Durham University’s Computer and Mathematical Sciences departments home to world-class research and innovation

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Durham University’s computer scientists and mathematicians are conducting pioneering research that is addressing major global challenges.

Computer Science researchers at Durham are at the forefront of developments in key areas including autonomous transportation, aviation security, robotics, wildlife monitoring, high performance computing, and artificial intelligence applications in healthcare.

Durham’s computer science students have outstanding opportunities to excel in complex computing. For example, Durham students worked with NHS Digital, part of the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), to develop part of the NHS Covid Vaccine Booking system.

The Department provides training and development opportunities for the next generation of technology professionals through student competitions, workshops, and other initiatives.

Durham University hosts the UK’s first Intel oneAPI Academic Centre of Excellence. The Centre conducts research on task-based and GPU programming using oneAPI and organises workshops and tutorials for researchers from all over the world.

The University also hosts the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) DiRAC Memory Intensive Supercomputer (COSMA), which is used across particle physics, cosmology, astronomy and nuclear physics programmes.

Professor Matthew Johnson, Head of the Department of Computer Science said: “At Durham we’re pushing the boundaries of computer science research and preparing our students for a fast-changing workplace. Our close links with industry enable our researchers to put their work into practice for the benefit of society, and our students to get valuable professional experience.”

In mathematical sciences, Durham statisticians and mathematicians are creating advanced models that support improved decision-making in climate policy, finance, business operations, healthcare, and other domains.

Mathematical and statistical analysis undertaken by Durham researchers is refining complex data sets and statistics to provide solutions for real-world challenges.

Notable projects include quantifying risk for food safety organisations, discovering a new form of oxygen, analysing patterns in solar radiation, using machine learning to predict emergency hospital admission risk and applying partial differential equations to understand socioeconomic inequality.

Professor Douglas Smith, Head of the Department of Mathematical Sciences, said: “Mathematical Sciences at Durham combines world-leading research and a high-quality learning environment for our students. We're putting maths into action, across climate change, finance, healthcare and much more.”

Durham University promotes interdisciplinary cooperation through initiatives such as the Hazan Venture Lab, where students tackle practical challenges by applying principles of entrepreneurship.

As a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities, Durham invests significantly in key infrastructure and facilities including the new £42 million Mathematical Sciences and Computer Science building, specialised degrees in artificial intelligence, and the BEDE high performance computing cluster.

On the educational front, Durham University has invested significantly in AI and data science degrees, from core-science-focused degrees (MISCADA; MSc in Business Analytics) to its suite of applied MDS in Data Science programmes: in Digital Humanities, Earth and Environment, Bioinformatics, Health, and Social Analytics.

ENDS

Media Information

Interviews can be arranged with the head of Mathematical Sciences and Computer Science departments.

For requests, please contact Durham University Communications Office on communications.team@durham.ac.uk.

Departmental news stories

Computer Science: https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/computer-science/news/

Mathematical Sciences: https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/mathematical-sciences/news/

Graphics

Associated images are available via the following link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/d5pbs4v0nyt39uyon6pd3/h?rlkey=8iiouzc4fozcbnp8cxh25tcm2&dl=0

Credit: Durham University          

About Durham University

Durham University is a globally outstanding centre of teaching and research based in historic Durham City in the UK.

We are a collegiate university committed to inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham and in the world.

We conduct research that improves lives globally and we are ranked as a world top 100 university with an international reputation in research and education (QS World University Rankings 2024).

We are a member of the Russell Group of leading research-intensive UK universities and we are consistently ranked as a top 10 university in national league tables (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, Guardian University Guide and The Complete University Guide).

For more information about Durham University visit: www.durham.ac.uk/about/

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