Featured Stories
University of Manchester: Winners of the 2026 Ideas With Impact Awards Announced - Meet the Donor-funded Entrepreneurs Driving Impact Through Innovation
MANCHESTER, England, July 4 -- The University of Manchester issued the following news release on July 2, 2026:
* * *
Winners of the 2026 Ideas with Impact Awards Announced: Meet the donor-funded entrepreneurs driving impact through innovation
On Thursday 2nd July, the ten finalists of the 2026 Ideas with Impact Awards came together in Whitworth Hall at The University of Manchester to pitch their early-stage venture plans, for the chance to win a share of pound sterling350,000 in prize funding.
Open to innovators across all disciplines, the awards are made possible by our generous community
... Show Full Article
MANCHESTER, England, July 4 -- The University of Manchester issued the following news release on July 2, 2026:
* * *
Winners of the 2026 Ideas with Impact Awards Announced: Meet the donor-funded entrepreneurs driving impact through innovation
On Thursday 2nd July, the ten finalists of the 2026 Ideas with Impact Awards came together in Whitworth Hall at The University of Manchester to pitch their early-stage venture plans, for the chance to win a share of pound sterling350,000 in prize funding.
Open to innovators across all disciplines, the awards are made possible by our generous communityof donors as part of our Challenge Accepted campaign. The final total raised for 2026 reached pound sterling350,000, including a new gift from CMSPI, to establish The CMSPI Future Technologies Prize.
Ideas with Impact provides winners with funding, expert mentoring and access to a network of founders and innovators, giving them the support and connections needed to turn promising ideas into impactful ventures. The awards are open to University staff, students, and recent alumni, and aim to support entrepreneurs with innovative solutions to the world's most pressing issues.
This year's finalists - whittled down from over 170 applications - drew from a range of disciplines, from operating electrical power systems and zero-carbon fusion energy generation, to blood cancer treatment and countering antimicrobial resistance.
We are delighted to introduce this year's winners and their ventures -
pound sterling100,000 - SwiftCas Diagnostics
We have developed simple, fast diagnostic tests that use CRISPR programmable nuclease technology to identify infections caused by a wide range of infectious agents, especially bacteria. Our approach can be easily adapted to detect different diseases, making it highly flexible. CRISPR diagnostic tests are accurate, affordable, and rapid. These tests will help doctors diagnose infections and make informed treatment decisions within hours of assessing a patient, rather than after waiting several days for results. By speeding up diagnosis and improving precision, our technology has the potential to improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare burden and limit the unnecessary use of antibiotics.
pound sterling75,000 - Monoblast Therapeutics
We are developing a first-in-class targeted therapy for Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukaemia (CMML), a rare blood cancer with no effective treatments and a median survival of 18-24 months. Our approach uses novel compounds conjugated to CCL2, a protein selectively taken up by disease-causing cells in CMML. Recent findings show that our third-generation CCL2-STING conjugates trigger rapid cell death in CMML monocytes, offering potential for superior efficacy and safety margin. Targeting a ~$1Bn market with broader immuno-oncology potential, we aim to seek partnerships with pharmaceutical companies to advance these therapies with the aim of providing transformational therapy to CMML patients.
pound sterling75,000 - Fibrametric (The CMSPI Future Technologies Prize)
Every time we wash and wear our clothes, microscopic fibres are released into the environment carrying harmful chemicals including heavy metals and persistent pollutants, yet there is no standard way to monitor fibre release. We are developing an automated microfibre testing platform for textile laboratories that combines advanced imaging with repeatable analysis to accurately measure and understand fibre release. Designed to integrate directly into existing textile testing workflows, this system enables manufacturers, researchers and regulators to generate comparable evidence, support emerging standards and accelerate the development of lower-polluting textile products.
pound sterling50,000 - Grid Stability
Grid Stability Monitor (GSM) is an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered solution that supports stable and secure operation of electrical power systems. As renewable generation and low-carbon technologies continue to grow to achieve decarbonisation targets, existing assessment tools struggle to evaluate network stability risks quickly enough across the huge number of possible operating conditions/contingencies. GSM enables rapid stability assessment and better understanding of potential hidden underlying risks, supporting economical, on-demand procurement of stability services where and when needed. This unlocks effective use of low carbon technologies, thereby overcoming a substantial barrier to decarbonising our energy use, while keeping the lights on.
