Alumni making a difference
We’ve been delighted in 2023 and 2024 to celebrate several milestone anniversaries of a selection of our departments, schools, and campuses. It’s wonderful to look back at a few highlights of what we’ve achieved over the years, and we hope you enjoy reading and reminiscing. Looking to the future we’ll also be celebrating 70 years next year since we received our Charter in 1955; we’re excited for all that’s to come in the years ahead!
Camborne School of Mines celebrated double anniversaries
The Princess Royal unveiling the CSM commemorative plaque.
The Camborne School of Mines (CSM), one of the world’s foremost mining and minerals engineering institutions, celebrated a landmark double anniversary in 2023. It marked the 30th anniversary of the celebrated mining school becoming an integral part of the University in Cornwall, based at our Penryn Campus. In addition to this, CSM celebrated the 135th anniversary since its creation, and the start of its journey to be at the forefront of pioneering the very best in industry-led teaching, research, and technological advances.
Since being formed in 1888, CSM developed an enviable reputation of producing pioneering research, focusing on the key challenges of resource sustainability, environmental production and mine health and safety. CSM is recognised as having had a global impact on the mining and minerals industry, by training graduates who are now leading the sector in new and exciting ways.
In October, the Princess Royal toured the mining school to learn more about its vital role in developing the UK’s Critical Minerals Strategy, and global sustainable mining. Her Royal Highness visited the mining school’s state of the art laboratories and the CSM museum, as well as meeting staff and students. After the tour, The Princess Royal unveiled a special plaque to officially commemorate the opening of the Camborne School of Mines’ new Degree Apprenticeship programme.
Law 100
During 2023, we were delighted to celebrate the last 100 years of the Exeter Law School. The inaugural lecture took place in December 1923 when it was part of the University College of the South West and based in Gandy Street at the heart of the city. During the following 100 years, the Law School has grown in size, reputation, and ambition. In those early days, there were just 26 students attending lectures. Since 1923 the Law School has constantly evolved, reflecting the educational needs of the law sector and pushing the boundaries of educational excellence.
100 years later, our annual undergraduate student intake now exceeds 400 and the Exeter Law School community includes a vibrant mix of staff and students from across the UK and around the world. Over the years we have established meaningful and enduring partnerships that connect us with universities in France, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Canada, Germany and elsewhere. We’re proud that 100% of our research has internationally excellent impact (REF 2021) across a range of areas including: Family Law, Legal History, International and Human Rights Law, European Law, Environmental Law, and Commercial Law. Read more about some of centenary celebrations on the Events page of this magazine.
The Amory Building shortly after its completion in 1974.
Centre for Water Systems celebrates landmark 25th anniversary
The Centre for Water Systems team. Photo: Theo Moye.
Since being formed in 1998, the Centre for Water Systems (CWS), has become the largest water systems engineering academic research group in the UK, and has developed a world-renowned reputation for its pioneering research into the key challenges of sustainable water management. This includes research into water supply and distribution systems, waste water and urban drainage systems, flood risk management, and smart water systems.
In September, the CWS commemorated its 25th anniversary with a two-day celebration event on our Streatham Campus: Advances in Water Research and Innovation: 1998 to 2023 and Beyond. More than 100 attendees from around the world were present. In the 2023 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, the University was ranked first in the world in the Clean Water and Sanitation category (Sustainable Development Goal 6), for its research into water, water usage, and commitment to ensuring good water management in the wider community.
Find out more about the Centre:
Celebrating 60 years of our Politics department
The Politics department at Exeter was founded with one Chair having previously been homed in Economics and has grown to a total of close to 60 Politics academics today. The department is home to eight research centres, including Political Thought, Advanced International Studies, and European Studies.
Politics at Exeter also now encompasses computational social science, training our students in the latest data science methodologies to enable them to tackle the urgent social issues of the day through data. Recent successes in this area also includes securing a £1 million grant to set up a Centre for Climate Communication and Data Science as a collaboration between Politics and Computer Science.
The Centre is unique in bringing together a diverse and interdisciplinary team of academics, post-doctoral researchers and PhD students committed to employing best practice in data and social science research methods to improve strategic climate communication. Politics academics are also leading other important interdisciplinary initiatives such as RENEW, which is a five- year partnership programme to develop solutions to one of the major environmental challenges for humankind: the renewal of biodiversity; and TWICEASGOOD, which looks to understand the barriers that women face on pathways to political office that can explain the continued lack of women’s representation in elected office.
Penryn Campus celebrates its 20th anniversary
This year we are excited to celebrate two decades since our Penryn Campus began in a unique arrangement of sharing the campus with Falmouth University; a leading specialist arts institution. In 2004, the University of Exeter’s presence was set up in the former site of Glasney College, an influential 13th-century institution. It is located in 100 acres of countryside close to the waterside town of Falmouth, with beautiful views over the Fal estuary.
