News

Cambridge geoscientists are developing an atlas that could lead to a more complete understanding of how viable rare earth element deposits form and help locate more secure sources, by mapping the global distribution of critical metals deposits within unusual igneous rocks.Rare earth elements are vital components in many everyday and high-tech devic…

Congratulations to Prof. Dame Clare Grey, who was honoured at the 2025 Richard R. Ernst Lecture for her contributions in the field of battery research.The award recognises Dame Clare Grey's significant work in battery research and energy storage.Read the full article here

The University of Cambridge has become a signatory to the ground-breaking Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice, joining 70 signatories and supporting organisations at the time of writing. Developed collaboratively by representatives from across the UK’s research and innovation sector, including universi…

Professor Dame Lynn Gladden has been selected as one of eight new members of the Council for Science and Technology (CST), which provides strategic advice to the Prime Minister and government on key science and technology issues.The Shell Professor of Chemical Engineering at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (CEB) will bring …

Recycling plastic waste is difficult and often unprofitable. Reisner group spinout Protonera has the perfect solution. The Reisner lab has developed technology which can convert waste plastics with sunlight into hydrogen gas and valuable compounds such as glycolate, which is used in the cosmetics industry. Now the team has received initial funding …

Academics and staff at both the University of Cambridge and Colleges feature in the 2025 list, which recognises the achievements and service of people across the UK.Professor Rachel Oliver, who also receives an OBE, is a materials engineer, inventor and commercial spinout founder. A Fellow of Robinson College, she is currently Director of the Cambr…

The University of Cambridge is one of two UK participants named as part of the PIXEurope consortium, a collaboration between research organisations from across Europe which will develop and manufacture prototypes of their products based on photonic chips.Photonic chips transmit and manipulate light instead of electricity, and offer significantly fa…

We are delighted that Paul Dupree is a Highly Cited Researcher again for 2024.He has been selected for nine out of the last ten years since 2014.Highly Cited Researchers is a list published annually by Clarivate of academic authors whose publications have received particularly high numbers of citations in academic journals indexed by Web of Science…

Diane Coyle appointed to Industrial Strategy Advisory Council to strengthen UK’s Industrial PolicyExperts from academia, business, and trade unions across the UK are appointed to the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council as the government seeks to deliver long-term growth in key sectors.Leading economist and expert on industrial strategy, Dame Profe…

Department of Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology researchers secure €3 million grant for next generation of sustainable energy solutions A team of researchers led by senior academic Professor Sam Stranks,Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology has been awarded €3 million to develop new tech aimed at tackling global challenges in sus…

Trinity College and the University of Cambridge’s new £48 million programme enabling fully-funded PhDs has been launched. It is seeking the brightest minds from across the world to conduct ground-breaking research, creating the next generation of pioneering treatments, technology and services.The Trinity Cambridge Research Studentships (TCRS) have …

Molyon, a spinout from the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, have raised $4.6m in funding to commercialise their breakthrough in lithium-sulfur batteries.  Co-founded by Dr Ismail Sami, Dr Zhuangnan Li, Professor Manish Chhowalla, and Dr Sai Shivareddy, the team are specialising in high-energy-density lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries …

Professor Xavier Moya has been elected Fellow of Breakthrough Energy. As a part of the fourth international group of Fellows to be elected for "Accelerating Early-Stage Climate Innovation”.The latest Cohort brings together 25 extraordinary innovators from four countries, who are leading 14 groundbreaking projects aimed at tackling the world’s most …

Professor Sam Stranks is developing next-generation solar cell technology, which could drive down renewable energy prices even further.Although it may feel as if the news around climate change is unrelentingly negative, there are some remarkably bright spots. One of the brightest is solar energy.In just the last ten years, the cost of solar cells h…

The University has launched its interdisciplinary MPhil Programme in Advanced Materials for the Energy Transition and PhD in Sustainable Energy Materials Innovations, with cohorts of both starting in October 2025.Global warming and energy challenges are putting strong constraints on our society and will lead to major economic and societal changes i…