pound sterling50,000 - RadioVision
Commercial drones increasingly exploit 4G/5G networks for long-range operations, exposing a critical security gap that traditional countermeasures miss. Our technology overcomes this challenge, leveraging advanced radio sensing with AI to passively analyse cellular network signalling--without touching user data. This allows us to instantly identify, and track network-connected drones disguised as regular mobile users for illegal activities. The system enables rapid global deployment to monitor any 4G/5G network, delivering robust, proactive protection against next-generation aerial threats to secure critical infrastructure and airspace.
These successful ventures will join a community of former winners, who have used their funding to deliver real-world impact. Alexander Stokes was one of last year's winners as part of the Imprinted Diagnostics team - a University of Manchester spinout working to improve the accuracy of diagnoses for heart attacks and cardiovascular disease. Imprinted Diagnostics is now raising seed funding to support its next stage of growth and impact.
* * *
"It was the starting fuel we needed to grow the company to what we are today, a core team of 5 and a wider network of 30+ partners all working together to deliver one common goal of a portable blood test for heart attacks."
- Alexander Stokes, Former Winner
* * *
Another previous winner, Kay Marshall of MollaPharm, gave an update at this year's awards. Working towards treating endometriosis through next-generation therapeutic conditions, Marshall praised the nature of the prize, "The no strings approach adopted by Ideas with Impact has enabled our speedy progression, where red tape frequently slows things down - this has allowed us to push our invention forward faster so we can reach the women with endometriosis sooner rather than later."
Our Vice President for Civic Engagement and Innovation, Professor John Holden said, "Across our University community, talented people are developing bold ideas with the potential to improve lives, create opportunities and tackle some of society's biggest challenges. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we're able to help turn that potential into reality through Ideas with Impact, supporting innovators at a crucial stage of their journey and helping ensure great ideas can deliver meaningful impact across Manchester and beyond."
The judging panel said, "The finalists this year exemplify the bold thinking, creativity and determination needed to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing society today. As a judging panel, we were inspired not only by the calibre of ideas, but by the passion, commitment and entrepreneurial spirit of the people behind them. Ideas with Impact is about creating the conditions for innovators to transform promising ideas into ventures that deliver real-world change. We look forward to seeing how this year's winners build on their success and create lasting impact in the years ahead."
* Professor Aline Miller - Associate Vice President (Enterprise) at The University of Manchester
* Dr Ewelina Rozycka-Burn - Head of Commercial Development at The University of Manchester Innovation Factory
* Professor Lee Pugalis - Interim Director, The Masood Entrepreneurship Centre
* Professor Sarah Underwood - Head of the Strategy, Enterprise & Sustainability Department and University Academic Lead for Commercialisation at Manchester Metropolitan University
* * *
Learn more about philanthropic support
Innovation is at the heart of the University's Challenge Accepted campaign, fuelling our ambition to become Europe's most inclusive and impactful innovation network, and helping deliver progress that changes lives.
Are you interested in supporting brilliant future founders and ensuring entrepreneurship for all? We'd love to explore opportunities with you.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/winners-of-the-2026-ideas-with-impact-awards-announced-meet-the-donor-fundedentrepreneurs-driving-impact-through-innovation-/
Two NHS Dental Clinics Planned for Portsmouth
PORTSMOUTH, England, July 4 -- The University of Portsmouth issued the following news:
* * *
Two new NHS dental clinics planned for Portsmouth
Portsmouth City Council and the University of Portsmouth, along with local health partners, announce a significant step to increase access to NHS dental care in the city
* Portsmouth will benefit from two new NHS dental clinics being planned for delivery in 2027 which will be operated by the University of Portsmouth Dental School.
* The proposed new sites will be within council-owned properties, one in Paulsgrove and another in Portsea.
* The University's
... Show Full Article
PORTSMOUTH, England, July 4 -- The University of Portsmouth issued the following news:
* * *
Two new NHS dental clinics planned for Portsmouth
Portsmouth City Council and the University of Portsmouth, along with local health partners, announce a significant step to increase access to NHS dental care in the city
* Portsmouth will benefit from two new NHS dental clinics being planned for delivery in 2027 which will be operated by the University of Portsmouth Dental School.
