19 Sep 2018
Strength-based exercises could help combat childhood obesity
Encouraging young people to do strength-based exercises – such as squats, push-ups and lunges – could play a key role in tackling child obesity, according to new research from the Universities of Edinburgh and Dundee. Taking part in exercises that cause muscles to contract, and strengthen muscles and bones, was found to reduce children’s body fat percentage. The findings also suggests an increase in muscle mass – gained from strength-based exercises – could help boost children’s metabolism and energy levels. The effects were small but meaningful, prompting calls for f...
18 Sep 2018
Event to GROW awareness of soil quality concerns
Dundee will become the frontline in the fight to save Europe’s soil this week as the city prepares to host a special seminar. The GROW Observatory, a University of Dundee-led project, is inviting members of the public to identify issues that could jeopardise the nation’s future food supply at an event to be hosted at the Baxter Park Centre on Thursday. The Europe-wide initiative is bringing people throughout Central Scotland together to highlight issues relating to land management, climate change and other environmental factors that are jeopardising the sustainability of the planet’s so...
18 Sep 2018
Principal takes on 65-mile challenge to raise funds and awareness for student wellbeing and mental health
Professor Sir Pete Downes, Principal of the University of Dundee, will embark on a 65-mile challenge later this week in a bid to raise funds and awareness for student mental health and wellbeing. The Principal’s Challenge 2018, taking place on Friday, will include a 60-mile ‘Tour de Tay’ cycle via Perth, a row across the River Tay from Wormit to Broughty Ferry, and a 5k fun run on the University of Dundee city campus. Following the success of last year’s event which raised over £25,000, this year’s Principal’s Challenge is over a different, longer and more challen...
18 Sep 2018
Sustainability and renewal on the agenda for Dundee visit
The University of Dundee will this week welcome professionals who have contributed to some of Europe’s great urban renewal success stories to explore how medium-sized cities can become more environmentally, economically and culturally sustainable. The University is hosting an international seminar by the Academy of Urbanism (AoU) at West Park Centre on Thursday 20 September. ‘Contemporary Approaches to Sustainability in European Cities’ will bring almost 300 architects, planners, policy makers and other delegates from across Europe together to discuss the application of contemporary stra...
17 Sep 2018
Son finds father’s ‘Branksy’ on campus
A University of Dundee staff member was astonished to find a Bansky-esque tag of his father’s name in the foundations of a demolished building. Derek Brankin, Computer Systems Officer in the School of Science and Engineering, said his father’s graffiti, which is more than 50 years old, caught his eye as he walked through campus past the Microcentre building which has just been demolished. He said, “I knew my father had worked on the Microcentre building when it was being built - he was a painter at the time - but he never told me he had left his mark! “The area uncovered by the d...
