University of Southampton news

Singer Daniel Bedingfield backs using AI to write new music

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Noughties icon Daniel Bedingfield has broken his 20-year hiatus from making music to call on artists to embrace artificial intelligence when writing new songs.

University of Southampton’s sustainability impact recognised in rankings

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Community cafés to help people get active

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

A series of Active Living Community Cafés for people with long-term health conditions are being held in Southampton.

Unravelling the gendered undertones of narcissism

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Narcissistic tendencies are heavily shaped by our upbringing and are significant contributors to violence and bullying in adult relationships – but the causes and outcomes are different for men and women.

Report proposes new rights to protect workers from ‘unfair, unaccountable and uncaring’ algorithms

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

A report published today [6 June] calls for a new generation of rights to protect workers from the rise of ‘management by algorithm’.

Crucial shift in River Nile’s evolution during ancient Egypt discovered

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Researchers have explored how the River Nile evolved over the past 11,500 years and how changes in its geography could have helped shape the fortunes of ancient Egyptian civilisation.

Ethnic minorities experience stigma and discrimination in accessing Long Covid care

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

New research has found that the stigma of Covid-19, racism, and discrimination in healthcare have impacted the ability of ethnic minority patients to access healthcare for Long Covid symptoms.

Southampton Clinical Trials Unit to run ground-breaking NHS cancer vaccine programme

Fri, 31 May 2024 00:00:00 +0100

The Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, based at the University of Southampton, has been chosen to run a new programme accelerating research into potentially ground-breaking cancer treatments.

Global activity of seafloor biodiversity mapped for the first time

Tue, 28 May 2024 00:00:00 +0100

A team of scientists from the USA and UK has used artificial intelligence (AI) to map the activities of seafloor invertebrate animals, such as worms, clams and shrimps, across all the oceans of the world.

The high-tech hunt for a lonely plant’s partner

Tue, 28 May 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Artificial intelligence is being employed in the hunt for a female partner for a critically endangered male plant species that predates dinosaurs.

Volcanic ash reveals chaos-causing seaweed’s journey

Tue, 28 May 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Scientists have used volcanic ash and ocean models to track the journey of huge mats of seaweed floating across the Atlantic and causing chaos in the Caribbean.

Scientists create sponge-like material that could boost nuclear energy and hydrogen tech

Thu, 23 May 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Chemists have developed breakthrough porous materials that could be used for the future of energy, including in the nuclear industry or for storing hydrogen.

University festival brings artificial intelligence to life

Wed, 22 May 2024 00:00:00 +0100

An AI-powered robot pet, AI-inspired stand-up comedy, and live music with AI will be amongst the futuristic exhibits and performances at the University of Southampton’s first AI Arts Festival.

Project to understand women’s creative contributions to British filmmaking is launched

Wed, 22 May 2024 00:00:00 +0100

The lost legacy of women who’ve worked in the British film industry since the dawn of sound in cinema is the focus of a new national research project.

University of Southampton delighted to appoint dual Chancellors

Mon, 20 May 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Justine Greening and Lord Patel of Bradford have been appointed as Chancellors of the University of Southampton.

Study identifies ‘hot-spots’ of high rates of depression linked to deprivation

Thu, 16 May 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Research led by the University of Southampton shows particular regions of England have suffered over a decade of increasing mental health inequalities, but finds the picture varies greatly across different parts of the country.

Most dangerous areas for whale shark-shipping vessel collisions revealed

Wed, 15 May 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Researchers have found that heavily used shipping lanes pass through crucial whale shark feeding grounds, posing a threat to this endangered species.

International Nurses Day: New research addresses UK’s nursing shortage

Fri, 10 May 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Tactics from around the world to encourage school leavers into nursing have been examined by the University of Southampton, with a view to helping fill the tens of thousands of vacancies in the UK.

First study to examine environmental impact of deorbited satellites

Thu, 09 May 2024 00:00:00 +0100

The University of Southampton is leading the first ever study of the environmental impact of satellites burning up as they re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere.

£12million for UK projects to address challenge of rapid AI advances

Wed, 08 May 2024 00:00:00 +0100

A series of breakthrough AI projects has been awarded £12million to address the challenges of rapid advances in artificial intelligence.

Your bra size is affecting how much you sweat, and it’s not what you’d think

The study looked at 22 women of different ages and breast sizes while they ran in a warm climatic chamber – measuring how much sweat they produced across the breast, how much heat their bodies were producing and how many sweat glands they had on different parts of their breasts.

Sweat production is primarily influenced by factors such as body size, metabolism, and environmental conditions – however, the research team hypothesised that breast size could also impact both sweat production across the breast and comfort during physical activities.

Watch Hannah talk about the research below. Captions are also available, just click settings to turn on.

The research, conducted by Hannah Blount – a postgraduate researcher in thermal physiology at the University’s ThermosenseLab – has found that bigger breasts have fewer sweat glands, meaning they produce less sweat when working out.

She said: “Over 85 percent of women deem a sports bra an essential piece of equipment for exercise, but it’s actually really hard to find one that’s comfortable and supportive, so a lot of women struggle with this.

“Our thought process was to look at how sports bras offer support to women and comfort to women of varying breast sizes, especially in hot conditions, when women are more likely to experience issues like chafing and significant sweat accumulation in the bra.

“Specifically, we were interested in understanding how sweat gland densities and local sweat rates change across women of different breast sizes, as that determines how much sweat ends up in the sports bra.

“Here we got the most exciting finding, as our results indicated that larger-breasted women presented fewer sweat glands, and so they produced less sweat across their breast. This fundamental knowledge is something we can now use to inform sportswear design that considers the needs of women of varying breast sizes.”

The experiments were conducted in the state-of-the-art climate chamber of ThermosenseLab, which is housed within the NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) Southampton Clinical Research Facility, at University Hospital Southampton.

Women who took part were asked to jog for 45 minutes in 32-degree Celsius heat, while their sweat output at the breast was monitored. 3D scanning was used to calculate breast surface area, while sweat gland density was measured using iodine-infused paper which, when placed on the skin, reacts with the chemicals in sweat.

Pictured (left to right): Hannah Blount (PhD) and Dr Davide Filingeri.

Dr Davide Filingeri, Associate Professor in Thermal Physiology and internationally leading expert in the neurophysiology of human skin wetness sensing, said: “Women are a group of individuals that undergo unique anatomical, physiological and hormonal changes across their lifespan. Consider the impact of the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause, all of which impact a woman’s heat tolerance, thermal sensitivity and comfort

“As such, Hannah’s research on the unique and evolving ‘thermal needs’ of women’s bodies has the potential to inform person-centred innovation in sportswear, which will ultimately help women thrive in our warming climate.”

Hannah added: “We’re becoming more sedentary as a society, so if we can do anything to aid women to become more active while making sport more accessible, then that’s really exciting.

To find out more about the work taking place at the ThermosenseLab, see here.

To read the full research paper, see here.

Scientists analyse record storm surges to help predict future flooding

The oceanographers found coastlines in the north of the Irish Sea experience the longest and largest surges, while those occurring around the southwest coast of England have the smallest geographical footprint and last the shortest amount of time.

Across all coastlines investigated, and over a period stretching four decades, the winter seasons of 1989/90 and 2013/14 stood out as having the highest number and most severe storm surge events.

The study findings are published in the June edition of the journal Weather and Climate Extremes and online.

Waves topping over the sea wall in Blackpool. Credit: Sally Brown

A storm surge is an abnormal rise in seawater level during a storm, measured as above that of the normal tide height for the area. The surge is caused by wind pushing water onshore and is influenced by a storm’s size, speed and where it tracks in relation to the coast. The storm surge footprint is the extent of simultaneous flooding along a stretch of coastline, and influences the damage associated with coastal flooding.

“Storm surges are the most important driver of flooding in many coastal areas,” explains Ivan Haigh a Professor at the University of Southampton and co-author of the study. “If we can understand how the differing characteristics of storms affect surges in many different coastal locations, we can more accurately predict the impact they will have on those localities, how best to counter the effects and how they may increase with climate change. Our research will help improve the accuracy of statistical models used to make these predictions.”

The research, which also involved scientists in Spain, the USA and The Netherlands, examines data on storm surges recorded between 1980 and 2017.

The team identified 270 extreme storm surge events over the study period, based on their duration, footprint size, severity and how frequently a similar event may reoccur. From this they classified eight distinct surge footprint types and linked them to the characteristics of the storms which caused them.

Thames Barrier protecting London from flooding. Credit: John Curtain

In the course of their research, they found the most extreme surge event was in the winter of 1989/90 – caused by a storm on 26 February 1990 which affected sea levels along the north, east and west coasts. Remembered for extreme flooding in the towns of Towyn and Clwyd in Wales, the event forced five thousand people to be evacuated from their homes and businesses.

The stormiest season in the study period was the winter of 2013/14, which contained the most frequent severe flooding events. In total there were 13 flooding episodes, compared with five in 1989/90. This includes the storm surge of 5 December 2013, which saw some 36 flood warnings in East Anglia and resulted in the loss of properties along the coasts of Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.

Lead author of the study, Dr Paula Camus of the University of Southampton and Universidad de Cantabria (Spain), comments: “It is crucial we learn lessons from past storm surges in order to help inform our response to future coastal flood risk. Changes to our climate will likely mean more frequent and extreme events, so having accurate data on which to base decisions about infrastructure and emergency response is crucial. We hope our study can better inform the assessment of risk and impacts.”

The researchers acknowledge that their study doesn’t take into account astronomical influence on the height of tides, but say this can be incorporated in the future. They also say their method could be adapted and applied to any coastal region globally.

A timeline of historic coastal flooding events in the UK and other data can be found here.

Community collaborators thanked for shaping health and social care research

Launched in 2019 in collaboration with Family Hubs, the initiative connects university researchers with underserved communities, offering a safe space to share experiences to help shape health and social care research over informal conversations, food and craft.

Among those awarded for their involvement was Nadine Crew, a parent who took part in a 3-week Listening Café on mental health research.

She said: “I struggle with my own mental health, and to think I could help someone else in the future by aiding the research and putting my experiences into it, that felt like I was doing something really positive for my community.

“It was comforting to know that I’m not the only one experiencing these issues and it was amazing to see that my experiences were being listened to, valued and used to help their research.”

Listening Cafes run for 3 to 4 consecutive weeks at a time and have addressed themes such as mental distress, unsettled babies and multiple long term health conditions.

Researchers then deliver a follow up Listening Cafe between 6 and 12 months later to share with the group how their contributions shaped their research.

Kate Henaghan-Sykes, from the University of Southampton, said: “This was an opportunity to celebrate and say thank you to the staff and parent volunteers who have helped us over the last five years by supporting us to involve the community in research by coming to our Listening Cafes and community forums."

“They’ve helped to shape research in areas that matter to them, allowing us to create a blueprint that we can take to wider communities. This ensures that we as a university continue talking to people from diverse backgrounds.”

Pictured (left to right): Sonia Newman and Kate Henaghan-Sykes

Sonia Newman, Public Partnerships Manager at the University of Southampton, added: “It’s so important that we build strong relationships with people who wouldn't normally get involved and show that there are other ways researchers can engage and involve these communities in research."

“Being in the community space outside of academia offers us that opportunity to learn from people's lived experiences and make our research go even further. Breakthroughs in new health research can’t happen unless we talk to as many people as possible.”

To find out more about the Finding Out Together project, see here.

City schoolchildren celebrate ‘graduation’

Pupils from seven primary schools across the city visited the university’s Turner Sims concert hall to receive their graduation certificates, having successfully completed university-organised literacy and numeracy programmes.

Student ambassadors from the university have worked with 123 children over 10 weeks, visiting their schools to deliver small sessions to support their maths and literacy. They have also worked with pupils in years 7 to 10 at Cantell School and year 7 pupils at St George Catholic College in Swaythling – a total of 115 secondary school children – supporting them with reading.

The aim of the programmes is to support additional education for children who need it most, to help reduce the attainment gap that has widened since the impact of the Covid-19 lockdowns.

Olivia Dabrowska, 11, is in year 6 at participating school Mansbridge Primary. She said: “It feels nice to graduate today, even though I am not old enough for a real graduation! My favourite part of the sessions was learning fractions.”

Cody Kruger, 11, added: “I liked how we got to take turns to read – it boosted my confidence.”

Pupils with their 'graduation' certificates

Alison Von Landau, Deputy Headteacher and English Lead at Mansbridge Primary School, said: “Through the programme, the children have become a lot more engaged in their reading and are really enjoying books. You can see their engagement shining through, which is fabulous.”

Chantelle Veneroso, Widening Participation Coordinator at the university, who supports the coordination of the school programmes, said: “Our focus with primary schools is to support the children’s transition to secondary school, and their lifelong learning beyond that. It’s been wonderful to see the children’s confidence grow in their maths and literacy, and fantastic to be able to offer them that extra bit of support.”

Student ambassador Isobel Buck, 21, said: “I’ve always had a passion for helping young people, and it was really enjoyable to take part in this programme and see them grow in confidence. It was great experience because I would like to be a teacher.”

The participating primary schools were:

Hope Community School, St Mary’s
Kanes Hill Primary School, Thornhill
Mansbridge Primary School
Mason Moor Primary School, Millbrook
Moorlands Primary School, Midanbury
St Denys Primary School
St Mary’s CE Primary School

The schoolchildren ‘graduated’ on Wednesday 19 June at an event that included a show by science presenter Ian B Dunne. Watch their graduation and hear from them in our video:

Image captions:

Top image: Year 6 pupils from Mansbridge Primary School celebrate their ‘graduation’.
Back row L-R: Alison Von Landau (Deputy Headteacher and English Lead at Mansbridge Primary School), Chantelle Veneroso (Widening Participation Coordinator), Olivia Dabrowska, Isabella Chadwick, Lacie McEwan-Bergg, Liam Gifford (Widening Participation Project Leader), Sophie Ford (Widening Participation Project Leader). Front row L-R: Lily Foster, Cody Kruger, Millie Goldsworthy.

Second image: Year 6 pupils from Mansbridge Primary School with their ‘graduation’ certificates. L-R: Isabella Chadwick, Cody Kruger, Millie Goldsworthy, Lacie McEwan-Bergg, Olivia Dabrowska and Lily Foster (all aged 11)

Hope for long term antidepressant users as study shows half can come off drugs with simple support

Scientists found that more than 40 per cent of people who were well and not at risk of relapse managed to come off the medication with advice from their doctors.

They also discovered patients who could access online support and psychologists by phone had lower rates of depression, fewer withdrawal symptoms, and reported better mental wellbeing.

More than ten per cent of adults in the UK are taking antidepressants for depression with more than half using them for longer than two years, according to NHS figures.

The study, which was published in JAMA Network Open, was led by the universities of Southampton, Liverpool and Hull York Medical School.

Professor Tony Kendrick from Southampton was the lead author of the research, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

He said the findings are significant as they show high numbers of patients withdrawing from the drugs do not need costly intense therapy sessions.

He added: "This approach could eliminate the risk of serious side-effects for patients using antidepressants for long periods who have concerns about withdrawal."

"Offering patients internet and psychologist telephone support is also cost-effective for the NHS."

"Our findings show that support not only improves patient outcomes but also tends to reduce the burden on primary health care while people taper off antidepressants."

The scientists behind the study enrolled 330 adults who have been taking the medication for more than a year for a first episode of depression, or more than two years for a recurrence of the illness.

Co-author Una Macleod, Professor of Primary Care Medicine at Hull York Medical School, said: "Many patients are taking antidepressants for depression for longer than two years, when they probably no longer need them.

"The evidence in our study is clear and suggests the UK should establish a national helpline, by phone and online, to help people intending to come off the medication."

The new study is the latest in a seven-year research programme, named REDUCE, led by the universities to investigate the long-term effects of withdrawing from antidepressants.

Professor of General Practice Mark Gabbay, a co-author from the University of Liverpool, said the research shows that many patients do not need intense face-to-face therapy sessions while withdrawing.

He added: “This is the first study to demonstrate that stopping inappropriate long-term antidepressant treatment is possible at scale without psychological therapy."

"Antidepressants are recommended only for up to two years in most cases, and people are running the risk of increasing side effects as they get older."

"From our findings, we are calling for active family practitioner reviews for antidepressant discontinuation to be promoted."

Read the study in full at jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2820202.

Underwater mountains have a big impact on ocean circulation

An international team, led by the University of Cambridge – working with oceanographers from the University of Southampton – used numerical modelling to quantify how underwater turbulence around these mountains, called seamounts, influences ocean circulation.

The scientists have found it is an important mechanism in ocean mixing and one that is missing from climate models used in policymaking.

“The intense turbulence around seamounts makes them a major contributor to ocean mixing at a global scale, but we don’t have that process represented in climate models,” said Dr Ali Mashayek from Cambridge’s Department of Earth Science, who led the study.

The findings, which were published in the journal PNAS, could be used to improve model forecasts of how the ocean will respond to global warming.

Since the 1960s scientists have theorised that seamounts might be ‘the stirring rods of the ocean’ and have probed waters around them, measuring the turbulent flow directly.

“But what was missing from the picture was a measure of how much this mattered at a global scale,” said co-author Professor Alberto Naveira Garabato, from the University of Southampton.

“The only reason we’ve been able to put this to the test now is that we only recently had enough of the seafloor mapped. The number of seamounts is likely to be even larger, so our estimates of their importance in mixing are still conservative.”

The ocean is in perpetual motion, as if a massive giant conveyor belt: warm water from the tropics slowly moves toward the poles, where it cools and sinks thousands of metres into the abyss, taking with it stored carbon, heat and nutrients. This cold, heavy water must resurface, otherwise the ocean would fill with frigid water. But identifying where the power for this return flow comes from has been a major scientific challenge.

This new study helps resolve this longstanding mystery, showing how seamounts aid ocean circulation.

Tens of thousands of undersea mountains, or seamounts, lie at the bottom of the ocean, but that figure is likely to be much larger because only a quarter of the seabed has been mapped. Seamounts are obstacles for deep sea currents. Water roars over their steep slopes —creating spiralling wake vortices that carry water toward the surface.

“The deep waters around a seamount are chaotic and turbulent,” said Dr Ali Mashayek, “the turbulence churns up the ocean just like stirring milk into your coffee.” This stirring helps pull deep and heavy water to the surface; completing a circuit that the keeps the ocean flowing.

Deep-sea turbulence has been measured around seamounts before, but scientists weren’t previously sure how important this process was in ocean circulation once extrapolated to the entire ocean. According to Mashayek and the team, the stirring around seamounts contributes to about a third of ocean mixing globally. The contribution was greater, at around 40 percent, in the Pacific Ocean, where there are more seamounts.

The Pacific is the largest store of heat and carbon. It’s generally thought that deep water here takes several thousand years to resurface, “but if seamounts are enhancing mixing, particularly in large carbon stores like the Pacific, then the timescale of storage could be shorter and if carbon is released sooner that could speed climate change,” said co-author Dr Laura Cimoli, also from Cambridge.

Dr Mashayek, Southampton’s Professor Naveira Garabato and colleagues now plan to incorporate the physics of seamount-induced turbulence into climate models, helping improve forecasts of how climate change could impact the ocean’s carbon and heat storage.

“The bottom line is, to know how the ocean is adjusting to climate change, we need to have a realistic representation of deep ocean circulation. We’re now a step closer toward that,” said Mashayek.

Scientists analyse record storm surges to help predict future flooding

Waves topping over the sea wall in Blackpool. Credit: Sally Brown

Thames Barrier protecting London from flooding. Credit: John Curtain

Small change in Earth’s oxygen levels may have sparked huge evolutionary leap

A new study published today in Nature Geoscience brings together datasets from an international consortium of scientists to show that minor increases in oxygen are may have been sufficient to propel major evolutionary leaps seen in the fossil record.

Lead author of the study Dr Richard Stockey, a paleobiologist at the University of Southampton who worked on the research as a PhD student at Stanford University, said: "The Cambrian explosion was a remarkable period of rapid diversification of life on Earth. Previously life consisted of single cell and small multicellular organisms. Then, within 20 or 30 million years, a geological blink, we see a variety of strange and complex creatures emerge with new body plans and features like mineralized shells, grasping appendages, and complex sensory organs like eyes."

Just enough oxygen

For decades, scientists have theorised that the Cambrian explosion was prompted by a sudden rise in atmospheric oxygen which brought oxygen in the ancient ocean close to modern levels. But the evidence for this has been scattered and, in some cases, contradictory.

By conducting a comprehensive, large-scale data analysis, researchers have identified just a small increase in atmospheric oxygen at the time of the Cambrian explosion.

"Cambrian animals likely did not require as much oxygen as scientists used to believe. We found minor increases in oxygenation that are at the correct magnitude to drive big changes in ecology," says senior study author Erik Sperling, an associate professor of Earth and planetary sciences at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability who leads the consortium.

Most animals were living in shallow water at the time, and mixing caused by wind and waves would have oxygenated these areas even as the deeper ocean remained unchanged.

"It's not a huge increase in oxygen, but it might be enough to cross critical ecological thresholds, based on what we see in modern areas with naturally low oxygen," adds Sperling.

The researchers also found evidence that oxygen levels in the deep ocean did not approach those in modern seas until about 140 million years after the Cambrian explosion – much later than previously thought.

Dr Stockey says: "From a global perspective, we didn’t see the full oxygenation of the oceans to near modern levels until about 400 million years ago, around the time that we see the appearance of large forests on land."

Unearthing the answers

To investigate changes in oxygen over 700 million years of Earth's history, researchers examined data showing levels of uranium and molybdenum in black shale - a sedimentary rock formed in low-oxygen environments on the bottom of ancient oceans.

These metals accumulate in sediment when oxygen is low, so their concentration in black shale indicates past oceanic oxygen levels.

Previous studies noted increased trace metals in black shale during the Cambrian explosion, but these have mostly been based on data from individual field sites, where local factors such as an increase in organic carbon can increase trace metal concentrations.

Using statistical and machine learning techniques, the researchers analysed data on a much larger scale and used oceanographic models to estimate historical oxygen levels.

"We found that changes in organic carbon in black shale have driven a lot of the changes in trace metals that scientists have been seeing for the last 15 or 20 years," says Dr Stockey. "It's not until 140 million years after the Cambrian explosion, in the Devonian period, that we see trace metals increasing at a rate that would indicate whole ocean oxygenation."

A consortium for geochemical data

The black shale data were compiled as part of the Sedimentary Geochemistry and Paleoenvironments Project, a first in its field research consortium that brings together geochemical data in a standardised database for large-scale analysis.

"It's a very different approach than we’ve used in the field before," says Sperling, who launched the consortium in 2015. "Each individual research group, including ours, is still going out to the field and getting a snapshot of what's going on, but then we need to all come together to analyse things."

The analytical toolkit that Dr Stockey developed for this work could help researchers understand not only ancient oxygen levels, but also temperature, food supply, and other potential drivers of early evolution. Consortium members are also collecting new data to fill in periods of geologic time that are under-sampled and conducting analyses that expand into older and younger time intervals.

"To harness the power of these more advanced data science approaches, particularly for geological data, we need everyone to be speaking the same language," says Dr Stockey. "This community-driven data science approach has allowed us to be way more confident about the way we reconstruct Earth's evolution in space and time."

Sustained increases in atmospheric oxygen and marine productivity in the Neoproterozoic and Palaeozoic eras is published in Nature Geoscience.

New ‘digital twin’ of RRS Discovery sheds light on the lives of heroic Antarctic explorers

Using state-of-the-art technology, the team have created a highly accurate 3D representation of the entire ship, delivering exciting new insights into how the ship was built and used, and informing vital restoration work on the vessel.

Dr Michael Grant, from Coastal and Offshore Archaeological Research Services at the University of Southampton, said: “This digital twin provides an amazing opportunity for more people to explore this fascinating ship and learn about its history in a completely new way - including areas of the ship that cannot be accessed by the public.

“Through this we can obtain even greater insights into the lives of the people who explored the Antarctic over a century ago, providing the foundation for much of the ocean and climate science being undertaken today.”

The work is part of a fascinating project to digitise the Discovery Collections, creating highly detailed 3D scans of historic objects associated with the Discovery’s Antarctic expeditions between 1901 and 1931. The project will bring together dispersed collections of objects, scientific samples, documents, and the ship itself, which currently reside in several notable UK Institutions, including Dundee Heritage Trust’s Discovery Point Museum, the Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI) and National Oceanography Centre (NOC).

Creating the digital twin

The team undertook extensive digital recordings using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and laser scanners. The laser scanners allowed the team to precisely capture the shape, dimensions, and details of the ship. This was supplemented with LiDAR and photogrammetry surveys, resulting in the creation of a highly accurate 3D representation of the entire ship, both inside and outside.

LiDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, involves sending out laser pulses and measuring the time it takes for those pulses to bounce back from surrounding objects. This data is then used to create precise three-dimensional maps of the surveyed area. Photogrammetry involves analyzing overlapping images of a subject taken from different angles to deduce the size, shape, and position of objects within the images.

Dr Felix Pedrotti, from the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute at the University of Southampton, said: “With the rise of new technologies, such as laser scanners and UAVs, we can now create highly accurate digital twins. These digital replicas offer invaluable insights into the RRS Discovery, including its structures and layouts.”

The UK’s pioneering Antarctic ship

The Royal Research Ship (RRS) Discovery was built in Dundee and launched in 1901. It was the first ship in the world purpose-built for scientific research in ice-packed Antarctica, providing the ideal vessel for the first official British exploration of the region since the voyage of James Clark Ross sixty years earlier (1839–1843).

The 1901 expedition launched the careers of some of the leading figures in what was to become known as the ‘Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration’, including Robert Falcon Scott (who led the expedition), Ernest Shackleton, Edward Wilson, Frank Wild, Tom Crean and William Lashly. The RRS Discovery is the sole surviving UK ship from the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, which lasted between the end of the 19th century and the Shackleton–Rowett Expedition of 1921–1922.

The expedition carried out scientific research and geographical exploration in what was then largely an untouched continent. It was seen as a trailblazer for later ventures and a landmark in British Antarctic exploration history, with many notable discoveries including the Cape Crozier emperor penguin colony; snow-free dry valleys in the western mountains; the Antarctic plateau (upon which the South Pole is located); evidence that the Ice Barrier was a floating ice shelf; and the discovery of many new marine species.

Following further Antarctic expeditions in 1925 and 1929, as well as an extended period as a Sea Scout training ship based in London between 1931-1979, RRS Discovery returned to Dundee in 1986, where it has resided as a multi-award-winning visitor attraction operated by Dundee Heritage Trust, attracting over 80,000 visitors a year.

Dr Jack Pink, from the Centre for Maritime Archaeology at the University of Southampton, said: “RRS Discovery is significant not only as the ship that first took Commander Robert Falcon Scott to the Antarctic but also as Britain’s first bespoke scientific research vessel.

“The ship was foundational to the UK’s approach to science and research and the choices made in its design and construction influenced Arctic and Antarctic research for decades after its first voyage. The results of the scanning work we have done allow us to explore the ship and its people in a way that has never been done before, to study the entire ship in millimetric detail, informing our understanding of its preservation and allowing us to ask questions about its design, use, and the modifications made throughout its life. We can now explore how different crews lived and worked on the ship and understand the work they did through an entirely new perspective - that of the ship itself.”

Conservation work

The project provides essential information for the Dundee Heritage Trust (DHT) team as they progress the restoration of the ship. The age of this ship means that conservation is a necessary ongoing process, with the ship currently deteriorating in multiple areas, including parts of the internal hull, bow and propeller shaft. A £1.4m grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund has allowed the Trust to begin vital conservation work as part of a first phase of the Discovery’s full restoration.

Mel Ruth Oakley, Curator at DHT, said: “The opportunity to take part in this project is invaluable to Dundee Heritage Trust. As we embark on a major conservation project, this digital scan of the ship will provide us with a detailed record of the ship before the work. This is incredibly helpful in determining the conservation work we undertake. The scan can also be used by researchers and enjoyed by our visitors to provide a virtual tour of the ship.

“We are also very excited to have our collections digitally scanned along with the sister collections at NOC and SPRI. This project will bring these objects together through these digital tools – an amazing resource for anyone interested in Discovery’s story of science and exploration.”

100 Years of Discoveries

The production of this new digital model of the ship coincides with major centenary celebrations for the RRS Discovery. In 2023, the ship celebrated 100 years since her purchase by the British Government and the start of her refit, ready for the Discovery Oceanographic Expeditions as the first ever Royal Research Ship (RRS).

Next year marks the centenary of the first Discovery Oceanographic Expedition in Antarctic waters, between 1925-27, where further important scientific breakthroughs were made, including a greater understanding of whaling, the ecosystems of the great whales and saw the beginnings of conservation thinking.

Both centenary celebrations involve the current RRS Discovery, which was built in 2012 and is based at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton. This modern research vessel continues the proud tradition of its ancestral namesake, serving as a reminder of the UK’s world-leading ocean research capabilities and long-term commitment to scientific ocean research.

The new digital twin of the original RRS Discovery will play an important role in the 2025 centenary celebrations, providing new and exciting opportunities for engagement, education and accessibility to this important ship.

Dr Tammy Horton, Senior Research Scientist and manager of the Discovery Collections at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, said: “This digital model marks the beginning of an exciting project to bring together the stories of the RRS Discovery, which will ensure all the artefacts and findings of those early expeditions are available to all, enhancing our understanding of the work undertaken by the ship then and how this research continues today.”

The project is led by the University of Southampton, in partnership with Dundee Heritage Trust, the National Oceanography Centre and the Scott Polar Research Institute. The work is funded by the University of Southampton’s Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF).

Credit: Dundee Heritage Trust

Hope for long term antidepressant users as study shows half can come off drugs with simple support

Scientists found that more than 40 per cent of people who were well and not at risk of relapse managed to come off the medication with advice from their doctors.

They also discovered patients who could access online support and psychologists by phone had lower rates of depression, fewer withdrawal symptoms, and reported better mental wellbeing.

More than ten per cent of adults in the UK are taking antidepressants for depression with more than half using them for longer than two years, according to NHS figures.

The study, which was published in JAMA Network Open, was led by the universities of Southampton, Liverpool and Hull York Medical School.

Professor Tony Kendrick from Southampton was the lead author of the research, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

He said the findings are significant as they show high numbers of patients withdrawing from the drugs do not need costly intense therapy sessions.

He added: "This approach could eliminate the risk of serious side-effects for patients using antidepressants for long periods who have concerns about withdrawal.

"Offering patients internet and psychologist telephone support is also cost-effective for the NHS.

"Our findings show that support not only improves patient outcomes but also tends to reduce the burden on primary health care while people taper off antidepressants."

The scientists behind the study enrolled 330 adults who have been taking the medication for more than a year for a first episode of depression, or more than two years for a recurrence of the illness.

"The evidence in our study is clear and suggests the UK should establish a national helpline, by phone and online, to help people intending to come off the medication."

The new study is the latest in a seven-year research programme, named REDUCE, led by the universities to investigate the long-term effects of withdrawing from antidepressants.

He added: "This is the first study to demonstrate that stopping inappropriate long-term antidepressant treatment is possible at scale without psychological therapy.

"Antidepressants are recommended only for up to two years in most cases, and people are running the risk of increasing side effects as they get older.

"From our findings, we are calling for active family practitioner reviews for antidepressant discontinuation to be promoted."

Read the study in full at jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2820202.

Underwater mountains have a big impact on ocean circulation

The scientists have found it is an important mechanism in ocean mixing and one that is missing from climate models used in policymaking.

The findings, which were published in the journal PNAS, could be used to improve model forecasts of how the ocean will respond to global warming.

Since the 1960s scientists have theorised that seamounts might be ‘the stirring rods of the ocean’ and have probed waters around them, measuring the turbulent flow directly.

“But what was missing from the picture was a measure of how much this mattered at a global scale,” said co-author Professor Alberto Naveira Garabato, from the University of Southampton.

This new study helps resolve this longstanding mystery, showing how seamounts aid ocean circulation.

University’s India Centre marks five years by celebrating a landmark project

This is the first time the personal stories of 10 highly influential South Asians have been recorded and archived, with the Pioneers project charting how each of them has significantly shaped modern Britain, ensuring that their legacies are not forgotten.

Watch the video below to hear more about the project. Captions are available, just open settings to turn them on.

The culmination of the first phase of this research project – along with the fifth anniversary of the university’s India Centre for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development – was celebrated at a colourful event at the Turner Sims concert hall on Wednesday 10 July. The celebrations coincide with the national South Asian Heritage Month which starts on Thursday 18 July.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark E. Smith said: "The University of Southampton has a long and much valued relationship with India. This research project will play an important role in giving the historical context, showing how these pioneers have influenced and shaped Britain. This is a wonderful way to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the India Centre, which as grown so significantly."

New bid to tackle poor air quality in the South

Clean air campaigner Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah CBE was the guest speaker at the partnership’s inaugural event at the University of Southampton’s Future Towns Innovation Hub in Chilworth.

Rosamund spoke powerfully about the loss of her nine-year-old daughter Ella, whose death in 2013, was attributed to illegal levels of air pollution near their home. The family lived just 30 metres from London’s South Circular Road, one of the most polluted roads in Europe.

She said: "Air pollution is a silent killer and a pandemic, killing more people than Covid. On the days there is a spike in pollution, more people go to hospital. If we clean up the air it wouldn’t be such a burden on the NHS. My daughter died a horrible death and children continue to die from asthma. It is our right to breathe clean air and we will keep battling to be heard."

In the years since her daughter’s death, Rosamund has become one of the most powerful voices in the air pollution debate.

Her visit was arranged by Sir Stephen Holgate, Professor of Immunopharmacology at the University of Southampton. Rosamund and Stephen have worked closely for many years, and Stephen played a key role in the second inquest into Ella's death.