* The proposed new sites will be within council-owned properties, one in Paulsgrove and another in Portsea.
* The University'sDental School trains dental nurses, dental hygienists and dental therapists, and treats over 5,000 patients a year in the current university dental clinic.
* This announcement follows the opening of the South-East's first ever dental school at the University of Portsmouth, ending decades without local dentist training.
-
Portsmouth City Council, The University of Portsmouth and local health commissioning partners are working towards opening two new NHS dental clinics in the city.
They have collaborated to identify suitable properties in the highest-need areas that could house clinics operated by the University, that will complement its existing NHS clinic.
The first site selected as a potential location is the former Healthy Living Centre in the heart of Paulsgrove, where the Council maintains a strong and visible presence in the community providing a range of services that support children, young people and residents. This much needed NHS dental service in the community is another example of partnership working that benefits residents.
It is hoped the second facility will be integrated into a council site in Portsea, located close to the main University campus. Surveyors will be deployed soon as part of work to realise that goal.
Together these new facilities, once fully operational, will increase the University's dental patient capacity from around 5,000 to approximately 10,000 per year. This is a significant step in improving access to dental care in a region that is recognised as a "dental desert".
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Portsmouth, Professor Graham Galbraith CBE, said: "These two new clinics are much needed in the city and a demonstration of the University's commitment to work with city partners to support our community.
"Portsmouth has been a dental desert for too long. We are training the next generation of dental professionals right here in the city and are proud to expand our community clinics while developing a much needed-dental healthcare workforce."
Cllr Darren Sanders, cabinet member for housing and tackling homelessness said: "We're committed to using our council buildings to provide services that benefit the communities they are part of. Access to NHS dental care has been a real challenge for people in Portsmouth. While this project is still at an early stage, it represents a significant step forward for our residents.
"This is about more than increasing the number of appointments - it's about improving health, tackling inequalities and giving families the confidence that they can access vital services close to home."
Addressing a critical shortage
Portsmouth has fewer than 100 NHS dentists serving a population of more than 200,000 residents, highlighting the scale of the challenge and the importance of the joint initiative.
This announcement builds on recent national investments in dental education, which will see the University become home to the first dental school in the South-East of England. Backed by pound sterling11 million in government funding, the programme will deliver 25 new undergraduate dental places, with the first domestic students expected to begin training in September 2027.
The University's Dental Academy already plays a key role in the community, training dental nurses, hygienists and therapists, while treating more than 5,000 patients each year.
The addition of the new clinics and a dental school will build on this strong foundation, enabling more patients to receive treatment locally while giving students valuable hands-on experience in community settings.
By combining expanded clinical services with the training of future dental professionals, the partnership aims to strengthen the NHS dental workforce and improve long-term access to care across Portsmouth and the wider region.
This joint approach reflects a shared commitment from the University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth City Council and health partners to tackle health inequalities, support NHS services and invest in the city's future workforce.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/news/two-new-nhs-dental-clinics-planned-for-portsmouth
Top 20 Places for UEA and Its Academics in Global Rankings of Climate Science
NORWICH, England, July 4 -- The University of East Anglia issued the following news:
* * *
Top 20 places for UEA and its academics in new global rankings of climate science
The University of East Anglia (UEA) and its researchers have been ranked among the top 20 in a major new global ranking of the most-cited authors, publications and institutions in climate science.
It coincides with the launch of Project Cosmos, a groundbreaking digital database that maps the "universe" of climate science. The database has been produced by Carbon Brief, an award-winning UK-based news organisation that specialises
... Show Full Article
NORWICH, England, July 4 -- The University of East Anglia issued the following news:
* * *
Top 20 places for UEA and its academics in new global rankings of climate science
The University of East Anglia (UEA) and its researchers have been ranked among the top 20 in a major new global ranking of the most-cited authors, publications and institutions in climate science.
It coincides with the launch of Project Cosmos, a groundbreaking digital database that maps the "universe" of climate science. The database has been produced by Carbon Brief, an award-winning UK-based news organisation that specialisesin climate science, energy and policy.
