As 2024 draws to a close, it’s time to reflect on the incredible accomplishments we’ve achieved over the past year at The University of Manchester. This year has been particularly special as we celebrated the University’s 200th anniversary, a remarkable milestone in our history. Throughout the year, staff, students, alumni, and our wider community have come together to mark the University’s achievements, growth, and impact. There is much to celebrate, and we invite you to join us in revisiting some of the standout news headlines from our unforgettable year in The Review of Year 2024!
January
The University of Manchester kicked off its 200th anniversary with the first of many celebrations. To mark the beginning of the bicentenary year, crowds of staff, students and alumni gathered to watch a wonderful pathway of light illuminate Oxford Road. Our Global Centres across the world also took part, by organising reunions and unique events (including a light-up tram) in Hong Kong, Dubai and Shanghai. While Light Up went global, astronomers looked to locations less terrestrial, as a team of researchers uncovered a new and unknown pulsar orbiting in the Milky Way. Back on Earth, the University’s proposal to redevelop the Fallowfield Campus accommodation was approved, and a biomedical Egyptologist discovered recording cards – thought to have been lost in World War Two – which detail one of the first ever excavations in Lower Nubia. January was brought to a close with an award of over £23.5m presented to the University to lead the delivery of doctoral programme training for psychologists.
February
In February, we celebrated two brilliant achievements: the city of Manchester was named a UNESCO City of Lifelong Learning, with the University recognised as a key partner. The University was also awarded accreditation status by the United Nations Environment Programme, making us one of only 20 universities worldwide to receive this accolade. As the months turned colder, a new study began which measured air pollution from domestic wood burners – the biggest sources of small particulate matter nationwide. Graphene research reached new heights as the first human trial revealed the ‘wonder’ material can be developed safely without acute risk to human health. With AI continuing to sweep the nation, the University joined a new research hub that will focus on developing AI tools to help revolutionise healthcare. To continue the bicentenary celebrations, the University launched the innovative Talk200 series, a podcast and lecture series which reflected on our past, celebrated our present and looked to our future.
March
To coincide with International Women’s Day, an immersive project combined academic research with art and activism, to spotlight inequalities faced by Manchester’s diverse female population. Building on the University’s sustained support for doctoral training, we were awarded £30m for investment into training the next generation of science and engineering researchers. We proudly celebrated two academics this month: a postdoctoral researcher was awarded the prestigious L’Oréal UNESCO Award for Women in Science for her work in sustainable development, and an associate professor at the Global Development Institute (GDI) was awarded two grants for his project researching the African political economy. The GDI also announced they received a further transformational donation of £2m from the Rory and Elizabeth Brooks Foundation.
April
In April, a Universities UK campaign highlighted the phenomenal success of Manchester students who were the first in their family to attend university. Manchester’s educational achievements were further celebrated in April as the University was awarded the title of University of the Year at the Educate North Awards. Down in Somerset, a Manchester palaeontologist identified bones found on a beach as belonging to a new species of prehistoric marine reptile – thanks to a discovery made by a local father and daughter. A new collaborative study revealed antipsychotic use in people with dementia is associated with higher risks of serious health outcomes compared with non-use. To round off the month, the Pet Shop Boys took to the John Rylands Library for an ‘in conversation’ event with Jon Savage, Professor of Popular Culture, to mark the release of their new album.
May
With spring underway and the summer months in sight, May ushered in a new season of bicentenary celebrations as a city-wide open-air exhibition, began the countdown to the Universally Manchester Festival in June. Spring also brought an exciting green landmark partnership, which could see the University source up to 65% of its electricity from a brand-new solar farm. The University announced a new scholarship in memory of Politics, Philosophy and Economics graduate Laura Nuttall who passed away in May 2023. Researchers continued to build on the work of Ernest Rutherford, by using his pioneering methods to produce a new form of silicon that brings us one step closer to scalable quantum computers. To bring May to a close, the University received a £1.5m donation from alumnus Sir Terry Leahy to fund research into regional inequality.
June
At the beginning of June, the University was named number one in both the UK and Europe – and second in the world – for meaningful contributions towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. We welcomed close to 10,000 visitors to our four day bicentenary festival, Universally Manchester. With over 200 free, immersive events, the festival featured renowned figures like Professor Brian Cox and Professor David Olusoga, making it a truly unforgettable celebration. The University also celebrated four professors who were recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours list for their extraordinary impact on the lives of people across the country. Meanwhile, archaeology tours returned to Arthur’s Stone – a Neolithic burial chamber with a trove of mysteries to unearth – for a final year of excavations. From down in the ground to up in the sky, engineers at Manchester designed a robot that can jump a record-breaking 120 metres high, which is more than the height of Big Ben. Scientists also discovered a surprising link between ancient biology and restricted human hair growth, which could progress treatments for hair loss.