Professor Holgate said: “Rosamund has become one of the world’s most successful campaigners on clean air. Her personal story is such a powerful reminder about the human toll of air pollution. We really want to use this chance to accelerate work to improve air quality in the south with its unique air pollution issues.”

Air pollution is linked to up to 43,000 deaths a year in the UK and is the largest environmental impact to our health with children, the elderly and clinically vulnerable, most impacted.

Clean Air South aims to improve air quality by connecting health researchers with policy makers. Jointly led by Wessex Health Partners and the Sustainability and Resilience Institute (SRI), part of the University of Southampton, the partnership brings together expertise in research, innovation and education.

Craig Hutton, Professor of Sustainability Science & Director of the Sustainability & Resilience Institute (SRI), said: “The University of Southampton has a strong applied research interest in clean air, particularly in terms of understanding how the most vulnerable in society are disproportionately impacted.

“We are pleased to be working with such a diverse group of stakeholders and believe this approach will support the development of an appropriate evidence base to support the needs of our local and regional decision makers.”

Christine McGrath, Wessex Health Partners Managing Director added: “We know polluted air, indoor and outdoor, is a major threat to health in the south and exacerbates health inequalities. This includes communities in areas of higher pollution, such as those living close to busy roads, children, the elderly and those with long term health conditions.

"With the right research in place, and by linking people together, we can support policymakers to enact bold policies which drive change and protect our most vulnerable residents."

Rosamund also spoke to medical students, nurses and consultants at University Hospital Southampton (UHS) to hear first-hand about the education underway to ensure there is greater awareness of the impact of air pollution in relation to patients in their care.

After meeting Professor Diana Eccles, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Southampton, Rosamund also visited the NIHR Clinical Research Facility where trials are underway to improve treatments for children with asthma and other conditions.

Dr Thom Daniels, consultant respiratory physician at UHS, said: “Poor air quality is one of the major public health challenges of our time, contributing to the shortened lives, poor health and deaths of thousands of people in the UK.

"We were delighted to welcome Rosamund to our hospital, giving her the chance to hear and see some of the work we are doing around this vitally important issue, including leading the way with clinical research that aims to provide better treatment and outcomes for our patients."

University celebrates the class of 2024

A total of 18 ceremonies are being held over seven days – with 17 of those taking place in the O2 Guildhall Southampton.

The 18th will be at Winchester Cathedral for graduates from the university’s Winchester School of Art.

A total of 4,700 students will pick up their undergraduate degrees, masters degrees and postgraduate qualifications.

The ceremonies will see the university’s two new Chancellors officially appointed to their posts. The Rt Hon Justine Greening and Lord Kamlesh Patel of Bradford will be joint Chancellors for an initial five-year term.

The Chancellor is a ceremonial figurehead, presiding over graduation ceremonies and acting as an ambassador for the university.

Ms Greening (pictured), who graduated from Southampton with a degree in Business and Accounting in 1990, was an MP from 2005 to 2019 and has since been an active campaigner for social mobility and equal opportunity.

Lord Patel (pictured below) is a patron for the university’s India Centre for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development and Chair of the India Business Group. A former social worker, he later worked in academia and government roles relating to health, education and social care.

The University of Southampton is also awarding three honorary degrees at this summer’s graduation – for pioneers of the internet, health, and psychology.

Honorary degrees recognise those whose contributions and achievements are an inspiration, and whose expertise is valued nationally and globally.

Honorary graduates this summer are Vinton G Cerf, co-designer of the architecture of the internet, Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Advisor for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), and eminent psychologist Gerd Gigerenzer.

Vinton Cerf said: "I feel especially honored by this degree from the University of Southampton, not least because of its connection with the Optoelectronics Research Centre and its distinguished leader, Professor Sir David Payne. It was through Sir David that I came to know the University and its prominence. I will carry that respect and gratitude with me from this time forward."

And Gerd Gigerenzer said: “I feel truly honoured and privileged to receive this honorary degree from the University of Southampton. I hope that my research on decision making under uncertainty can assist the scientific community and the university leadership to make good decisions in these uncertain times.”

Professor Mark E. Smith, the university’s President and Vice-Chancellor, said: “Graduation is such a special event for the university, as we rightfully celebrate and congratulate our fantastic students for their achievements, and wish them well as they progress onto the next stage of their careers.

“It’s also a great opportunity to raise a glass to the commitment and dedication of our staff who have supported the students through their studies.”

10 years on from MH17: Using AI to boost global aviation safety

Highlighting the huge global discrepancies and the bias in current methods of calculating risks associated with flying over conflict zones, academics from the university’s Department of Decision Analytics and Risk, in the Centre for Risk Research, have developed algorithms that use artificial intelligence to predict the likelihood of a shoot-down.

They are collaborating with world-leading aviation security and risk management company Osprey Flight Solutions to encourage adoption of their AI by global aviation companies.

Their work coincides with the 10th anniversary of MH17, one of the world’s most notorious and devastating aircraft shootings. In July 2014, all 298 passengers and crew were killed when flight MH17, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down by Russian-controlled forces over Ukraine.

Mario Brito, Professor of Risk Analysis and Risk Management, and PhD student Stanislav Bukhman are behind the AI solution to predicting aviation risk.

Professor Brito said: “Current methods for calculating risk associated with flying over conflict zones are based on matrices that rely on the expertise of those using them – and are subject to bias. Using AI would significantly enhance aviation safety. The method we have developed is easy to use, apply and understand.”

The AI works by learning from past aviation security events to assess the relationship between overflight security events, conflict characteristics, and geopolitical factors. It can quantify the overflight risk for different operation scenarios and conflict types, enabling civil airliners to make risk-informed judgments about flight routes.

Professor Brito added: “With an increase in the armour capability, and an increase in conflict, the safe airspace through which civil airliners can navigate is shrinking. The current standards do not provide means to quantify the risk of civil aircraft shoot down.”

The airline industry transports billions of people around the world every year. In 2022, there were 2.3 billion passenger journeys. A number of conflict zones in the world makes route planning, especially for long-haul flights, very complex.

The Aviation Safety Network has records of more than 300 cases of civil aircraft shot down between 1946 and 2022. As well as high profile cases such as MH17, these include the shooting down of an aircraft carrying military supplies in May 2020 due to misidentification by the Ethiopian military; a passenger plane shot down during military exercises over the Black Sea in 2001; and a cargo plane hit by a missile shortly after departure from Baghdad airport in 2003.

Andrew Nicholson, CEO Osprey Flight Solutions, said: “Distressingly, we have seen a misidentification and shoot down incident involving a civilian aircraft about once every six years on average. On top of this, there are other risks from drones and missiles, and there are many near-misses. So, the subject of aviation safety is a concern for everyone who gets in an aircraft, and it is absolutely critical that we can calculate risks to the best of our ability.”

He added: “Several governments around the world, for example, have historically prohibited flights over Afghanistan, during periods when there was no risk of the plane being shot down. But this has forced aircraft to operate in other areas where, perhaps, they are at much greater risk of a catastrophic mis-identification incident. Politics conflicting with safety is a real issue. Every country has a different method of assessing the risk.”

300 miles of pedal power for oesophageal cancer research

And the University of Southampton professor behind the world-leading research is donning his lycra to take part.

Funds raised will go towards ongoing research that is cracking the code of why oesophageal cancer has such a high rate of recurrence. Seventy per cent of patients get it again.

Tim Underwood, Professor of Gastrointestinal Surgery, and his team based at University Hospital Southampton, have discovered a rare mutant cancer cell that remains – hidden – post-treatment in some patients, allowing the cancer to return.

Professor Underwood said: “These cells appear to be hidden from conventional methods of detection, they have the characteristics of cancer stem cells and they could be the reason that oesophageal cancer comes back in some patients where standard assessment suggests complete cancer eradication. This has profound implications for new treatment strategies that aim to spare patients surgery, our data questions the safety of this approach.”

The two-day cycle challenge, on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 July, has been organised by Nicola and Jeremy Packer (pictured below), from Alton, in aid of Professor Underwood’s research. Nicola was motivated to organise the challenge following her own fight against oesophageal cancer. She received her diagnosis in 2021, at the age of 53. What followed was a gruelling course of treatment, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy and major surgery performed by Professor Underwood to remove her oesophagus.

“At the end of my treatment, I said I would do anything in my power to help other people not go through the mill like I did,” she said.

Now a member of Professor Underwood’s Strategic Oversight Team, Nicola has visited his research labs. “I was so moved, looking at the work they do and the passion behind the team,” she said. They are on the cusp of some really important innovations that will be translated across cancer.”

On the cycle challenge, Professor Underwood said: “I’m really delighted that Nicola and Jeremy are organising this to support our research, that’s a real honour and will support us in our mission to get the better of oesophageal cancer. I’m a fairly keen cyclist – but have to admit 300 miles is slightly out of my comfort zone!”

Nicola plans to join a ‘B Team’ of cyclists on Saturday, collaboratively riding at least 300 miles on spin bikes at Everyone Active in Alton, whilst Jeremy will join the B Team on Saturday and then take on the second 150 miles with Professor Underwood on Sunday.

To sponsor Professor Underwood, Nicola and Jeremy Packer, and the other cyclists, in aid of the University of Southampton’s Cancer Immunology Fund, visit their JustGiving page.

Development of ‘living robots’ needs regulation and public debate

In a paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences a multidisciplinary team from the University of Southampton and universities in the US and Spain set out the unique ethical issues this technology presents and the need for proper governance.

Combining living materials and organisms with synthetic robotic components might sound like something out of science fiction, but this emerging field is advancing rapidly. Bio-hybrid robots using living muscles can crawl, swim, grip, pump, and sense their surroundings. Sensors made from sensory cells or insect antennae have improved chemical sensing. Living neurons have even been used to control mobile robots.

Dr Rafael Mestre from the University of Southampton, who specialises in emergent technologies and is co-lead author of the paper, said: "The challenges in overseeing bio-hybrid robotics are not dissimilar to those encountered in the regulation of biomedical devices, stem cells and other disruptive technologies. But unlike purely mechanical or digital technologies, bio-hybrid robots blend biological and synthetic components in unprecedented ways. This presents unique possible benefits but also potential dangers."

Research publications relating to bio-hybrid robotics have increased continuously over the last decade. But the authors found that of the more than 1,500 publications on the subject at the time, only five considered its ethical implications in depth.

The paper's authors identified three areas where bio-hybrid robotics present unique ethical issues: Interactivity – how bio-robots interact with humans and the environment, Integrability – how and whether humans might assimilate bio-robots (such as bio-robotic organs or limbs), and Moral status.

In a series of thought experiments, they describe how a bio-robot for cleaning our oceans could disrupt the food chain, how a bio-hybrid robotic arm might exacerbate inequalities, and how increasing sophisticated bio-hybrid assistants could raise questions about sentience and moral value.

"Bio-hybrid robots create unique ethical dilemmas," says Aníbal M. Astobiza, an ethicist from the University of the Basque Country in Spain and co-lead author of the paper. "The living tissue used in their fabrication, potential for sentience, distinct environmental impact, unusual moral status, and capacity for biological evolution or adaptation create unique ethical dilemmas that extend beyond those of wholly artificial or biological technologies."

The paper is the first from the Biohybrid Futures project led by Dr Rafael Mestre, in collaboration with the Rebooting Democracy project. Biohybrid Futures is setting out to develop a framework for the responsible research, application, and governance of bio-hybrid robotics.

The paper proposes several requirements for such a framework, including risk assessments, consideration of social implications, and increasing public awareness and understanding.

Dr Matt Ryan, a political scientist from the University of Southampton and a co-author on the paper, said: "If debates around embryonic stem cells, human cloning or artificial intelligence have taught us something, it is that humans rarely agree on the correct resolution of the moral dilemmas of emergent technologies.

"Compared to related technologies such as embryonic stem cells or artificial intelligence, bio-hybrid robotics has developed relatively unattended by the media, the public and policymakers, but it is no less significant. We want the public to be included in this conversation to ensure a democratic approach to the development and ethical evaluation of this technology."

In addition to the need for a governance framework, the authors set out actions that the research community can take now to guide their research.

"Taking these steps should not be seen as prescriptive in any way, but as an opportunity to share responsibility, taking a heavy weight away from the researcher's shoulders," says Dr Victoria Webster-Wood, a biomechanical engineer from Carnegie Mellon University in the US and co-author on the paper.

"Research in bio-hybrid robotics has evolved in various directions. We need to align our efforts to fully unlock its potential."

Ethics and responsibility in bio-hybrid robotics research is published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and is available online.

MS progression linked to immune response outside the brain

The Systemic Inflammation in Multiple Sclerosis (SIMS) study, funded by the MS Society, followed 50 people living with progressive forms of MS for two and a half years. Researchers measured inflammation in the body by looking at a weekly urine sample.

This inflammation can be caused by a number of factors, including infections, other medical conditions, trauma and an unhealthy lifestyle.

MS is caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. Over time this can lead to the loss of nerves, which causes MS progression. Research in animals has shown that inflammation outside the brain can exacerbate this process, but researchers wanted to understand whether this happens in people with MS.

The study also builds on previous research which has found that infections can sometimes trigger a relapse or temporary worsening of symptoms in MS. This new study suggests that inflammation, which can be caused by infections like colds, flu and UTIs (urinary tract infections), is linked with the loss of nerve cells in the spinal cord – which is a major underlying cause of MS progression.

Professor Ian Galea, neurologist from the University of Southampton and lead researcher on SIMS says: “Our results build on decades of research showing inflammation causes nerve cell loss in the laboratory. Now we've shown a connection between inflammation and loss of cells in the spinal cord in humans. And in the future, lab research could help us understand what's going on at a molecular level when this inflammation happens – which could perhaps help us develop new drug treatments.

“The results of this study suggest it is important for people with MS to minimise inflammation where they can. This includes receiving all recommended vaccinations and seeking prompt attention for bladder infections. Following a healthy lifestyle could also be beneficial, as factors like smoking, alcohol and obesity are linked to inflammation. And as health care professionals we can help too, by talking about these things with our patients so they have the facts they need.”

Over 150,000 people live with MS in the UK, with 135 diagnosed each week. The condition affects the brain and spinal cord, impacting how people move, think and feel. Symptoms are different for everyone, but can include fatigue, pain, vision problems and mobility issues. Most people are diagnosed in their 30s or 40s, but it can affect people of all ages, ethnic backgrounds and genders.

One of the study’s participants was Richard Humpston (43), from Portsmouth, who was diagnosed with primary progressive MS in 2014. Richard is now medically retired, but he previously worked within the NHS on a neurological rehabilitation ward. His symptoms include difficulty with walking and bladder issues.

Richard says: “I participated in the SIMS study, which meant freezing my urine every week and going into hospital for various tests and check-ups. I was told afterwards that there was some evidence that I had urine infections during the study. The results of this trial have highlighted how vital it is for me to stay hydrated to avoid this type of infection in future. And it also makes me realise how important it is to know the signs and symptoms of having a UTI, and to get help as soon as possible for any infection.

“For me, getting involved in research is all about making things better for people in the future and making sure we have better understanding about what MS is. When I was first diagnosed there was no disease modifying treatments (DMTs) at all for people with my type of MS, but now I’m on a licensed DMT which has improved my life – thanks to research we’ve already made so much progress.”

Dr Clare Walton, Head of Research at the MS Society, says: “This study gives us vital insight into the relationship between inflammation outside the brain and MS progression. We know that bladder infections in particular are very common for the 150,000 people who live with MS in the UK. This research highlights how important it is for people with MS to recognise the symptoms and seek help early for urinary infections, and to take up any vaccinations they are eligible for.

“The findings also demonstrate the need for access to good and timely primary care, with GPs who understand the risk of infections and MS progression. And we need to see improved waiting times for specialist services like urology for people with MS experiencing urinary problems and repeat UTIs.”

Joint Chancellors welcomed at University of Southampton graduation ceremony

Rt Hon Justine Greening and Lord Patel of Bradford were officially welcomed to the University during Tuesday’s graduation ceremony (23 July).

More than 4,000 jubilant students will have collected their undergraduate degrees, masters degrees and postgraduate qualifications during this year’s ceremonies in Southampton’s O2 Guildhall and Winchester Cathedral.

Ms Greening, who graduated from Southampton with a degree in Business and Accounting in 1990,
was an MP from 2005 to 2019, serving as Secretary of State for Education for two years. She’s since
been an active campaigner for social mobility and equal opportunity.

She said: “The University of Southampton led to so many opportunities and experiences for me as a
student, so I am delighted to be taking up the role of Chancellor.

“Inspiring social mobility initiatives such as the Ignite programme, which provides support for
underrepresented students, is making a real difference to people’s lives.

“Congratulations to all those who are graduating.”

Lord Patel is a patron for the University’s India Centre for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable
Development and Chair of the India Business Group. A former social worker, he later worked in
academia and government roles relating to health, education and social care.

He said: “Graduation is such a special occasion for the students, their families and all the teachers
who have helped them along the way.

“I’m proud to be involved and look forward to many more graduation ceremonies in the future.”

President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton, Professor Mark E. Smith, said: “The
appointment of joint Chancellors is a first for the University of Southampton and possibly for the UK
and I look forward to working with them both in support of our University’s growth and continued
success.”

The Chancellor is a ceremonial figurehead, presiding over graduation ceremonies and acting as an ambassador for the university.

Joint Chancellors welcomed at University of Southampton graduation ceremony

Rt Hon Justine Greening and Lord Patel of Bradford were officially welcomed to the University during Tuesday’s graduation ceremony (23 July).

She said: “The University of Southampton led to so many opportunities and experiences for me as a
student, so I am delighted to be taking up the role of Chancellor.

“Inspiring social mobility initiatives such as the Ignite programme, which provides support for
underrepresented students, is making a real difference to people’s lives.

“Congratulations to all those who are graduating.”

He said: “Graduation is such a special occasion for the students, their families and all the teachers
who have helped them along the way.

“I’m proud to be involved and look forward to many more graduation ceremonies in the future.”

The Chancellor is a ceremonial figurehead, presiding over graduation ceremonies and acting as an ambassador for the university.

Scientists uncover hidden forces causing continents to rise

They have found that when tectonic plates break apart, powerful waves are triggered deep within the Earth that can cause continental surfaces to rise by over a kilometre.

Their findings help resolve a long-standing mystery about the dynamic forces that shape and connect some of the Earth’s most dramatic landforms – expansive topographic features called ‘escarpments’ and ‘plateaus’ that profoundly influence climate and biology.

The new research, led by the University of Southampton, examined the effects of global tectonic forces on landscape evolution over hundreds of millions of years. The findings are published in the journal Nature.

Tom Gernon, Professor of Earth Science at the University of Southampton and lead author of the study said: “Scientists have long suspected that steep kilometre-high topographic features called Great Escarpments — like the classic example encircling South Africa — are formed when continents rift and eventually split apart. However, explaining why the inner parts of continents, far from such escarpments, rise and become eroded has proven much more challenging. Is this process even linked to the formation of these towering escarpments? Put simply, we didn’t know.”

The vertical motions of the stable parts of continents, called cratons, remain one of the least understood aspects of plate tectonics.

The team from the University of Southampton, including Dr Thea Hincks, Dr Derek Keir, and Alice Cunningham, collaborated with colleagues from the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam – GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences and the University of Birmingham to address this fundamental question.

Their results help explain why parts of the continents previously thought of as ‘stable’ experience substantial uplift and erosion, and how such processes can migrate hundreds or even thousands of kilometres inland, forming sweeping elevated regions known as plateaus, like the Central Plateau of South Africa.

The Drakensberg escarpment in Southern Africa. Credit: Prof Jean Braun, GFZ Potsdam

Linking diamonds with landscape evolution

Building on their study linking diamond eruptions to continental breakup, published last year in Nature, the team used advanced computer models and statistical methods to interrogate how the Earth’s surface has responded to the breakup of continental plates through time.

They discovered that when continents split apart, the stretching of the continental crust causes stirring movements in Earth’s mantle (the voluminous layer between the crust and the core).

Professor Sascha Brune, who leads the Geodynamic Modelling Section at GFZ Potsdam, said: “This process can be compared to a sweeping motion that moves towards the continents and disturbs their deep foundations.”

Professor Brune and Dr Anne Glerum, also based at Potsdam, ran simulations to investigate how this process unfolds. The team noticed an interesting pattern: the speed of the mantle ‘waves’ moving under the continents in their simulations closely match the speed of major erosion events that swept across the landscape in Southern Africa following the breakup of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana.

The scientists pieced together evidence to propose that the Great Escarpments originate at the edges of ancient rift valleys, much like the steep walls seen at the margins of the East African Rift today. Meanwhile, the rifting event also sets about a ‘deep mantle wave’ that travels along the continent’s base at about 15-20 kilometres per million years.

They believe that this wave convectively removes layers of rock from the continental roots.

“Much like how a hot-air balloon sheds weight to rise higher, this loss of continental material causes the continents to rise – a process called isostasy,” said Professor Brune.

Building on this, the team modelled how landscapes respond to this mantle-driven uplift. They found that migrating mantle instabilities give rise to a wave of surface erosion that lasts tens of millions of years and moves across the continent at a similar speed. This intense erosion removes a huge weight of rock that causes the land surface to rise further, forming elevated plateaus.

“Our landscape evolution models show how a sequence of events linked to rifting can result in an escarpment as well as a stable, flat plateau, even though a layer of several thousands of meters of rocks has been eroded away”, explained Jean Braun, Professor of Earth Surface Process Modelling at GFZ Potsdam, also based at the University of Potsdam.

The team’s study provides a new explanation for the puzzling vertical movements of cratons far from the edges of continents, where uplift is more common.

Dr Steve Jones, Associate Professor in Earth Systems at the University of Birmingham, added: “What we have here is a compelling argument that rifting can, in certain circumstances, directly generate long-lived continental scale upper mantle convection cells, and these rift-initiated convective systems have a profound effect on Earth’s surface topography, erosion, sedimentation and the distribution of natural resources.”

The team has concluded that the same chain of mantle disturbances that trigger diamonds to quickly rise from Earth’s deep interior also fundamentally shape continental landscapes, influencing a host of factors from regional climates and biodiversity to human settlement patterns.

Professor Gernon, who was awarded a major philanthropic grant from the WoodNext Foundation, administered by Greater Houston Community Foundation, to study global cooling, explained that continental breakup disturbs not only the deep layers of the Earth but also has effects that reverberate across the surface of the continents, previously thought to be stable.

“Destabilising the cores of the continents must have impacted ancient climates too,” concluded Professor Gernon.

National award for Southampton academic’s impact on higher education

Neil, Principal Teaching Fellow within the university’s Centre for Higher Education Practice (CHEP), is dedicated to developing networks and communities for both students and staff to make the most of peer support and collaborative learning.

National Teaching Fellowships, awarded by Advance HE, recognise those who have made an outstanding impact on student outcomes and on teaching in higher education. A total of 55 fellowships have been awarded across the UK today.

Neil, who has worked at the University of Southampton since 2016, said: “I’m delighted to receive this National Teaching Fellowship, and it’s a great opportunity to shine a light on the peer support work I am so keen to advance. There is a growing recognition of the value of peer support and collaboration for both students and staff, and a recognition that we don’t have to work in isolation or silos. I am lucky to work in a role that is focused on advancing connections and communities within higher education – it’s a real joy.”

His passion for peer support stems from his personal experience as a student. He said: “I was the first generation in my family to go to university, and I encountered challenges establishing my student identity and understanding how to learn at university. In particular, I found it hard to develop my focus for independent learning and understanding academic expectations at this level.”

His work has supported students to get more out of their time at university. He has improved induction processes, introduced dissertation support, and secured funding to develop paid opportunities for student ‘peer leaders’ to support other students with transitioning to university.

In his current role as an academic developer, he supports staff to become excellent teachers through mentoring, workshops, training and peer support.

Neil is a founder and co-chair of regional and national networks for peer support practitioners – the South-West Regional Peer Support Network and the Association for Peer Learning and Support.

Alison Johns, Advance HE Chief Executive, said: “We know that higher education has the power to transform lives but this doesn’t happen by default. Outstanding teaching is the result of knowledge, commitment, passion, energy and creativity. All of the 2024 winners demonstrate these attributes and put them into practice with excellent results.”

Researchers unlock life secrets of Jurassic mammals using X-ray imaging

Using a technique called synchrotron X-ray tomography to image growth rings in fossilised tooth roots, the researchers were able to estimate lifespans, growth rates, and even the timing of sexual maturity in these ancient creatures.

"This is the first time we've been able to reconstruct the growth patterns of these early mammals in such detail,” says Dr Elis Newham, Postdoctoral Research Associate at Queen Mary University of London and Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellow at the University of Bonn, first author of the study.

"By studying the spacing and texture of these growth rings, we can not only tell how fast they grew at different stages of life, but also make inferences about their metabolism and overall life history."

Dr Neil Gostling, Associate Professor of Evolution and Palaeobiology at the University of Southampton, a coauthor on the study said: “It is truly amazing the way that technology, specifically Computed Tomography, has allowed us to mine every spec of data out of these remarkable fossils.

“Palaeontology is no longer a Victorian science, grubbing around in the dirt, or in museum collections, describing curios of preservation - although that is fun. It is a modern science explaining the minutia of these animals’ life histories.”

The findings challenge previous assumptions about the growth patterns of mammal ancestors, and suggestions that these animals may have grown more similarly to modern mammals. Instead, this paper answers the question posed by similar recent studies of early mammal ancestors: ‘when did the modern mammal life history evolve?’

The researchers found that the first signs of the modern mammal growth pattern – high growth rates in young animals that are arrested at puberty - originated amongst the earliest true mammals around 130 million years ago. In earlier evolving “mammaliaforms” there was comparatively little change through life.

However, like mammaliaforms, early mammals still grew more slowly and lived for much longer than today’s small mammals like rats and mice, reaching maximum lifespans anywhere between eight to 14 years-of-age. The timing of this growth rate change, alongside changes in the structure of growth rings, indicates when these animals underwent puberty, and potentially when they became sexually mature.

“This data suggests that while living small-bodied mammals are sexually mature within months from birth, the earliest mammals took several years to reach sexual maturity, corroborating recent findings for one of our studied animals, Krusatodon,” said Dr Pam Gill, co-lead of the study and Scientific Associate at the Natural History Museum London and University of Bristol.

“We further find here that this long, drawn out life history was common amongst early mammals all the way through the Jurassic.”

Dr Newham explains: "These results suggest that the unique life history traits of mammals, like high metabolic rates and extended parental care, evolved gradually over millions of years. The Jurassic period appears to be a pivotal time in this evolution."

CT “slice” of a fossilized tooth root of the Late Jurassic mammaliaform Haldanodon.

The research team used a technique called synchrotron X-ray tomography to image tiny growth rings in fossilized root cementum, the boney tissue attaching teeth to the jaw. These rings are similar to those found in trees, but on a microscopic scale. By counting the rings and analyzing their thickness and texture, the researchers were able to reconstruct the growth patterns and lifespans of these extinct animals.

"This study is a great example of how new technologies are revolutionizing our understanding of the deep past," says Professor Thomas Martin of the University of Bonn, a senior co-author of the study. "By peering into these fossilised teeth, we can gain valuable insights into the lives of creatures that lived millions of years ago."

Dr Jen Bright, co-author of the study and Zoology programme director at the University of Hull, added “"It’s been so exciting to be involved in this project. Putting Jurassic fossils into a particle accelerator (the synchrotron) and reconstructing the past from it sounds like science fiction, but we can actually do it!"

This study involved participation of members from Queen Mary University of London, the University of Southampton, The University of Bonn, The Natural History Museum London, the University of Helsinki, the Geological Survey of Finland, the University of Hull, the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (France), the College of Osteopathic Medicine (United States), the University of Bristol, and the University of Edinburgh.

The origins of mammal growth patterns during the Jurassic mammalian radiation is published in Science Advances and is available online.

ADHD medications hit by supply shortages important to improve quality of life

The findings published online today (8 August 2024) in The Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry throw the likely impact of shortages of certain ADHD medications into sharp relief.

“It is deeply concerning to think of the impact on people who cannot access their medication due to supply shortages or for other reasons,” says Professor Samuele Cortese from the University of Southampton, senior author on the paper.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is primarily characterised by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. These core symptoms can negatively impact social interactions and relationships, work, education, and the ability to perform daily tasks.

“People with ADHD report lower quality of life in areas such as work productivity, social and family life, and self-esteem, compared to their neurotypical peers,” says Dr Alessio Bellato, a lecturer in Psychology at the University of Southampton and lead author of the paper.

“This study shows that medications play an important role in improving quality of life for those with the condition.”

The researchers conducted the first systematic review and meta-analysis investigating the effects of stimulant (amphetamines and methylphenidate) and non-stimulant (atomoxetine) drugs for ADHD on quality of life.

They included 17 placebo-controlled trials, encompassing over five thousand participants in the analysis. Trials were drawn from the MED-ADHD dataset, the largest dataset of trials of ADHD medication, set up by Professor Cortese and international collaborators.

Both stimulant and non-stimulant drugs were significantly more effective in improving quality of life than placebo. However, the study also found that while the effects of these drugs on the core ADHD symptoms are usually medium to high, the impact on quality of life was in the small-to-medium range.

Professor David Coghill from the University of Melbourne, a co-author on the paper, added: “This disparity shows that, for most people, targeting core symptoms through medication alone is unlikely be enough to counter the impact of ADHD on quality of life. More research is needed to find out whether combining medication with other approaches can lead to further improvements in well-being, and what types of support might be most effective in situations where medication is not available.”

“More research is also needed to better understand how these medications affect quality of life,” says Dr Bellato. “It could be that reducing the core symptoms of ADHD (inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity) leads to more efficient task management and this results in better academic and professional outcomes. Medications may also help to stabilise emotional dysregulation, which might promote emotional well-being and higher self-esteem.”

“Considering that ADHD medication might not be acceptable, effective, or well tolerated for everyone with ADHD, more research is needed to evaluate alternative approaches, including psychological interventions.”

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Effects of Pharmacological Treatment for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder on Quality of Life is published in The Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and is available online.

Ambitious study exploring how marine life helps the ocean store carbon

A combination of field research and cutting-edge autonomous tech will provide rare in situ observations across a whole seasonal cycle - with intense sampling across the most biologically active seasons.

Scientists know that marine organisms play a critical role in storing carbon in the ocean that might otherwise remain in the atmosphere.

However, recent evidence suggests that climate models are not fully accounting for the impact of potential changes in biological processes. This could hinder predictions of the ocean’s role in future carbon storage at a critical time.

The BIO-Carbon programme, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), will help deliver the understanding necessary to make robust predictions for how oceanic carbon storage may alter under climate change.

Scientists have already completed the first of two expeditions, this time onboard NOC’s world-leading research vessel the RRS Discovery in the North Atlantic, south of Iceland.

Addressing critical climate challenges

The fieldwork and programme seek to address three critical challenges.

Led by Professor Mark Moore, from the University of Southampton, one project is exploring primary production, the process by which carbon is removed from the surface of the ocean and transformed into organic matter.

Primary production supports virtually all life in the sea. By combining experiments conducted on board RRS Discovery with observations made by a fleet of robots and drifting floats throughout the year, Mark and his team are examining the relative importance of the availability of light and nutrients, as well as consumption by larger organisms, in controlling this key process.

Professor Moore says: “We know that upper ocean productivity is a critical first stage in the biological storage of carbon in the ocean, but we still lack the comprehensive year-round measurements which will enable us to really understand how these processes are controlled. The combination of multiple cruises with new robotic platforms represents an exciting opportunity to close this observation gap.”

Another project led by Professor Stephanie Henson from NOC is gaining a better understanding of how climate change will affect the rate at which the marine ecosystem releases carbon dioxide by using organic carbon as a source of energy, in a process called respiration.

In addition to using advanced cameras and robots to examine how carbon in dead organisms is consumed as it sinks, Stephanie and her team have deployed a new piece of equipment that acts like a freely drifting mini laboratory, which is quantifying the rate at which organic material is being respired in situ.

Fieldwork led by Professor Alex Poulton from The Lyell Centre at Heriot-Watt University is gaining a better understanding of how specific organisms, called coccolithophores, which build intricate ‘shells’ through a process called calcification, can affect the ability of seawater to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

To do this, Alex and the team have undertaken novel measurements and experiments at sea, using an innovative suite of new sensors on the ship, on ocean robots and on satellites to look at how viral infection and consumption by small animals influence coccolithophore “blooms”, often referred to as “white waters” or “white tides” by sailors. During the Spring expedition, the team encountered a massive bloom of coccolithophores in the far northeast of the Atlantic. The current bloom in the Iceland Basin to the South of Iceland is roughly the size of Scotland.

Cutting-edge ocean robots

Additionally, a joint BIO-Carbon-FMRI mission has seen the use of two autonomous vehicles, Autosub Long Range (ALR) - better known as Boaty McBoatface. Both are equipped with a suite of cutting-edge sensors to analyse the biology and chemistry of the ocean.

The mission marked the first country to country deployment for an ALR, with ALR 4 crossing the Iceland Basin from Reykjavik to Harris, in the Scottish Outer Hebrides. This is also the first time NOC have deployed two ALRs simultaneously for one mission, pushing the boundaries of robotic ocean exploration.

Future fieldwork

The second BIO-Carbon expedition will take place this autumn onboard the NOC-operated RRS James Cook. The researchers will see the retrieval of the robotic platforms deployed on the spring expedition and a continuation of groundbreaking BIO-Carbon fieldwork.

To find out more about the BIO-Carbon programme and the fieldwork that is being undertaken, please visit: https://bio-carbon.ac.uk/

Mapping Southampton’s food health

Their project has looked at the impact that the current food system is having on public health and the environment.

They have highlighted city areas most in need of better access to healthy food options, and have produced a series of recommendations for improvement.