To mark the launch, Carbon Brief's journalists have carried out an initial bibliometric analysis of the database to produce the 'Cosmos 500'. The rankings provide a unique new lens on the people, organisations and research that have had the greatest influence on the development of climate knowledge.
Among the institutions UEA ranks 19th out of 500 worldwide, and third in the UK after the University of Oxford and the Met Office.
Individually, several current and past UEA academics feature. Emeritus Professor and former director of the Climatic Research Unit Phil Jones is the second-most cited author, while Prof William Collins, who joined the University last month, is 15th under his previous affiliation with the United States Department of Energy.
Five more researchers - Prof Corinne Le Quere (140th), former Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at UEA Prof Robert Nicholls (147th), the late Prof Keith Briffa (238th), Prof Tim Osborn (252nd) and Prof David Thompson (418th) - are also ranked among the most highly cited.
In addition, at least eight papers led by the Climatic Research Unit are in the top 500 (34th, 73rd, 285th, 324th, 346th, 423rd, 454th, 472nd respectively). Other UEA researchers with publications featured in the ranking include Prof Rachel Warren and Prof Benjamin Santer.
The Cosmos database represents a significant new resource for the global climate community. Described by Carbon Brief as the "largest known database of climate change research", it follows an 18-month research and development effort.
The database contains more than 1.8 million unique publications linked by 40 million citation relationships. It is the most complete and expansive mapping of human knowledge on climate change ever assembled, tracking more than a century of academic research.
Visualised as an interactive 'cosmos' - a vast network graph in which each publication appears as a 'star' - the database reveals how different fields of climate research relate to, and build upon, one another.
This latest recognition for UEA in the field of climate science follows an award last month for the team behind the Global Surface Air Temperature (GloSAT) project, which has created the longest combined land and ocean temperature record for the Earth, beginning in the 1780s.
The team is led by the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton, and includes scientists from UEA, the Met Office and the Universities Reading, York and Edinburgh.
They won the 'Award for Innovation in Development of Observations or Instrumentation' from the Royal Meteorological Society, given to recognise individuals or teams within the amateur community, academia or business who have made significant contributions to the field of observation and instrumentation.
From UEA, the winners were Prof Tim Osborn, his former PhD student Dr Emily Wallis and former research scientist Dr Michael Taylor.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.uea.ac.uk/about/news/article/top-20-places-for-uea-and-its-academics-in-new-global-rankings-of-climate-science
Saint Mary's University: For the Birds - Star Student Researchers Study European Starlings
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, July 4 -- Saint Mary's University issued the following news:
* * *
For the birds: Star student researchers study European starlings
For 20 years, Dr. Colleen Barber has been using a long-term study on European starlings to teach her students research skills
-
The Saint Mary's University campus in Halifax's south end is the perfect location for an interesting long-term research project on birds--specifically European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), which thrive in urban settings. There are more than 40 nest boxes scattered across the campus.
Dr. Colleen Barber has been
... Show Full Article
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, July 4 -- Saint Mary's University issued the following news:
* * *
For the birds: Star student researchers study European starlings
For 20 years, Dr. Colleen Barber has been using a long-term study on European starlings to teach her students research skills
-
The Saint Mary's University campus in Halifax's south end is the perfect location for an interesting long-term research project on birds--specifically European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), which thrive in urban settings. There are more than 40 nest boxes scattered across the campus.
Dr. Colleen Barber has beenguiding her biology students in conducting research on these resilient birds for more than 20 years. They have produced theses and published papers on the effects of climate change on this species, its songs, mate choice, parental investment, and the types and abundance of garbage found in its nests.
European starlings are not native to Nova Scotia but have been here for more than 100 years. They have adapted well to urban living, creating nests from natural and anthropogenic materials, including plastics and other litter.
"We have discovered that European starlings have many reproductive strategies--they have a very dynamic mating system," says Dr. Barber.
"Some nestlings belong to both parents who are feeding them (within-pair young), while other nestlings genetically belong only to the mom or dad (extra-pair maternity or paternity), and some nestlings don't genetically belong to either parent (intraspecific brood parasitism)."
