School to host landmark Human Rights event

A view of Old College quad
The Global Justice Academy and Edinburgh Law School have won a bid to host a major conference marking the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Sound group awarded major grant

Researchers in the Acoustics and Audio Group have been awarded prestigious funding through the European Research Council’s Proof of Concept scheme.

Childhood violence in Asia costs society dear

World map showing Asia and Africa
Violence against children costs countries in the East Asia and Pacific region more than $200 billion - or nearly two per cent of the area’s Gross Domestic Product.

Forgotten guidelines mean future health risks for most

Exercise classes and workshops
Fewer than a third of adults in Scotland are doing enough physical activity to develop the muscle, balance and coordination needed for a healthy later life.

Festival puts everyday lives in spotlight

Leading research dealing with key social issues will be explored at a series of events next month.

Funding boost for archaeology researcher

Oppidum of Monte Bernorio
A University archaeologist has been recognised as one of the most promising of his generation.

Free US election course open to all

Dewey Defeats Truman
The battle for the White House will be the focus of a free online course available to students and non-students alike.

Report urges global boost for nursing

Travel health
A major new parliamentary report, which argues that a global investment in nursing will bring benefits beyond healthcare, includes submissions from Edinburgh academics.

Dance pioneer's 1930s footage inspires new work

Unearthed footage from the 1930s of dancers performing in the style of the influential choreographer Margaret Morris has inspired new works.

Talks highlight how we think

A series of University talks will explore how humans have long used tools to aid the thinking process.

Wordsmith finds meaning in dictionaries

Alberto Manguel
A world authority on reading will seek to enhance our understanding of how we use words, at a University public lecture.

New Director of the Centre for Cultural Relations

One of the world’s leading experts on cultural economics and policy has been appointed as director of the University’s Centre for Cultural Relations.

Festival ties run deep

The University is to play a starring role in a spectacular light show marking the start of the Edinburgh Festivals.

Exhibition honours forgotten IQ pioneer

Photo of two men holding a model of a brain
A treasure trove of artefacts relating to a pioneering educational psychologist feature in a new University exhibition.

Edinburgh forges link with German cultural body

The University has announced its partnership with one of Europe’s most influential cultural bodies.

Academic wins prize for research impact

Police station sign
A research project that examined stop and search practices in Scotland and directly led to new laws, has won a major prize.

Course offers unique insight into film fest

70th film festival image
A short course that gives students the opportunity to attend film premieres and industry events will take place this June.

Device helps computers understand Gaelic

An online tool has been developed that will help to secure the future of Scottish Gaelic in the digital age.

New study tackles prisoners’ drink problem

A new approach to help male remand prisoners tackle drinking problems is being developed.

Guide for gender-sensitive constitutions published

Women under Islamic arches
The Edinburgh Law School has significantly informed a guide for ensuring that new constitutions, particularly those in countries emerging from conflict, are gender-sensitive.

Repeat sounds aid infant learning

Babies find it easier to learn words with repetitive syllables rather than mixed sounds, a study suggests.

Documentary celebrates trailblazing director

A University academic has directed a feature documentary on Hollywood's first female director.

Choir to show how singing is key to mental health

About Word & Music Studies
A unique musical project is seeking volunteers to join a choir that seeks to show how singing together improves mental health.

The Celtic Revival and Easter Rising examined

The Celtic Revival: more than a nationalist movement?
One of the world’s leading experts on Irish literature will present a provocative view of the Celtic Revival, the influential cultural movement linked with the Easter Rising.

Masters course receives stamp of approval

Untidy pile of books
A University Masters course has been recognised by a leading body of industry professionals.

Talbot Rice to be creative partner at Venice Biennale

Still image from Rachel Maclean's "Feed Me" video
The University and Talbot Rice Gallery have been selected as one of the partners in Scotland’s entry to the world’s most important visual arts event, the Venice Biennale.

Language learning aids attention, study says

'hola' in speech bubble
Mental agility can be boosted by even a short period of learning a language, a study suggests.

Nursing Studies marks diamond jubilee

Edinburgh is celebrating the 60th anniversary of Europe’s longest-standing university nursing department.

Talent clocks in at Three Minute Thesis competition

The winners of the College's Three Minute Thesis heat have been announced.

Literary voices vie for the UK’s oldest book prizes

Montage of book jackets from the books that have been shortlisted for the 2015 James Tait Black book prizes
A fascinating blend of books by debut and award winning authors forms the shortlist of Britain’s oldest literary awards.

White House appointment for academic

An expert from the University has been invited to the White House to talk about using research evidence in policy and practice.

Student’s denim designs bag Levi’s prize

An Edinburgh College of Art student has won a global competition with denim clothing giant, Levi Strauss & Co.

Experts have a licence to thrill during Spy Week

The fictional and real worlds of spying and espionage are being explored during a literary Spy Week organised by the University.

Research supports call for dementia awareness

Teviot Row House
Policymakers have drawn on Edinburgh research to call for increased spending on dementia.

Dangerous Women Project seeks academic input

Researchers are invited to contribute to a new online forum exploring the idea of dangerous women.

New course examines how landscape affects well-being

Pink blossom on the Meadows
A new Masters programme on how landscapes and the built environment affect human health and well-being has been launched.

ECA leads the way in music and sound start-ups

Two University spin-out companies are celebrating major successes.

Europe split on Brexit and access to single market

Map of Europe
Europe is divided on the UK remaining part of the single market, were it to leave the European Union, research suggests.

Dangerous women at heart of new online forum

New Dangerous women pic
Acclaimed writers, researchers and artists are among those taking part in an online forum to explore the idea of dangerous women.

Dance venture draws new crowd

White & Givan in class with MSc Dance Science students
The University of Edinburgh Moray House School of Education has appointed the UK’s first dance company in residence in partnership with the Traverse Theatre.

DIY and walking, not sport, boosts activity

Students walking a walkway in The Meadows
Nearly two-thirds of adults in Scotland are meeting national physical activity guidelines in their spare time, the vast majority without playing any sport, research shows.

Twitter campaign to build picture of the EU

European Union Flag
People are being invited to post images on social media of what the European Union means to them during the build-up to Britain’s referendum on EU membership.

Research councils highlight Edinburgh impact

The University’s humanities and social science researchers feature heavily in the major UK research councils’ reports on how research is having an impact.

Big data partnership signed

The Business School has announced a new partnership with Europe's leading specialist electrical and telecommunications retailer and services company, Dixons Carphone. 

New College Registrar

The College of Humanities and Social Science is pleased to announce that Dr Catherine Martin has been appointed as the new College Registrar.