The project is supporting recommendations to ‘improve our knowledge and understanding of the food environment in the city’ and ‘develop the evidence base’ made following Southampton’s 'Tackling Childhood Obesity in Southampton' inquiry.

Rates of childhood obesity are higher than the England national average in Southampton, with 40.5 per cent of children aged 10 and 11 overweight or obese, compared to 36.6 per cent across England in 2022/23.

Dr Jenny Baverstock, Principal Enterprise Fellow in Biological Sciences and project lead at the university, said: “In addition to high rates of childhood obesity in Southampton, the evidence we gathered found that 41 per cent of residents responding to the city’s cost of living survey had experienced food insecurity. We have looked at the challenges holistically, analysing data and working with stakeholders such as community groups and food distribution organisations. This has enabled us to understand where and why there are challenges to accessing healthy food, and to make recommendations on improving the food system.”

They found that more than one in four homes in Southampton are more than a 16-minute walk from a healthy food outlet, where fresh fruit and vegetables and healthy options such as brown rice and bread are available. These homes were principally in areas of high deprivation.

“Getting fresh fruit and vegetables can be quite difficult, especially in areas of the city where access to healthy affordable food isn’t easy,” said Dr Baverstock.

Recommendations

The research team will be discussing its findings and recommendations with the city council’s Health and Wellbeing Board in September. The recommendations include:

More powerful procurement processes: To raise the standards expected of suppliers to provide better, healthier produce across the city.

Upskill and enable people: To ensure the city’s population is enabled to make healthier food choices by providing better options.

Build on existing projects and partnerships: Bring together existing food waste and food insecurity organisations, such as food banks and the food distribution charity the Big Difference. Encourage more people to get involved in them and work together.

A food partnership is currently forming in Southampton, bringing together those involved in the local food system with a shared aspiration to improve it. Both the University of Southampton and Southampton City Council are active participants in this partnership.

Dr Baverstock said: “It’s important to tackle the issues of healthy eating and sustainability at a local level, especially as there is an increased trend for obesity in Southampton. There are lessons to be learnt for other cities too for example Bristol, a city the team visited to hear about their food system transformation. The issues we have in Southampton are pertinent to other UK cities.”

Councillor Marie Finn, Cabinet Member for Adults and Health, Southampton City Council, said: “This exciting project will help us to develop a healthier, more sustainable food system for the future. Their work aligns with our council aspiration to reduce both high levels of childhood obesity and the food insecurity experienced by many. I look forward to the discussion around this at the Health and Wellbeing Board.”

Rethinking the Dodo

In a paper published today in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society researchers from the University of Southampton, Natural History Museum (NHM) and Oxford University Museum of Natural History have undertaken the most comprehensive review of the taxonomy of the Dodo and its closest relative, the Rodriguez Island Solitaire.

They’ve painstakingly gone through 400 years’ worth of scientific literature and visited collections around the UK to ensure this iconic species, embodying humanity’s destructive potential, is correctly classified.

“The Dodo was the first living thing that was recorded as being present and then disappeared,” says Dr Neil Gostling from the University of Southampton, supervising author of the paper. “Before this, it hadn’t been thought possible for human beings to influence God’s creation in such a way.

“This was a time before the scientific principles and systems we rely on to label and classify a species were in place. Both the Dodo and the Solitaire were gone before we had a chance to understand what we were looking at.”

Correcting the record

Much of what was written about the Dodo and the Solitaire was based on accounts from Dutch sailors, representations by artists, and incomplete remains.

The lack of a definitive reference point (type specimen) or convention to label species (zoological nomenclature) led to a series of misidentifications in the centuries following their extinction. New species such as the Nazarene Dodo, the White Dodo, and the White Solitaire were named, but the paper confirms that none of these creatures existed. Still, these erroneous ‘pebbles’ sent ripples through the waters of zoological literature.

“By the 18th and early 19th centuries, the Dodo and the Solitaire were considered to be mythological beasts,” says Dr Mark Young, lead author of the paper from the University of Southampton. “It was the hard work of Victorian-era scientists who finally proved that the Dodo and the Solitaire were not mythological but were giant ground doves.”

“Unfortunately, no one could agree how many species there had been,” continues Dr Young. “Throughout most of the 19th and 20th centuries, researchers thought there were three different species, although some people thought there had been four or even five different species.”

To unpick this confusion, researchers went through all the literature on the Dodo and Rodriguez Solitaire encompassing hundreds of accounts dating back to 1598 and visited specimens around the UK, including the world’s only surviving soft tissue from the Dodo, in the Oxford Museum.

“More has been written about the Dodo than any other bird, yet virtually nothing is known about it in life,” says Dr Julian Hume, an avian palaeontologist at the Natural History Museum and coauthor of the paper.

“Based on centuries of nomenclatural confusion, and some 400 years after its extinction, the Dodo and Solitaire, continue to prompt heated debate. We’ve gone from where the first statements were made, seen how these have developed, and identified various rabbit holes to correct the record, as best we can.”

Through this work, researchers were able to confirm that both birds were members of the columbid (pigeon and dove) family.

“Understanding its wider relationships with other pigeons is of taxonomic importance, but from the perspective of conservation, the loss of the dodo and the solitaire a few decades later means a unique branch of the pigeon family tree was lost,” says Dr Gostling. “There are no other birds alive today like these two species of giant ground dove.”

Challenging our misconceptions

The Dodo was an integral part of the ecosystem of Mauritius. Artwork by Julian Pender Hume.

The researchers believe the popular idea of the Dodo as a fat, slow animal, predestined for extinction is flawed.

“Even four centuries later, we have so much to learn about these remarkable birds,” says Dr Young. “Was the Dodo really the dumb, slow animal we’ve been brought up to believe it was? The few written accounts of live Dodos say it was a fast-moving animal that loved the forest.”

Dr Gostling adds: “Evidence from bone specimens suggests that the Dodo’s tendon which closed its toes was exceptionally powerful, analogous to climbing and running birds alive today. The dodo was almost certainly a very active, very fast animal.

“These creatures were perfectly adapted to their environment, but the islands they lived on lacked mammalian predators. So, when humans arrived, bringing rats, cats, and pigs, the Dodo and the Solitaire never stood a chance.

“Dodos held an integral place in their ecosystems. If we understand them, we might be able to support ecosystem recovery in Mauritius, perhaps starting to undo the damage that began with the arrival of humans nearly half a millennium ago.”

Learning ‘valuable lessons’

The study marks the beginning of a wider project to understand the biology of these iconic animals.

"The mystery of the Dodo bird is about to be cracked wide open," says Dr Markus Heller, Professor of Biomechanics at the University of Southampton, a coauthor on the paper.

"We have assembled a fantastic team of scientists to uncover the true nature of this famous extinct bird. But we are not just looking back in time - our research could help save today's endangered birds too."

Dr Heller explains: "Using cutting-edge computer technology, we are piecing together how the Dodo lived and moved. This isn't just about satisfying our curiosity. By understanding how birds evolved in the past, we are learning valuable lessons that could help protect bird species today."

"It's like solving a 300-year-old puzzle, and the solution might just help us prevent more birds from going the way of the Dodo."

Palaeoartist Karen Fawcett’s Dodo sculpture

The project will include work with palaeoartist Karen Fawcett, who has created a detailed, life-size model of the Dodo to bring the words on the pages of books and journal articles to life. She says: “This work has been the merging of science and art to achieve accuracy and realism so that these creatures come back from the dead, real and tangible for people to touch and see.”

The work is supported by the University of Southampton’s Institute for Life Sciences.

The Institute Director, Professor Max Crispin, says: “The Institute was delighted to support this exciting work which exemplifies Southampton’s strength in interdisciplinary research and advanced scholarship.”

The systematics and nomenclature of the Dodo and the Solitaire (Aves: Columbidae), and an overview of columbid family-group nomina is published in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.

Nurse staffing study

Researchers found that avoiding low nurse staffing levels lowers the risk of death among patients – particularly even when drafting in temporary registered nurses to maintain staffing levels. However, despite this, the risk of death remains elevated compared to when the ward is fully staffed by permanent nurses.

Findings from the study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (Wessex), are due to be published in the journal JAMA Network Open.

The research team conducted an observational study on 185 wards across four acute hospital trusts in England between 2015 and 2020 – amounting to a total of over 600, 000 patient admissions. The anonymised participants were adults with an overnight stay, and nursing staff on inpatient wards.

The study found that for each day of low staffing among registered nurses, the risk of patient death increased by 7.9 percent from the norm. The figure for nursing support staff was similar at 7.2 percent. However, this risk was partly, although not completely, mitigated by bringing in temporary staff.

Increasing temporary registered nurses on wards by 10 percent was associated with an increased risk of death of 2.3 percent – with no difference between using agency or hospital bank staff. The figure for nursing support staff saw an increased risk of death of 4 percent and agency staff from this group had a larger adverse impact than bank staff.

Commenting on the study, lead author Professor Peter Griffiths of the University of Southampton said: “Our study shows that addressing low staffing levels by using temporary staff to fill gaps is definitely beneficial in avoiding deaths on wards. The harm associated with low staffing is greater than using temporary staff to rectify shortfalls. However, our findings challenge the assumption that temporary staff are a cost-effective long-term solution to maintaining patient safety.”

The research also showed some evidence that having more senior staff on shift, within both registered nurses and nurse support roles, had some benefit, although there was some inconsistency within these results.

“Previous studies have supported a beneficial effect from using more senior staff within a team and our findings are consistent with this. This suggests the relatively new registered nurse associate role, which will increase the proportion of senior support staff on wards, does have some benefits,” comments Professor Griffiths.

The researchers, who partnered with Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust for the study, acknowledge that further work is needed to understand the role of temporary staff more fully and the effects of different staff mixes on other patient outcomes and quality of care.

Young people education choices

The research, funded by the Nuffield Foundation and also involving UCL, explores how socio-economic background affects the educational choices made by students when choosing GCSE subjects, post-16 pathways and then, possibly, higher education.

The investigators found that students with a lower SES think they have fewer chances of getting into university, even when they have good prior academic achievements.

“Our research shows that even if a young person is succeeding in their GCSE education, their social background still has a big influence on whether they think they have the ability to study A levels and successfully apply to university,” explains lead author Dr Nicola Pensiero of the Southampton Education School at the University of Southampton.

“It seems that students from a lower SES look to the status of their parents, their school peers and others around them to form an opinion of the socio-economic status they think they can attain. They place emphasis not only on what they have already achieved personally in their years at school, but also on the grouping they perceive they fit into.”

The report authors used longitudinal data on over 5,000 English children from the 1989/90 birth cohort study ‘Next Steps’ (formerly the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England). They received permission to link this data to records in the National Pupil Database (two to 21 year-olds) and the Individualised Learner Record (adults aged 19+), enabling them to gather rich insights into pupil performance, attitudes and choices.

The report finds that the type of secondary school children attend plays a substantial role in shaping the choice for English Baccalaureate (EBacc) GCSE subjects and A levels. Young people are more likely to study EBacc subjects (ie maths, English, sciences, history and geography) and A levels post-16 if they attend a secondary school which has a sixth form, achieves higher results at GCSEs, and where a greater number of children opt for EBacc subjects at GCSE and A levels.

The team’s research is among the first to examine the influence of peers on educational choice. Their analysis shows that a one percent increase in the proportion of a pupil’s school peers choosing to study A levels is associated with a three percent increase in the likelihood of that pupil choosing A levels at sixth form, rather than opting for vocational education.

Based on the findings of the report, the authors recommend that:

Students from lower socio-economic backgrounds need greater access to accurate information and programmes that encourage positive expectations.
Improving the provision and quality of post-16 vocational and technical qualifications would reduce the gap in quality and esteem between vocational and academic post-16 qualifications.
Policies should reduce the effect of school segregation by increasing enrolment of students in high-performing schools, monitoring school composition to reduce segregation by background, and reducing branching points in the education system – for example by providing a broader post-16 curriculum.

Dr Emily Tanner, Programme Head at the Nuffield Foundation said: "The findings of this report underline the importance of career guidance in addressing inequalities in pathways and outcomes. Students from lower socio-economic backgrounds need plentiful opportunities to engage with employers, understand their options for further study and develop confidence and self-belief."

The report emphasises that the educational choices young people make in adolescence in terms of their preferred subjects significantly impact their opportunities in adulthood. Therefore understanding what influences their decisions and what can be done to maximise their potential is vital.

More information about the University of Southampton's widening participation scheme is available here: Working with schools and colleges.

Just ten minutes of mindfulness daily boosts wellbeing and fights depression

In a new study published in the British Journal of Health Psychology, researchers from the Universities of Southampton and Bath have unveiled how just ten minutes of daily mindfulness practice can improve wellbeing, ease depression and anxiety, and help people to be more motivated to improve their lifestyle – including healthier exercise, eating and sleeping habits.

The research, which enrolled 1,247 adults from 91 countries, demonstrates that brief daily mindfulness sessions, delivered through a free mobile app Medito, can have profound benefits.

Participants, most of whom had no prior mindfulness experience, were randomly allocated to a month-long mindfulness routine or a control condition—listening to excerpts from Alice in Wonderland. Daily mindfulness sessions included relaxation exercises, intention-setting, body scans, breath-focused attention, and self-reflection.

The participants completed surveys on their mental health before starting the 30 days of mindfulness training and upon completing it. The results were striking. After mindfulness training participants using the mindfulness app reported:

Reduced Depression by 19.2% more than control group.
Improved Wellbeing by 6.9% more.
Decreased Anxiety by 12.6% more.
Attitudes to Health got more Positive by 7.1% over control group.
Behavioural Intentions to look after Health increased by 6.5% beyond control.

Co-author Dr Ben Ainsworth, who leads the Digital Intervention Group at the University of Southampton, said: “The research underscores how digital technology – in this case, a freely available app – can help people integrate behavioural and psychological techniques into their lives, in a way that suits them.”

The positive effects of mindfulness were largely maintained after 30 days. In survey follow-ups one month later (Day 61) the mindfulness group showed sustained improvements to their wellbeing, depression, attitudes, and even reporting better sleep quality.

In their feedback, participants highlighted numerous benefits from the mindfulness practice:

“Awareness, self-control, gratitude, I am more patient, and I take more joy from the present moment.”
“Clear mind. Feeling like everything's under control and I'll be able to do what I set my mind to.”
“Completing these meditation sessions has given me a better understanding of the function of my mind. They have helped me to gain a better insight on many things and shown me a different lens through which to look at the world. Words coming to mind: helpful, insightful and motivational.”

Excitingly, this trial was one of the first to show that the wellbeing and mental health benefits of mindfulness could arise from the changes to lifestyle behaviours it encourages. This highlights the potential of mindfulness practice for promoting healthier living, such as exercising regularly, which is what the team are eager to research next.

The study was conducted by psychologist Masha Remskar, an expert in behaviour change, mindfulness and exercise based at the University of Bath. She said: “This study highlights that even short, daily practices of mindfulness can offer benefits, making it a simple yet powerful tool for enhancing mental health.”

Of the findings linking mindfulness practice to healthier habits, Remskar said: “It’s exciting to see the benefits of mindfulness extending beyond depression, well-being and anxiety and into other health behaviours such as sleeping better and building stronger intentions to live a healthy lifestyle. Mindfulness builds the psychological skills you need to build healthy habits – we hope to show in future work that once you’ve got those skills you can use them to improve several health behaviours from exercising regularly to stopping smoking.”

Co-author Dr Max Western from the University of Bath added: “It is exciting to see that such a light-touch, affordable, intervention that has the potential to reach a large global audience can have an impact on healthy lifestyle behaviours. It is even more encouraging that these benefits were sustained after the mindfulness course ended, suggesting this practice can help build sustainable habits.”

The study was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and done in collaboration with the Medito Foundation – a mindfulness non-profit dedicated to fostering a more mindful world. Medito has developed a mindfulness meditation app as a free alternative to well-known services requiring monthly subscription payments. Participants in the study completed Medito’s “30 Day Challenge,” but the Foundation had no involvement with data collection, analysis, or the scientific publication process.

Revolutionary therapy cures patient’s ‘terminal’ cancer

Two years later and now totally cancer free, Allan was one of the first patients to receive a revolutionary therapy, called CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T cell therapy, at University Hospital Southampton.

His story is featured in a new three-part documentary filmed with the late Dr Michael Mosley shortly before the television doctor's untimely death in June. Wonders of the Human Body was shown on Channel 5 at 8pm on Thursday 22 August.

CAR T cell therapy uses a patient’s own modified immune cells to kill off their cancer. University Hospital Southampton was the first hospital in the South East to offer the therapy.

Allan, 76, from Sturminster Newton in Dorset, was diagnosed with stage 4b diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph glands, in 2022. It was advanced and had spread to form lesions on his bones, and he was told there was no cure.

A royal letter

Shortly after his diagnosis, Allan received a letter from King Charles, who had been informed by a mutual friend. Allan was one of the then Prince of Wales’ Personal Protection Officers (PPOs) from 1979 to 1981, when he became Princess Diana’s PPO for the next nine years.

Allan Peters behind Princess Diana and Prince Charles, in New Zealand in 1983

In his letter, the King expressed his concern and sent his best wishes. “It shows you the kind of thoughtful and caring man our King is, to have taken the time to write to me,” said Allan.

Following the news that King Charles also has cancer, Allan wrote to him and received acknowledgement from Buckingham Palace that the King received his letter.

“The King was really kind and sent me such a lovely letter when he heard I was ill, so it was really good to be able to send him the before and after scan images of my condition,” said Allan. “It looked like the end of the story for me, but now I am in complete remission.

Cancer treatment

Allan’s initial symptoms were nausea, weight loss, tiredness, and an abdominal mass. A scan showed this to be widespread lymphoma in his abdomen. He immediately began chemotherapy, with partial success.

He was then accepted as the fifth patient to undergo a revolutionary new treatment at University Hospital Southampton called CAR T cell therapy, which he underwent in 2023. It is proven to be effective in killing some blood cancers. However, not all patients are suitable.

Sean Lim, Professor of Haematology at the University of Southampton's Centre for Cancer Immunology, works on developing new immunotherapies such as this. She said: “CAR T cell therapy enables T cells, a type of white blood cell, to recognise cancer cells and attack them. This involves collecting a patient’s T cells, and modifying them so that they can recognise the cancer cells. The modified T cells are then reinfused into the patient so that they can kill the cancer cells.”

After Allan received his modified T cells, he stayed in hospital for five weeks.

Allan Peters having his modified T cells reinfused

“Patients can initially be very poorly afterwards with complicated side-effects,” explained Dr Ali Roghanian, Associate Professor at the University of Southampton who specialises in cancer immunotherapy. “One of the side effects of the particular type of CAR T cell therapy received by Allan is that it also kills healthy protective B cells, making patients susceptible to infection.”

At the end of the five weeks, a PET scan showed Allan was completely cancer free. Follow-up scans at three and six months post-treatment showed Allan remains free of cancer and in long-term remission.

Allan added: “I was under no illusions at any stage what the treatment would be like. I was exceptionally tired and felt very ill, but only for a matter of weeks. I am so grateful to the medical teams that made this happen – it really is like a miracle cure.”

Unexpected support

Allan received his initial cancer diagnosis just three weeks after welcoming Ukrainian refugees Olena Andrusenko and her children, Liliia, 17 (then 16), and nine-year-old Markiian (then seven), into his home after they fled Kyiv. He immediately offered to find them alternative accommodation, but Olena insisted on staying to help look after Allan and his two black Labradors, Caro and Zulu.

Olena explained: “My mum Valentina had passed away from bowel cancer just after the war started, so my first thought was ‘I am here by fate to help Allan – I couldn’t help my mum in her last months, but maybe I can help Allan’.”

Olena, Liliia and Markiian lived with Allan for 18 months throughout his treatment before finding their own home in Sherborne, Dorset, where Olena now works as a shop assistant. “We were lucky to have each other as friends in what were very tough times for both of us,” she added.

Allan’s own father was a Second World War Polish soldier and refugee, and his late wife Caroline’s half-sister Vera was adopted into the family after she arrived as a young Jewish refugee from Czechoslovakia.

“I think this demonstrates that, if you give, you get back,” added Allan.

Just ten minutes of mindfulness daily boosts wellbeing and fights depression – study reveals

The research, which enrolled 1,247 adults from 91 countries, demonstrates that brief daily mindfulness sessions, delivered through a free mobile app Medito, can have profound benefits.

Reduced Depression by 19.2% more than control group.
Improved Wellbeing by 6.9% more.
Decreased Anxiety by 12.6% more.
Attitudes to Health got more Positive by 7.1% over control group.
Behavioural Intentions to look after Health increased by 6.5% beyond control.

In their feedback, participants highlighted numerous benefits from the mindfulness practice:

“Awareness, self-control, gratitude, I am more patient, and I take more joy from the present moment.”
“Clear mind. Feeling like everything's under control and I'll be able to do what I set my mind to.”
“Completing these meditation sessions has given me a better understanding of the function of my mind. They have helped me to gain a better insight on many things and shown me a different lens through which to look at the world. Words coming to mind: helpful, insightful and motivational.”

The study was conducted by psychologist Masha Remskar, an expert in behaviour change, mindfulness and exercise based at the University of Bath. She said:

“This study highlights that even short, daily practices of mindfulness can offer benefits, making it a simple yet powerful tool for enhancing mental health.”

Scientists discover how the body’s killer cells attack cancer

A new study has discovered that our natural killer cells, from the immune system which protect against disease and infections, instinctively recognise and attack a protein that drives cancer growth.

The experts say that by hijacking this protein, known as XPO1, they may be able to activate more killer cells to destroy the disease.

Scientists from the University of Southampton, working with experts worldwide, led the study and now believe it could offer new and less invasive forms of treatments.

The study was partly funded by Cancer Research UK and the findings have been published in the Science Advances journal.

Lead author Professor of Hepatology Salim Khakoo, from Southampton, said it was previously believed that killer cells attack cancer cells in a random manner.

He added: “Our findings actually show how our body’s immune system recognises and attacks these cancer cells.

“Killer cells are an emerging form of immunotherapy that shows huge promise.

“They don’t attack healthy tissue in the way chemotherapy and other immunotherapies do, so are safer and have less side-effects than traditional forms of cancer treatment.”

The XPO1 protein examined by the scientists is essential for normal cell function.

However, in many cancers, it becomes overactive and allows malignant cells to multiply unchecked.

The Southampton scientists found that a peptide – short chains of amino acids – derived from the XPO1 protein attracted the natural killer cells.

This, they say, triggers the body’s immune response against the cancerous cells.

Prof Khakoo added: “Patients with cancer who had both active killer cells and high levels of XPO1 had significantly better survival rates.

“This holds true for a range of cancers including those with higher rates of death such as liver cancer, which has an average survival rate of only 18 months.

“As well as liver cancer, killer cell treatment in the future could be used to treat head and neck cancers, endometrial, bladder or breast cancer.”

Previous studies have linked natural killer cells to the body’s protection against cancer.

But the latest study is the first of its kind to highlight a viable technique of activating killer cells – to target the XPO1 protein – to fight the disease.

Co-author Professor Ralf Schittenhelm, from Monash University in Australia, said the discovery could change the course of immunotherapy.

“We hope it could lead to personalised cancer treatment, especially in cases where traditional therapies have failed.

“The potential to develop targeted therapies that utilise the body's own immune system is incredibly exciting."

The scientific team at Southampton are now working on the development of the world’s first vaccine that uses natural killer cells to fight cancer.

View the study in Science Advances.

Or read more about how Cancer Research UK is working to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer at www.cancerresearchuk.org.

Study reveals crucial role of mixing Atlantic and Arctic waters in global ocean circulation

Researchers from the University of Southampton, the Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, the National Oceanography Centre and Stockholm University analysed ocean data from 1979 to 2021 to better understand how the mixing of Atlantic and Arctic waters helps to maintain the AMOC.

The AMOC acts like a giant ocean conveyor belt moving warm water from the tropics north and cold water south, distributing heat around the planet. It helps to keep Northern Europe, including the UK, relatively mild compared to other regions at similar latitudes.

The study published in Nature Communications found that the lower limb of the AMOC - the part of this ‘conveyor belt’ consisting of deep, cold, dense water flowing southward in the Atlantic Ocean - is composed of 72 per cent Atlantic waters and 28 per cent Arctic waters.

“As the warm water reaches the cooler regions of the North Atlantic, it loses heat to the atmosphere, becomes denser, and sinks to great depths,” explains Dr Dipanjan Dey, lead author of the paper from the Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, who undertook the research as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Southampton.

“We found that while some of this dense water immediately returns south, much of it travels northward, where it mixes with colder, fresher Arctic waters in regions like the Denmark Strait, between Iceland and Greenland. This mixing process makes the waters even denser before they too flow southward, contributing to the AMOC's strength.”

The researchers estimate that the mixing of Atlantic and Arctic waters is responsible for 33 per cent of the transformation of warm, salty, water into colder, fresher and denser water, with 67 per cent attributed to interactions between the ocean and the atmosphere.

The study challenges previous assumptions that focused mainly on heat loss in specific areas without accounting for the critical role of Atlantic-Arctic water mixing.

Models predict that the AMOC could slow down as the planet warms due to climate change. A weaker, shallower AMOC circulation, as happened during the last Ice Age, has major consequences for global climate patterns.

The new insights into the role of the mixing of Atlantic and Arctic waters help us to better understand these processes.

Professor Robert Marsh, a coauthor on the paper from the University of Southampton, explains: “As the ocean surface warms and becomes fresher, the resulting increase in stratification (layering of water) hinders this crucial mixing between Atlantic and Arctic waters. This reduced mixing weakens the AMOC by decreasing the density and depth of its southward flow, potentially leading to an overall slowdown of the circulation.

“A slowdown in circulation of the AMOC would have major consequences, from much colder temperatures in Northern Europe to sea level rises along the eastern coast of the United States. If it weakens significantly there could be abrupt, dramatic, and potentially irreversible changes to our planet’s climate.”

A weaker, shallower AMOC could also shorten the time carbon dioxide stays in the ocean before being released back into the atmosphere, potentially accelerating climate change and its impacts.

“Climate models need to accurately represent these water mixing processes to better predict future climate scenarios,” says Dr Dey. “Our study highlights the complex interplay between our climate and global ocean circulation processes. We need to urgently address global warming to avoid crossed potential tipping points where the circulation could slow down significantly, or even collapse.”

The paper Formation of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation lower limb is critically dependent on Atlantic-Arctic mixing is published in Nature Communications and is available online.

University of Southampton awarded licence to establish India campus

The awarding of a licence from the University Grants Commission now paves the way for planning to progress.

University of Southampton Delhi NCR will deliver education, research and knowledge exchange and enterprise activity in the country.

Professor Mark E. Smith, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton, said: “In the 21st century, no university can be truly global without engaging with India.  Our intention is to establish a campus that delivers social value and economic impact to India and the university by bringing together Southampton’s world class activities in education, research, and knowledge exchange and enterprise, with all the talent of the rising global superpower that is India.”

He further added: “Through this new campus, the University of Southampton will help deliver a critical element of the Government of India’s transformative agenda, playing our part in harnessing the potential, talent and capabilities of Indian youth.”

The University has been active in India for more than 50 years and has developed deep and mutually beneficial partnerships. The upcoming campus will enable the University of Southampton to build on these links by amplifying research collaboration and impact, extending teaching partnerships, creating two-way student and staff mobility, and ensuring local civic and community engagement.

Professor Andrew Atherton, Vice-President International and Engagement, said: “University of Southampton Delhi NCR will be the first comprehensive international campus in India. It will foster academic collaboration and bring an international dimension to the Indian higher education system, opening up opportunities to study for a top 100 degree in-country.

“We will develop world-class, work-ready graduates with specialist and transferable skills that will enhance India’s fast-growing knowledge economy. We will undertake research and knowledge exchange in partnership with local universities, industries and government and apply the results to deliver real-world social and economic impact.

“This is a hugely exciting initiative for India, and our university, and we thank the University Grants Commission of India, the Ministry of Education, the British High Commission, the Indian High Commission, and the British Council, for their confidence in our application” he added.

Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India, said: “The new University of Southampton campus will be a centre of world-class education and innovation. It will also give more British students the chance to have the incredible experience of living and studying in India.

“This exciting collaboration will foster educational excellence and further strengthen the unique living bridge that connects our two countries.”

Alison Barrett MBE, Director India, British Council, added: “The University of Southampton's decision to establish a campus in India is a testament to the thriving education partnership between India and the UK.

“This landmark development marks our shared commitment to the internationalisation of education, research and innovation as set out in the National Education Policy 2020. It reinforces our belief that education is a powerful catalyst for building bridges and cross-cultural understanding between nations and shaping a brighter future for young people.”

Dad embarks on seven marathons in aid of sight-saving research

And one father whose young daughter has albinism is taking on a multi-marathon challenge to fundraise for the important research.

Joe Marsden’s 14-month-old daughter Raya already wears glasses for shortsightedness and to protect her eyes from the sun.

Joe is embarking on the challenge of seven marathons in seven days next month, raising money for the University of Southampton’s Gift of Sight appeal, which funds research into developing treatments for eye diseases.

Joe, who is 41 and lives in Liverpool, will run two marathons in Southampton, starting and finishing in Guildhall Square, on 1 and 2 September. He will then run marathons in Leicester, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and finally his hometown of Liverpool on Saturday 7 September.

He said: “I’ve run a marathon before, about 12 years ago, but this will be the first time I’ve run any on consecutive days. I’m nervous and I know it’s going to be a huge challenge, but I’ve got a brilliant trainer who’s been helping me get both physically and mentally ready.”

Joe is fundraising for Dr Helena Lee’s pioneering research into albinism.

Dr Helena Lee & Dr Rebecca Kaye

Dr Lee, Associate Professor in Ophthalmology at the University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton, has discovered that a drug called Levodopa that is used to treat Parkinson’s Disease and movement disorders can potentially help to improve the sight of children with the condition.

The next stage for her study, called OLIVIA (the role of Oral Levodopa in improving Visual development in Infants and young children with Albinism), is to undertake clinical trials – but she needs funding to finance these trials.

Dr Lee said: “The work we have done to date is extremely promising. Severe visual impairment is common amongst those with albinism as they grow up. Our work has demonstrated that, if Levodopa is given from a young age, we can influence how the eyes grow and develop, and improve visual function.

“My aim is to run a small-scale trial with 10 children initially, followed by a much larger trial. Then, we would monitor the children as they grow up to determine the success of the treatment.

“If OLIVIA is successful, it will transform how we treat albinism in children. It will also set an important precedent for other paediatric eye diseases.”

On his daughter’s diagnosis of albinism when she was born, Joe said: “Raya’s albinism diagnosis was a complete surprise to us, as none of our other three children had been born with this condition. Diving into the world of albinism has really helped us understand the incredible work that is going on in research and the amazing people working behind the scenes to make a difference. My aim is to not only help Helena’s work to progress to clinical trials but to raise awareness about sight loss and albinism – and give children like Raya the best opportunities in life.”

He added: “The severity of Raya’s visual impairment and depth perception may not become fully apparent until she gets older. If Helena’s work comes through in time, there is a chance that she can have her vision improved. If not, we will equip her with all the love and support she needs and be proud that she will have helped children of the future.”

Visit Joe’s fundraising page to support his challenge.

Scientists prove long-standing wave amplification theory

They have shown that the energy of waves can be increased by bouncing ‘twisted waves’ – those with angular momentum – off of an object which is rotating in a specific way.

This is known as the ‘Zel’dovich effect’, named after Soviet physicist Yakov Zel’dovich who developed a theory based on this idea in the 1970s. Until now, it was believed to be unobservable with electromagnetic fields.

“The Zel’dovich effect works on the principle that waves with angular momentum, that would usually be absorbed by an object, actually become amplified by that object instead, if it is rotating at a fast enough angular velocity. In this case, the object is an aluminium cylinder and it must rotate faster than the frequency of the incoming radiation,” explains Research Fellow at the University of Southampton, Dr Marion Cromb.

“Colleagues and I successfully tested this theory in sound waves a few years ago, but until this most recent experiment it hadn’t been proven with electromagnetic waves. Using relatively simple equipment – a resonant circuit interacting with a spinning metal cylinder – and by creating the specific conditions required, we have now been able to do this.”

The scientists’ findings are published in the journal Nature Communications.

Equipment used in the Zel'dovich experiment

The Zel’dovich effect is difficult to observe, but has links to a well-known phenomenon called the Doppler effect which we all experience around us every day.

Imagine you are standing on a busy road and a police car races towards you with its siren going. From your perspective, as it approaches the siren sounds higher pitched than when it has passed.

This is because the sound waves in front of the car coming towards you are compressed, at a high frequency – hence a higher pitch. Behind the car, as it moves away, they are more spread out at a lower frequency – resulting in a lower pitch. This is the Doppler effect.

This can also be applied to light waves. In fact, astronomers use it to understand whether a planetary body is moving towards, or away from the Earth, according to the frequency of the light waves seen from their point of observation.

A similar ‘rotational Doppler’ frequency shift happens for twisted waves and relative rotation.

In the Zel’dovich effect, the metal cylinder needs to rotate fast enough that from its perspective it ‘sees’ a ‘twisted wave’ shift in angular frequency, so much that it actually goes to a negative frequency. This changes the way the wave interacts with the cylinder. Usually the metal would absorb the wave, but when the wave frequency ‘goes negative’ the wave is in fact amplified – reflecting off the cylinder with more energy than when it approached.

“The condition for amplification is from the rotating perspective of the object,” explains Marion Cromb. “Twisting electromagnetic fields hitting it have become rotationally Doppler shifted, so much (or so low) that they’ve gone through zero and into a ‘negative’ angular frequency. Negative frequency then means negative absorption, and this means amplification.”