Dr. Barber's students have used campus nest boxes to research why the starlings use garbage and feathers in their nests. Others have studied why male starlings mimic the calls of blue jays, chickadees, crows and sirens. Student teams have also examined the effects of ectoparasites that live on the birds' skin and feathers.
Students take their first set of measurements when the nestlings are five days old. They measure the birds' size and weight and take small blood samples to determine parentage through DNA microsatellite analysis. They return to the nest boxes when the nestlings are 11 days old, taking the same measurements to record growth rate. They also capture the parents to band and measure them and to take a small blood sample.
The research is interesting--this species is the proverbial "canary in the coal mine," displaying the effects of climate change in its nesting, reproductive strategies and breeding success.
Dr. Barber is a calm, reassuring presence as she instructs students in taking careful measurements, banding the birds' legs, and recording data. For her, teaching students how to do research is the overarching goal of the project.
"Seeing my students become sure of themselves as researchers--learning to do the research and interpret their results accurately is gratifying as a teacher and a mentor," says Dr. Barber.
* * *
Original text here: https://news.smu.ca/news/2026/7/3/for-the-birds-star-student-researchers-study-european-starlings
Queen Mary University of London: Robots Can Now 'See' Touch Thanks to Colour-changing Tactile Sensor
LONDON, England, July 4 -- Queen Mary University of London issued the following news:
* * *
Robots can now "see" touch thanks to a new colour-changing tactile sensor
Engineers at Queen Mary University of London built a new colour-changing tactile sensor, which allows robots to "see" and touch in real-time.
-
The novel idea was invented by Giacomo Sasso, a postdoctoral researcher at the School of Engineering and Materials Science at Queen Mary University of London, and it works by transforming invisible forces into dynamic colour patterns. This enables high-resolution maps to contact, strain
... Show Full Article
LONDON, England, July 4 -- Queen Mary University of London issued the following news:
* * *
Robots can now "see" touch thanks to a new colour-changing tactile sensor
Engineers at Queen Mary University of London built a new colour-changing tactile sensor, which allows robots to "see" and touch in real-time.
-
The novel idea was invented by Giacomo Sasso, a postdoctoral researcher at the School of Engineering and Materials Science at Queen Mary University of London, and it works by transforming invisible forces into dynamic colour patterns. This enables high-resolution maps to contact, strainand pressure to emerge instantly. When pressure is applied to a soft sensing surface, the material produces spatially varying structural colours that can be captured immediately using a standard camera, removing the need for complex reconstruction algorithms.
This technology enables the development of a robotic gripper assembling micro-scale components with the delicacy required in precision manufacturing, where every subtle variation in force becomes visible in real time. It can make a concurrent impact in healthcare where an external prosthetic (artificial limb) can get a richer sense of touch during delicate daily or clinical tasks. Simultaneously, it can allow surgical systems to distinguish healthy from abnormal tissue by reading fine pressure signatures directly through the material's colour response.
Unlike traditional tactile sensors, the new system embeds sensing directly into the material itself. Mechanical interactions are transformed into colour fields that a low-cost USB camera can read in real time. The challenging task has already obtained results showcasing the first real-time solution in the field.
"You won't guess how much information is generated when your finger presses a light switch. A human hand contains more than 10,000 mechanoreceptors to do the job, yet touch sensing remains one of the major challenges in robotics. We were happy to capture the finger ridges, as no existing technology can reproduce such sensor density at comparable scale and simplicity. The key idea behind this project was to think outside the box: instead of embedding dense and overengineered sensor arrays, sensing is moved into the material itself, where mechanical cues are directly transformed into colour fields and captured using a simple low-cost USB camera" says Giacomo Sasso. This produces rich pressure maps while simplifying the system architecture.
Co-authors on this project from the University of Florence, University of Trieste and University of Trento in Italy agree that "What is particularly powerful is that the information is already in the light signal. You are no longer reconstructing touch - you are observing it directly." says Professor James Bustfield.
The idea emerged from the need to overcome a persistent trade-off in vision-based tactile sensing: high-resolution systems typically require heavy computational pipelines to reconstruct contact geometry, introducing latency, while faster systems often sacrifice spatial detail.
