UK universities sign up to science research news site bypassing mainstream media

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Futurity.org, a news site on which US universities report findings themselves , without relying on media coverage, has expanded to the UK. Launched in September 2009 , the site aimed to reduce the reliance on the mainstream media to report universities' research on environment, health, science and society.

The project, led by Duke University, Stanford University, and the University of Rochester, was an attempt to rectify a situation in which American 'coverage of science news has dramatically declined', it announced at the time of launch .

The UK's Russell Group, made up of 20 research universities, including Cardiff, Leeds, Nottingham, Sheffield, Warwick, King’s College London and University College London, has now joined the 46 US research universities involved with the site.

"Futurity has found an audience among consumers of news who find less and less about research in the newspapers and television they see every day," said Futurity editor Jenny Leonard, in a release.

"Those 'traditional' consumers are joined by younger readers who prefer to find their news 'unfiltered' on the web. We are trying to serve both groups, and we are delighted with the enthusiasm that our new British partners bring to the effort.”

The Russell Group university members have been impressed by "the depth and quality of Futurity's research news - and by the freshness of its approach," said Wendy Piatt, director general of the Russell Group.

"Our universities have some great stories to tell about the discoveries made by their world-class research teams and this is an excellent opportunity to do so. We're thrilled to join Futurity, and see the site as a very modern vehicle for reaching new audiences, both in the U.K. and abroad."

Futurity.org news is included Google News results , and is currently developing mobile apps for iPhone, Blackberry and Android.

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