The scientists say that proving the Zel’dovich effect in different physical systems, both acoustics and now electromagnetic circuits, suggest that it is quite fundamental in nature. Electromagnetic tests also pave the way to observing the effect on a quantum level, where the waves could be generated by the cylinder amplifying the quantum vacuum.

Professor Hendrik Ulbricht of the University of Southampton, supervisor on the project, said: “I am very pleased that we have now experimental proof of the electromagnetic Zel’dovich effect. In electromagnetic settings it will be more straight forward to go for the next big challenge, which is the quantum version of the effect.

“Our setup is comparably simple and it was my joy at work during COVID to set up this experiment and take the first data. To see the results out now is very rewarding and I am grateful to the fantastic team involved.”

The researchers also say their findings may be useful for electrical engineers in exploring improvements to induction generators, such as those used in wind turbines.

Throat problems could impair autonomic nervous system’s ability to regulate blood pressure

The study published in JAMA Otolaryngology is the first to observe reduced baroreflex sensitivity in patients with throat symptoms.

The baroreflex is a crucial part of the autonomic nervous system which detects changes in blood pressure and adjusts our heart rate and blood vessel tone accordingly to maintain stable blood pressure. It is what stops us from fainting when we stand up.

Researchers from the University of Southampton and University Hospitals of Dorset Foundation Trust believe the findings could be explained by the Vagas nerve (which controls the autonomic nervous system) prioritising protection of the airways over less urgent functions, such as blood pressure regulation.

“Our immediate survival depends on the throat being able to separate air and food passages each time we swallow,” says the lead author of the study Reza Nouraei, Professor of Laryngology and Clinical Informatics at the University of Southampton.

“The throat does this using delicate reflexes, but when these reflexes are disturbed, for example, due to a viral infection like Covid or exposure to reflux affecting nerves in this region, the control of this critical junction becomes compromised, giving rise to symptoms like the feeling of a lump in the throat, throat clearing and coughing.

“To compensate for a faulty throat, the autonomic control system must expend significant amounts of energy to maintain a safe airway. We found that in patients with a faulty throat, the heart, specifically a function called baroreflex, is less well controlled. This is one of the Peters that has been robbed to pay Paul.

“The problem with robbing this Peter is that it likely impacts long-term survival, as patients with reduced baroreflex function are more likely to die of a heart attack or stroke in years to come.”

The researchers compared the heart rates, blood pressure and baroreflex sensitivity of 23 patients admitted to Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) surgery with aerodigestive (laryngopharyngeal) symptoms and 30 patients admitted to Gastroenterology with digestive (esophagogastric) symptoms at University Hospitals of Dorset NHS Foundation Trust.

Reflux was a common cause of symptoms in both groups - making up the majority of digestive group cases. Other causes like thinning of the vocal cord were present in the aerodigestive group.

The team found patients in the aerodigestive group had a higher resting heart rate, lower resting blood pressure, and lower baroreflex sensitivity, than those in the digestive group.

“Now, and especially since Covid which damages nerves, we are seeing more patients with throat symptoms,” says Professor Nouraei.

“Reduced baroreflex sensitivity impacts survival independent of other cardiovascular risks, so if the association we’ve discovered is confirmed by future studies, the need to make timely and accurate diagnoses and provide early and definitive treatments will become more pressing.”

The study adds to the increasing interest in the Vaus nerve and holistic health. As well as regulating blood pressure through the baroreflex, the Vagus nerve controls our heart rate, digestion, respiration, mood and a host of other bodily functions which affect our health and wellbeing.

Professor Nouraei says: “This study helps us to think about patients more holistically. As a clinician, if you can fix a problem in the throat that is potentially taking away bandwidth from the Vagus, then it frees up the nerve to give to the rest of the body.

“If there is a chance that throat problems can affect functions like the baroreflex, or have a wider impact on overall wellbeing, then they need more consideration.”

The researchers will now look at the long-term impacts of throat conditions on autonomic health and the effects of treatment.

Baroreflex Sensitivity in Patients With Laryngopharyngeal Dysfunction—The Overwhelmed Vagus Hypothesis is published in JAMA Otolaryngology and is available online.

This work was supported by the Robert White Legacy Fund.

University of Southampton commemorates plan to establish campus in India

The event was attended by British High Commissioner to India, Lindy Cameron, and was an opportunity to commemorate the long-standing positive relationship between the UK and India.

The University of Southampton has become the first international university to be granted a licence by the Indian government to establish a comprehensive campus in the country under the new National Education Policy (NEP). This noteworthy accomplishment highlights the University’s commitment to expand its global reach and foster international academic collaborations.

The new campus will be in Gurugram, within the National Capital Region, with an initial offering of four undergraduate and two postgraduate programmes. The four undergraduate programmes will be in computer science, business management, economics, and accounts and finance. The postgraduate programmes will be in international management and finance. New programmes will be introduced each year, with a wide portfolio soon on offer.

Professor Andrew Atherton, Vice-President of International and Engagement at the University of Southampton.

Professor Andrew Atherton, Vice-President International and Engagement at the University of Southampton, said: “India is a great country, the world’s largest democracy and one of the fastest growing superpowers. Its emergence economically, culturally and as a scientific and entrepreneurial powerhouse is tremendous and the pace of achievement is outstanding.

“Setting up an outstanding campus in Delhi NCR is a top priority for the University of Southampton. It marks a major milestone in our ambitious strategy to become a global university, a gateway to the world and an inclusive institution, with people at the heart of our mission.

“Our campus in India will enable us to offer the same Southampton degree as we provide in the UK in Delhi NCR, where we will establish the campus, in a world-class environment that provides an outstanding student experience. This means that University of Southampton Delhi will be as much part of the University and its vibrant and inclusive student community as any other campus.”

Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India.

Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India, said: “The University of Southampton’s new campus in India is a landmark moment in the UK-India educational partnership.

“As the first international university to establish a comprehensive campus in India, this collaboration will deepen the bonds between our two nations, ensuring that students from both the UK and India benefit.

“This initiative underscores our shared commitment to fostering academic excellence, innovation, and cultural exchange.”

The University of Southampton was issued a Letter of Intent on August 29 under the Universities Grants Commission regulations for setting up Indian campuses of foreign universities. This now paves the way for planning to progress, with the University of Southampton Delhi delivering education, research and knowledge exchange and enterprise activity in the country.

Alison Barrett MBE, Director India, British Council, said: “I congratulate the University of Southampton on being the first UK institution to secure a licence to establish a full campus in India under the UGC regulations - a testament to the enduring strength of India-UK educational ties.

“It gives me great pleasure to witness this partnership come to fruition. This milestone marks a significant step forward in realising the National Education Policy's vision of internationalisation, ushering in a new era of world-class education and cultural exchange. The exciting opportunities from this partnership will advance the shared ambitions of both governments and shape a brighter future for young people from both countries.”

The application process for those wanting to study at the new campus is expected to launch in October, with details publicised through the website: southampton.ac.uk/delhi

Human genome stored on ‘everlasting’ memory crystal

The team hope that the crystal could provide a blueprint to bring humanity back from extinction thousands, millions or even billions of years into the future, should science allow.

The technology could also be used to create an enduring record of the genomes of endangered plant and animal species faced with extinction.

Eternity crystals

The 5D memory crystal was developed by the University of Southampton’s Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC).

Unlike other data storage formats that degrade over time, 5D memory crystals can store up to 360 terabytes of information (in the largest size) without loss for billions of years, even at high temperatures. It holds the Guinness World Record (awarded in 2014) for the most durable data storage material.

The crystal is equivalent to fused quartz, one of the most chemically and thermally durable materials on Earth. It can withstand the high and low extremes of freezing, fire and temperatures of up to 1000 °C. The crystal can also withstand direct impact force of up to 10 ton per cm2 and is unchanged by long exposure to cosmic radiation.

The team at Southampton, led by Professor Peter Kazansky, use ultra-fast lasers to precisely inscribe data into nanostructured voids orientated within silica - with feature sizes as small as 20 nanometres.

Unlike marking only on the surface of a 2D piece of paper or magnetic tape, this method of encoding uses two optical dimensions and three spatial co-ordinates to write throughout the material - hence the ‘5D’ in its name.

Restoring species

The longevity of the crystals mean they will outlast humans and other species. Currently it’s not possible to synthetically create humans, plants and animals using genetic information alone, but there have been major advances in synthetic biology in recent years, notably the creation of a synthetic bacterium by Dr Craig Venter's team in 2010.

Memory of Mankind archive in Hallstatt, Austria

“We know from the work of others that genetic material of simple organisms can be synthesised and used in an existing cell to create a viable living specimen in a lab,” says Prof Kazansky.

“The 5D memory crystal opens up possibilities for other researchers to build an everlasting repository of genomic information from which complex organisms like plants and animals might be restored should science in the future allow.”

To test this concept, the team created a 5D memory crystal creating containing the full human genome. For the approximately three billion letters in the genome, each letter was sequenced 150 times to make sure it was in that position. The deep-read sequencing work was done in partnership with Helixwork Technologies.

Visual clues

The crystal is stored in the Memory of Mankind archive – a special time capsule within a salt cave in Hallstatt, Austria.

When designing the crystal, the team considered if the data held within it might be retrieved by an intelligence (species or machine) which comes after us in the distant future. Indeed, it might be found so far into the future that no frame of reference exists.

“The visual key inscribed on the crystal gives the finder knowledge of what data is stored inside and how it could be used,” says Prof Kazansky.

Above the dense planes of data held within, the key shows the universal elements (hydrogen, oxygen, carbon and nitrogen); the four bases of the DNA molecule (adenine, cytosine, guanine and thymine) with their molecular structure; their placement in the double helix structure of DNA; and how genes position into a chromosome, which can then be inserted into a cell.

For a visual indication of which species the 5D memory crystal relates to, the team paid homage to the Pioneer space craft plaques which were launched by NASA on a path to take it beyond the confines of the Solar System.

“We don’t know if memory crystal technology will ever follow these plaques in distance travelled but each disc can be expected with a high degree of confidence to exceed their survival time,” adds Prof Kazansky.

Rugged Falklands landscape was once a lush rainforest

A study by Dr Zoë Thomas, leading an international team of scientists, reveals that the South Atlantic archipelago was once covered in cool, wet woodland – similar to the present day rainforests found in Tierra del Fuego, off the tip of South America.

The scientists conducted the research after clues to the whereabouts of buried remains of the ancient forest reached them via word-of-mouth in the tight knit community of Port Stanley, the Falklands’ capital. Chance conversations led them to find perfectly preserved prehistoric tree remains and pollen at a building site in early 2020.

“We were in the Falklands carrying out research for a different project when a fellow researcher, based on the Island, mentioned they’d heard from a friend that something interesting had been dug up by a builder they knew,” explains Dr Thomas, an expert in physical geography at the University of Southampton.

Dr Zoë Thomas and Dr Haidee Cadd examining the ditch at the site where the tree remains were found. Credit: Professor Chris Turley

She continues, “Excavators at the site of a new care home in Stanley had cut into a deep peat layer which was filled with large tree trunks and branches. These were so well preserved, they looked like they’d been buried the day before, but they were in fact extremely old.

“Our interest was immediately piqued, as finding tree remains here was baffling. For at least thousands, probably millions of years, the Falkland Islands have not been able to sustain trees. It’s too windy and the soil too acidic. This raised the intriguing question of just how old the wood from this forest bed was?”

With the help of members of South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute (SAERI) in Port Stanley, samples of the peat layers and deposits were removed from the site at Tussac House near Stanley Harbour. These were carefully transported to Australia for laboratory testing at the University of New South Wales, where the sediment was meticulously sampled and the wood analysed with specialised scanning electron microscopes.

The tree remains proved too old to obtain conclusive results from radiocarbon dating, so pollen spores were used instead. The scientists analysed a variety of spores compacted and sealed in the same layers of peat as the wood. Pollen records led them to conclude the tree trunks and branches date to between 15 and 30 million years old.

Detailed findings of the research are newly published in the journal Antarctic Science.

Preserved wood found in Port Stanley. Credit: Dr Zoë Thomas

The Falkland Islands are a British territory which lies 8,000 miles from the UK in the South Atlantic. Comprised of two main islands and 778 smaller ones, they cover an area just over half the size of Wales and are known for being wet, cold and windswept, with fast changing weather conditions. Their landscape is not dissimilar to Dartmoor in the UK.

Tens of millions of years ago the climate in the South Atlantic was much warmer and wetter than today and capable of supporting a rainforest environment. This would have been cooler than tropical rainforests we might typically think of – such as the Amazon rainforest – but still able to support a rich, diverse eco-system of plant and animal life.

Many of the tree species growing on the Falklands at the time of the Tussac House sample are now extinct, but would have seeded on the islands by being carried on the prevailing westerly winds from rainforests that covered much of the southern hemisphere, including what is now mainland South America.

Scientists can’t be sure what led to the eventual demise of the Islands’ rainforest and the transformation to peatlands, but it’s reasonable to speculate it was due to a change in climate and a move to colder and drier conditions.

Dr Thomas comments: “It’s amazing to think that if we’d not had the chance to chat and engage with people in such a close community at that particular moment, we may never have recovered these pristinely preserved samples of tree.

“Until our visit and the construction worker’s find, no one had any idea that six metres under their feet were perfectly preserved relics of an ancient rainforest and exquisite fossilised pollen. I’m so grateful to the friendly Islanders who, by being so welcoming and open, gave us this unique opportunity to investigate.”

As for the future, Dr Thomas says the islands are unlikely to see a return to a forest landscape anytime soon: “Current projections suggest the region will get warmer, but also drier – leading to concerns about the risk of erosion to the peatlands, which are sensitive to climate change.”

University maintains its strengths in public engagement and business

In the fourth round of the annual UK-wide Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF), the university has retained its top scores and is recognised as enabling ‘high’ or ‘very high’ engagement across all areas of assessment.

Southampton achieved the top rating of ‘very high engagement’ in four categories: public and community engagement; Intellectual Property (IP) and commercialisation; working with business; and working with the public and third sector.

It achieved the second highest rating, ‘high engagement’, for research partnerships; local growth and regeneration; and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and graduate start-ups.

These results put Southampton at or above the average in all areas of assessment compared to other similar institutions.

The KEF plays a key role in providing unique and important public information on the rich and diverse ways English universities continue to deliver positive impact to society and support our economy, locally, nationally, and internationally through productivity and job creation.

Professor Mark Spearing, the university’s Vice-President for Research and Enterprise, said: “The University of Southampton contributes more than £4bn to the UK economy each year, largely due to our high-performing Knowledge Exchange and Enterprise (KEE) activities.

“I am delighted that our university continues to deliver a very strong performance in KEE and has retained our top spot in this area, as measured by the KEF.

“This is testament to the hard work of our diverse community and reflects the relevance of our triple helix strategy, which draws KEE, education and research together.”

The full results of KEF 2024 are available on the Research England site.

Lift off for pioneering space programme

The Joint Universities Programme for In-Orbit Training, Education and Research, known as JUPITER, will equip students with hands-on space industry experience and training for their future careers.

The programme is collaboration between the University of Southampton and Portsmouth and Surrey universities together with Space South Central.

Its inaugural project will see engineering and physics students from all three universities design, build and test their own Earth observation payload for a satellite mission.

They will also be involved with its launch and, once in orbit, conduct mission operations.

University of Southampton student Alejandro Parra Pintado, age 22, developed the software that drives data handling between the payload and satellite computer system.

He said: "It’s been a really rewarding experience, and the project has greatly expanded my engineering knowledge while working on a real satellite that will be launched into space.

"We've learnt a lot about the engineering that goes into spacecraft development and I am sure this insight will launch my future career in aerospace engineering.

"Knowing that my work is going to blast off into space to collect data about our planet and help uncover the mysteries of dark matter is thrilling.”

The satellite, Jovian-1, will be around the size of a large shoe box and feature the payload designed, built, tested and delivered by students from the three universities.

It will take images and videos of the Earth and attempt to use a space-facing camera to look for space debris.

It will also feature elements of a future dark matter experiment undertaken by Southampton students, taking a first step in demonstrating the suitability of their hardware and concept for use in space.

Professor Hendrik Ulbricht, from the University of Southampton, said: “This is a great opportunity for us to conduct a long-dreamed-of experiment in space.

“We have the unique chance to do a fundamental physics experiment and directly test for low-mass dark matter in space with our levitated mechanical sensors, which are at an early stage of development and will aid our research in the future.”

Ocean experts call for new sustainable fishing standards

In a paper published in Ocean Sustainability, researchers have called on companies, governments, and legislators to implement these actions to end the ongoing destruction of our oceans caused by fishing and ensure the renewal of abundant fish populations to feed future generations.

The rules follow two guiding principles that would revolutionise the way we ‘manage’ the exploitation of the ocean:

Regenerating the ocean’s health:

Fish less and manage fisheries for lower impact
Rule out gears and fisheries that generate significant collateral damage
Set limits on the size of boats and gears
Source only from fisheries with good governance, sustainable stocks, and sufficient data to assure sustainability
Pro-actively incorporate ecosystem protection into fisheries management
Place the most vulnerable species and areas off limits

Putting humans before profits:

End fisheries that abuse human rights, including those that threaten food security and livelihoods of people in the places they fish
Create fisheries management systems that fairly and transparently distribute access and benefits
Apply good practices wherever fishing companies operate
End the flow of harmful subsidies to fisheries
Apply zero-tolerance to companies that engage in illegal fishing

“This initiative brought together a diverse group of experts, including those from fisheries science, social sciences, economics and conservation,” says Professor Paul Kemp from the University of Southampton, a coauthor on the paper.

“By doing so we were able to develop a roadmap to move away from the traditional view of fisheries that tends to focus on the social and economic context of those who utilise them.

“Sustainability, however, requires the integration of the social, economic and environmental domains. This paper provides a manifesto that will help secure our fisheries for sustainable exploitation by future generations.”

Today, fishing is globally recognised as the leading cause of ocean destruction and in fifty years, global fish populations have declined by a third.

The researchers say that despite their widespread acceptance by companies and consumers, current standards of ‘sustainability’ fail to address the global biodiversity and climate breakdown, and instead support high-capital industrial practices which benefit the Global North, whilst harming ecosystems and public finances, jeopardising artisanal fishing and food security, and threatening jobs.

“The current concept of ‘sustainable fishing’, adopted by governments and private actors since the post-war period is scientifically obsolete,” says the lead author of the paper Professor Callum Roberts from the University of Exeter.

“It relies on a simplistic, productivist theory which assumes that as long as global catch volumes remain below a set limit, anyone can fish just about anything, anywhere, with any method.”

The new framework envisions a world where fishing ensures abundant fish stocks for humanity’s long-term needs. This innovative approach recognises the social, ethical, and ecological roles of fishing, proposing a systemic sustainable model enacted by market players, policymakers, and the legal system.

“We must view fishing as a privilege rather than a right,” adds Prof Roberts. “Marine life is a public good that should both benefit society and nature, not be the object of a resource race driven by private gains.”

The researchers urge policymakers, retailers, and fishery managers to acknowledge the failings of current fishing practices and prioritise the adoption of the proposed golden rules.

They say supermarkets, responsible for nearly two-thirds of European seafood sales, have a pivotal role to play in this transition, as they can influence fishing practices through their sourcing policies, scrutinise ‘sustainability’ labels, and address consumers’ growing concerns about the hidden impacts of their food.

“We are witnessing a growing disconnect between the widespread availability of supposedly sustainable fish products, the collapse of ocean ecosystems and the frequency of reported human rights abuses. Supermarkets must stop misleading consumers” warned Pauline Bricault, BLOOM’s markets campaign lead, which helped to coordinate the paper.

“Both the IPCC and IPBES have set 2030 as a deadline for critical changes. Industry stakeholders have no more excuses, they must act now.”

Rethinking sustainability of marine fisheries for a fast-changing planet is published in npj Ocean Sustainability and is available online.

Nurse shortages increase risk of serious illness or patient death

In a paper for the British Journal of Surgery, published by Oxford University Press, researchers also find that lower than normal levels of nurse cover lead to longer hospital stays.

The Southampton team used surgical patient and staffing data from over 200,000 hospital admissions at four NHS Trusts to explore surgical patient outcomes between April 2015 and February 2020.

They found that in situations where nursing staff levels were below the mean (average) for the ward, this understaffing increased the relative risk of mortality by 9.2 percent with each day of low registered nurse numbers, and by 10.3 percent with each day of low levels of nursing assistants.

The study indicated shortages of registered nurses were associated with a 4.8 percent increase in deep vein thrombosis, a 5.7 percent increase in pneumonia, and a 6.4 percent increase in pressure ulcers.

It also showed understaffing increased the relative risk of readmission to hospital by 2.3 percent for nurse shortages and 1.4 percent for nursing assistants.

Doctors perform over 300 million surgeries each year worldwide. Observers have expressed concern about the quality of care for adult patients undergoing surgery and the rising cost of avoidable complications, extended hospitalisations, and readmissions. Some 55 percent of surgical site infections are preventable.

Until now safety interventions to address this have focused mostly on implementing checklists, staff training and improving teamwork.

“The safety of patients undergoing surgery is paramount and there is rightly a considerable emphasis on appropriate systems, policies, and procedures. Our research is a timely reminder that workload is also a major driver of risk and that risks to surgical patients persist beyond the immediate operative period,” commented Dr Paul Meredith, Senior Research Fellow in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Southampton.

He adds: “Adequate nurse staffing on wards is vital to ensure the safety of patients undergoing and recovering from surgery,”

The researchers conclude that staff shortages alone may be an important reason for infections and other adverse outcomes after operations. They hope this new study will help inform policymakers about the risks of understaffing and how to address this to best effect.

Scientists begin testing space thruster

Astro engineers from the University of Southampton are trialling a new propulsion system which can power spaceships through the stars using any type of metal as fuel.

They say this means crafts fitted with the technology could fly indefinitely by refilling its tanks using minerals harvested from asteroids or far-off moons.

Lead scientist Dr Minkwan Kim, from the University of Southampton, has been tasked with testing the propulsion system in his labs to measure its thrust.

He said the tech could help spaceships and probes travel to regions of the universe previously thought unreachable.

Dr Kim added: “Spacecraft have limited amounts of fuel because of the enormous cost and energy it takes to launch them into space.

“But these new thrusters are capable of being powered by any metal that can burn, such as iron, aluminium or copper.

“Once fitted, spacecraft could land on a comet or moon, rich in these minerals, and harvest what it needs before jetting off with a full tank.

“It could open up vast new frontiers and accelerate our understanding of the universe.”

Once blasted above the earth’s atmosphere, spacecraft are mostly propelled by rare gas phase fuels such as xenon or krypton, which also power the Starlink satellites.

Scientists from Southampton are working with British-based space firm Magdrive on the propulsion system.

Such is the potential of the technology, named Super Magdrive, that it was recently given £1million by the UK government to bring the concept to life.

Dr Kim, who created a plasma thruster design for the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched last year, said he hopes the tech can be used for future deep-space missions.

He added: “The system could help us explore new planets, seek out new life, and go where no human has gone before – enabling never-ending discovery.”

Read more about how the University of Southampton is pioneering future space technology at www.southampton.ac.uk/aerospace.

Theatre show inspires city’s schoolchildren on climate change

Stories in the Dust is a family theatre show, created by performers Iona Johnson and Anna Harriott. Ian Williams, Professor of Applied Environmental Science at the University of Southampton, has supported the workshop and wraparound content creation.

The show will be performed at the MAST Mayflower Studios on Saturday 5 October.

The show’s creators are also running a series of workshops this week in Southampton schools, exploring climate change and its challenges. Workshops are taking place at Freemantle CE Community Academy and Highfield CE Primary School.

Audio installations are being recorded at the workshops to capture children’s thoughts on climate change and recycling, which will be available to listen to online and at played at the live performance.

Outlining the production, Anna said: “Set in a dystopian landscape, the show is an eco-fable that hits on topics around climate change, friendship and hope. It’s a fun show, aimed at 5 to 12-year-olds, with music and puppetry. We’ve carried the messaging through to the set too, which is all made from recycled and recovered materials.”

Ian said: “The premise of the show is to accurately represent a dystopian possibility for climate change, but to end with a message of hope. The idea is also to encourage young people to explain to older people the science behind climate change, as this is a powerful way of conveying messages.”

Anna and Iona performing Stories in the Dust

Iona added: “From the work we have done so far in primary schools, it’s clear that the majority of children in Key Stage 2 are very aware of climate change and have lots of interesting questions about it. Working with Ian, they have been able to ask their questions direct to an environmental scientist.”

Anna, Iona and Ian also authored a paper published in the scientific journal Civic Partners in Net Zero, which was presented at the House of Commons in April. The paper outlines how the arts can be an effective tool to inspire social change and to communicate climate science research.

Stories in the Dust is currently touring the country, spending time within local communities delivering workshops and creating audio installations that champion young people alongside touring the show.

Full details of the tour are on the Stories in the Dust website.

New major funding award to help protect maritime heritage

The UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) will provide the University with around £2m over ten years to set up and run the new Coastal & Inland Waters Heritage Science Facility.

It will help preserve some of the most significant and at-risk sites, such as shipwrecks, historic ports and ancient dwellings – all of which tell an important story about our maritime past.

The cutting-edge facility is one of 31 projects sharing a £37m award in the first stage of the AHRC’s Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science (RICHeS) programme.

All the projects funded by the programme aim to unlock the potential of existing heritage collections and provide access to untapped cultural assets to safeguard and grow the country’s £29 billion heritage sector, and kickstart economic growth.

The Southampton facility will use the latest 3D scanning, sensing and data capture technology, along with uncrewed aerial, surface and underwater vehicles, to explore lakes, coasts and inland waterways. It will examine anything from million-year-old tools and footprints, to downed aircraft, and submerged settlements.

Project leader and archaeologist at the University of Southampton, Professor Fraser Sturt, explains: “Climate change means our oceans are warming, storms are becoming more frequent and coastal and river flooding are more likely. This poses a threat to the future of many vulnerable heritage sites which lie in the sea just off our shores, in waterways and submerged in lakes.

“These sites can unlock hidden histories – telling us about how people once lived, how they moved and migrated, traded and shared ideas and sadly also where conflict arose. However, the sites are also often difficult to explore due to shallow waters or rocky inlets.”

The project will draw on the breadth of the University’s strengths in marine and maritime research to accelerate technological applications and development.

Professor Susan Gourvenec, Deputy Director of the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute notes: “Through drawing on our experiences across the University we will be better placed to acquire and develop key technologies to support the facility.

“New remotely operated and autonomous vehicles will help us examine otherwise inaccessible areas and allow us to scan objects in millimetre scale detail, to whole coastlines that are kilometres long. By scanning wrecks, historic structures and landscapes, we can create ‘digital twin’ virtual visualisations which preserve our heritage and open up these sites for all to view online.”

Nationally, other projects funded by the AHRC award include conserving world-renowned artwork at the Tate, harnessing cutting-edge equipment to protect UK film and video collections and safeguarding biocultural collections for future research.

Head of the RICHeS programme Professor Meggen Gondek said: “The launch of the RICHeS programme is raising the bar for heritage science globally. It signals a new era where art, culture and science unite to stimulate skills, growth and opportunity.

“It will secure the UK’s position of excellence in the field and help foster world-class collaborations at both national and international levels.”

RICHeS is funded by an £80 million investment from the UKRI Infrastructure Fund and is delivered by AHRC.

Promising ‘first’ in Alzheimer’s drug development

For the first time, scientists have developed a drug that works on both major aggregation-promoting ‘hotspots’ of the Tau protein - addressing a critical gap in current treatments.

The drug, a peptide inhibitor called RI-AG03, was effective at preventing the build-up of Tau proteins - a key driver of neurodegeneration - in both lab and fruit fly studies.

The research, published today [3 October 2024] in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, was undertaken by the University of Southampton in collaboration with Lancaster University, Nottingham Trent University, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science and UT Southwestern Medical Centre.

Dr Anthony Aggidis, lead author of the paper, Visiting Researcher at the University of Southampton and former Postdoctoral Research Associate at Lancaster University said: “Our research represents an important step toward creating treatments that can prevent the progression of diseases like Alzheimer’s disease.

“By targeting both of the key areas on the Tau protein, this unique approach could help address the growing impact of dementia on society, providing a much-needed new option for treating these devastating diseases.”

A significant breakthrough

Tau proteins play a crucial role in maintaining the structure and function of neurons (brain cells). But in Alzheimer's disease, these proteins malfunction, clumping together to form long, twisting fibrils.

As the fibrils accumulate, they create what are called neurofibrillary tangles - masses of twisted Tau proteins that clog the neurons, preventing them from getting the nutrients and signals they need to survive.

As more neurons die, memory, thinking, and behaviour become increasingly impaired, leading to the cognitive decline seen in Alzheimer’s.

There are two specific ‘hotspots’ of the Tau protein where this clumping tends to happen. While current treatments target one or the other of these hotspots, RI-AG03 uniquely targets and blocks both.

“There are two regions of the Tau protein that act like a zipper to enable it to aggregate,” says Amritpal Mudher, Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Southampton and one of the lead authors on the paper.

“For the first time, we have a drug which is effective in inhibiting both these regions. This dual-targeting mechanism is significant because it addresses both domains that stimulate Tau aggregation, potentially paving the way for more effective treatments for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.”

Targeted approach

The peptide-based approach is also more targeted than current treatments, potentially making it safer, with fewer side effects.

“We know that the toxicity of the Tau protein is intimately linked with its ability to aggregate, so by inhibiting aggregation we expect to see desirable effects,” says Dr Aggidis.

“But current aggregation inhibitors have had many side effects because they can interfere with the functions of many other proteins.

“RI-AG03 is specifically designed against the Tau protein, meaning it’s less likely to undesirably interact with other proteins.”

Testing RI-AG03

The paper describes how RI-AG03 was first developed by Dr Aggidis, in the laboratory of the late Prof David Allsop, using computational biology at Lancaster University, where it was tested in lab dishes.

Scientists used a special imaging technique to
observe how Tau protein clumps
in the brain tissue of genetically modified flies
in response to treatment with RI-AG03.
Without the treatment (A), they saw toxic clumps of
Tau fibrils (arrow) and oligomers (arrowhead).
After treatment (B), those harmful clumps disappeared,
and only large round structures remained,
which the scientists believe are less harmful.

To test its effectiveness in cells within a living organism, researchers at the University of Southampton then gave the drug to fruit flies that had pathogenic Tau. These fruit fly models of Alzheimer's Disease were generated by Dr Shreyasi Chatterjee who is a Senior Lecturer at Nottingham Trent University.

The researchers found the drug suppressed neurodegeneration and extended the lives of the flies by around two weeks – a significant extension considering the life span of the insects.

To understand what was happening, Southampton’s scientists looked deep into the brains of the fruit flies.

Prof Mudher said: “When we didn’t feed the flies with the peptide inhibitor, they had lots of the pathogenic fibrils, which group together to make up a tangle. But when we fed them with the drug, the pathogenic fibrils decreased significantly in quantity.”

“The higher the dosage given, the greater the improvement we saw in the fruit fly’s lifespan.”

To make sure this wasn’t unique to fruit flies, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Centre tested the drug in a biosensor cell - a type of living human cell line that is engineered to detect pathogenic tau fibril formation.

Here too, they found the drug successfully penetrated the cells and reduced the aggregation of Tau proteins.

The team believe their work will have a significant impact on drug discovery efforts in the field of neurodegenerative diseases and now plans to test RI-AG03 in rodents, before proceeding to clinical trials.

The research was funded by the Alzheimer’s Society. Dr Richard Oakley, Associate Director of Research and Innovation, said: “Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer, and it applies enormous cost and pressure to our healthcare system which is why we’re committed to funding world leading studies like this one.

“This research is taking promising steps towards a new one-of-a-kind therapy which targets Tau, a damaging protein in the brains of people living with Alzheimer’s, preventing it from clumping together. This drug has the potential to be more targeted than others currently being studied, and we hope it will result in fewer toxic side effects.

“It’s important to note that the study is in its early stages, so we don’t yet know if it will work or be safe for humans, but it’s an exciting development and we look forward to seeing where it leads.

“Research will beat dementia, but we need to make it a reality sooner through more funding, more partnerships, and more people taking part in dementia research. To find out about Alzheimer’s Society research or to take part visit alzheimers.org.uk/research.”

A novel peptide-based Tau aggregation inhibitor as a potential therapeutic for Alzheimer’s disease and other Tauopathies is published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association and is available online.

Radical change is needed to support renewable energy development

ORE Outlook 2040 from the Supergen ORE Hub, which is led from Plymouth by a consortium of ten universities, says the development of energy generation from the sea must be accelerated significantly over the next 16 years.

“This study uses 2040 as a critical milestone on the journey to Net Zero by 2050,” says Professor David White, a Co-Director of the Hub from the University of Southampton and co-author of the report.

“In the timescale of energy infrastructure projects, 2040 is very soon. Our analysis shows urgent actions are needed to harness enough of the UK’s abundant offshore renewable energy to mitigate the climate crisis. This report is a call to action for everyone involved in ORE, as well as for the public – who need both energy and a liveable climate.”

Hub Director, The University of Plymouth’s Professor Deborah Greaves OBE says: "The UK has abundant offshore wind, wave and tidal energy resources and leads globally in ORE technology, but faster, more focused action is required to ensure we meet Net Zero 2050 targets.

“Research and innovation is critical—accelerating the optimisation of existing technologies, reducing design uncertainty, and discovering new ways to plan and construct these devices.

“Business as usual is not enough; radical changes are required to ensure we have the innovation needed to upscale the offshore renewable energy sector and to develop the skilled workforce required to meet the needs of the future renewable energy sector."

Aimed at researchers, industry, policymakers, and the public, the report summarises current climate change impacts and the UK’s progress to date on reducing carbon emissions.

