Impact of giving
At Exeter, we’re using the power of education and research to create real change: but the biggest challenges need us all. Your support helps accelerate discoveries, empowers students from every background and creates lasting impact for generations to come. Here are some stories of the impact your generosity has.
Celebrating three decades of impact with FORCE Cancer Charity
Celebrating three decades of impact with FORCE Cancer Charity
For more than 30 years FORCE Cancer Charity has generously supported critical research projects and individuals like Rahmaneh Moosavi (pictured) at the University of Exeter.
Rahmaneh began her MPhil in Medicine and Medical Biosciences at the University of Exeter Medical School four years ago and was fortunate to receive a scholarship award from FORCE Cancer Charity. This support made a profound difference to her academic journey. Rahmaneh also shared that the support inspired her to upgrade her studies to a PhD degree which has helped her get closer to her goal of contributing to research that leads to better prevention and improved treatments.
Rahmaneh shared, “Support from FORCE was integral to my journey and I know deeply that this path wouldn’t have started, let alone be finished, without it. My project was on ‘Breast Cancer Metastasis to the Brain’. Metastasis is when cancer spreads from where is first started to another part of the body. I am proud to share that my research has offered a window into potential future strategies to help reduce the risk of metastasis to the brain. I’m extremely grateful for the massive support that FORCE has provided for my research.”
“It is no exaggeration to say that this support has had a life changing effect, and I am extremely grateful that my life has been touched by their kindness and generosity.”
Student support
Thanks to your generous support, we are able to offer scholarships, student aid, and awards that help us attract and nurture the brightest students, regardless of financial challenges. Thanks to your generosity, students like James (pictured) are pursuing their dreams of an Exeter education.
James Chatfield began his academic journey at Exeter as a Marine Biology undergraduate. During his studies, his passion grew for marine conservation and for how ecological understanding can inform conservation efforts. James is now the proud recipient of the Osborne-Harvey Studentship pursuing a PhD in Marine Turtle Conservation supported by alumnus Neil Harvey (Accountancy Studies, 1985) and Sally Osborne Harvey.
James shared what receiving this scholarship has meant for him: “This funding has been key in both my personal development as a researcher, and in furthering our knowledge of the ecology of Mediterranean green turtles, and how we can continue local successes in their conservation.
“Our work, supported by this funding, investigating the genetics and life histories of this unique population will provide insight into issues that are key for future conservation efforts, especially in a changing climate.”
James is currently working to understand the life history variation of Mediterranean green turtles (pictured), which nest on Alagadi beach in Northern Cyprus. James’ research focuses on the exploitation and status of marine turtles, utilising satellite tracking and ‘mark and recapture’.
These techniques help him to understand the thermal ecology, sex ratios, habitat use, navigational abilities, growth rates and fertility of individuals. Given the importance of the thermal environment on these reptilian species, the potential effects of global climate change are a significant issue and a major focus of James’ research.
James’ supervisor Professor Annette Broderick shared: “Understanding how marine turtles are impacted by threats such as fisheries and climate change requires knowledge of their life history, especially how long they live and how long they breed. The little information we do have suggests they may well live longer than humans, but there have been no studies long enough to find out! The genetic analysis that James is conducting for his PhD will examine the relatedness of individuals and from this allow us to estimate how long they live, giving us the data we badly need for conservation assessments.”
