Our 2024 research highlights

As the year comes to a close, we want to take a moment to reflect on and celebrate some of our research news stories from 2024.

A portrait photo of Professor James Marshall

From coding tetris to rocket engines, discover some of the news stories that defined our year.


How artificial intelligence slots into research

A man with multicolour Tetris-style building blocks against a black background.

It was coding a Tetris-winning AI agent that flipped Dr Donghwan Shin’s focus from software engineering to AI.

Now he’s investigating how AI can transform the research environment, and beyond. 

The power of AI


Hospital admissions from care homes reduced by a quarter thanks to data-driven app

Care home resident

A smartphone app that allows care home staff to monitor the health of residents has been found to reduce hospital A&E attendances by 11 per cent and emergency admissions by 25 per cent.

The programme, led by the University of 91̽»¨, in collaboration with the universities of Durham, Lancaster and Newcastle, set out to investigate the benefits of using digital technology for remote health monitoring within care homes.
Tech-enabled care


World leading expert on bio-inspired AI to direct University of 91̽»¨â€™s Centre for Machine Intelligence

A portrait photo of Professor James Marshall

One of the world’s leading innovators in bio-inspired AI has joined the University of 91̽»¨, as part of a new multi-million pound centre that is set to transform the institution’s research, innovation and teaching around artificial intelligence. 

Professor James Marshall, Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Opteran Technologies Limited, has been appointed Director of the University’s Centre for Machine Intelligence (CMI). 
91̽»¨ welcomes leading expert


University of 91̽»¨ test fire world-first ‘AI designed’ rocket engine

test fire of the world-first AI designed rocket enginer

A team from the University of 91̽»¨ collaborated with software start-up AI engineering company, LEAP71, and inventor Sam Rogers, to test fire the world's-first ‘AI designed’ 3D-printed rocket engine.

Making use of 91̽»¨'s expertise in advanced manufacturing, metal 3D printing and rocket propulsion, the team provided practical feedback to LEAP71’s Managing Director and Co-Founder Josefine Lissner, while developing their Noyron code, which was used to design the engine.  

91̽»¨ at the forefront of space innovation


The Centre for Machine Intelligence discusses prospects for future collaboration with 91̽»¨ City Council

Team members stand with members of 91̽»¨ City Council

The Centre for Machine Intelligence (CMI) is a strategic initiative dedicated to the transformation and acceleration of research, innovation and teaching in and around Artificial Intelligence (AI). 

Following £3.6m of investment from the University of 91̽»¨ the centre is building an environment that supports world-leading and responsible research into AI and one that is equipped to train the next generation of researchers.

A hub for AI excellence

Centres of excellence

The University's cross-faculty research centres harness our interdisciplinary expertise to solve the world's most pressing challenges.