July
With the summer months in full swing, Creative Manchester and Jodrell Bank hosted a day of literature events to celebrate one of the UK’s most influential contemporary novelists, Alan Garner, and the Summer Solstice. July saw one of our most read stories; researchers used state of the art 3D imaging technology to determine the probable cause of death of a mummified crocodile. Scientists also found the restoration of upland peatlands to be a highly effective strategy for reducing downstream flooding. The University celebrated two academics who were honoured with Future Leaders Fellowships, by UK Research and Innovation, to progress research into cystic fibrosis and clean water supplies. As July drew to a close, the University turned to commemorate the end of Nancy Rothwell’s 14-year term as President and Vice-Chancellor of the University. To celebrate and honour her tenure, the Engineering Campus Development (MECD) was named the Nancy Rothwell Building at a special ceremony at the end of July.
August
While the academic year drew to a close, our teaching staff were busy celebrating two prestigious national award wins. For the second year in a row, we were awarded the Collaborative Award for Teaching by Advance HE, and the University also celebrated the announcement of a new National Teaching Fellow, Dr Minjie Xing. This year’s Academic Ranking of World Universities saw Manchester place at number 52, both a brilliant achievement and an important reminder to continue striving for improvement. Meanwhile, striking new research revealed people in the North of England are among the worst affected by Long Covid. Another ground-breaking study uncovered immune responses to gonorrhoea, which could potentially support the creation of more effective vaccines.
September
The new academic year started with a bang as MA student Grace Harvey won gold in the 100m breaststroke at the Paralympic Games in Paris. With students swarming campus once again, the University partnered with In Our Nature to launch the reuseable ‘Bee Cup’ scheme to continue efforts to reduce the University’s carbon footprint. A new study revealed ocean waves are far more indomitable and complex than previously imagined, which could alter our fundamental understanding of several ocean processes. The University proudly shared that Dr Bovinille Anye Cho received the prestigious Royal Society Career Development Fellowship, a programme aimed at developing underrepresentation in UK STEM academia. September concluded with the exciting unveiling of Manchester’s new £1.7bn innovation district’s first building, Sister – primed to be a catalyst for economic growth and prosperity.
October
October saw our annual Foundation Day, which celebrates the coming together of the Victoria University and The University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology. This years’ celebrations were particularly significant, as the event also marked the University’s 200th anniversary and inauguration of our new President and Vice-Chancellor, Duncan Ivison. At the start of the month, the University launched Unit M, a new capability to connect and catalyse the innovation ecosystem in Manchester. Celebrations did not stop there, as the University proudly announced alumnus Simon Johnson was awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics for his research into wealth disparities. The University was honoured to host the Times Higher Education World Academic Summit 2024 in our bicentenary year, attracting more than 650 delegates from over 80 countries. A busy October drew to a closed with the University marking 20 years since the Nobel-Prize winning ‘wonder’ material graphene was first isolated.
November
At the beginning of November, the University announced a new £8m research centre in the North of England which will focus on building a greener future. Championing climate action down south, a Professor attended the Reception for International Sustainability at Buckingham Palace, to share her expertise and contributions in decarbonising the music industry. We also announced a world leading orthopaedic surgeon will be joining our staff as Vice-Present and Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health. New rankings released by Clarivate recognised fourteen researchers across fifteen subject areas at the University as among the world’s most influential academics, based on the number of ‘Highly Cited’ papers they have each authored. The University celebrated a $1.3m donation from alumna Judith Sear to accelerate the University’s cancer research impact. Building on our legacy of research excellence, the University announced the £28m investment in the Bicentenary PhD studentships and fellowships, with a £10m matched funding scheme encouraging continued philanthropic support.
December
Coming to the end of our busy bicentenary year, it is only right that we highlight a few final achievements of 2024. At the beginning of December, students from different universities across Greater Manchester gathered to address the environmental challenges that are threatening the health and prosperity of our region. A team of University scientists celebrated their pioneering study into the vascular causes of dementia, which was named Research Story of the Year at the British Heart Foundation’s annual Heart Hero Awards. In a brilliant move to boost sustainability on campus, the University launched a preloved marketplace for students, using the app Hazaar. We celebrated Professor of Sociology, Claire Alexander, who was this year’s winner of the Distinguished Service to British Sociology Award. To finish the year on an exceptional note, the University reaffirmed its status as a global leader in sustainability by retaining its top ten position in the 2025 QS World University Sustainability Rankings.
As we reach the end of 2024, the University would like to express its heartfelt thanks to everyone who has made our bicentenary year so memorable. The remarkable achievements, awards, and ground-breaking research we’ve celebrated this year would not have been possible without the support of our exceptional community here at Manchester. Now looking ahead to 2025, The University of Manchester is excited to embark on its third century of innovation, impact, and excellence. With the continued support of our outstanding students, staff, and alumni, we will build on our legacy and continue shaping a brighter future for generations to come.