The Campus is now made up of around 6,000 students and offers a close-knit friendly community. Over the years it has been constantly developing, with new research facilities, teaching spaces and areas for both student study and socialisation. We have recently brought our postgraduate programmes together to create an interdisciplinary Graduate School of Environment and Sustainability across the Campus, and this will be homed within a new facility connected to the Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI). Also, in 2023 we welcomed the European Centre for Environment and Human Health to Penryn Campus (moving from the Knowledge Spa in Truro).
Throughout 2024 we will be organising activities to showcase the achievements of the University in Cornwall over the past 20 years. Do look out for upcoming events, and we would love to hear from any of our Cornwall alumni who would like to share their memories of studying on the Campus.
A decade of Art History and Visual Culture at Exeter
Our Art History and Visual Culture (AHVC) received its first group of undergraduates in 2013 beginning with a cohort of around 20 students and a handful of expert lecturers. It has now grown to about three times that size. During these 10 years we’ve added an MA programme in Curation, as well as a thriving postgraduate research community. AHVC from the outset set itself apart by working beyond “traditional” art history. Study of the Italian Renaissance and the Dutch Golden Age takes place, but we also have expertise in contemporary queer craft and graphic arts, global modernism, and forensic photography.
In the last decade research has also grown from strength to strength, and here too we have great variety, from exploring the colonial connections of France through eighteenth century printed cotton, to the context of Italian altarpieces in museums. The University’s art collections and The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum have also provided valuable resources on Streatham Campus for students during this time.
A decade of Art History and Visual Culture at Exeter
Our Art History and Visual Culture (AHVC) received its first group of undergraduates in 2013 beginning with a cohort of around 20 students and a handful of expert lecturers. It has now grown to about three times that size.
During these 10 years we’ve added an MA programme in Curation, as well as a thriving postgraduate research community. AHVC from the outset set itself apart by working beyond “traditional” art history. Study of the Italian Renaissance and the Dutch Golden Age takes place, but we also have expertise in contemporary queer craft and graphic arts, global modernism, and forensic photography.
In the last decade research has also grown from strength to strength, and here too we have great variety, from exploring the colonial connections of France through eighteenth century printed cotton, to the context of Italian altarpieces in museums. The University’s art collections and The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum have also provided valuable resources on Streatham Campus for students during this time.
ESI 10 years of achievement
The Environment and Sustainability Institute team.
The Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI), on our Penryn Campus, examines the problems caused by environmental change – and seeks solutions.
The ESI’s work and achievements cover a wide range of areas, from light pollution and anti-microbial resistance to sustainable fashion and solar energy. In 2023, we proudly celebrated the ESI’s first decade of successful operation and held a series of events to mark it throughout this academic year. These included think tanks, lectures, workshops and social events and highlighted the research, scholarship and new thinking being done at the University of Exeter, Cornwall, both past and present, and looking ahead to the next 10 years.
A celebration event, attended by our President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lisa Roberts, was held in May featuring an interactive workshop which explored emerging environmental issues and how we could respond.
Building on its success, we are investing in additional research laboratories within a new three-storey facility adjoining the current building. This project, which also includes space for teaching and collaborative learning, is fundamental to our Strategy 2030 ambitions. The building is currently in the design phase and due to be completed by winter 2025/26.
10 years of our Natural Sciences programme
In 2023, we celebrated 10 years of our Natural Sciences programme, which is currently ranked 3rd in the UK by the Times Good University Guide 2024.
The subject combines our expertise in Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Computer Science to deliver a learning experience that draws directly upon our research, exploring topics such as mathematical and computational biology; materials science and materials chemistry; the science of oceans, atmospheres and climate; astrophysics; and energy research.
Over the last 10 years the programme has gone from strength to strength, so it was great to host a gathering of alumni, students, and staff on our Streatham Campus in the summer to celebrate. More than 50 guests attended and spent time catching up over drinks and dinner. During the evening they also heard from the Director of Natural Sciences, Professor Geoff Nash, who gave a speech reflecting on the last 10 years of the programme.
Connect with Natural Sciences alumni on LinkedIn:
Natural Sciences alumni gathered to celebrate.
Celebrating a decade of Medicine at Exeter
Staff and alumni group photo at the 10th anniversary event.
Following a successful 10-year partnership as the Peninsula Medical School – with the University of Plymouth – the University of Exeter Medical School was formed in 2012 and in 2013 the first Medicine students started their studies.
We enjoyed celebrating this milestone with Medicine alumni gathering in celebration to mark the occasion in 2023. Those in attendance caught up with old friends, heard about the changes over the last 10 years, and listened to our plans for the future.
Today the Medical School is home to around 2,400 students studying a variety of subjects. Over the last decade the School has seen several exciting developments including the opening of the Mireille Gillings Neuroimaging Centre and launch of the Biomedical Research Centre in 2022.
10 years since we were named Sunday Times University of the Year
In September 2012, the University of Exeter was named University of the Year in The Sunday Times University Guide 2013. In the 12 months leading up to this, we joined the Russell Group, made it into the top 200 universities in the world and welcomed Queen Elizabeth II to open the Forum – a stunning centrepiece for the Streatham Campus which is still used by students today. Over the last decade and in the past year, we’ve built on this success with other ranking news which you can read about in the News section of this magazine.
