University of Southampton Global Health Research Institute➞Research

LifeLab

Focusing on science for health literacy in relation to lifestyle-related non communicable diseases

LifeLab, led by Professor Mark Hanson working with Dr Kath Woods-Townsend, is an innovative science education intervention designed to change young people’s attitudes and behaviour towards their own health, and the health of their future children. It works on the principal that children need to understand the underpinning science to understand health issues and make informed judgements.

LifeLab developed as a collaboration between the University of Southampton (Education and Medicine), NIHR Nutrition BRC, the Maths & Science Learning Centre South East and the University of Southampton MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit Located at Southampton General Hospital.

The facility comprises a classroom, seminar area and a laboratory for hands-on experiments and there is the potential for ~5000 student visits per year.

Programmes are tailored for students of all abilities, initially focusing on 11-14 year olds.

Research helping young people break the cycles of unhealthy behaviour

LifeLab actively engages with young people, teachers and researchers. The aim is to introduce science that explains how lifestyle choices at an early age can drastically affect young people’s health a — Professor Mark Hanson (centre), Director of LifeLab and DoHAD

Society and public health organisations need to pay much greater attention to these issues if the rising epidemic of these diseases is to be prevented. Tackling the diseases once children reach adulthood is often too late. By taking steps to improve maternal nutrition we could save many people from a lifetime of ill health