Professor Timothy Leighton FRS FREng FMedSci ScD MA PhD CPhys CEng FCPS FInstP FIOA FASA
Professor of Ultrasonics and Underwater Acoustics

We need to work with rigour, imagination, and wonder, unconstrained by the artificial boundaries set in place by discipline names, or the history of projects in which we have previously worked, or the tendency of sponsors to believe they can pick winners, or above all by the belief that we must jump to solutions when we have not yet perceived the real problem. Then, when we eventually do find a solution, we must have the will to push it through all the way to help others, and not simply publish in the expectation that someone will finish the job for us.
Current position
Timothy Leighton is the founding Chairman of the University Strategic Research Group NAMRIP (Network for Anti-Microbial Resistance and Infection Prevention) and founding Chairman of HEFUA (Health Effects of Ultrasound in Air). He is also Professor of Ultrasonics and Underwater Acoustics within Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Southampton, UK.
He has invented numerous devices for healthcare, catastrophe relief and industry (for more information visit Bubble acoustics). He is Inventor-in-Chief for Sloan Water Technology Ltd., a UK company formed by the purchase of his patents from the University of Southampton with premises at Chilworth, Hampshire.
A sample lecture on Acoustic Bubbles
Publications for download
Downloads of Video and audio appearances of Professor Leighton
Biographies
- Kenward, M. (2017) A talent for bursting bubbles. Ingenia, 73, 38-42
- Webb, J. (2016) Resistance fighter takes the battle to microbes, New Scientist 229(3066), 32-33 (doi: 10.1016/S0262-4079(16)30523-1)
- Wikipedia: Timothy Leighton (page started by The Royal Society)
Medals
2018 | The Clifford Paterson Medal of the Royal Society |
2014 | The Rayleigh Medal of the Institute of Acoustics |
2013 | The Helmholtz-Rayleigh Interdisciplinary Silver Medal (Acoustical Society of America), awarded for contributions to Biomedical Acoustics, Physical Acoustics, and Acoustical Oceanography. Citation |
2009 | R W B Stephens Medal of the Institute of Acoustics |
2006 | Paterson Medal and Prize of the Institute of Physics |
2004 | Inaugural Early Career Medal and Award, International Commission of Acoustics |
2002 | Tyndall Medal of the Institute of Acoustics |
1994 | AB Wood Medal of the Institute of Acoustics |
Fellowships
* Indicates a National Academy
2018 | Inaugural Distinguished Fellow of the International Institute of Acoustics and Vibration |
2018 | Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences* |
2014 | Fellowship of the Royal Society* |
2012 | Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Engineering* |
2000 | Royal Society Leverhulme Trust Senior Research Fellowship |
2000 | Fellowship of the Institute of Physics |
1999 | Fellowship of the Institute of Acoustics |
1998 | Fellowship of the Acoustical Society of America |
1988 | Fellowship of the Cambridge Philosophical Society |
Awards for invention
2018 | Royal Society’s Lord Leonard and Lady Estelle Wolfson Foundation Translation Award, for the StarHealer |
2014 | StarStream awarded 'Best New Product of the Year' |
2012 | The 2012 Institute of Chemical Engineering Award for "Water Management and Supply" |
2011 | The Brian Mercer Award for Innovation (The Royal Society) |
2008 | The ‘Medical & Healthcare' award by ‘The Engineer' |
2001 | Inaugural award of the International Medwin Prize for Acoustical Oceanography (Acoustical Society of America) |
Other Awards
2019 | Doctor of Science of Cambridge University |
2017 | Awarded the 2017 ‘Wow Factor and Impact’ prize at the 2017 ‘Bringing Research to Life’ roadshow awards for NAMRIP exhibition ‘The Most Dangerous Game in the World’. |
2016 | Awarded the 2016 ‘Wow Factor and Impact’ prize at the 2016 ‘Bringing Research to Life’ roadshow awards for NAMRIP contribution to Cheltenham Science Festival |
2016 | Awarded “Excellent Reviewers of 2016” by IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering |
2015 | Commissioned by The Royal Society to write an article to celebrate the 350th anniversary since its first publications. Downloaded 12,000 times in its first year. Find out more details about the study. |
2014 | The second most downloaded paper of 2013 from the Royal Society’s Proceedings A |
2013 | Selected inclusion in Who's Who from 2014 onwards (click Radio interview on BBC Solent under useful downloads) |
2010 | Awarded “Excellent Reviewers of 2010” by IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering |
2009 | Awarded “Excellent Reviewers of 2009” by IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering |
Useful Downloads
- Interview with Voice of America 28 May 2018 on possible ultrasonic attacks on embassies
- Radio interview on BBC Solent
- New Boundaries June 2015
Links to external websites
The University cannot accept responsibility for external websites.
Links to external websites
The University cannot accept responsibility for external websites.