Spotlight on...

Advanced materials

The demand continues for materials that are stronger, cheaper, lighter, more conductive – simply better

Africa

Cambridge researchers have long worked with African colleagues on issues that matter not just to the continent but to the world.

Artificial intelligence

AI systems might help solve some of the greatest challenges we face. How do we maximise the promise and prepare for this future?

Big data

Our unprecedented ability to collect, store and analyse data is opening up new frontiers in science and the humanities.

Biodiversity conservation

Life on Earth is at risk from an unprecedented rate of environmental change that threatens the natural resources on which we depend

Cancer

The translation of scientific advances in understanding cancer into real benefits for patients is gathering pace

Children

Understanding the implications of enabling children to grow into healthy, happy, educated and inquiring adults, in safety and free from adversity.

Digital humanities

Digital technologies are opening up new fields of study and generating research questions that breach traditional disciplinary boundaries

Digital society

About half the world’s population uses the internet. How do we take advantage of this digital connectivity and also protect society from risk?

East of England

How research partnerships are offering innovative approaches to make the most of the region’s assets and tackle its more pressing challenges.

Energy

Research is tackling the need to reduce energy demand, maintain energy supply, increase the efficiency of energy-requiring processes, and develop policy and pricing strategies

Future cities

Over half the world’s population lives in urban areas. The quality of life in future cities depends on the innovations we put in place today.

Future therapeutics

New technologies and strong academic-industry partnerships have the potential to change the face of therapeutic medicine.

Global food security

The task of ensuring affordable access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food for all is one of the major challenges of the 21st century

From microscopic cells to massive galaxies, imaging is a core tool for many research fields today, and it’s also the basis of a surge in recent technical developments – some of which are being pioneered in Cambridge.

India

Cambridge and India have well over 100 collaborations and partnerships, many forged over decades, others more recently.

Infectious diseases

Combating infectious diseases and the threat of antimicrobial resistance remains one of the greatest global challenges

Innovation

The application of new ideas, discoveries and inventions contributes to society and the economy nationally and globally

Language sciences

The importance of language is hard to overestimate, yet few of us are aware of the sheer breadth and diversity of language research

Material culture

Understanding how we interact with our material world can reveal unparalleled insights into what it is to be human.

Migration

Immigration and migration, and the issues that surround them, have become symbolic of the 21st century

Neuroscience

Neuroscience has transformed our understanding of the brain and promises treatments for devastating disorders that affect millions.

Public health

Putting public health research into practice has had major impacts worldwide, resulting in longer, healthier lives

Reproduction

From understanding ancient ideas of generation to exploring new frontiers in fertility, researchers are understanding reproduction from multiple perspectives.

Risk and uncertainty

From cybercrime to earthquakes, influenza to air travel, research on risk and uncertainty reflects issues that are of paramount importance

Stem cells

Stem cells, the 'building blocks' for every type of cell in the body, have tremendous potential to improve human health

Sustainable Earth

Focusing efforts on sustaining the planet and its precious resources while moving towards a carbon-neutral future

Work

Getting ‘work’ right is good for people and the nation. It contributes to increasing productivity, better living standards and economic growth.

Sign up to receive our weekly research email

Our selection of the week's biggest Cambridge research news sent directly to your inbox. Enter your email address, confirm you're happy to receive our emails and then select 'Subscribe'.

The University of Cambridge will use your email address to send you our weekly research news email. We are committed to protecting your personal information and being transparent about what information we hold. Please read our email privacy notice for details.