It shows the ORE deployment pathways needed to reach Net Zero via a just, sustainable and secure energy transition by 2050 using the year 2040 as a key milestone.

Investment in research and innovation will be the driving force behind the ORE sector’s growth – de-risking new technologies, reducing costs, and improving performance.

An emphasis on research and innovation is vital for underpinning economic development and enhancing the competitiveness of the UK supply chain, ensuring the country retains its technological leadership on the global stage.

The report also explores the implications of ORE development through four lenses – planning and consenting; people; supply chain; infrastructure and grid – and adds:

Achieving 100 GW of offshore wind energy by 2040 is critical for the UK's future energy supply. This requires a nearly 7× increase in capacity, making radical innovation essential to achieve this growth by optimising and scaling up.
Tidal stream energy is on a similar growth trajectory to offshore wind but needs continued support to maintain this momentum. Over 12 GW of tidal stream and wave energy capacity is projected in the UK by 2050, equating to 10% of offshore wind capacity. The UK currently leads the world in wave and tidal technology development, projected to be worth £40bn GVA to the UK economy and reduce energy balancing costs by £1 billion a year.
While wave energy is not yet commercially deployed, the UK has significant potential, with an estimated exploitable wave energy resource of 25 GW. Investment in wave energy technology research over the next decade is essential to unlock its potential, and the Supergen ORE Hub supports advancements in this field.

The Supergen ORE Hub is led by the University of Plymouth and includes Co-Directors from the Universities of Southampton, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Exeter, Hull, Manchester, Oxford, Strathclyde, and Warwick.

It was created by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to deliver strategic and coordinated research on Sustainable Power Generation and supply.

Whale shark shipping collisions may increase as oceans warm

Researchers from the University of Southampton and Marine Biological Association (MBA) predict that increased ocean temperatures will see this already endangered species driven into new habitats crossed by busy shipping lanes.

The study predicts that the co-occurrence of whale sharks and large ships could be 15,000 times higher by the end of the century compared to the present day.

Lead author Dr Freya Womersley, University of Southampton and MBA Postdoctoral Research Scientist said: “These shifts in the whale sharks’ habitat were most extreme under high emission scenarios. A global reshuffling could lead to core habitat losses in some areas as well as increased co-occurrence with shipping traffic as oceans warm and other variables change.”

Whale sharks, the world’s largest fish, are highly mobile and responsive to changes in temperature. Recent evidence suggests they are also particularly vulnerable to ship strikes - where large marine animals are struck and injured, often fatally, by large vessels in the global fleet.

Researchers used whale shark satellite-tracking data coupled with global climate models to project the distribution of whale sharks under three different future climate scenarios.

The models project core habitat losses of over 50% in some national waters by 2100 under high emissions (where we continue to rely heavily on fossil fuels), with the greatest potential losses in Asia. Under a sustainable development scenario (in line with the target of no more than 2°C of global warming), some areas showed a gain in core habitat, notably in Europe.

“The shifts we predict are likely to be less extreme if we are able to slow warming and mitigate climate change, suggesting that even complex, multi-factor impacts of climate change can be somewhat alleviated by our actions,” says Professor David Sims, co-author and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Southampton and MBA.

The team paired the distribution maps with information on shipping traffic density to determine if these habitat shifts would see whale sharks move into more heavily trafficked areas in future, potentially increasing the likelihood of ship strikes.

They found that some newly suitable habitats overlapped with busy shipping routes. This was the case in the US part of the North Pacific Ocean, the Japanese part of the Eastern China Seas, and the Sierra Leonian part of the North Atlantic Ocean, among many other sites globally.

Some areas, such as the Mexican part of the Gulf of Mexico, saw reductions in co-occurrence, where core habitats shifted into more coastal waters, away from the busy shipping routes in the centre of the Gulf.

Professor Sims says: “Overall ship co-occurrence increased under all future climate scenarios, even if shipping remained at current levels, rather than its anticipated expansion of up to 1,200 per cent by 2050.”

Womersley added: “We show that climate change has the potential to indirectly impact highly mobile marine species through interacting pressures of humans and the environment. This highlights the importance of factoring climate change into discussions around endangered species management.”

Climate-driven global redistribution of an ocean giant predicts increased threat from shipping is published in Nature Climate Change and is available online.

The research was supported by the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the European Research Council (ERC) under the EU Horizon 2020 Programme.

Students raise £5,000 for Salvation Army through sustainable fashion challenge

The Future You, Future Fashion project has seen more than three tonnes of pre-loved clothes and household materials originally donated to the charity’s clothing banks transformed by students into new, high-fashion coats.

After featuring in several high-profile photoshoots with leading celebrity photographers, many of the garments have since been sold in the charity stores, raising over £5,000 for the Salvation Army.

Milly Toombes and her final coat design.

Milly Toombes, a third-year fashion design student, has been a part of the project since its conception. She said: “I think it’s amazing. It’s really affirming for us as fashion students as we usually make our clothes, submit them and then that’s it.

“This time, not only have we raised money for the Salvation Army, but you know that someone out there owns your garment – so you’ve made lots of people happy and that’s a great feeling.”

Students were tasked to use old curtains and blankets but had to submit their designs before knowing what materials they’d receive.

Milly's coat in early production.

Milly added: “It was a fun challenge; I have worked with used clothes before but never curtains. You really had to take a step back and forget it was already a finished product by looking at it like just another square piece of fabric.

“I really had to sit there and work with what I had, but it’s probably my favourite garment I’ve made yet because of that.”

As the largest charity-owned textiles collector in the UK, the Salvation Army Trading Company (SATCoL) is the trading arm of the Salvation Army Charity, operating around 8,000 clothing banks and over 230 charity stores.

Each clothing bank holds up to 240 kilos of clothing, handbags and shoes. By reusing and recycling these donated textiles, the charity greatly reduces the amount sent to disposal and gives items a new lease of life.

Sophia Malig, Senior Teaching Fellow at Winchester School of Art, said: “It’s been a fantastic collaboration that’s helped our students to approach something in a new way.

“Many of them had never worked with unconventional materials such as curtains or blankets before, so it’s let test their own limits for how they create clothing.

“These clothes that the students have made are amazing, they’re unique – and they’ve all worked so incredibly hard to make the project what is has become.”

The public will be offered the opportunity to purchase the remaining upcycled pieces once more, in a final pop-up shop soon to be announced.

You can find out more on the Winchester School of Art website.

New research hub to tackle inequalities in music across the UK

The new AHRC Hub for Public Engagement with Music Research will bring academics and non-academics together to connect music research to real world settings, and inform government policy to make a lasting impact on musical communities across the UK.

The Hub, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), will provide expert guidance on academic research that responds to longstanding inequalities in music education and the music industry, as highlighted in recent government reports. For example, this year’s Misogyny in Music report exposes sexism, bullying and abuse in the industry.

The Hub will also support the Government’s manifesto statement that “The arts and music will no longer be the preserve of a privileged few.”

Over two years, the AHRC Hub will fund four ‘spoke’ projects on themes of ‘health and wellbeing’, ‘civic and cohesive communities’, creative education’ and ‘technological innovation’. Expressions of interest will soon be invited from academics, music practitioners, charities and organisations working in/across community, education, health or music industry sectors.

Dr Erin Johnson-Williams

A series of in-person networking events for researchers, music professionals and music organisations will be held in November and December across the UK, hosted in Cardiff at BBC Hoddinott Hall, Cardiff Bay; in Glasgow with the Scottish Music Centre; and in Belfast with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland at The MAC Belfast.

Dr Erin Johnson-Williams, project lead and Lecturer in Music Education and Social Justice, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be launching the Hub. The projects we’ll fund – collaborations between academics and creative communities – will explore under-funded and under-resourced areas of research and music. The Hub will also offer training through our Public Policy Southampton and Public Engagement with Research units, to enable researchers and practitioners to forge ways to impacting policy around music and social justice.”

Dr Benjamin Oliver

Dr Benjamin Oliver, Associate Professor of Composition and co-lead for the project, said: “There are huge, often systemic inequalities in music education and within the music sector more generally – for example limited access to learning instruments at school, reduced uptake of music at GCSE and A-level, and deeply embedded discrimination within parts of the music industry. The Hub will work to understand some of these issues and activate change.”

Lisa Tregale, project co-lead, said: “Over the last 30 years there has been a consistent decline in music education and music making in community and health settings. It is important that sectors work together, not only to achieve maximum impact and delivery but to have robust evidence to tell the most compelling case for support for the future.”

Christopher Smith, Executive Chair of AHRC said of the Hub: “Music creates communities and shared moments that last a lifetime. Our music industry is a world player, with UK artists and musicians streamed and listened to across the globe. There are huge challenges facing the music industry, including the impact of a decline in young people studying music which affects the future of the industry and the struggle of small live music venues to survive.

"This makes our new AHRC Hub for Public Engagement with Music Research a vital contribution to the future of music, part of our commitment to policy evidence-based research to support the creative industries. It will take a deeper look at the challenges facing music and help fund projects that involve the public in finding solutions that can help the sector thrive.”

Upcoming events:
• Thursday 7 November 2024: Launch in Southampton (University of Southampton)
• Monday 18 November 2024: Cardiff (BBC Hoddinott Hall, Cardiff Bay)
• Tuesday 10 December 2024: Glasgow (Scottish Music Centre)
• Wednesday 11 December 2024: Belfast (The MAC Belfast)

A series of online webinars and virtual networking events will also be released over the next few months.

Nazi refugee and former history tutor returns to university to mark 100th birthday

Dr Edgar Feuchtwanger visited a new exhibition called 'University of Southampton: A Place of Refuge', in which his personal story features.

His visit coincides with the university achieving University of Sanctuary status, recognising its commitment to creating a culture of safety, inclusion and support for those seeking sanctuary.

Edgar, who was appointed OBE in 2021 for services to Anglo-German understanding and history, remains one of the university’s History department’s longest serving members of staff, having taught at the university from 1959 to 1989.

Reflecting on the university’s new University of Sanctuary status, Edgar, who lives near Winchester and turned 100 years old on 27 September, said: “Unfortunately the world is full of conflict, so it is important that there is a place for refugees. The world should be more tolerant and make less people refugees. It’s not a nice thing to happen, and my experience was a good one. It felt like I had left an evil empire once I arrived in the UK.”

Edgar Feuchtwanger as a child in Munich, Germany. Image courtesy of Edgar Feuchtwanger.

Edgar was born to Jewish parents in Munich in 1924. As a child, his family were neighbours of Hitler on the Prinzregentenstrasse, Munich, occasionally seeing him in passing.

“I don’t think there are many people still alive who have seen Hitler face to face,” he said. “Some might think it’s remarkable.”

Edgar was 14 when the Gestapo arrested his father during the infamous Kristallnacht, when 30,000 Jews in Germany and Austria were detained, hundreds died, and Jewish stores and synagogues were ransacked. His father was released six weeks later, and the family fled to England.

The 'University of Southampton: A Place of Refuge' exhibition has been curated by the Parkes Institute for the study of Jewish/non-Jewish relations. It features the life stories of seven refugees from the 1930s who all became academics at the University of Southampton.

As well as Edgar, it features Professor Gabrielle Ganz (Law), Professor Martin Fleischmann (Chemistry), Professor Josef Frankel (Politics), Professor Eric Zepler (Electronics), Professor Karl Weissenberg (Physics) and Professor Leslie Brent (Medicine).

Professors Tony Kushner and Neil Gregor show Edgar the 'Place of Refuge' exhibition.

Neil Gregor, Professor of Modern European History and Director of the Parkes Institute, said: “The stories told here vary enormously – the individuals concerned came from Germany, Poland, the present-day Czech Republic and Ukraine, and from a wide variety of backgrounds. Individually, their stories are remarkable enough – but it is only when we put them together, as we are doing here for the first time, that we see what an incredible contribution Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany made to the University of Southampton.

“For us, as historians, it's a particular pleasure to honour Edgar Feuchtwanger's story and his contribution – we are delighted to have been able to welcome him here today.”

A University of Sanctuary

University of Sanctuary status is awarded to universities by the charity City of Sanctuary. As a University of Sanctuary, the University of Southampton has committed to initiatives such as:

Sanctuary scholarships: Offering scholarships to support students who are seeking sanctuary in the UK. The university has awarded 15 sanctuary scholarships to date, with students coming from Ukraine, Pakistan, Afghanistan, South Africa, Nigeria and Palestine.
Academic research and teaching: The university is home to research focused on the experiences of those seeking sanctuary, exploring global migration and social justice. The university teaches courses and modules across various disciplines offering students the opportunity to engage with these critical issues, developing global awareness.
Community engagement: The university is committed to working with local and national communities such as SWVG (Southampton & Winchester Visitors Group) and CLEAR (City Life Education and Action for Refugees).
CARA (Council for At-Risk Academics): As a partner with CARA, the university provides a safe environment for scholars to continue their research and academic work, preserving and promoting academic freedom.
Southampton Sanctuary Network: The university has joined Solent University, City Life Church and Southampton City Council in the Southampton Sanctuary Network. This network offers organisations a place to come together to support those seeking sanctuary in the city.

Professor Jane Falkingham, Vice President, Engagement & International, at the University of Southampton, said: “I am really delighted that the University of Southampton has been recognised as a University of Sanctuary, reflecting our commitment to supporting students and academics seeking sanctuary and safety from across the globe to realise their full potential.”

Pete White, Project Manager at CLEAR, added: “We're really pleased that the work of the university has been recognised and how they play a role in helping make Southampton a place of welcome for displaced people. From research and scholarships to partnerships and practical help, we value their contribution and support, and look forward to seeing the university continue to flourish.”

Jewish refugee and former history tutor returns to university to mark 100th birthday

Dr Edgar Feuchtwanger visited a new exhibition called 'University of Southampton: A Place of Refuge', in which his personal story features.

His visit coincides with the university achieving University of Sanctuary status, recognising its commitment to creating a culture of safety, inclusion and support for those seeking sanctuary.

Edgar Feuchtwanger as a child in Munich, Germany. Image courtesy of Edgar Feuchtwanger.

Edgar was born to Jewish parents in Munich in 1924. As a child, his family were neighbours of Hitler on the Prinzregentenstrasse, Munich, occasionally seeing him in passing.

“I don’t think there are many people still alive who have seen Hitler face to face,” he said. “Some might think it’s remarkable.”

Professors Tony Kushner and Neil Gregor show Edgar the 'Place of Refuge' exhibition.

“For us, as historians, it's a particular pleasure to honour Edgar Feuchtwanger's story and his contribution – we are delighted to have been able to welcome him here today.”

A University of Sanctuary

University of Sanctuary status is awarded to universities by the charity City of Sanctuary. As a University of Sanctuary, the University of Southampton has committed to initiatives such as:

Sanctuary scholarships: Offering scholarships to support students who are seeking sanctuary in the UK. The university has awarded 15 sanctuary scholarships to date, with students coming from Ukraine, Pakistan, Afghanistan, South Africa, Nigeria and Palestine.
Academic research and teaching: The university is home to research focused on the experiences of those seeking sanctuary, exploring global migration and social justice. The university teaches courses and modules across various disciplines offering students the opportunity to engage with these critical issues, developing global awareness.
Community engagement: The university is committed to working with local and national communities such as SWVG (Southampton & Winchester Visitors Group) and CLEAR (City Life Education and Action for Refugees).
CARA (Council for At-Risk Academics): As a partner with CARA, the university provides a safe environment for scholars to continue their research and academic work, preserving and promoting academic freedom.
Southampton Sanctuary Network: The university has joined Solent University, City Life Church and Southampton City Council in the Southampton Sanctuary Network. This network offers organisations a place to come together to support those seeking sanctuary in the city.

University arts and humanities festival gets city centre premiere

The family-friendly event, on Saturday 9 November, will feature interactive activities including virtual reality experiences, constructing Roman mosaic Lego, Chinese paper cutting, and exploring archaeological finds.

There’s also an opportunity to explore items from the university’s archives from the Battle of Waterloo, the Coronation of Queen Victoria, and the raising of the Mary Rose.

Previously held at the university’s Avenue Campus, this year the Arts and Humanities Day will be held in Southampton’s Cultural Quarter, in the MAST Mayflower Studios, Sir James Matthews Building, John Hansard Gallery and Southampton City Art Gallery.

The day forms part of Southampton Arts and Humanities Festival, which has been running since 2014. The Southampton Arts and Humanities Festival runs from Thursday 7 to Saturday 16 November. Events include:

Making a Lego mosaic at last year's festival

Future Cities: Film screening and discussion, Sir James Matthews Building, Thursday 7 November, 6.30pm
BBC Singers in concert, Turner Sims, Thursday 7 November, 7.30pm
Community Hubs Get Board in the City!, Board in the City café, 38-40 Onslow Road, Southampton, Tuesday 12 November, 6.30pm
In Conversation with BBC broadcaster Nihal Arthanayake, MAST Mayflower Studios, Tuesday 12 November, 7.45p
UK Disability History Month 2024: Launch, Sir James Matthews Building, Thursday 14 November, 6pm
The Many Ways To Be A Mother: Workshop, John Hansard Gallery, Friday 15 November, 10.30am

Ben Littlefield, Head of Public Engagement at the university, said: “We are delighted that Arts and Humanities Day is relocating to the city centre. This move provides a great opportunity for everyone to join us in celebrating the people, stories, and research from the university, Southampton, and our wider region.

“Each event at the festival offers something unique, and Arts and Humanities Day is shaping up to be an unmissable experience. The day will be packed with free hands-on activities, engaging workshops, and captivating performances, ensuring there’s something for everyone. It is a valuable opportunity to meet our researchers, students and community partners and share your perspectives, as well as have a fantastic time. We’re looking forward to seeing you there!”

Tai Chi at Arts & Humanities Day

Arts and Humanities Day runs from 10.30am to 4.30pm. Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance via Eventbrite. Visit the Southampton Arts and Humanities Festival website for more information.

This year, Arts and Humanities Day is in collaboration with the Southampton ESRC Festival of Social Science, which brings latest social science research from the university to the public.

Aurora expedition sparks new children’s book

Dr Jones, Astronomy Public Engagement Leader at the university, has spent six years delivering aurora-themed outreach and public engagement activities in local schools and at public events.

In January 2020, she joined an expedition to Svalbard, Norway, to launch the Aurora Zoo citizen science project. The project has seen more than 17,500 volunteers log on to its website to analyse and classify images of the aurora captured by a camera system in the Arctic, helping scientists to learn more about the fascinating aurora phenomenon.

It was during this expedition in 2020 – when Dr Jones witnessed the aurora for the first time and also encountered a polar bear in its natural habitat – that she was inspired to pen a children’s story.

Dr Sadie Jones in Norway

Her first book, Seren and the Polar Bear Cub, is aimed at children aged 10 and above and will be launched at the University of Southampton Arts and Humanities Day on Saturday 9 November.

Dr Jones said: “I’ve always wanted to write a children’s fiction book that highlights the amazing astronomy and space research we do at the University of Southampton. Svalbard was such a weird and magical place, I felt so lucky that I got to experience the life of a scientist working at the extremes, it really set off my imagination.”

Seren and the Polar Bear Cub tells the story of a young girl who discovers the magic of the aurora from her home in the UK and then embarks on an extraordinary journey to Svalbard.

Dr Jones will be giving away the first 750 copies of Seren and the Polar Bear Cub at Saturday’s Arts and Humanities Day, taking place in Southampton’s Cultural Quarter She is currently seeking a publisher to bring the book to shops.

The family event on Saturday – which is free, but tickets must be pre-booked – forms part of this year’s Arts and Humanities Festival, which runs until 16 November.

From chronic shoulder injury to world pole sport champion

Paul, a former powerlifter, learnt to live with his injury by only ever using his ‘good’ arm to reach above his head.

But when he took part in a groundbreaking shoulder study and received bespoke physiotherapy at the university’s Biomechanics Laboratory in the School of Health Sciences, he not only achieved full rehabilitation – he took up pole sport and is now the world record holder in his category.

It was in the early ‘90s that Paul fell whilst playing chase with his two young sons, dislocating his shoulder and snapping the ligaments.

For 20 years after that, he lived with the injury that meant he couldn’t raise his right arm above shoulder height without considerable pain.

Paul, now 66 and from West Wellow near Southampton, said: “My main hobby until the injury was powerlifting and instructing weightlifting. I still remember the doctor saying, ‘You’re going to need to find a new sport’. I was gutted."

MOCATS study

Paul turned to running and cycling, but then he took part in the MOCATS (Motor Control Retraining Exercises for Shoulder Impingement) study in 2012, which used new methods to assess shoulder blade movement and shoulder muscle function.

Electrodes measuring movement and muscle activity in Paul's shoulder

Peter Worsley, Professor of Assistive Technology and Tissue Health at the University of Southampton, co-led the study. He said: “You need all the big muscles and all the little muscles in your shoulder to be working coherently for it to move properly. Using surface electrodes and our motion capture system, we measured muscle activity and shoulder blade movement to create tailored interventions for people suffering shoulder pain.”

The team was able to pinpoint the cause of Paul’s shoulder impingement, where a tendon was catching on bone. From there, they identified exercises for Paul to improve his posture and teach his body to hold his shoulder in a corrected position.

“It was amazing,” said Paul. “After all those years, it started to improve within a week. It then took several months to train my body to naturally hold my shoulder in the correct position. I was so happy and I found I could start to do more and more exercises.”

The study was conducted by the university’s Active Living Research Group, led by Professor Maria Stokes and supported by the Centre for Sport, Exercise and Osteoarthritis Research Versus Arthritis.

A team of researchers worked with local physiotherapists to develop the intervention, including Dr Sarah Mottram, who initiated the idea for the study and is a specialist in approaches to facilitate normal movement,

Dr Martin Warner, who leads the Biomechanics Laboratory, said: “Through using technology, we aim to promote optimal movement to reduce the risk of injuries and to help with rehabilitation.”

Pole sport

Shortly after starting the MOCATS trial, Paul discovered a love of pole sport after a friend invited him to try a class at Emma Simmonds’ Pole Performers Dance School in Southampton.

“I thought I was fit and strong – but it was such a tough workout that I ached for nine days afterwards,” he recalls. “I couldn’t accept I wasn’t strong enough for all the moves, so I saw it as a challenge and took it up as a hobby. As the physio improved my shoulder and I improved at pole, I could do harder and harder moves that I could never have dreamed of before.”

Paul with his British and World Champion pole sport medals

Now retired from his job as Head of IT at Southampton’s National Oceanography Centre, Paul is a pole sport instructor and President of the British Pole and Aerial Sports Federation.

He has travelled the world to compete in pole sport competitions, representing Great Britain at three world championships. In 2022 he was the male 60+ world champion, and today he is the over 60s male world record holder.

He said: “If I hadn’t taken part in the MOCATS trial, I would never have achieved any of this. I’m so grateful – it quite literally transformed my life for the better.”

Professor Worsley added: “Paul’s experience is such a fantastic outcome of our study, and it’s wonderful to know that the work we did is still having a tangible impact today.”

Further research

The group’s work has since translated to other joints in the body, mainly the hip and knee, in different sports and occupational groups, to prevent injury (prehabilitation) as well as aid recovery in musculoskeletal disorders.

Professor Worsley is leading a multidisciplinary project within the Southampton NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, using the same concept of neuromuscular control.

The project is seeking to develop personalised programmes to optimise movement to help patients prepare for and recover from surgery effectively. The aim of this research is to preserve muscle quality and improve outcomes for patients undergoing a range of elective procedures.

Pioneering engineering research gives windsurfer the edge

They have used the university’s cutting-edge towing tank and X-ray Computed Tomography (X-CT) scanning facilities to examine and test windsurfing kit belonging to Sam Sills, who represents Great Britain in windsurfing.

The work is being celebrated to mark National Engineering Day on 13 November, which is led by the Royal Academy of Engineering and aims to celebrate the UK’s engineers and how they shape the world around us.

Sam competes in iQFOiL class windsurfing, or ‘windfoiling’, where the board elevates above the water. Riders can race at speeds of up to 30 knots (56 kilometres per hour).

Tests at the university assessed the hydrofoil’s performance in water, and 3D X-CT scans analysed the overall geometry, structural integrity, and variability between foils.

Student Jamie Cook at work on the towing tank's platform

Dr Joe Banks, Lecturer in Maritime Engineering, supervised a third-year Maritime Engineering student project that tested the foils in the university’s 140-metre-long towing tank, which has a moving platform that can tow structures through the water at up to 10 metres per second (36kph).

Dr Banks said: “We have a long-standing relationship with the UK Sports Institute, which funds research projects here to help improve athlete performance. It’s really exciting for us to be working with Sam, and for our undergraduate students’ research to help support him, and it’s thanks to our involvement in sports research over several decades that we were connected to him.”

Student Jamie Cook, 21, measured the lift and drag forces of the foils through water at a range of speeds. Jamie said: “My favourite part of project was completing the first high speed run. It was exciting to see testing equipment work at close to 18 knots whilst also seeing the measured forces that the foils produced.”

Inside the towing tank

The university’s µ-VIS X-CT Imaging Centre (part of the UK’s national research facility for X-CT), houses the two largest high-energy micro-focus X-CT systems within the UK academic sector – one of which was used to inspect the structure and make-up of four sets of foils belonging to Sam.

Sam’s coach Leo McCallin attended the scanning. He said: “All four foils are the same design from the same manufacturer, but there are discrepancies when you look closely, as it’s practically impossible to make them all absolutely identical.

“There are two potential advantages in scanning the foils like this. The scans show any voids inside the structures, which can inform us as to potential concerns around high stress regions – and hence likelihood of that part to break under load.

"Scanning them also helps us to spot any variation in the shape, which can influence how fast the foil is.”

One of the foils is scanned

Dr Mark Mavrogordato, Director of Operations at the µ-VIS CT Imaging Centre, added: “It’s really wonderful to be able to use the kit here at the university to help Sam, and it’s great that we have students also involved in research to support Sam.”

Sam, 31, is a former junior world champion and represented the British Sailing Team in windsurfing at the 2024 Olympic Games, in which he came fifth.

He said: “I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to work with the University of Southampton. Being able to assess and test the foils using the university’s facilities and knowledgeable staff and students is really reassuring, has given us deep insights into the kit’s performance and make-up.”

National award for housebound university academic

Associate Professor William E. Donald, a Visiting Research Fellow at the university’s Business School, is listed in the 2024 Shaw Trust Disability Power 100.

Will, 37, who lives in Oakley near Basingstoke, is a former marathon runner and keen hiker who worked in the finance sector in London before he suddenly fell ill in 2012 with glandular fever and was bedbound for a year.

He was then diagnosed with multiple other conditions including primary Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) with associated Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), which causes intense fatigue, pain, and passing out when standing.

Since 2012 he has had to use a wheelchair, and since 2019 he has been housebound.

Will Donald on Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) in 2010

“I used to run marathons and lead people up mountains on hikes, so becoming ill was a significant life adjustment,” explained Will. “I do research and advocacy as a form of serious leisure to try and keep my brain active as and when I feel up to it, in a voluntary capacity.”

Will conducts his role as Associate Professor of Sustainable Careers and Human Resource Management at the University of Southampton voluntarily, due to having to retire in 2012 on health grounds.

He studied his undergraduate, master’s and PhD at the University of Southampton. His research focuses on graduate employability, career development, ensuring the workplace is fair for all, and HR practices.

As a disability advocate, he regularly writes about disability issues and supports event organisers on inclusive practices. In 2022, he founded his own company, Donald Research & Consulting.

Will, who lives with his wife Eleanor, daughter Grace, six, and pug Stanley, said: “Awards such as the Disability Power 100 are vital to showcase the amazing work and advocacy that disabled people do, and to shine a light on just how far we need to go as a society in terms of accessibility, inclusivity and carer funding, if we are to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive. I am so grateful to Dr Maria Mouratidou from the University of Cumbria for nominating me.”

Eleanor, Grace and Will Donald

Alona De Havilland, Head of the Disability Power 100, said: “The Disability Power 100 is all about creating change, it celebrates ambition and achievement, and plays a role in challenging society’s perceptions of disability by recognising the strengths, contributions and successes of 100 disabled individuals each year.”

She added: “It is a rallying cry to future generations of leaders and a call for employers and society to recognise the talents and skills of disabled people.”

The full list of finalists is available on the Disability Power 100 website.

University’s Legal Clinic shortlisted for national award

The University of Southampton’s Global Legal Clinic is shortlisted in the national LawWorks Pro Bono Awards 2024.

The Clinic’s Legal Director, Dr Omar Madhloom, is also shortlisted for an award.

The Legal Clinic officially opened in February and already has 150 students involved in providing free – or pro bono – legal services to university staff, students and the wider public on matters including personal injury, family law, landlord and tenant disputes, consumer rights, and animal and environmental rights. It is currently handling about 70 client cases.

Dr Madhloom said: “It’s a huge achievement and we are really proud to be shortlisted in the LawWorks awards, especially as we only established the Legal Clinic this year.

“Our Clinic is unique in the breadth of work and projects we are involved in internationally. We provide face-to-face legal advice, but we are also involved in community engagement, and environmental law. It also provides invaluable experience for our students, giving them extra training and developing their confidence and employability.”

In partnership with Lawyers Against Poverty, law students are working with communities across the UK to empower them through public legal education. The Clinic also works with the UK Centre for Animal Law, the Global Pro Bono Bar Association, and supports research by the Environmental Law Foundation. And they collaborate with clinics at other universities in countries including France, Peru and South Africa.

Maddy Nicholl, 19, a second year LLB Law student and Vice Director of the Legal Clinic, said: “Gaining practical legal experience can be almost impossible in such a competitive industry. Handling individual cases as though I were already qualified has provided invaluable real-world experience, and the Clinic’s experienced solicitors oversee all work so students can practice with confidence.”

Lizzie Brooke, 20, is in her second year studying LLB Law with Psychology. She said: “Participating in live client cases, interviewing clients and conducting research has greatly improved my confidence in client communication as well as my research skills.

“The Clinic and Dr Madhloom have provided me with so many other opportunities such as panel events and talks that help increase my knowledge of the law and allow me to network. Being a part of the Clinic is my favourite part of my time at university.”

Students from the Southampton Legal Clinic offer face-to-face and virtual appointments, with free legal support.

The Clinic is sponsored by Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors (HJA). Daniel Denton, a partner at HJA who is also shortlisted in the LawWorks awards along with HJA, said: “The University of Southampton’s Global Legal Clinic has made a significant impact, and I am delighted to see its fantastic work with the local community being recognised. Dr Madhloom and the students have shown outstanding dedication, making this initiative a resounding success. The clinic not only benefits the community but also gives students a significant advantage, equipping them with practical experience and honed skills that set them apart in the competitive job market.”

The University of Southampton Global Legal Clinic is shortlisted for Best Contribution by a Pro Bono Clinic. Dr Omar Madhloom, Associate Professor and Legal Clinic Director, is shortlisted for the award for best contribution by an in-house team or an in-house solicitor.

The winners of the LawWorks Pro Bono Awards 2024 will be announced on Wednesday 4 December 2024.

Purple plaque honours Southampton graduate’s pioneering achievements

The plaque has been awarded to Dr Kramer to mark her UKRI Women in Innovation Award, which recognises her achievements as a pioneer in science and business.

UKRI (UK Research and Innovation) introduced purple plaques in 2022 as a visible celebration of women’s achievements in science – similar to the blue plaques across the UK that mark the achievements of influential and pioneering people.

Dr Kramer studied archaeology as an undergraduate, before completing her Master’s in Archaeology and PhD in Computer Science at the University of Southampton.

She founded her company, ArchAI, in 2020. The company uses AI to digitise objects from LiDAR, satellite imagery and historic maps to unlock insights from past land-use, focusing on habitat restoration, conservation, and sustainable land planning.

Dr Kramer works with the construction industry to inform sustainable land-use planning, as well as with the Forestry Commission, National Trust, and other environmental organisations to support habitat restoration and conservation.

Dr Iris Kramer's purple plaque

Dr Kramer said: “Receiving this plaque is a wonderful recognition of the success of ArchAI to date. I’m proud that our work is providing national-scale insights that were previously unimaginable through traditional methods. Our projects continue to make valuable contributions to research, and we’re fortunate to maintain strong collaborations with the University of Southampton, driving innovation forward through both academic and commercial partnerships.

“Having this plaque at the University of Southampton is so meaningful to me. It represents the amazing support I’ve had from people across various departments, all of whom encouraged me to dream big and gave me the space to turn those dreams into something that’s now making a real difference.”

Dr Kramer’s innovative vision for ArchAI and the company’s success also saw her named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2022.

Professor Tim Norman, Head of Electronics and Computer Science at the university, said: “It is exciting to see the positive economic and societal impacts of Dr Kramer’s work, grounded in the expertise she developed through her PhD. We are very proud of our open and inclusive culture that promotes and values entrepreneurship, and supported Iris in the early stages of her journey.”

The purple plaque is permanently located at the university’s Highfield Campus, in Building 32, University Road, where Dr Kramer studied her PhD.

Astronomers close to solving mystery of how universe’s giant galaxies formed

Scientists have discovered the birth sites of gigantic elliptical galaxies which they claim offer new clues about how they were formed.

The creation of these ancient galaxies, which look like bulging footballs compared to our flat disk-like Milky Way, remains a mystery to astrophysicists.

But now academics from the University of Southampton, working with experts across the world, say their new study may finally unravel the enigma.

Dr Annagrazia Puglisi from Southampton, who co-authored the research, said it is likely that large flows of cold gas and collisions between galaxies in the early universe created these giant systems.

She added: “Two disk galaxies smashing together caused gas – the fuel from which stars are formed – to sink towards their centre, generating trillions of new stars.

“These cosmic collisions happened some eight to 12 billion years ago, when the universe was in a much more active phase of its evolution.

