Universities’ research highlighted by list

ACADEMIA: Three local institutions to be featured on list of breakthroughs to show benefits beyond teaching

Ground-breaking research carried out at Abertay, Dundee and St Andrews universities features on a new list designed to highlight the impact their discoveries have on our daily lives.

The 100 Best Breakthroughs list has been compiled as part of a campaign to raise public awareness of the work carried out at universities beyond undergraduate teaching.

Dundee University is featured for its contribution to developing the flatscreen technology used in smartphones, tablets and televisions, which can be traced back to research carried out at the university in the 1970s and 80s.

St Andrews University is highlighted for the work of the Scottish Oceans Institute, which has brought together more than 300 staff to promote interdisciplinary marine research, ensuring Scotland remains at the forefront of marine science.

Abertay University’s inclusion comes as a result of their internationally renowned work in computer games, which saw it offer the world’s first degrees in the discipline.

The list of breakthroughs aims to demonstrate how UK universities are at

We’re extremely proud of the work of our academics and difference they are making to people

the forefront of some of the world’s most important discoveries and social initiatives. It includes the discovery of penicillin, work tackling plastic pollution, ultrasound scans to check the health of unborn babies and the establishment of the Living Wage.

The list also highlights the less celebrated but vital breakthroughs that transform lives, including a speciallydesigned bra to help women undergoing radiotherapy, a toilet that flushes human waste without the need for water and the development of a new scrum technique to make rugby safer.

The list was compiled by Universities UK, the umbrella group for the UK’s institutions.

It follows research undertaken by Britain Thinks which found that the public has little understanding of the benefits of universities beyond undergraduate teaching.

Professor Sir Pete Downes, Dundee University’s principal, said: “We’re extremely proud of the work of our academics and difference they are making to people, lives and communities.”

Professor Nigel Seaton, principal of Abertay University, said: “Universities make a vital contribution to our society, culturally, socially and economically. This list highlights the full breadth of that.”

Professor Sally Mapstone, principal of St Andrews said: “Universities like St Andrews, Abertay and Dundee are hugely important engines of invention and drivers of social mobility, and it is not an exaggeration to say that the ideas and discoveries made here have changed and are continuing to change the lives of millions of people for the better.”

Abertay University created the world’s first computer games degrees in 1997 and has since been at the forefront of driving forward research and innovation in this rapidly-growing sector.