The strong collaboration between Professor Federico Carpi, from the University of Florence and Professor Busfield, merges two research worlds of soft robotics and material science. Building on years of work on stretchable sensors and polymer characterisation, the team has progressively advanced the ability to interface mechanical compliance with functional sensing. Within this framework, mechanochromic materials represent a new direction: instead of relying on highly engineered microelectronics to interpret deformation (taxels), the material itself becomes the sensing medium, directly encoding mechanical interaction into visible optical signals.
You can read the full paper on the American Association for the Advancement of Science (https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aee5236).
* * *
Original text here: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/news/latest-news/2026/science-and-engineering/se/robots-can-now-see-touch-thanks-to-a-new-colour-changing-tactile-sensor.html
Heidelberg University: How Transformative Competencies Can Be Integrated Into Existing Degree Programs
HEIDELBERG, Germany, July 4 (TNSjou) -- Heidelberg University issued the following news release:
* * *
How Transformative Competencies Can be Integrated into Existing Degree Programs
Perspective article shows how university teaching can foster responsible engagement with societal challenges
-
Enabling people to reflect critically on societal changes and participate in meeting major challenges is the purpose of teaching transformative competencies. In a Perspective Article, Dr Nicole Aeschbach has examined how this approach can be systematically embedded in existing degree programs. The Heidelberg
... Show Full Article
HEIDELBERG, Germany, July 4 (TNSjou) -- Heidelberg University issued the following news release:
* * *
How Transformative Competencies Can be Integrated into Existing Degree Programs
Perspective article shows how university teaching can foster responsible engagement with societal challenges
-
Enabling people to reflect critically on societal changes and participate in meeting major challenges is the purpose of teaching transformative competencies. In a Perspective Article, Dr Nicole Aeschbach has examined how this approach can be systematically embedded in existing degree programs. The HeidelbergUniversity scholar has developed a conceptual framework connecting research, teaching and learning in such a way that university education can empower students to engage in science-based reflection beyond their disciplinary context and enable them to become personally active.
Dr Aeschbach's framework focuses on integrative elements linking transdisciplinary research, research-oriented teaching and transformative learning. It addresses lecturers and experts in curriculum and teaching development, offering them stimulating new ideas for designing learning formats. These are intended to encourage students to connect scientific findings with current transformation processes and reflect on their future responsibility in professional life and in society. "Important insights for higher education didactics arose from the exchange with the Study Skills and Teaching department of the university's heiSKILLS Competence and Language Centre," Nicole Aeschbach underlines.
The framework for imparting transformative competencies originated in an "iterative process", Dr Aeschbach explains, in which theory formation and practical implementation mutually informed one another. Focusing on the fields of climate change and sustainability, Nicole Aeschbach worked with colleagues to gradually devise learning settings as part of research and teaching projects in geography and teacher education. In these settings, the content and methods of the respective disciplines are closely intertwined with the concept of "transformative literacy". This approach relates to an integrated set of competencies, which enables people to understand complex societal transformation processes, to critically reflect on them and actively participate in shaping them.
Dr Aeschbach illustrates her conceptual thinking with tangible examples, including the project "Transformative Environmental Research", which she leads at the Institute of Geography. Another example is the supplementary qualification "Sustainability" for future teachers, offered by the Heidelberg School of Education (HSE) - a joint institution of Heidelberg University and the Heidelberg University of Education for teacher training. With her framework, Nicole Aeschbach also links up with Heidelberg University's "Guiding Principles for Teaching and Learning". These say that students should not only acquire disciplinary expertise but also be equipped to engage responsibly with societal challenges.
Nicole Aeschbach is active both in the 3DGeo research group at the Institute of Geography and at the HSE. Her Perspective Article appeared in the journal "npj Climate Action".