“Our findings take us closer to solving a long-standing mystery in astronomy that will redefine our understanding of how galaxies were created in the early universe.”

The study, published in Nature, was a collaboration between Southampton, the Purple Mountain Observatory in China and the Chinese Academy of Science, among others.

Experts analysed more than 100 star-forming galaxies in the distant universe using the world’s largest radio telescope, known as ALMA, located in Chile’s Atacama desert.

The scientists made the discovery using a new technique which looked at the distribution of light emitted by distant and highly-luminous galaxies, said study lead Dr Qing-Hua Tan from the Purple Mountain Observatory.

She added: “This is the first real evidence that spheroids form directly through intense episodes of star formation located in the cores of distant galaxies.

“Astrophysicists have sought to understand this process for decades.

“These galaxies form quickly – gas is sucked inwards to feed black holes and triggers bursts of stars, which are created at rates ten to 100 times faster than our Milky Way.”

Researchers used the open-source A3COSMOS and A3GOODSS archival projects which enabled them to gather high-quality observations of many distant galaxies.

The scientists say they will combine their findings with data taken from telescopes aboard the JWST and Euclid satellites, as well as the Chinese Space Station, to map the stellar components of galaxies.

Dr Puglisi from Southampton added: “This will give us a more complete picture of early galaxy formation and deepen our understanding of how the universe has evolved since the beginning of time.”

Find out more about how the University of Southampton is leading on space exploration.

University of Southampton is top 10 in the UK for sustainability

Worldwide, the rankings place the University of Southampton in 23rd place, up from 34th last year.

The QS World University Rankings: Sustainability, now in their third year, look at how universities are addressing the world’s greatest environmental and social challenges. A total of 1,743 universities from around the world are assessed in the rankings, including 98 in the UK.

University of Southampton Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark E. Smith said: “Sustainability is vital in everything that we do as universities, from our research and teaching to our engagement activities. As institutions, we have a unique and critical role to play in tackling challenges related to climate change.

“It is wonderful to see the dedication and progress we are making here at Southampton towards ensuring a more sustainable future being reflected in these rankings, and being top 10 in the UK is a superb endorsement of our ongoing commitment and efforts.”

The rankings assess universities’ performance across environmental impact, social impact, and governance.

The University was ranked 22nd in the world for environmental impact, recognising the impact of the institution’s education, research and operations towards an environmentally sustainable future.

For social impact, the University ranked 43rd in the world. This encompasses the University’s activities around employability, equality, education, health and wellbeing, and knowledge sharing.

Under its sustainability ambitions, the University is aiming for every single student to have an opportunity to learn about sustainability by 2025, and has developed e-learning to achieve this.

The University’s Sustainability and Resilience Institute (SRI) was launched last year, bringing together colleagues from different disciplines to work with experts from around the world to tackle the most critical challenges facing our society and environment.

Alice Brock, Sustainable Development Goals Project Officer for the SRI, said: “We are really proud that the work we are doing on sustainability across the university has been recognised through these rankings. Being in the top 10 worldwide is a fantastic endorsement and illustrates the commitment we are making as an institution to delivering on our University Strategy.

“We have worked really hard over the past year to make big strides towards our sustainability commitments, and we are looking forward to continuing to make advances through the work of our Sustainability and Resilience Institute.”

Find out more about sustainability at the University of Southampton and the University’s Sustainability and Resilience Institute.

City centre celebrations for this winter’s Southampton graduates

A total of seven ceremonies are taking place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with nearly 2,000 students attending to graduate.

Among this winter’s graduates are newly qualified cardiac nurse Jasmine Grant and musician Mary-Jannet Leith.

Nursing graduate Jasmine Grant

Nursing graduate Jasmine was inspired to specialise in cardiac care following the sudden cardiac arrest and death of her father mid-way through her studies.

Jasmine said: “Continuing my degree following my dad's sudden passing was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. But I know my dad would have wanted me to achieve my goals and so I've tried my best to turn a truly tragic situation into something that motivates and inspires me to help others live healthy and fulfilling lives.

"I now feel honoured to call myself a cardiac nurse and I hope to make him proud every day.”

PhD graduate Mary-Jannet Leith

Through her studies, PhD graduate Mary-Jannet became an expert on Queen Charlotte and George III’s relationship with music – so much so that she was interviewed by national media to coincide with the release of Netflix’s Queen Charlotte: a Bridgerton Story.

Mary-Jannet said: “It was very exciting to be part of the media attention around Queen Charlotte ahead of the launch of Queen Charlotte: a Bridgerton Story.”

An honorary degree will be awarded to Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Advisor for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), on Thursday.

Professor Lucy Chappell

Professor Chappell has overall responsibility for DHSC research and development and for supporting analysis and life sciences across the department. She provides science advice to ministers across a range of health topics and is involved in cross-government science policy. She is also Chief Executive Officer for the National Institute for Health and Care Research, the research delivery vehicle for the UK Department of Health and Social Care.

Lucy is Professor of Obstetrics at King’s College London, working mainly in clinical trials in pregnancy, and a practicing Consultant Obstetrician at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. 

Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark E. Smith said: “Winter graduation is a very special time of year for our community, as we celebrate our students’ brilliant achievements and wish them well as they move onto the next stages of their lives. It is also a chance to honour our dedicated and talented staff who have enabled the graduates to reach their potential. It’s wonderful to be able to celebrate this in the heart of Southampton.”

Southampton professors named in King’s New Year Honours

Professor of Chemistry Gill Reid was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) following her work to empower women and girls in chemistry.

The King’s awards recognise those who have made outstanding contributions to their communities and areas of expertise across the UK.

Prof Reid is also joined on the honours list by Professor Richard Oreffo who was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

More than 1,200 recipients were named on the list this year.

Prof Gill Reid, a recent President of the Royal Society of Chemistry, was recognised for her services to chemical sciences and to inclusion and diversity.

She said: “It really is one of my proudest moments. That the citation refers to both chemical sciences and inclusion and diversity is significant to me.

“We must strive to create a truly inclusive chemistry community that welcomes diversity and inspires young talent to follow careers in chemistry. More than ever, bringing together different talents and experiences is essential to tackle the climate, sustainability and biodiversity challenges that the world faces.”

Emeritus Professor Richard Oreffo, lately chair of Musculoskeletal Science at the University, was given an OBE.

He worked in the Faculty of Medicine at Southampton for more than 25 years and was given the honour for services to education equality and to musculoskeletal science.

Prof Oreffo co-founded the Centre for Human Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration and founded The Cowrie Scholarship Foundation, a national charitable organisation which improves access to higher education for talented disadvantaged Black British students.

He said: “I feel privileged and honoured to receive this award, and am grateful to many inspirational colleagues and students that supported my work on skeletal biology and skeletal regenerative medicine across three decades.

“I am also delighted to be recognised in an area I feel so passionately about, equity, equality and inclusion of education for talented Black British students."

University of Southampton Vice Chancellor Professor Mark E. Smith said: “I am delighted to see the awards to Gill and Richard in the New Year’s Honours list, especially as the awards not only recognise their outstanding academic contributions, but also their work on making society more equal and fairer.”

Former Southampton scientist Professor Bashir Al-Hashimi, once Dean of the Faculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering until 2020, was also knighted in the honours list.

Prof Al-Hashimi, now at King's College London, was made a Knight Bachelor for his contributions to energy-efficient computing. He said: “This distinction recognises the key role the engineering profession plays each and every day in addressing the world’s most pressing challenges.”

Scientists make cancer discovery that could make immunotherapy more effective

The aim of the University of Southampton study, funded by Cancer Research UK and Gilead Sciences Inc, is for patients to respond better to immunotherapy. This is a treatment that supercharges the body’s immune system to kill cancer cells.

Many patients do not respond well to immunotherapy, said Professor Gareth Thomas who led the £1.4million study and has been examining the types of cells that surround tumours – cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs).

It aimed to find out what stops the treatment from working and if there are any characteristics that could be enhanced to make it work more effectively.

Using tissue samples donated by patients from Poole General Hospital, the team used sequencing technology that analyses individual cells in cancers.

The researchers identified a different type of fibroblast that may help the body’s immune system attack tumours. It’s now hoped this feature could be replicated in patients’ cancers to make immunotherapy work more effectively.

Professor of Experimental Pathology Gareth Thomas said: “We have spent a long time studying the types of cells that stop immunotherapy from working properly, and we already knew there was a certain type of cancer-associated fibroblast that blocks the body’s anti-tumour immune response.

“In this study, we decided to do the opposite, and try to get a better understanding of cells that actively support anti-tumour immunity. To do this we started by analysing head and neck cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), a type of cancer known to produce a strong immune response that is associated with longer survival.

“Excitingly, in these cancers we found a type of fibroblast that we think helps stimulate anti-cancer immunity. We also found this cell in other cancer types and have shown that patients whose cancers contain lots of these cells have a much better response to immunotherapy.

“Our team has worked out what makes these cells form and can now do this in the lab. Our next step is to work out whether we can use this information to develop a treatment that supercharges a patient’s response to cancer immunotherapy, giving them a better chance of beating this disease.”

The study has been published by Molecular Cancer and can be found here.

Cancer Research UK’s executive director of research and innovation, Iain Foulkes, said: “Immunotherapy is a promising area for the treatment of many cancers, but resistance to immunotherapy remains common. Knowing there is a chance some treatments may not work can be hard for some patients who may experience side effects whilst receiving them.

“Research like this, that offers insights into how we could improve their response to immunotherapy across multiple cancer types is an exciting development and we hope it could lead to better chances for patients undergoing these types of treatments.”

Read mabout the study here.

Or find out how Cancer Research UK and the University of Southampton are collaborating to develop ground-breaking cancer research.

Thought-provoking event to reveal fascinating insights into majestic whales

The event, called Ocean Giants, will highlight the far-reaching impact of these majestic creatures on our planet.

It will take place on Thursday 6 February as part of Winchester Cathedral’s brand new exhibition, Whales – which is sponsored by the University’s Southampton Marine & Maritime Institute (SMMI) and will feature three monumental sculptures of sperm whales created by artist Tessa Campbell Fraser.

The SMMI is a unique, internationally recognised centre of excellence for research, innovation, and education. As an interdisciplinary research institute, it connects partners to researchers from across the University of Southampton to address challenges in marine and coastal environments and human use of the oceans.

Professor Damon Teagle, Director of the SMMI, said: “We are truly delighted to be supporting the Whales art installation, and to be leading some of the associated events. Whales are the giants of our oceans that play extraordinary roles in shaping the world’s ecosystems and cultures, and even legal landscapes.

“Research at the University of Southampton continues to reveal fascinating insights into the significance of these majestic creatures, and we will explore some of these at our Ocean Giants event as part of Whales at Winchester Cathedral.”

Clare Lean, Corporate Partnership Manager at Winchester Cathedral, added: “On meeting Professor Damon Teagle, we immediately recognised the SMMI’s potential to enhance this event. Through collaborative efforts, we have developed engaging opportunities for our audience to interact with their esteemed researchers and gain a deeper understanding of their groundbreaking work.

“They have worked diligently visiting the cathedral, gaining invaluable insights into how we work. We look forward to welcoming them along with their students to participate in Whales”.

Whales runs from 22 January until 26 February.

Mining dust is suffocating nearby forests

Researchers at the University of Southampton, UK, and the National Institute of Technology in Rourkela, India, have assessed the impact of mining dust on forests in Eastern India, which is home to some of the world’s major open-pit coal mines.

Focusing on the coal mining region of Jharsuguda in Eastern India, the research team studied detailed satellite images to inform its findings. They also collected 300 leaf samples from 30 different sites in Jharsuguda, and found dust deposits containing aluminium, silica and iron on them.

Jadu Dash, Professor of Remote Sensing at the University of Southampton, and Professor Amit Kumar Gorai and Mr Avinash Kumar Ranjan, from the Department of Mining Engineering at the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, led the research.

Professor Dash said: “Pollution from open cast mines creates a layer of dust that settles on the leaves of trees, making them increasingly less productive and less healthy. We knew this was the case, but we have learned that it is unfortunately worse – and more far spread – than we thought.

“The dust affects trees’ complex physiological processes, hindering their ability to capture carbon dioxide and damaging their overall health.”

Dust from mines that settles on leaves impacts their function, impeding photosynthesis, light interception, nutrient availability, gas-energy exchange, plant-pathogen interactions, and causing physical damage.

Dust particles obstruct the leaves’ stomata, the tiny openings through which plants exchange gases with the atmosphere. This reduces the plant’s ability to capture carbon and release oxygen.

Mining dust is also impacting trees in a wide geographical area, reaching far beyond the immediate vicinity of the mines – up to 30km away from the mines. The highest concentration of negative impact is along transportation routes to and from the mines.

“We used data from multiple satellite sensors to develop a model to map dust level on leaves,” explained Professor Dash. This enabled us to understand the regional impact. Using other satellite-based estimates of vegetation productivity, we found that dust accumulation lead to a reduction in carbon capture and transpiration.

“Our research should provide a solid foundation to inform future environmental management, as well as demonstrate the need for ongoing research to fully understand and mitigate the negative impact of mining on the delicate surrounding ecosystems.”

The research paper is published online.

Space harbours more hidden supermassive black holes than first thought, say scientists

Experts working with NASA have been searching parts of the cosmos in efforts to estimate the total number of galactic giants.

They found that around 35 per cent of supermassive black holes – some many millions to billions of times heavier than the sun – have been overlooked as they are hiding behind thick clouds of gas and dust.

This is more some than previous estimates of around 15 per cent.

The study was undertaken by astronomers at the University of Southampton who were working with an international team of academics.

Some of these hidden black holes are so heavily obscured that they even block low-energy X-ray light, said paper co-author Professor Poshak Gandhi from Southampton.

He added: “Black holes are the most mysterious objects in the universe and are present everywhere – yet we still don’t fully know how they evolve.

“We’ve found that many more are lurking in plain sight – hiding behind dust and gas rendering them invisible to normal telescopes.

“This is the first time we have a highly refined census of black holes growing by consuming interstellar material surrounding them.”

The new study was published in the Astrophysical Journal.

Astronomers from Southampton and their international colleagues used data taken from NASA’s InfraRed Astronomy Satellite, and the X-ray space telescope NuSTAR.

It allowed them to see the infrared emissions from clouds surrounding supermassive black holes.

Prof Gandhi from Southampton added “Though black holes are dark, surrounding gas heats up and glows intensely, making them some of the brightest objects in the universe.

“Even when hidden, the surrounding dust absorbs and re-emits this light as infrared radiation, revealing their presence. At the same time, X-rays provide a complementary view peering through the veiling gas, much like a medical X-ray scan allows a doctor to peer through to our innards.”

Determining the number of hidden black holes compared to non-hidden ones can help scientists understand how these black holes get so big.

If they grow by consuming material, then a significant number should be surrounded by thick clouds and potentially obscured, said lead author Dr Peter Boorman, formerly of the University of Southampton and now at Caltech.

He added: “Black holes also influence the galaxies they live in – this happens because they are surrounded by massive clouds of gas and dust and can consume vast amounts of material.

“If too much falls toward a black hole, it starts coughing up the excess and firing it back out into the galaxy. That can disperse gas clouds within the galaxy where stars are forming, slowing the rate of star formation.”

“If we didn’t have black holes, galaxies could be much larger,” added Prof Gandhi from Southampton.

“If we didn’t have a supermassive black hole in our Milky Way galaxy, there might be many more stars in the sky. That’s just one example of how black holes can influence a galaxy’s evolution.”

Read the study at https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.07339.

Deep-sea experts inform new art exhibition

The exhibition, called Soundings, addresses the topic of deep-sea mining and its tensions and potential impacts.

Artist Emma Critchley is behind Soundings, which features filmmaking, choreography and public engagement events.

She worked with communities and specialists, including researchers from the University of Southampton and the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton, to explore our relationship with the deep ocean in order to create Soundings.

They included Jon Copley, Professor of Ocean Exploration and Science Communication at the University of Southampton.

A scene from 'Sirens'. Image courtesy of Emma Critchley

Professor Copley, an expert in deep sea mining and ecology, said: “Emma Critchley’s work is shining an important light on something that most of us don’t get to see – the deep ocean. Commercial deep-sea mining is very much on the international political agenda, but its impact on the ecology of worlds that are invisible to us is not yet understood.

“Soundings is a powerful and striking exhibition, bringing the opportunity to encounter some of the amazing deep-sea creatures of our world and inviting discussion of humans’ relationship with the deep sea. It was a pleasure to be involved in bringing Soundings to fruition and I’m excited to see it open to the public.”

Central to the Soundings exhibition is a multi-screen film installation highlighting the tensions and possibilities surrounding deep-sea mining, using film, sound, and dance. On certain days during the exhibition, a dancer will activate the installation by moving with deep-sea creatures on the screens.

Also featured is a co-written open letter, bringing together indigenous Pacific activists, legal scholars and marine scientists on the topic of our relationship with the deep-ocean and the need to protect it.

Soundings will run at John Hansard Gallery, 142-144 Above Bar Street, Southampton, from Saturday 8 February to Saturday 3 May. Find out more on the John Hansard Gallery website.

Ghetto survivor shares her story on Holocaust Memorial Day

One of the last remaining survivors of the former Polish Lvov ghetto, Janine Webber, is attending the city’s memorial event, organised and hosted by the University of Southampton’s Parkes Institute for the Study of Jewish/non-Jewish Relations.

Janine, 92, will share her story with Anoushka Alexander-Rose, postgraduate researcher at the University of Southampton, whose own grandfather fled Lvov (now Lviv, Ukraine) on the Kindertransport in 1939.

Janine was seven when the Second World War broke out. Her family was forced to leave home with just one suitcase and was allocated a small room in a house on the edge of the city. Fearing German raids, Janine’s parents dug a hiding place under a wardrobe for Janine, her brother and their mother. With no room for other family members to hide, Janine’s father was shot, and she never saw her grandmother again.

Janine and her surviving relatives were forced into the ghetto, where her mother contracted typhus and died aged 29.

Janine went into hiding with her aunt, uncle and brother, then later spent a year in an underground bunker. Her aunt arranged false papers for her, and Janine was able to work as a maid in Krakow until it was liberated in 1945.

After the war, Janine and her aunt left Poland for Paris. In 1956, Janine came to the UK where she met her husband and settled in London.

While Anoushka’s grandfather escaped Lvov in 1939, her grandfather’s parents and brother remained in the city. They did not survive, and Anoushka’s family don’t know what happened to them.

She said: “My grandfather never spoke about his family loss or experiences, but I have been committed in recent years, inspired by my work with the Parkes Institute, to share his story more and invite conversations about the impact of the Holocaust on the second and third generations, especially now there are so few survivors still with us.”

Professor Neil Gregor, Director of the Parkes Institute, said: “It is, as ever, a privilege to chair our annual commemorative event, and to share in remembering the victims of the many genocides that have blighted the modern world.”

The event is being held at the University of Southampton’s Sir James Matthews Building in Guildhall Square.

Students from Eastleigh’s Barton Peveril Sixth Form College will share reflections on their participation in the Holocaust Education Trust’s Lessons in Auschwitz programme.

The audience will also hear a reading from Vesna Maric's ‘Bluebird’, describing her experiences as a young refugee from the Bosnian War of 1992-1995.

Scientists closing in on dark matter mystery

For years experts have been baffled by the puzzling force, which is invisible and yet makes up about 85 per cent of all mass in our known cosmos.

Now a team from the University of Southampton have developed a concept that they claim could advance our understanding of dark matter.

Its experts have begun testing a device which measures tiny signals by firing lasers through graphite sheets levitating in zero gravity.

Its mastermind physicist Tim Fuchs said it could be the first step to more space-based experiments that might detect it.

He added: “There are lots of theories as to what dark matter might be but no experiment on Earth has ever come close to detecting it.

“Dark matter remains one of the fundamental questions scientists are still trying to answer – it dictates the structure of our universe but is still undetectable.

“Our experiment is unlike anything attempted before: we’ll be levitating graphite between magnets which, in zero gravity, are incredibly sensitive to small forces.

“If there is a sufficiently high density of dark matter, a dark ‘wind’ will softly push our levitated particles by an amount we can measure – detecting it for the first time ever.”

Dark matter, which was first identified in the 1930s, does not emit, absorb or reflect light in any meaningful quantity, making it undetectable by telescopes.

However, scientists know it exists due to its gravitational effects on visible matter, said Fuchs.

“The movements of stars and galaxies within the universe can only be explained by the gravitational influence of dark matter,” he added.

The experimental device will be blasted into space aboard a new satellite, which is being developed between Space South Central and the universities of Southampton, Portsmouth, and Surrey under the name Jovian-1.

Different options are being explored by the Jovian-1 team to launch the satellite early next year.

The Southampton dark matter device weighs just 1.5kg – and, once jettisoned, will fly around the Earth in low orbit for two years to conduct its tests.

Fuchs added: “There are theories that say the dark matter interaction rate may actually be so high that it cannot penetrate our atmosphere or the mountains under which detectors have been built.

“This might explain why many of the major Earth experiments that have been built to detect dark matter have not revealed any conclusive signals.

“Our mission is the first of its kind to use this levitating technology in space – and we hope it will serve as a proof of principle that we can detect dark matter above Earth.”

Read more about space technology being developed by the University of Southampton at www.southampton.ac.uk/aerospace.

Campaign to recognise ‘hidden’ research outputs and roles given formal go-ahead

The five-year project, called Embedding Trust in Evaluation (E-TIE), will develop recommendations for the sector to embed the formal recognition of support and technical work that underpins research in the next REF (Research Excellence Framework, the national research assessment exercise that determines public research funding for institutions).

The project has been developed by the academics behind the Hidden REF, which was launched from the University of Southampton in 2020. The Hidden REF holds an annual festival and competition to champion ‘hidden’ roles and outputs that enable academic research to happen, such as technicians, research software engineers, librarians, research administrators and managers.

Research England, which manages the REF Team on behalf of all four higher education funding bodies, has awarded £3.5 million to the E-TIE project.

The project will be led by Simon Hettrick, Professor of Software Sustainability at the University of Southampton and chair of the Hidden REF, James Baker, Professor of Digital Humanities at the University of Southampton, and Gemma Derrick, Professor of Research Policy and Culture at the University of Bristol.

As well as making recommendations for consideration by Research England for the REF 2029 Research Diversity Advisory Panel, the project team will share information arising from the Hidden REF and associated research on best practice in submitting non-traditional outputs for assessment.
Professor Hettrick said: “This will make research both better and fairer. There are lots of people without whom research would not be possible, so this is a big step towards ensuring proper and fair recognition and reward during the REF.”

“It feels great that something that was genuinely started at grassroots has gained momentum to get to this stage,” said Professor Baker. “There is a lot of work to do to change the culture, and we are confident that this project will lay the foundations for mainstream recognition of non-traditional research outputs and overlooked roles.”

Professor Derrick added: “The Hidden REF is vital because it shines a spotlight on the often-overlooked individuals and contributions that sustain research. By celebrating all roles and outputs, it champions a more inclusive, equitable, and accurate way of valuing the true fabric of the research ecosystem.”

Professor Mark E. Smith, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton, said: “I am really proud that this significant project has launched, thanks to the hard work and vision of a small team here at the University of Southampton. Their work has paved the way for the appropriate and deserved recognition of overlooked outputs and roles in the REF.”

Rebecca Fairbairn, Director of REF, said: “REF 2029 will deliver an expanded definition of research excellence, recognising the wide range of research, roles and people that are a necessity for excellent, impactful research and a vital part of the UK’s vibrant research system. This project will provide additional impetus, and evidence on these key topics, complementing the work already underway through the Research Diversity Advisory Panel and the PCE Pilot.”

Steven Hill, Director of Research at Research England, added: “Around the world, countries are recognising the importance of valuing the research system as a whole and all the roles and work that encompasses. We have an opportunity in the UK to lead the way in this work.”

Alis Oancea, Chair of the REF 2029 Research Diversity Advisory Panel (RDAP), said: “In its role as the independent advisory panel on research diversity to REF 2029, RDAP welcomes and values sources of evidence on research diversity from across the sector, including evidence arising from this project and from other research-on-research initiatives, to support and recognise the full range of epistemic perspectives, research outputs and practices, and forms of impact and engagement in the UK.”

Sepsis survivor’s campaign to raise awareness

Becca Heritage had to fight for her life and endured multiple surgeries – including having both legs, her right hand and several fingers amputated, and many skin grafts – after she became extremely ill during her first term at university studying medicine in 2018.

Now, the 25-year-old is back at university and also campaigning to boost vaccine awareness amongst fellow students and raise awareness of organ and limb donation.

Becca, who is a volunteer with Meningitis Now, said: “Meningitis is so easily preventable now with a vaccine, so it’s so important that every child has their meningitis vaccines. Everyone can get the MenACWY jab up until their 25th birthday. I want to make sure that all university students know that, if they have missed out, they can still have the vaccine if they’re under 25.”

Becca on her first day at the University of Southampton, in her halls of residence

Vaccines against Meningitis B and C are offered to all children, and the MenACWY vaccine, which protects against four types of bacteria that can cause meningitis, is offered to all 14-year-olds.

Becca, who lives in Southampton, fell suddenly ill with repeated vomiting and a fever in November 2018. She was admitted to University Hospital Southampton where she deteriorated and was put into an induced coma for two weeks.

“My condition was touch-and-go, and my family said their goodbyes as the doctors warned I might not survive,” she recalled. “When I eventually woke up two weeks later, I learned that I had been battling meningitis and sepsis and, looking down, I saw that my hands and patches of skin were black. The texture was unreal, almost like the surface of a brick.”

Becca remained in hospital in Southampton for two months, then she was transferred to Salisbury District Hospital for specialist surgery to amputate her legs.

Becca in intensive care

She threw herself into prosthetic rehab and was walking independently on prosthetics within seven weeks.

In 2023, she received a donor right hand. The 12-hour operation took place at Leeds General Infirmary, the only centre in the UK that performs the intricate surgery.

“The hand transplant was a huge step forward for me,” she said. “It’s been absolutely amazing – I can now write with my right hand again and am continuing to gain sensation so I can feel warmth, cold and some textures.”

As a result, Becca is also keen to raise awareness of organ transplantation, the NHS Organ Donor Register and discussing organ and limb donation with family.

She said: "Although these conversations may be difficult, it is vital to discuss your wishes with loved ones. Organ donation is an incredible gift, and while hand transplants might not be life-saving like other organs, they are absolutely life changing."

Becca learning to walk on prosthetic legs

Becca’s ambition is to become a GP. She is currently studying a year-long Master of Medical Sciences at the University of Southampton and will be return to the fourth year of her medicine degree in September.

She said: “The university has been really supportive throughout everything. When I was in hospital, they even provided a house nearby in Southampton so my family could stay nearby, and I was able to leave hospital to join them there on Christmas Day.”

She added: “I want to make sure I use my time at university to also boost awareness of meningitis symptoms and vaccinations, by running stands at student events and through organising fundraising such as bake sales for Meningitis Now. I’ve been really proud to reclaim my life. Despite my disability, I am determined not to let it change my path and I am grateful that I am able to lead an independent life.”

Symptoms of meningitis in children and adults:

Fever, cold hands and feet
Vomiting
Drowsiness
Confusion and irritability
Severe muscle pain
Pale blotchy skin, with spots/rash
Severe headache
Stiff neck
Dislike of bright lights
Convulsions/seizures

Visit the Meningitis Now website for more information.

Southampton talk to unveil eco costs of filming Star Wars in UK

That is according to a film expert who is talking in Southampton next week.

Dr Rebecca Harrison will be speaking at an event on Tuesday 11 February about how the blockbuster’s production affected the natural habitats and communities of some of Britain’s landmarks, including Winspit Quarry in Dorset.

The talk, which starts a 4pm, is organised and hosted by the University of Southampton.

Most of the Star Wars franchise hits have been filmed at locations in the UK since its 1977 original A New Hope, including a shoot in 2017 at Fawley in Hampshire.

Dr Harrison, a Senior Lecturer from the Open University, will discuss a project she leads which explores the ecological harm and carbon footprint of the silver screen industry.

She said: “Lightsabers, stormtrooper helmets, Rey costumes – the Star Wars franchise has produced a vast array of recognisable props and costumes, many of which have been designed and made by creative talent in the UK.

“Yet the saga’s reliance on UK materials and infrastructure and its relationship with different locations and communities are not well understood.

“We’ll be exploring the environmental impact of those famous Star Wars productions on the UK, with insights from people who lived or worked near a shoot, and consideration for the disruption of wildlife.”

The talk, titled Making Planets...Destroying Worlds?, is being hosted at the University of Southampton’s Avenue campus on Highfield Road, SO17 1BF.

Tickets are free and available from tinyurl.com/star-wars-southampton. It will also be streamed online – tickets should be booked in advance using the same weblink.

Event chair Dr Megen de Bruin-Molé, from the University of Southampton’s department of Art & Media Technology, said: “Dr Harrison’s project supports the screen industries to work in more eco-friendly ways to minimise harm to the environment.

“Her past work on Star Wars, including her brilliant archival and historical research on the Empire Strikes Back, has established her as a leading expert on the franchise, and we are excited to have this chance to engage with her work here.”

Read more about the talk and other upcoming Southampton events at www.southampton.ac.uk/events.

ai-hidden-environmental-costs

Professor of Artificial Intelligence Gopal Ramchurn is part of a National Engineering Policy Centre working group which published a new report.

Data centres can and should be designed to use less water and critical raw materials, but the UK government must set the conditions, according to the summary.

Prof Ramchurn, from the University of Southampton, sat on the NEPC working group which developed the report, titled Engineering Responsible AI: foundations for environmentally sustainable AI.

He said: "AI’s use has surged in the past two years, aiding daily tasks and boosting productivity and innovation.

“However, many are unaware of the significant costs and environmental impacts – recent Institution of Engineering and Technology research shows less than one in six in the UK are aware of this. AI providers must be transparent about these effects.

“If we cannot measure it, we cannot manage it, nor ensure benefits for all. This report's recommendations will aid national discussions on the sustainability of AI systems and the trade-offs involved.”

The report was developed by the Royal Academy of Engineering in partnership with the Institution of Engineering and Technology, of which Prof Ramchurn is a Fellow, and BCS, the Chartered Institute of IT, under the National Engineering Policy Centre.

It follows the recent AI Opportunities Action Plan, endorsed by the UK government, which aims to support the growth and responsible adoption of artificial intelligence.

However, the proliferation of AI comes with heightened environmental risk, says the report, adding that data centres and the artificial intelligence systems they host consume significant amounts of energy and water.

Rapidly growing demand could have far-reaching effects, such as competition for renewable energy or drinking water sources, according to the experts.

The Engineering Responsible AI report proposes five foundational steps to be taken now to help establish the UK as a global leader in efficiency and frugality – including:

1)   Mandatory reporting on environmental impact of data centres
2)   Provide information on the environmental impact of AI systems
3)   Set environmental requirements for data centres
4)   Re-think how data is collected and stored
5)   Leading the way with government investment

Professor Ramchurn is a Fellow of the IET and CEO of Responsible AI UK, a consortium of experts from UK universities working to develop trustworthy artificial intelligence.

He added: “With the government intending to reform planning systems to build new infrastructure like data centres, policies to manage the environmental risks are urgently needed.

“Reliable data is not currently available on how much resources these infrastructures consume. While data centres can be designed to use less energy, drinking water and materials, doing so effectively and at scale requires access to resource data.”

Science and art combine for thought-provoking event under the whales

Almost 500 people joined the audience for the sold out Ocean Giants event, part of a programme to mark the current Whales exhibition featuring gigantic sperm whale sculptures.

As well as presentations about some of the latest research on whales, there were literature readings and music performances.

Jon Copley, Professor of Ocean Exploration and Science Communication, presented research on ‘whale falls’ – the bodies of deceased whales that come to rest on the ocean floor.

He said: “The average depth of the ocean is over two miles deep. When a whale dies, its body sinks into that world, where it creates an island of life for deep-sea animals. Scavengers pick the meat from the bones and the skeleton is left.”

The whale bones are also a source of food, explained Professor Copley, and deep-sea worms called ‘osedax’ make the bones their home.

“The whale skeleton is like an island colonised by these deep-sea animals,” he said. “Each whale fall lasts for decades, until all the bones are gone.”

Dr Dina Lupin speaking at the Ocean Giants event

Dr Ryan Reisinger, Associate Professor in Marine Biology and Ecology, presented his research on tracking whale migrations to understand where they feed and where they give birth.

He said: “If we want to conserve these ocean giants, as well as enjoying their presence we will need scientifically coordinated efforts from local to global scales.”

And Dr Dina Lupin, Associate Professor in Law, outlined the history of whales and law.

“Sometimes the law changes in unexpected ways, and whales are an example of that,” she said “For hundreds of years, corporations made huge profits from whaling – it’s a business that started in the seventh century and continues today in some parts of the world. Fifty-eight thousand whales were killed in the First World War to provide Britain and its allies with oil and nitro-glycerine – so it could be said whales helped win Britain the war.”

Dr Lupin explained how ‘personhood’, a central premise of human rights law, has been discussed in legal circles in relation to whale conservation. “But what makes us think whales want to be persons?,” she asked. “Why be a person when you could be a whale?”

The event also featured a reading by Philip Hoare, Professor of Creative Writing, about his encounter with whales from his book ‘Leviathan or, The Whale’, and a poetry reading by Will May (Professor of Modern and Contemporary Literature) accompanied by piano by Dr Benjamin Oliver (Associate Professor in Composition).

Concluding the evening was the premiere of ‘Echolocations’, a whales-inspired musical performance composed by Dr Drew Crawford with Dr Oliver on piano, Dr Liz Gre on vocals and Dr Pablo Galaz on live electronic manipulations.

Ocean Giants took place on Thursday 6 February and was presented by Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute and the Southampton Institute of Arts and Humanities.

climate-change-maps-worldpop

Research group WorldPop, based at the University of Southampton, claim the data will highlight the locations likely to be most severely affected in the future.

The demographers, working with the University of Bristol and Wellcome Trust, say the maps will provide detailed pictures of humanity by 2100, including predicted population sizes, ages and genders.

WorldPop already produces data which is used by the UN and international governments to estimate the impact of climate change on earth today.

Climate change will have a fundamental impact on our environment, health and society but it will not be felt equally across the globe, said WorldPop director Andy Tatem, Professor of Spatial Demography and Epidemiology at Southampton.

He added: “Our population data will be vital to understand and plan for the impact of future extreme weather and natural disasters, which have the potential to reshape settlements on earth.”

Plans to develop the maps have been backed by the Wellcome Trust, which is providing £5.6million of funding across the next seven years.

It continues WorldPop’s recent work to publish data which has been used by governments and charities to help remote communities and deploy emergency aid.

Its demographers have published around 45,000 datasets in the last decade using mobile phone data, satellite images, and census records.

These have been used to improve vaccination rates among children in Afghanistan and helped the UK government predict the spread of Covid-19 in the pandemic.

Technology lead at Wellcome Felipe J Colón-González said: “Every year we are seeing different ways in which climate change is impacting global health, including the spread of climate-sensitive infectious diseases like dengue and the health risks caused by exposure to extreme heat.

“We need to improve our understanding of what current and future warming levels hold, to be able to prepare and adapt to these challenges. WorldPop’s work aims to do exactly that.

“We’re excited to be supporting the team to continue developing this valuable digital resource, which will help all governments and international organisations make evidence-based decisions and allocate resources to best mitigate the health impacts of climate change as they prepare for the future.”

The high-resolution maps developed by WorldPop will be able to estimate population sizes across the world down to 100m-by-100m grid cells for future scenarios.

The project, which the team are calling FuturePop, will include experts who study climate and health to make sure the data is accessible to the scientific community.

Co-lead Dr Laurence Hawker, a Research Fellow from the University of Bristol, said: “Many places where populations are changing the most are at the forefront of the climate crisis.

“This makes understanding these populations even more crucial so we can ensure future planning is targeted effectively to mitigate climate-related threats.

“WorldPop has a real role to play in understanding how humanity can mitigate the changes we will face across the next 75 years.”

Read more about WorldPop at www.worldpop.org.

north-atlantic-tipping-point

An international team led by the University of Southampton and the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) has received £5m from the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) to deploy autonomous profiling floats which will collect data on ocean mixing in the North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre - a key region influencing global ocean circulation and the climate.

POLEMIX is one of several projects funded by the £81m ARIA Forecasting Tipping Points programme, which aims to enhance our climate change response by developing an early warning system for tipping points.

The North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre, or SPG, is a massive system of rotating ocean currents in the North Atlantic. It transports heat from the tropics to the North Atlantic, helping to regulate temperatures in Europe and North America.

It also helps to power the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC)—a key part of the global ocean conveyor belt that moves heat and nutrients around the world.

Ocean mixing moves and blends waters through turbulence, winds, tides, and differences in temperature and salinity. As cold, salty surface water becomes dense enough to sink, new water moves in, reinforcing the gyre’s circulation through a process called deep water convection.

“If this mixing or convection weakens—for example, due to excess freshwater from melting Greenland ice - the SPG could slow down or even collapse, triggering disruptions in weather, sea level, and global ocean circulation,” says Doctor Bieito Fernandez Castro, a Lecturer in Physical Oceanography at the University of Southampton who is leading the POLEMIX project.

“The UK and northern Europe could experience much harsher winters, similar to parts of Canada, while the East coast of the USA could see dramatic sea level rises due to changes in ocean circulation.”

To better understand these crucial underlying processes, the team will deploy 12 to 15 autonomous profiling floats - robotic devices that move up and down through the ocean, continuously collecting data.

This data will then feed into advanced ocean and climate models, improving their accuracy and helping scientists refine predictions about whether, when, and how close we are to reaching the SPG’s tipping point.

Dr Alice Marzocchi, a co-investigator on the project from NOC added: “This is a unique opportunity to undertake a truly ambitious, innovative project delivering a leap forward in ocean observations and our understanding of the ocean and climate system.”

The project also involves Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US, Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche-sûr-Mer in France, and Rockland Scientific in Canada.

Preserving the future of Holocaust research

The first major project for the hub – which is called the European Holocaust Research Infrastructure (EHRI-UK) – will be to digitally map all collections in the UK that relate to the Holocaust.

Dr Rachel Pistol, Director of EHRI-UK and Digital Historian at the University of Southampton, said: “The UK is home to an enormously rich collection of records relating to the Holocaust and refugees who fled Nazi oppression. These sit in archives, museums and private collections – and some we know very little about.

“This first project for EHRI-UK will bring all of these records together digitally for the first time, helping researchers to access them and undoubtedly bettering our understanding and learnings from that period in history, as well as helping to counter Holocaust denial and antisemitism.”

EKRI-UK will also fund transnational research fellowships and placements, connect researchers, and bring together experiences and memories of the Holocaust from different countries.

Through co-leading EHRI-UK, the University of Southampton is linked to a large international network of research institutes, archives, museums and academic institutions.

Portrait of Rabbi Dr Solomon Schonfeld, from the Parkes Collections [ref MS183/1013/2], and letter from H.W. Tankel, a jeweller and diamond merchant from Glasgow, to Rabbi Dr Schonfeld stating his wish to care for an “orthodox boy” until he can be reunited with his parents, or reaches 18 years of age. Parkes Collections [ref MS183/53/2/f1]

The university is home to The Parkes Institute, a world-renowned centre of Jewish studies, and the Parkes Collections, which contain key documents, including the unique records of Rabbi Dr Solomon Schonfeld, Executive Director of the Chief Rabbi’s Religious Emergency Council, who played a vital role in rescuing Jews from Nazi oppression and on Kindertransports.

EHRI-UK is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). Endorsing its launch, Professor Christopher Smith, Executive Chair of the AHRC, said: “It is an obligation of the highest seriousness for us to preserve and share the memory of the Holocaust, a critical turning point in our history and a near-unimaginable tragedy.

“This infrastructure is a key mechanism that brings the fragile and scattered records into the digital world, to preserve it for the future. I am proud that AHRC has supported the UK’s presence in a powerful European consortium.”

While the UK branch is new, EHRI was established in 2010 as a collaboration of archives and research institutions spanning 17 countries in Europe, Israel and the US, supporting transnational Holocaust research.

EHRI has just become the 30th EU-recognised research consortium, a legal standing that signifies its importance and permanence. Last month, government ministers from 10 countries gathered to sign the EHRI-ERIC into being in Warsaw. It was granted the legal status of a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC).

people-in-deprived-hampshire-less-likely-to-survive-heart-attacks

A study led by the University of Southampton analysed ambulance data from more than 4,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) in the region.

The results, published in Resuscitation Plus, found that people living in deprived communities were less likely to survive for 30 days after an OHCA.

The ambulance service in England attends more than 84,000 cases a year, with only around one in ten people surviving and leaving hospital.

Study co-author Dr Sandy (Alexander) Jackson, from the University of Southampton, said: “Once we accounted for other factors that might affect survival it became clear that deprivation does appear to be related to reduced survival.

“We suspect it may be true across other parts of the UK. We hope this work will prompt more widespread study of the issue including how we might improve outcomes for our most deprived communities.”

The research was carried out in collaboration with University Hospital Southampton (UHS), South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS), Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).

Experts examined 30-day survival rates after OHCA between 2019 and 2023 using ambulance service data.

This was linked with national measurements of deprivation based on patients’ home postcodes, while some people were excluded from the analysis if their cardiac arrest was caused by trauma.

Of the 4,184 patients included in the study, 437 (ten per cent) survived for at least 30 days.

The scientists adjusted for factors such as age, sex, the initial heart rhythm and ambulance response times, and their analysis revealed a significant association between neighbourhood deprivation and survival.

Co-lead Dr James Plumb, a Consultant Anaesthetist at UHS and honorary senior lecturer at the University, is Head of Research at HIOWAA and part of the NIHR Southampton BRC.

He said: “Across all areas of healthcare, we see differences in how patients do based on their background.

“We fairly consistently see that our most deprived communities experience worse health outcomes. This hasn’t been studied as widely in OHCA as some other areas of medicine.

“We wanted to understand how deprivation affects survival in after OHCA in Hampshire, with the hope that we could then move towards programmes to help reverse any inequality.”

According to the findings, survivors were on average significantly younger than those who died.

Those who survived had an average age of 62, while the average age of those who died was 71.

The data also showed that OHCA patients in deprived areas tended to be younger than those in less deprived areas.

Researchers suggest that while younger age is linked to better survival outcomes, it may mask overall health status.

Specialist Paramedic at HIOWAA Peter Owen, who co-authored the research, added: “Before we accounted for other factors, we didn’t see a big difference in survival between different levels of deprivation.

“But once we took age into account it became clear that the outcomes, for similarly aged patients, were worse in deprived populations.

“It’s hard to be certain about what is driving this. It’s possible that these patients have more health problems than similarly aged patients from less deprived areas, and that is supported by research from other areas of healthcare.”

Read the study here.

University opens its doors for annual science festival

The university’s μ-VIS X-Ray Imaging Centre, which houses some of the UK’s most powerful X-ray scanners, will be open to the public for the first time, along with a smart fibre optic high power photonics lab, and a chemical engineering lab.

Touring these facilities – along with others such as the 140-metre-long towing tank, a flight simulator, and the high spec wind tunnel – will be possible at the annual family-friendly Science and Engineering Day at the university’s Highfield and Boldrewood campuses on Saturday 15 March.

The much-loved ‘Toastrack’ 1929 Dennis bus, which has been owned and maintained by University of Southampton students and alumni since 1958, will be shuttling visitors between the two campuses.

'Toastrack', the university's 1929 Dennis bus

Other highlights at Science and Engineering Day include a teddy bear hospital, build a bat box, an inflatable planetarium, two escape rooms, and video otoscopy to see your ear drum up close.

The day forms part of the 10-day Southampton Science and Engineering Festival (SOTSEF), which will be the biggest ever this year with over 160 activities for the public.

In September 2026, the university will be hosting the British Science Festival, bringing 100 free events, exhibitions, performances and installations to the city, celebrating ideas and stories at the heart of science.

Events in the run-up to Science and Engineering Day on 15 March include:

Screening of the film Creation followed by a talk by Dr Neil Gostling, Associate Professor in Paleobiology, on Charles Darwin and evolution, on Tuesday 11 March
A free vegan buffet at an event exploring the university’s sustainability ambitions, on Wednesday 12 March
An illustrated talk by Dr Simon Boxall on myths and legends of the deep ocean, on Thursday 13 March
The Composting Heap: a discussion group about chickens as animals and as food, on Friday 14 March.

Visit the Science and Engineering Day website for the full programme and to book free tickets. And visit the wider SOTSEF website for information and tickets to events throughout the festival.

University recognised for its commitment to sanctuary seekers

As a University of Sanctuary, the institution is recognised for its commitment to creating a culture of safety, inclusion and support for those seeking sanctuary.

The University has joined the Southampton Sanctuary Network, alongside Southampton Solent University, Southampton City Council and City Life Church.

Paul Woodman, leader of City Life Church and founder of City Life Education and Action for Refugees (CLEAR), a charity that supports refugees and asylum seekers in Southampton, presented the certification to the University.

Accepting the certification, University Vice Chancellor Professor Mark E. Smith said: “I am very proud of the commitment we are making to support and improve the lives of students and academics from across the world who are seeking sanctuary.

“We will continue to build on all we do to ensure those fleeing persecution are welcomed into our university community and empowered to achieve their potential.”

Maryam Taher, Universities of Sanctuary Manager, said: "We’re delighted to welcome the University of Southampton as a University of Sanctuary. This recognition highlights its commitment to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for those seeking safety.

“From its scholarship programme and strong senior leadership support to its dedicated Sanctuary Coordinator role, Southampton is leading by example in showing how universities can make a real difference. The University’s law clinic, student-led initiatives like the STAR group, and its engagement with local organisations demonstrate its deep commitment to sanctuary values.”

University of Sanctuary status is awarded to universities by the charity City of Sanctuary. As a University of Sanctuary, the University has committed to initiatives such as:

Sanctuary scholarships: Offering scholarships to support students who are seeking sanctuary in the UK. The University has awarded 16 sanctuary scholarships to date, with students coming from Ukraine, Pakistan, Afghanistan, South Africa, Nigeria and Palestine.
Academic research and teaching: The University is home to research focused on the experiences of those seeking sanctuary, exploring global migration and social justice. The University teaches courses and modules offering students the opportunity to engage with these critical issues, developing global awareness.
Community engagement: The University works with local and national communities such as SWVG (Southampton & Winchester Visitors Group) and CLEAR (City Life Education and Action for Refugees).
CARA (Council for At-Risk Academics): As a partner with CARA, the University provides a safe environment for scholars to continue their research and academic work, preserving and promoting academic freedom.
Southampton Sanctuary Network: The University has joined Southampton Solent University, City Life Church and Southampton City Council in the Southampton Sanctuary Network. This network offers organisations a place to come together to support those seeking sanctuary in the city.

Deprescribing for dementia

New research conducted at the University of Southampton has found that many medicines prescribed to people with dementia that are long-standing could be safely removed from their prescriptions, resulting in some improvements in health outcomes.

According to the Alzheimer’s Society, there are estimated to be 982,000 people with dementia in the UK, which is forecast to grow to 1.4 million by 2040 due to population growth and an aging population. About 60 per cent of those live at home and are cared for by a family member.

The research analysed all previous studies (32 in total) on the effects of medicine optimisation and deprescribing for older people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment. The findings show it is possible to the reduce number of medications taken by people with dementia and improve their appropriateness in a safe way without increasing risks of hospitalisation or death.

Dr Kinda Ibrahim, an academic pharmacist and Associate Professor in Primary Care at the University of Southampton, led the work.

She said: “Many older people with dementia are prescribed a multitude of medications. We know there is a link between taking many medications and poor outcomes, especially for people with dementia.

“When people lose capacity, they may forget to take medications. Having to take multiple medications also interferes with people’s lifestyle – patients and carers say they don’t go out because they must take medication at a certain time of day. Plus, a list of multiple medications adds burden to the carer.”

One solution is for people with dementia to have regular medicine reviews with their pharmacist or GP to analyse the risks against the benefits for each medication, with the aim of deprescribing where appropriate.

Dr Ibrahim explained: “Everyone over the age of 65 who is taking multiple medications should, according to national guidelines, have an annual review of their prescriptions, but there is lots of variation across the UK in how this happens. For example, some GP practices simply don’t have the capacity or systems in place for this.

“We know that deprescribing is challenging, but there is evidence that it can be safe and feasible and lead to health benefits. Deprescribing in people with dementia should take into consideration their capacity, cognitive abilities, interference of medications on their quality of life, and should involve carers.”

Highlighting a need for further research, most of the 32 studies analysed focused on people with dementia living in care homes, leaving out those who still live at home. Most studies also focused on deprescribing antipsychotics, which are commonly used, against guidelines, to manage challenging behaviour in this population.

The research is published in the journal Drugs & Aging.

Thousands attend university’s biggest ever science festival

Families from across the south and further afield visited the university’s Highfield and Boldrewood campuses, where more than 150 activities were on offer.

Cutting-edge research facilities such as the μ-VIS X-Ray Imaging Centre, which houses some of the UK’s most powerful X-ray scanners, were open to the public.

A smart fibre optic high power photonics lab, the 140-metre-long towing tank, the high spec wind tunnel, and a flight simulator also all opened their doors for the public to explore.

Family-friendly activities included a teddy bear hospital, making a bat box, laser shows, an inflatable planetarium, slime making, and exploring fossils, microscopes, and an AI Orchestra.

The festival has been running for over 20 years – and growing each year.

Dr Ben Littlefield, Head of Public Engagement at the university, said: “This year’s Science and Engineering Day, part of our wider Southampton Science and Engineering Festival and British Science Week, has been one of our biggest yet and has been a huge success.

“This festival is about joy, curiosity and connection. It has been wonderful seeing so many visitors welcomed on to campus where they have encountered the research, stories and people behind some of the incredible work at the university and across our region. Most importantly it is an opportunity to hear our visitor’s ideas, perspectives and questions, where a moment of awe can turn into involvement and participation in research that will make a difference to our future.

“This year’s festival is also a fantastic lead-up to our hosting the British Science Festival with our partners across the city of Southampton next year – we can’t wait!”

euclid-first-data-origins-of-universe

Data captured by the Euclid satellite, which launched in 2023, has been released today by the European Space Agency in efforts to unravel the origins of the cosmos.

Astronomers from the University of Southampton were part of the international consortium behind the satellite and are analysing the data.

Professor of Astrophysics Francesco Shankar called Euclid’s findings “magnificent” and said they might reveal how galaxies and supermassive black holes evolved in the early universe.

He added: “Euclid has unveiled large numbers of supermassive black holes which are accreting gas and shining at the centres of galaxies.

“It is a promising step towards finally pinning down how these large monsters form and influence the evolution of their hosting galaxies.

“The spatial resolution of Euclid will allow scientist to set invaluable constraints on the morphological appearance of galaxies across cosmic time and in different environments.”

The Euclid satellite is on a six-year mission to map the structure of the universe by observing billions of galaxies.

Its aim is to shed light on dark energy and dark matter which scientists say account for 95 per cent of the cosmos.

Despite covering less than 0.5 per cent of the study area so far, Euclid’s data is already proving to be invaluable, said Professor Manda Banerji, one of the satellite’s scientists and also from Southampton.

She added: “We are already finding many new supermassive black holes which are hidden in the deep universe.

“Euclid is able to peer through dust and gas in galaxies to reveal new populations of black holes that are enshrouded within.

“Over its lifetime, the satellite will completely revolutionise our understanding of galaxies and the black holes within them."

Euclid’s space mission will last until at least 2029.

It will survey about one-third of the extragalactic sky outside the Milky Way – and will try to capture hundreds of millions of galaxies and stars over the same area.

The European Space Agency, which funded the project, said the quality of the images will be four times sharper than those taken from the ground.

Professor Mark Sullivan from the University of Southampton is an expert on supernovae, the powerful and luminous explosions of stars.

He said: “Euclid has allowed us to observe supernovae long after they have faded from the view of earth-based observatories, revealing the effects of various radioactive nuclides produced in these explosions.

“This opens a new window into understanding the physics behind supernovae and their origins.”

A larger Euclid data release is scheduled for October next year and will include results about the nature of dark energy.

For more about Euclid visit www.esa.int.

Read more about how the University of Southampton is pioneering space technology at www.southampton.ac.uk/aerospace.

Southampton named among UK’s best for spinouts

Figures from the Royal Academy of Engineering ranked the University of Southampton among the country’s top 20 for launching startups.

Since 2011, the Russell Group member has launched 43 spinouts – companies which are formed out of academic or scientific work undertaken at the institution.

In the last five years alone, spinouts working with the University’s start up accelerator Future Worlds have raised more than £78m and created nearly 400 jobs, said its director Ben Clark.

The programme currently supports around 120 staff and students each year to turn their research into commercial businesses.

Future Worlds director Ben added: “The commercial potential of pioneering research in university labs is maximised by enabling brilliant scientists and engineers to do what they do best: problem-solving and solution-building.

“By embracing the talent and vision of spinout founders here at the University, we’re seeing Southampton’s tech startups make a real impact on the UK economy – and world-leading contribution to innovation."

According to the Royal Academy of Engineering report, out this week, spinouts from UK universities secured £2.6billion worth of funding in 2024.

The University of Southampton has been supporting spinouts for more than two decades and, since 2000, has seen nearly 90 businesses launched in that time.

Many of these are supported through its Future Worlds accelerator, which provides business space, access to funding and mentor schemes.

Among its recent successes is tech company ViridiCO2, which has developed a way of capturing waste carbon dioxide – before it is released into the atmosphere – and converting it into surfactants used in household products and even to make shoes.

Aerospace spinout OhmSpace, also launched from the University, is working on an electric thruster for long-distance spacecraft to land on Mars or far-off asteroids.

Professor Mark Spearing, Vice President of Research and Enterprise at the University of Southampton, said: “Innovation sits at the very heart of what we do here.

“For years we have encouraged our academics and students to take their research from an idea through to reality through spinouts – and some of these are not only changing the world but improving people’s lives for the better.

“University spinouts fuel innovation which drives economic growth across the UK and I am delighted that our hard work has been rightfully recognised by the Royal Academy of Engineering.”

In an independent economic report in 2022, the University was estimated to contribute £4billion to the UK economy every year, with approximately £1.6billion occurring in the south east.

For more about the Royal Academy of Engineering report at raeng.org.uk.

Or read more about University of Southampton spinouts and start-ups at futureworlds.com.

A pasty, postage stamps and a giant plate: New art show in Winchester

Hosted at The Winchester Gallery, at Winchester School of Art, the exhibition also features items on loan from Southampton City Art Gallery – including by Turner Prize winner Gillian Wearing, Turner Prize nominee Gillian Ayres, and a huge painting by Canadian-born artist Lisa Milroy.

Gillian Ayres was also the first female Head of Paining in the UK, when she joined Winchester School of Art in 1978.

Called Work & Play, the exhibition is the result of the first open call for art applications by the University of Southampton-owned gallery.

It features 26 works by University of Southampton students and staff, and members of the local community – chosen from 75 applications.

Trinity Art Group wearing the aprons they designed

Students on the Contemporary Curating and Fine Art courses at Winchester School of Art collaborated on the exhibition.

They worked with Trinity Art Group in Winchester to design aprons – the ‘uniform of work and play’ – which visitors can wear while they view the exhibition.

A huge pasty made of gold velour stuffed with recycled magazine pages, created by local artist Mel Ffitch-Mitchell, from Totton, features in the exhibition.

A portrait of a busker made of used postage stamps, by amateur artist Caroline Haines from Chandler’s Ford, is on show. Caroline, 62, took up art when she retired three years ago.

Caroline Haines with her work, 'Stamp the busker'

She said: “In lockdown I bought two bags of used postage stamps from a charity shop. I found it very therapeutic sorting them saying I will do something with them one day!”

Caroline has since created works of art in stamps including a pictures of Buckler’s Hard in the New Forest and the Sycamore Gap in Northumberland.

A piece called ‘Foot and Ball’, by Dave Gibbons, Specialist Photography Technician at Winchester School of Art, includes video footage of a ball being dribbled taken from the perspective of the footballer’s feet, and a pair of studded shoes.

Dave said: “I played football at a high-level for many years and enjoy the sport as a fan. Foot and Ball is the result of technical explorations which involved using stills photography and moving image whilst playing or watching football.”

Grace Atkins with her painting 'Pool Table'

‘Pool Table’ is by final year Fine Art student Grace Atkins. Grace, 22, said: “The concept for the painting came from a visit to a very small and busy bar in Edinburgh, where I saw a group of friends laughing and playing a game of pool. I wanted to capture the moment and the intimate atmosphere of the scene.”

Julia Vogl, Lecturer and Fellow in Printmaking at WSA, curated the exhibition. She said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity for our students to be showing their work alongside that of renowned professional artists.”

Work & Play is on at the gallery at Winchester School of Art, Park Avenue, until Saturday 24 May, and admission is free. The gallery is open Tuesday to Friday from 12pm to 6pm and Saturday from 12pm to 4pm. It will be closed for Easter from 17 to 22 April.

Mentoring for a successful maternity leave and return to work

Researchers from the University of Southampton and Keele University teamed up with a pre and postnatal support company to analyse the impact of ‘maternity mentoring’ on women and the organisations they work for.

The study focused on mentoring before, during and after maternity leave. The research team followed a group of new mothers as they received maternity mentoring and compared their experiences with mothers who had recently returned to work without mentoring.

Maternity mentoring supports the emotional and practical challenges of maternity leave and returning to work. The researchers found mentored mothers felt supported, in control and empowered, while non-mentored mothers often felt isolated and unsupported.

Project lead Fiona Woollard, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Southampton, said: “Some of the results were really striking, highlighting a real need to improve people’s experiences and wellbeing.

“Mothers who received maternity mentoring found it most useful in helping them to balance the competing priorities of work, their baby and themselves, and to mentally and practically prepare for their return to work. They also found it invaluable in terms of a safe space to offload fears and worries.”

Balancing work with new parenthood

Most mothers find the return to work after maternity leave challenging, struggling to find a balance between work and new parenting responsibilities, as well as adjusting to the changes.

This study is the first to explore maternity mentoring with a focus on both maternal wellbeing and work reintegration. It joins a growing body of research that shows maternity mentoring promises a viable solution to these challenges across a range of job sectors.

The study involved interviews with participants before, during and after their maternity mentoring.

Dr Alexandra Kent, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Keele University and co-author of the study, said: “Our findings highlight the importance of creating a supportive and inclusive work environment for new mothers. There are tangible steps employers can take to enhance the wellbeing and productivity of staff during maternity leave and return to work transitions.

“By prioritising maternity mentoring, employers can foster a culture that values the wellbeing and the professional growth of their employees in equal measures.”

One participant said: “I've liked the fact that [the mentoring's] coming from quite a kind of personal level of reflection, but that it really feeds into strategic thinking for professional purposes."

Making KIT days work

The value of KIT (Keeping In Touch) days was described very differently by those who received mentoring compared to those who did not.

Dr Kent said: “The experiences of the mothers in our study suggest that when KIT days are conducted on the mother's terms, they provide valuable opportunities for building confidence and reconnecting with the workplace. However, if not managed properly, they can be disempowering and even detrimental.

Ensuring KIT days are supportive and flexible is an important step in designing a successful return to work.”

One non-mentored research participant said: “I did some KIT days, although they were from home so not brilliantly useful. I have never felt so much like an afterthought.”

Serena Williams, Founder of pre and postnatal support company bump & glide, and co-author of the research, said: “Maternity mentoring supports wellbeing, confidence and strategic thinking during a time of life change. It focuses on the mother in all aspects of her life, enabling her to continue to thrive personally and professionally.

“The challenges mothers – and their employers – face around maternity leave and the return to work aren’t new, but progress to overcome these challenges just isn’t being made fast enough.”

Recommendations for employers

The researchers have written two policy briefs, one focused on the specific benefits of maternity mentoring and the other on steps employers can take to support staff returning from maternity leave. They recommend that employers:

support staff in accessing maternity mentoring
ensure processes respect the inflexibility of childcare and the need for parents to be able to set fixed boundaries to working hours
ensure working roles are not changed during maternity leave unless absolutely necessary
ensure good communication with staff on maternity leave, with a named person who can be contacted in addition to the line manager
provide training for line managers to ensure they understand best practice.

University and community collaborate on unique cookbook

The Comfort Cookbook contains recipes that bring comfort, particularly during times of illness or at the end of life.

The book is the result of a project by four university researchers and documents the community’s experiences of inequalities and issues of trust in the healthcare system, and their end-of-life wishes.

Illustrated by Karla Buck, it features 10 cultural recipes including maize porridge, pilau Trinidadian style, Jamaican chicken curry, and Caribbean fish soup.

Anne Cato, community leader at the Priory Road Community Group, New Testament Church of God in St Denys, Southampton, took part in the project.

She said: “We don’t talk about death and dying enough. Talking to people close to us about death is important. This cookery book is the result of proper co-production, and it has been such a pleasure working with the university and feeling like somebody is listening to us.”

Community members Josephine Ayoka, Jenny Gordon, Anne Cato and Millie Bent

Anne, who grew up in Kenya and came to the UK in 1972, shared a recipe for maize porridge which her mother used to feed her when she was sick.

Dr Jane Lavery, Associate Professor in Latin American Studies and co-lead of the project, said: “Food was at the heart of moving conversations we had with members of the community and a crucial part of their trust in end-of-life care.”

The project involved workshops and art, supported by community lead and professional dancer Gabriel Galvez-Prado and artists Marion Tasker and Karla Buck.

Lucy Green, Professor of Public Engagement and Developmental Physiology at the University of Southampton, said: “We’ve made this special book together and will use it to start conversations with people who deliver or plan for care at the end of life. These issues affect everybody, but some communities are better cared for in terms of food in hospitals and other healthcare settings.”

Jenny Gordon, from Shirley in Southampton, shared a recipe from her native Trinidad. She said: “If I know I am dying, pilau Trinidadian style will be my last wish. I have been in hospital several times, and each time I have starved. It is important for me to be catered for while in hospital with meals I am familiar with.”

Copies of The Comfort Cookbook

Annette Howell, also originally from Trinidad but now lives in Millbrook, Southampton, said: “I was in hospital for seven weeks and I lost two-and-a-half stone because all I was eating was jelly and ice cream. More Caribbean food is needed in hospitals.”

The cookbook was launched with a celebratory lunch event at the New Testament Church of God, where the community cooked and ate a meal of plantain, yam, cassava, pilau rice and beans, spicy rice, jerk chicken and African chapati.

At the event, the 18 community members who took part in the project were presented with certificates from the university’s Public Contributor Recognition Scheme.

The other researchers involved in the project were Dr Jenny Baverstock (Principal Enterprise Fellow in Biological Sciences) and Jessica Teeling (Professor of Experimental Neuroimmunology).

The project team is also planning to share the cookbook at an event at the University Hospital Southampton as part of Dying Matters Awareness Week in May.

Ancient rocks reveal how ice age weakened the Roman Empire

Working with colleagues from Queen’s University Canada and the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, the team studied unusual rocks found within a raised beach terrace on Iceland’s west coast.

They discovered that the rocks were carried there by icebergs during a brief ice age that started at around 540 AD and lasted for 200-300 years.

Historians have long debated the role of climatic cooling in the fall of the Roman Empire. This new research strengthens the case that a brief but intense period of cooling may have kicked an already declining empire and played a key role in inciting the mass migrations that reshaped Europe in this period.

“When it comes to the fall of the Roman Empire, this climate shift may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back,” said Tom Gernon, Professor of Earth Science at the University of Southampton, and co-author of the new research.

The ice age is thought to have been triggered by volcanic ash from three massive eruptions, which blocked out sunlight and lowered global temperatures.

Tiny zircon crystals separated out from ancient rocks from Greenland. The lines (called zoning) record the growth of the crystal in magmas over time, much like tree rings. Credit: Dr Christopher Spencer, Queen's University, Canada

The scientists’ findings, published in the journal Geology, provide new insights into a climate disruption that affected the wider North Atlantic region.

“We knew these rocks seemed somewhat out of place because the rock types are unlike anything found in Iceland today, but we didn’t know where they came from,” said Dr Christopher Spencer, Associate Professor at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, and lead author of the research.

Study co-author Professor Ross Mitchell, from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IGGCAS), said: “On one hand, you’re surprised to see anything but basalt in Iceland; but having seen them for the first time, you instantly suspect they arrived by iceberg from Greenland.”

By analysing the age and composition of tiny mineral crystals called zircon locked inside the rocks, the team were able to pinpoint their source. To do this, the scientists crushed the rocks into fragments and separated out hundreds of zircon crystals, many of which are smaller than the tip of a pen.

“Zircons are essentially time capsules that preserve vital information including when they crystallised as well as their compositional characteristics”, said Dr Spencer. “The combination of age and chemical composition allows us to fingerprint currently exposed regions of the Earth’s surface, much like is done in forensics.”

The team discovered that the range of formation ages of the rock fragments spanned nearly three billion years, which is two thirds of Earth history.

The scientists were able to fingerprint the rocky debris to specific regions of Greenland, a mosaic of fragments of ancient Earth’s crust around 0.5, 1 to 1.5, and 2.5 to 3 billion years old.

Collection of ancient rocks analysed in the study, which have been traced to geological provinces of Greenland. Credit: Dr Christopher Spencer, Queen's University, Canada

“This is the first direct evidence of icebergs carrying large Greenlandic cobbles to Iceland,” said Dr Spencer. Cobbles are rounded rocks about the size of a human fist.

“The fact that the rocks come from nearly all geological regions of Greenland provides evidence of their glacial origins,” added Professor Gernon. “As glaciers move, they erode the landscape, breaking up rocks from different areas and carrying them along, creating a chaotic and diverse mixture – some of which ends up stuck inside the ice."

The team determined that these ice-rafted rocks were likely deposited during the 7th century, coinciding with a major climate shift known as the Bond 1 event. The beach terraces rose as the land slowly rebounded after the last ice sheets melted.

Professor Gernon said: “This timing coincides with a known major episode of ice-rafting, where vast chunks of ice break away from glaciers, drift across the ocean, and eventually melt, scattering debris along distant shores.”

Dr Spencer added: “What we’re seeing is a powerful example of how interconnected the climate system is. When glaciers grow, icebergs calve, ocean currents shift, and landscapes change. Climate-driven iceberg activity may have been one of the many cascading effects of rapid cooling.”

Big investment for student duo’s innovative business

It is the highest sum invested in a start-up founded by undergraduates at the university to date.

Business student Samuel Aaron, 22, and Economics student Jamie Horsnell, 21, established their start-up – called mytender.io – in September 2023.

mytender.io is an AI-driven bid writing platform that transforms tendering processes in the construction and facilities management industries.

The £250,000 investment from Fuel Ventures will enable Jamie and Sam to take their start-up to the next level.

Jamie said: “The investment will allow us to rapidly scale up our sales and marketing activity, and further develop our agentic AI system. It allows Sam and I to keep living the dream of building a massive business together out of university and aid our goals for mytender.io to become one of the biggest pieces of bid writing software in the world.”

The duo already has over 20 clients, a small team of employees, and big ambitions to grow the start-up when they graduate this year.