* * *
Original publication
N. Aeschbach: Fostering transformative climate action through the integration of transdisciplinary research and university teaching. npj Climate Action 5, 32 (2026)
DOI: 10.1038/s44168-026-00360-8
* * *
Original text here: https://www.uni-heidelberg.de/en/newsroom/how-transformative-competencies-can-be-integrated-into-existing-degree-programs
Dragons Then and Now: UEA Study Uncovers Britain's Forgotten Fantasy Boom
NORWICH, England, July 4 (TNSjou) -- The University of East Anglia issued the following news:
* * *
Dragons then and now: UEA study uncovers Britain's forgotten fantasy boom
New research from the University of East Anglia (UEA) highlights an overlooked chapter in British cinema, when the industry struggled to make the most of a wave of fantasy filmmaking in the early 1980s.
The study, led by Dr Claire Hines, Lecturer in Film Studies at UEA, explores the rise of "sword and sorcery" films, a short-lived but ambitious trend that followed the global success of science fiction blockbusters such
... Show Full Article
NORWICH, England, July 4 (TNSjou) -- The University of East Anglia issued the following news:
* * *
Dragons then and now: UEA study uncovers Britain's forgotten fantasy boom
New research from the University of East Anglia (UEA) highlights an overlooked chapter in British cinema, when the industry struggled to make the most of a wave of fantasy filmmaking in the early 1980s.
The study, led by Dr Claire Hines, Lecturer in Film Studies at UEA, explores the rise of "sword and sorcery" films, a short-lived but ambitious trend that followed the global success of science fiction blockbusters suchas Star Wars.
While widely dismissed at the time, these films are now being reassessed as an important and underappreciated moment in British cinema.
And with fantasy now dominating global big and small screens, from Masters of the Universe to House of the Dragon, Britain's earlier efforts look strikingly ahead of their time.
Drawing on trade journals, press coverage and fan magazines, the research looks at how the films were made, marketed and received, and why they have been largely overlooked in British film history.
A hidden history of fantasy filmmaking
Dr Hines said: "British film history has long focused on social realism and heritage drama, often pushing more imaginative genres to the margins.
"My research shows that fantasy played a bigger role than widely recognised but has often been ignored in mainstream accounts of British cinema."
The study highlights films such as the British-funded Hawk the Slayer (1980), alongside US-funded productions such as Excalibur (1981), Krull (1983), and Dragonslayer (1981), as part of a wider push to make fantasy a major commercial genre.
Big ambitions but mixed results
Dr Hines said: "In the early 1980s, industry figures believed fantasy could follow science fiction as the next big trend, with hopes of launching new blockbuster franchises.
"Some filmmakers even saw their heroes as potential rivals to iconic figures like James Bond."
But despite high expectations, many productions struggled. Limited budgets, weak scripts or tight production schedules often held them back, leading to poor reviews and uneven box office results.
Dr Hines said: "Industry predictions of a major 'sword and sorcery' trend soon faded, with critics suggesting by the mid-1980s that it had already 'limped to a standstill' as British cinema returned to more familiar styles.
"My research suggests Britain's fantasy wave was caught between ambition and reality, trying to match Hollywood spectacle sometimes without Hollywood budgets."
Why didn't the films connect with audiences?
Part of the challenge was how audiences understood the films. Many did not fit neatly into a single genre.
For example, Dragonslayer was seen as too dark for younger viewers, while Krull mixed fantasy and science fiction in ways critics found confusing.
At a time when fantasy was expected to be family-friendly, this made it harder for audiences to engage.
The research suggests this lack of clarity left audiences unsure what kind of films they were watching, limiting their appeal at the box office.
Reappraising a "failed" boom
Despite their early reception, many of these films have since gained cult followings and are now recognised for shaping modern fantasy storytelling.
The research argues that, rather than being written off as failures, they should be seen as ambitious attempts from the British film industry.
Rethinking British cinema
The study suggests this forgotten period challenges long-standing ideas about British cinema.
Dr Hines said: "Britain has traditionally focused on realism, helping explain why fantasy has often been overlooked, even when there was clear interest from filmmakers and audiences."
"Overall, the research presents the early 1980s fantasy wave as both a missed opportunity and a sign of a more adventurous British film culture than is often recognised."
Under the Spell of Fantasy: The Sword and Sorcery Production Cycle in British Popular Cinema of the Early 1980s is published in the British Fantasy Society Journal.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.uea.ac.uk/about/news/article/dragons-then-and-now-uea-study-uncovers-britains-forgotten-fantasy-boom