“We were housemates, and we were always talking about different ideas as we were keen to start a business together,” said Jamie. “We went to a Small Business Speed Launch weekend organised by the university’s Student Enterprise team. We learnt lots that weekend and it gave us a real urge to create a business.”

They set up an AI consultancy and contacted hundreds of businesses offering AI automation.

“Through reaching out via lots of emails, we met a facilities management director who was spending his weekends writing bids and responding to tenders, and wanted to use AI to speed this up,” explained Samuel. “At that time, we didn’t know what bids or tenders were, but we did lots of research and things grew from there.”

He added: “Outside of our studies, we put everything else that we can to the business. After we graduate, we both intend to work on this full time.”

They have employed two interns, a salesperson and one full time employee, and are looking to grow the start-up via seed funding in the coming months. They are also keen to explore further overseas expansion.

Mark Pearson, Managing Partner at Fuel Ventures, said: “Samuel and Jamie have demonstrated impressive ambition and innovation with mytender.io. Their unique approach to automating bid writing with AI has the potential to significantly disrupt the industry, and we are excited to support them in realising this vision.”

Jamie and Samuel have had support from the University of Southampton’s Student Enterprise team, Southampton Science Park, and the university’s tech start-up accelerator Future Worlds. They are travelling with the team from Future Worlds to the United States later this month to be introduced to the start-up ecosystem in Silicon Valley and explore global growth opportunities.

Last month, Universities UK launched a new campaign to highlight the impact of university start-ups

Since 2014, 38,000 student and staff start-up companies have been launched with the support of universities, and from 2014-15 to 2022-23 there was a 70 per cent increase in active firms.

On average, more than 4,300 start-ups are registered each year, and in the academic year 2022 to 2023, more than 64,000 people were employed by start-ups that emerged from universities.

Transition day helps underrepresented students prepare for university life

The students are taking part in a programme that supports young people from underrepresented or lower socioeconomic backgrounds to access higher education.

The nine-month programme, called Ignite Your Journey (formerly Access to Southampton), has supported more than 1,500 students through the application and preparation for university since 2012.

The Rt Hon Justine Greening, Joint Chancellor of the University of Southampton and advocate for social mobility and equal opportunity, said: “The Ignite Your Journey programme is such a great way to support future students into a successful life ahead at university in Southampton – both the chance to meet and be mentored by current students, access to financial support, and the wider support once they arrive in the autumn – it all makes a real difference.”

The 50 students attending the day have all received an offer to study at the University of Southampton from September 2025.

Ruby Woolmer

The day included workshops and presentations on budgeting, dealing with stress, research skills, and a session from a final-year student on ‘an insider’s guide’ to what university life is like.

Ruby Woolmer, 17, from Reading, is planning to study English. She said: “The programme has been really rewarding and I feel comfortable now being in the university environment. It was great to speak to alumni here about how they have enjoyed their time at university.”

Ethan Cheung, 18, from East Sussex, has applied to study Aero Engineering. He said: “One of my favourite parts of the programme was learning about time management, I found that especially helpful. It was also great to have a mentor to ask questions and to hear things from the perspective of someone already at university.”

Sarah Nicholls

And Sarah Nicholls, 18, from Plymouth, who intends to study English, said: “I have found the programme helpful for improving my personal skills and my transition from A-levels to university because it’s such a big jump.”

Current university student Lucy Doble, 19, completed the Ignite Your Journey programme ahead of starting university, and is now part of the follow-on programme Ignite Your Success, which supports students with financial, academic, career and personal opportunities.

Lucy Doble

Lucy, a second-year Geography student, said: “The financial support has been so crucial to my time at university, and with the accompaniment of workshops and support sessions has just made my university experience so positive.

“The opportunity to also apply for an internship every Easter has given me rich experience and a lot of help in terms of my career decisions.”

Last month, Ignite Your Journey, run by Access Manager Emma Woozeer, won a Breaking Down Barriers Award from The Purpose Coalition, which is chaired by Rt Hon Justine Greening.

Law students offer court support as ‘McKenzie Friends’

A total of 17 undergraduates have signed up to be ‘McKenzie Friends’ at the small claims court in Southampton.

A McKenzie Friend accompanies a defendant in court if they don’t have legal representation, providing help via note taking, emotional support, helping to explain the process, or prompting the defendant.

The project is a new collaboration between the university and Southampton County Court, and students will be in court once a month on a Monday to provide assistance and support.

Second year Law student Maddy Nicholl, 20, is Vice President of the university’s Global Legal Clinic and has led the McKenzie Friends project.

She said: “This project has been an invaluable opportunity for my personal and professional growth. It has allowed me to develop important skills, including networking with the judiciary, having had the privilege of hosting His Honour Judge Philip Glen.

Maddy Nicholl

“Spending time in court, learning the procedures firsthand, and witnessing the real-life impact of our work has deepened my understanding of the justice system and strengthened my commitment to ensuring that access to justice is available to everyone.”

Lizzie Brook, 20, is studying Law with Psychology and is volunteering as a McKenzie Friend. She said: “By offering much-needed emotional support and helping clients navigate the court process, we can make a real difference.”

Keagan Smith, supervising solicitor at the university’s Law School, said: “McKenzie Friends is a great scheme that assists members of the public to have better representation in court and feel more comfortable and not just isolated in what can be a stressful situation.

“It’s fantastic experience for the students who want to become solicitors or barristers because it gives them court exposure and an understanding of what the court processes are.

“It is also a chance for them to develop emotional support skills that are important when supporting clients through the court process, and it helps student to understand clients’ needs.”

The McKenzie Friends access to justice scheme is named after a divorce case in England in 1969 when the petitioner lost legal aid and sought support from an Australian barrister whose legal qualifications were not recognised in the UK.

The students will next be available as McKenzie Friends at the small claims court in Southampton on Monday 12 May. If you would like to request McKenzie Friend support on other dates, contact the university’s Legal Clinic at legalclinic@soton.ac.uk.

scientists-unlock-link-between-gut-brain

They say it could potentially lead to new treatments for conditions like anxiety, depression, and dementia.

Academics from the University of Southampton will lead a new gut-immunology-brain axis network launching in the UK which brings together experts from across the country.

It will investigate how lifestyle factors such as diet, sleep, and stress influence the communication networks between the gut, immune functions and brain.

Network lead Professor Jonathan Swann at Southampton said: "The gut is often referred to as our second brain - and there's growing evidence to suggest the health of our gut and the microbes that inhabit it can influence our mood and even our cognitive abilities.

"The gut and brain are intimately connected, and we already know that intestinal distress can lead to serious illnesses like anxiety, stress or depression.

"This new network will bring together expertise from across the UK to help us dive deeper into these diverse connections and investigate untapped areas of research such as the link between poor gut health and dementia in older age, the microbial role in infant brain development, and even their contribution to autism and ADHD.”

According to the scientists, the network will look at the gut’s role in immune function, inflammation, and conditions like diabetes and obesity.

It will also investigate the contribution of the gut microbiome to the onset of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s disease, said Professor Jessica Teeling also from Southampton.

She said: “There is growing evidence that shows the gut, brain and immune system play a critical role in mood, cognitive function, and chronic brain illness - but we don’t yet fully understand how.

“The results from this new network could lead to advice to help people choose diets that boosts mental resilience, identify new therapies for brain-related disorders or improving gut health to support well-being.”

The network includes researchers from the universities of Southampton and Cambridge, King’s College London and the Quadram Institute.

It will collaborate with leading international researchers to ensure findings can be translated into real-world applications as quickly as possible.

The project, which runs for four years, has received £4.5million in funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

Its executive chair Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith said: "We now understand that the gut plays a far bigger role in physical, mental and cognitive health than previously thought.

“Understanding of interactions between biological systems is of major importance to our understanding of human health and disease.

“This research network will help us uncover how the gut microbiome, immune responses, and brain function interact – leading to new, evidence-based strategies to improve well-being across all stages of life."

Southampton plays key role in national report on safeguarding the arts

The report, called Framing the Future: The Political Case for Strengthening the Visual Arts Ecosystem, was launched at the House of Commons.

It was commissioned by the University’s John Hansard Gallery alongside the Contemporary Visual Arts Network (CVAN), in collaboration with a-n The Artists Information Company, the Design and Artists Copyright Society (DACS), and Plus Tate.

The report outlines four recommendations to safeguard and invest in the UK’s visual arts and artists ahead of the UK Government Spending Review, expected to conclude in June.

The recommendations for the UK Spending Review are:

Establish a UK Cultural Investment Partnership Fund for emergency support, business innovation and matched capital investment
Create a £5 million Grassroots Visual Arts Fund for small galleries, studios and artist-led spaces
Expand access to creative education by investing £8.4 million in the National Saturday Club network, providing free creative education to 54,000 young people
Restore specialist subject funding in higher education, reversing 2021 cuts to secure the future of high-quality creative courses.

Professor Jane Falkingham, Vice President Engagement and International at the University of Southampton, said: “The University plays a major, forward-thinking role in supporting arts and culture through its civic and global engagement activities. We coordinate the Culture and Creativity Policy Network, which brings together expertise in creative approaches to cultural policy research.

Professor Jane Falkingham speaking at the launch. Credit: Matt Crossick

“Together with our Southampton Institute for Arts and Humanities, our Winchester School of Art, and the John Hansard Gallery, the University places art and design at the forefront of tackling contemporary challenges, education, research, and the community.

“We are proud to be a key partner in this new report, a once-in-a-generation intervention that outlines crucial investment for the future.”

The UK is the second largest visual art market in the world and, in 2023, UK visual art exports totalled more than £4.1 billion. The UK is also home to 12 of the world’s 100 most visited museums and galleries.

Despite these strengths, the country’s arts sector is under strain with challenges including trade restrictions post-Brexit, emerging technologies like AI, limited support, and an increasingly precarious infrastructure of studios and galleries.

Woodrow Kernohan, Director of John Hansard Gallery, said: “This report shows how the visual arts deliver real economic and social value nationwide. Our position within the University of Southampton enables much of what we do, but public investment through Arts Council England remains vital to our future – and to the creative education of current and future generations.”

Read the full Framing the Future report.

ChatGPT versus lawyers: Which would you choose?

Academics specialising in computer science, psychology and law joined forces to test hundreds of people’s willingness to rely on legal advice provided by generative AI chatbot ChatGPT compared to advice from qualified lawyers

Some participants did not know the source of the legal advice they were reading, whilst others did.

The study found that participants, when not knowing the source of the legal advice provided, were more willing to rely on ChatGPT – leading academics involved to call for education in AI literacy for the general public.

Dr Eike Schneiders, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of Southampton, led the project. He said: “Two elements which might explain why people are more willing to rely on AI-generated legal advice – the length of response provided, and the complexity of the advice.

“We found that the lawyer-generated advice was longer, but also less complex. This was a surprise – we expected lawyer-generated advice to be more complex, but this wasn’t the case.”

The research team comprised academics from Computer Science and Psychology at the University of Southampton, academics in law and computer science at the University of Nottingham, and academics in law at the University of Antwerp.

Using insights from genuine legal questions, they wrote 18 hypothetical legal cases related to traffic law, planning law, and property law. They tested the advice for these on a total of 288 people in a series of experiments.

One experiment involved 50 people who knew the source of the advice and 50 who did not.

Those who did not know the source showed a significantly higher willingness to rely on the ChatGPT advice. Those who knew the source were equally willing to rely on both sources of advice.

Another experiment tested whether people could identify the source of the advice. Random guessing would have produced a score of 0.5, while perfect discrimination would have produced a score of 1.0.

The average participant score was 0.59, indicating discrimination performance that was above guessing level but still relatively weak. This suggests that while there is some awareness, mistakes are still common, leaving ample room for improvement.

“It demonstrated that people struggle to tell the difference, but that there is something there that gives people a feeling about the source,” said Dr Schneiders.

He added: “These findings are surprising – and it was especially surprising that the participants who knew the source of the advice did not trust the lawyers more.”

Dr Schneiders concluded: “Deployment of technology such as ChatGPT is already happening – and advancing fast – so we need to embrace it. People need to be aware of the capabilities and limitations of models such as ChatGPT.

“Education to help people distinguish the source of what they are reading is becoming more and more vital. I believe increasing AI literacy is the way forward, thereby giving the public the knowhow to navigate it.”

The research paper is being launched at the world’s premier conference on human-computer interaction, CHI 2025 (the Association of Computer Machinery’s Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems), in Yokohama, Japan, from Saturday 26 April to Thursday 1 May.

first semiconductor facility in southampton

The new E-beam lithography facility is just the second in the world, and the first outside Japan.

It provides incredible accuracy that is critical to designing the tiny components that power technologies of the future, from medical diagnostics to defence systems.

Semiconductors – the small chips that power devices from smartphones to satellites - already contribute an estimated £10 billion to our economy each year, with the sector projected to grow to an estimated £17 billion by 2030.

Science Minister Lord Vallance opened the new facility alongside University Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark E. Smith and Professor Graham Reed, who leads its Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) and CORNERSTONE.

Lord Vallance said: "Britain is home to some of the most exciting semiconductor research anywhere in the world – and Southampton’s new E-beam facility is a major boost to our national capabilities.

"By investing in both infrastructure and talent, we’re giving our researchers and innovators the support they need to develop next-generation chips right here in the UK.

E-beam lithography uses a focused beam of tiny particles called electrons to create patterns in materials with unrivalled resolution – allowing researchers to create features thousands of times smaller than a human hair.

Professor Graham Reed added: "The introduction of the new E-Beam facility will reinforce our position of hosting the most advanced cleanroom in UK academia.

"It facilitates a vast array of innovative and industrially relevant research, and much needed semiconductor skills training."

Lord Vallance’s visit to Southampton comes alongside new research which shows that one of the biggest barriers to achieving growth in the UK’s burgeoning semiconductor industry is a lack of emerging talent.

With a single semiconductor worker contributing an average of £460,000 to the economy annually, the UK’s economic potential is huge.

In response, the government has launched a new £4.75million semiconductor skills package to help build the talent base needed to fuel this high-growth industry.

The package will also help strengthen research and development capacity at leading universities, such as Southampton, which are central to UK semiconductor innovation and talent development.

Lord Vallance added: “Our £4.75 million skills package will support our Plan for Change by helping more young people into high-value semiconductors careers, closing skills gaps and backing growth in this critical sector."

Read more about the E-beam facility and Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) at the University of Southampton at www.southampton.ac.uk/orc.

super-strong-antibodies

Experts from the University of Southampton altered the shape and flexibility of the tiny proteins, which are naturally produced by white blood cells to protect the body from bacteria and viruses.

They discovered that their antibody prototype, which was more rigid, was able to trigger a stronger response from the immune system compared to those made by our bodies.

Their study, which was funded by Cancer Research UK, has been published in the journal Nature Communications.

Professor Mark Cragg, from the Centre for Cancer Immunology at the University of Southampton, said: "The concept of using immuno-stimulation for cancer treatment is very exciting.

“Our study confirms that making even subtle increases in the rigidity of antibodies significantly stimulates immune activity, creating a powerful immune response against the disease.

“This approach works for multiple antibodies targeting different immune receptors.

“The ability to engineer these rigid antibodies could help develop more potent drugs that can stimulate the immune system to target cancer or other diseases.”

The Y-shaped antibodies fight infections by targeting and then binding onto molecules on the surface of bacteria and viruses, or even cancerous cells.

They can also be engineered to attach to receptors on immune cells to activate our body’s immune defences.

But not all antibodies do this effectively, said study co-author Isabel Elliott, a PhD student from Southampton.

She added: “The shape and flexibility of antibodies is crucial for how well they can activate immune cells – and we found more rigid antibodies seem to be better at this.

“The reason for this is likely because these rigid antibodies can hold molecules on the immune cells closer together, which triggers a stronger activation signal.

“Floppier antibodies are less likely to do this effectively.”

The two arms of antibodies, which give its Y shape, are linked by a series of bridges, named disulfide bonds.

The Southampton scientists managed to add extra bridges between the microscopic arms of the antibodies and tested it against standard variants.

Dr Ivo Tews, a Professor in Structural Biology at Southampton, added: “We used a supercomputer to visualise the structure of the antibody in atomic detail, allowing us to position extra disulfide bonds in the modified antibody.

“The results showed that the experiment worked and that the new, more rigid antibodies were more effective at activating immune cells.

“This idea of controlling antibody activity by making them more rigid seems to apply to many other similar molecules on immune cells.”

Executive Director of Research and Innovation at Cancer Research UK Dr Iain Foulkes, said: “Refining our understanding of how to enable our immune systems to fight cancer is a complex but fundamental step in helping cancer patients to have the best chance of a good outcome when receiving immunotherapy treatment.

“Using the latest technologies to engineer this type of super-strong antibody that could trigger a promising immune response will empower us to continue pioneering new ways to outsmart cancer.”

Read the paper at www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-58773-8.

Fresh insights for mitigating future pandemics

A team from the University of Southampton’s WorldPop research group has, for the first time, delved into detailed data from 2020 and 2021 on population movements across India, alongside timings of public events and government-level interventions.

Their findings, published as we pass five years since the global pandemic, show that a variety of circumstances coincided in the weeks preceding the Delta wave, resulting in rapid transmission throughout India and the rest of the world, high numbers of daily recorded cases, and substantial mortality compared with the initial pandemic wave.

The research team used an advanced data analysis framework incorporating drivers of transmission and their lagged impacts, which can provide insights for future pandemic responses.

Dr Eimear Cleary, Senior Research Fellow at WorldPop, said: “The first Covid-19 wave in India was relatively mild, but the second wave which began in March 2021 – during which the Delta variant emerged – was severe, with very high associated mortality.”

In April 2021, India had the highest number of new and active cases of Covid in the world, and between April and July 2021 there were an estimated 2.7 million Covid-19-related deaths.

Dr Cleary said: “We looked at the movement of people on a population level, climate drivers associated with transmission – such as temperature, UV index and precipitation, timings and stringency of government restrictions, public events, and the lagged impact of drivers of transmission on Covid-19 incidence.

“Publications at the time speculated that pandemic fatigue may have been emerging during the initial stages of the Delta wave in India and that there perhaps was a feeling of relative safety as it seemed that Covid transmission was under control. This was coupled with the emergence of the Delta variant, which was more virulent and more transmissible.”

The Delta variant also coincided with major public events including the Kumbh Mela in April 2021, a religious festival held on the banks of the Ganges.

“The increase in mobility, together with a relaxation of restrictions and the emergence of the Delta variant seem to have been the biggest contributory factors to the high levels of Covid-19 transmission observed during the second pandemic wave,” explained Dr Cleary.

A framework for the future

The WorldPop team used a framework incorporating data on climate, demographic, and behavioural drivers of transmission. This allowed them to explore what happened in fine detail and to examine any differences in factors that led to transmission peaks.

They found that people’s movements returning to almost pre-pandemic levels was one of the main contributors to Covid-19 transmission during the Delta wave.

During the first wave, stringent interventions such as lockdowns had a big impact on preventing the spread of the virus, especially in rural areas. In urban areas, public holidays – and, therefore, people getting together – played a significant role in its spread.

Dr Cleary said: “This research highlights the value of advanced data analysis frameworks incorporating lagged effects for estimating the impact of interventions on transmission, which will be extremely beneficial for managing future epidemics and outbreaks.”

She added: “Taking the lagged impact of drivers on transmission into account is important for pre-emptively implementing interventions in future pandemics. Once peaks in transmission are seen, implementing control measures will likely have a delayed impact on reducing case numbers.

“Nevertheless, from an infection prevention point of view, interventions can still be effective at controlling the spread of new variants with severe clinical outcomes, particularly during the early stages of transmission waves.”

The research is published in the journal PLOS Global Public Health.

Throughout the pandemic, WorldPop conducted extensive research to track and map the spread of Covid-19 around the world. This work enabled prediction and early warning for virus resurgence and analysed the effectiveness of measures such as lockdowns, social distancing and self-isolation.

Scientists bring their research to pubs across Southampton

Want to hear some myths busted about your daily coffee, or understand what happens if two ChatGPTs talk to each other?

Or do you want to know how to maintain a healthy gut, or how AI can defeat Mario Kart?

These, and other weird and wonderful science topics, make up a wide programme of Pint of Science events in Southampton, organised by the University of Southampton and taking place at pubs and bars across the city from 19 to 21 May.

Dr Miguel Ramirez Moreno, postdoctoral researcher in neuroscience, will be exploring what fruit flies can tell us about neurodegenerative diseases at Revolution in Bedford Place on Monday 19 May.

He said: “Although humans and flies may seem quite different, we are all made of the same building blocks. Pint of Science is an excellent opportunity to showcase to the audience just how much we can learn about our brains thanks to a humble fly.”

Professor Leslie Carr

Professor of Computer Science and standup comedian Leslie Carr will examine responsible AI at Brewhouse & Kitchen in Highfield Lane on Tuesday 20 May.

He said: “Pint of Science is a great opportunity to get the inside story about science from the people who do it. In my talk I’ll explain my mixed emotions about living in the science fiction world of my youth – with AIs that can talk to us as well as tech bro ‘evil geniuses’ threatening to take away everyone’s jobs and destroy the world. I’ll also explain what university researchers are doing to make AI into a force for good.”

Hannah Kilpatrick

Biomedical science student Hannah Kilpatrick will be spilling the beans on caffeine at Revolution on Wednesday 21 May.

She said: “Did you know that 80 per cent of the world’s population consumes caffeine daily? It’s hidden in more products than you may think. Join me at Pint of Science to find out more.”

Pint of Science is an annual international event that brings academics and experts to venues around the world to share unusual, inspiring and surprising elements of their work – over a pint. This year it’s taking part in 40 cities across the UK and in 25 countries.

Explore the programme of Pint of Science events in Southampton and reserve tickets, priced £5, via the website: Southampton Events | Pint of Science.

children-magnets

A study found that around 300 UK youngsters were admitted to A&E in a single year after ingesting the tiny metal items – with one in 10 requiring life-saving operations.

Doctors also revealed that children who swallow two or more magnets were at a far higher risk of long-term damage, as the pieces can clamp together in their tummy.

The study, by the University of Southampton, is the first to investigate how many children under the age of 16 in the UK have been affected.

Lead author Professor of Paediatric Surgery Nigel Hall, who works at the University and Southampton Children's Hospital, said retailers must do more to increase warnings on magnetic toy labels.

He added: “Our study reveals that 300 children and young people are being hospitalised each year in the UK after ingesting magnets.

“These magnets have potential to harm a large number of children and young people and increase work for the NHS.

“Yet many magnetic toys provide very little warning for parents and caregivers of the dangers they pose, particularly those purchased from online marketplaces.

“Having an unplanned emergency operation is a traumatic experience for any child and their family – and needing a surgical procedure means time in hospital for days after.

“Around one in 10 of these young patients had surgery with most ending up with serious problems, like needing part of their bowel removed or requiring a stoma.”

More than two in every 100,000 children swallow magnets each year

The new Southampton study, MAGNETIC, was published in the Archives of Diseases in Childhood journal.

More than two in every 100,000 children swallow magnets each year according to the data, which was provided by 66 UK hospitals between May 2022 and April 2023.

However, that figure is likely to be far higher, according to Prof Hall, as not all hospitals shared their data with the University team.

The study also found that six per cent of swallowing cases were linked to viral social media trends, where the children – mostly girls - were trying to imitate tongue piercings by placing small magnets in their mouths.

Magnets are found in a wide range of toys, such as magnetic ball sets as well as fake piercings and other household objects.

Parents warned to “take great" when buying magnets

The research has been welcomed by the Child Accident Prevention Trust, which is the only UK charity to focus on preventing death and serious injury to young people from avoidable accidents.

Its Chief Executive, Katrina Phillips OBE said: “Take great care when buying magnets. We’ve seen magnetic toys with a flux of 850, 17 times higher than the legal limit of 50.

“These super strong magnets can rip through a child’s guts and leave them with life-changing injuries. One boy has died.

“Take a moment to check who you’re buying from. Don’t assume that, just because you can buy something, it must be safe.”

Doctors from Southampton also emphasised the importance of attending emergency departments early if a child is known or suspected to have swallowed a magnet.

Prof Hall added: “Most children who have swallowed a magnet do not show any symptoms, so it is really important that all cases have an x-ray to find out for certain.”

Deputy Chief Executive Sarah Smith from the Office for Product Safety and Standards, Department for Business and Trade, said: “The Office for Product Safety and Standards continues to raise awareness of the hazards to children when swallowing small magnets.

"Our ‘Nil by Mouth’ Campaign has consistently warned of these dangers along with those from button batteries, small toy parts and imitation food.”

Toddler Rebecca McCarthy left fighting for her life after swallowing magnetic balls

Two-year-old Rebecca McCarthy was left fighting for her life in 2021 after swallowing 14 brightly coloured magnetic balls.

The toddler had two hours of surgery where doctors temporarily removed her intestines to reach the magnets that had attracted together and buried deep into her tissue.

Her mother Sam, from Basildon, said the first sign Rebecca was unwell was when she vomited one lunchtime.

She added: “Rebecca’s accident devastated the whole family. She had months of ongoing health issues. I still find it incredibly painful to think about.

“The memory will never fade. I would hate for any other child to go through what Becca suffered because of buying dangerous toys from sellers on online marketplaces.”

The Child Accident Prevention Trust is working alongside the report authors to raise awareness of the dangers of strong magnets.

It is offering five top tips for parents to help keep their children safe.

If you have small children, don’t have small loose magnets in the house.
Small magnetic fidget sets for adults or older children can be very dangerous for any age child if they swallow the magnets.
Only buy magnetic toys from reputable retailers or brand names you know.
Never buy cheap magnetic toys or products from third-party sellers on online marketplaces
If you think your child may have swallowed magnets go straight to A&E or call an ambulance.

See how the Child Accident Prevention Trust works to keep children safe at capt.org.uk/magnet-safety.

Read the University of Southampton study at bmj.com/10.1136/archdischild-2024-328195.

Early intervention talking therapy to reduce risk of psychosis

A study by the University of Southampton has found that simple tweaks to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – currently offered by the NHS to 1.2 million patients with anxiety and depression every year – could make a huge difference to those at risk of developing psychosis.

Introducing a few additional questions into the beginning of CBT enables clinicians to identify those at risk of psychosis, the research has found.

Professor Katherine Newman-Taylor, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and CBT lead at the University of Southampton, said: “Many people who access NHS Talking Therapies services for anxiety and depression have low-level psychotic type experiences, but they don’t report these and clinicians are not trained to identify them, so they go unnoticed. We have found that when they go unnoticed, people are unlikely to recover.

“Our research shows that slightly tweaking CBT enables clinicians to pick up on early psychotic-type experiences. This enables patients to use the skills they’re developing to manage their anxiety or depression to manage these low-level psychotic experiences too.”

Psychosis affects about one in 100 people. Symptoms include hearing voices and seeing things, and unusual beliefs such as paranoia or grandiosity.

Typically, psychosis goes untreated for one to two years, due to factors such as the person themselves not initially identifying there is a problem, stigma associated with the condition, and delays within mental health services.

Psychosis presents on a sliding scale. Professor Newman-Taylor explained: “Some people might have psychotic-type experiences that are not particularly troublesome. For others, these experiences can be troubling, but the associated stigma means they can feel too ashamed or afraid to ask for help. Established psychosis can be very disabling. Psychosis is on a continuum, and we think we can help people much earlier, when they are experiencing less severe symptoms.”

The research team worked with NHS trusts across Hampshire on a feasibility study with patients seeking help for anxiety or depression. They found that minimally adapted CBT is acceptable to patients, is likely to improve outcomes for anxiety, depression and psychosis risk, and can be delivered in NHS Talking Therapies.

“We know that people accessing talking therapy are presenting with more complex problems than the service was designed for,” added Professor Newman-Taylor. “We also know that people are often too ashamed or fearful to talk about their unusual experiences. If we can intervene very early in this way, we may be able to prevent some people from developing psychosis.”

The research team is now planning a full trial with patients undergoing CBT.

Breast cancer researchers and survivors tackle fundraising walk

The Breast Walk Ever, on Sunday 8 June, is in aid of Against Breast Cancer (ABC), which funds research into secondary breast cancer, including several PhD researchers at the University of Southampton.

ABC-funded PhD student Grace Hayes, who is researching bone metastasis from breast cancer, will be marshalling at the event for the third year running – and for the second year alongside her mum Deborah Parnell.

Deborah, from Southampton, lost her aunt, Mary Wilson, back in 1975 when she was just 52. Mary had breast cancer, which had spread to her bones.

“Mum always told me lots about my great auntie Mary when I was growing up, and losing her to breast cancer had a real impact on my mum,” said Grace.

Grace's great aunt, Mary Wilson

“She always remembers the pain her aunt was in. We’re both inspired to support Against Breast Cancer to remember my great aunt, but also because breast cancer is so prevalent and the research is making such great strides.”

Groundbreaking research funded by ABC at the University of Southampton is contributing to developing a blood test to detect 12 types of cancer.

The miONCO test measures genetic regulators in our bodies that are vital for controlling processes such as growth and development.

Grace, who works at the University’s Centre for Cancer Immunology, said: “Myself and colleagues feel it’s so important to help at Breast Walk Ever. Not only does it give us the opportunity to thank ABC for supporting and funding our research, but it allows us to meet and chat with fundraisers so they can hear directly where their donations are going and how grateful we are for their efforts.”

Walkers with their medals at the end of Breast Walk Ever 2024

Researchers from the University of Southampton joining Grace on 12 May include Dr Charlie Birts, Lecturer and Researcher in Antibody Therapeutics funded by ABC, ABC-funded research technician Anna-Liese Silber, and Professor of Immunology and Immunotherapy Stephen Beers.

Richard Martin, ABC’s Events Manager, said: It's great to be back in Hampshire for a third year this June. We cannot wait to meet all our wonderful supporters at the finish. We even have pink ice cream for them this year!”

Breast Walk Ever starts and finishes in Hursley, south of Winchester, on Sunday 8 June. Walkers can complete a 10km or a half marathon (21km) walk. For more information visit the event website.

earth-growing-thirstier

New research from the University of Southampton discovered that our planet’s growing demand for water has made droughts worldwide around 40 per cent more severe.

Droughts are usually blamed on a lack of rain, however, scientists found the atmosphere itself is demanding more water out of the soil, rivers, and plants.

This occurrence, known as Atmospheric Evaporative Demand (AED), acts like an invisible sponge said Southampton’s Professor of Hydrology and Remote Sensing Justin Sheffield who co-authored the study.

He added: “It soaks up moisture faster than it can be replaced which can increase water stress, particularly for plants.

“As the world gets hotter from climate change, AED is rising which is causing more severe droughts even in wet regions.”

The research, which was published in the Nature journal, was a collaboration between academics at Southampton and other universities worldwide.

Until now, scientists knew AED was important but had not measured its global impact using real-world observations. This made it harder to predict and prepare for droughts.

The new study used data covering more than 100 years and tracked how the demand increased while determining how much worse it has made droughts.

It found that wet regions are affected by more severe droughts because the atmosphere is demanding more water from the land, not just because of less rainfall.

The extent of land under more severe drought conditions jumped by 74 per cent in the last five years, largely driven by the atmosphere’s growing thirst.

The findings change how we think about drought, said Prof Sheffield.

He added: “It shows that it is not just rainfall that matters — how much water the atmosphere demands is just as important.

“As the planet warms, AED will likely keep rising, drying out landscapes faster than rain can keep up, increasing plant water stress and impacting plant carbon uptake.

“We will need to study how farmers, cities, and ecosystems can adapt to a world where the atmosphere constantly demands more moisture.”

Read the study at www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09047-2.

Southampton to lead new AI scholarship

Young people with exceptional talent in artificial intelligence will be able to enrol onto a new scholarship which has been launched by Number 10.

The Spärck AI scholarships – named after pioneering British computer scientist Karen Spärck Jones – will provide full funding for master’s degrees.

Southampton is one of nine UK universities chosen to lead the programme thanks to its global reputation as a leader in AI research and development.

Professor Mark Spearing, the University’s Vice-President for Research and Enterprise, said: “We are excited to be a founding partner in the Spärck AI Scholarship programme.

“We view this as a nationally significant opportunity to attract talented students to the UK to take advantage of our world leading expertise and education in artificial intelligence.”

At least 100 master’s students who enrol onto the Spärck AI programme will get access to industry partnerships, work placements and mentoring including at the UK’s AI Security Institute.

The government hopes it will drive forward AI innovation to grow the UK economy and give young people a direct route into highly skilled jobs in the UK’s tech sector.

MP Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, said: “We are providing unique opportunities for talented young people to take up master’s degrees in AI, with fully funded tuition and unparalleled access to industry.

“Students will be able to go on to highly skilled jobs, building a workforce fit for the future and boosting economic growth as part of our Plan for Change.

“We are also expanding our fellowship programme to bring top talent into our leading AI sector and drive forward transformational benefits to the public like new drug discoveries.”

Applications for the scholarships open in spring next year with the first cohort beginning their studies in October 2026.

Read more about how the University of Southampton is developing AI at www.southampton.ac.uk/campaigns/ai-southampton.

AI to be used for donkey identification

The technology will enable visitors to the sanctuary to use an app to identify individual donkeys, and for supporters who have adopted a donkey to spot ‘their’ donkey in the herd.

The AI system also has the potential in the future to help identify health issues in donkeys. As famously stoic animals, it can be difficult to recognise when they are unwell. It is hoped the app could alert staff at an early stage when a donkey is holding itself uncomfortably or unnaturally.

The app is named Ask ELVIS, which stands for Equine Long-range Visual Identification System. The name also honours one of the sanctuary’s first donkeys, Elvis, who passed away in 2024 aged approximately 35 years.

Stephen Tobitt, general manager, and Gordon Pattison, trustee, plus Olivia Williams and Kelsie Kenneavy from the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, with the University team Dr Xiaohao Cai, Pengcheng Fang and Yu-Cheng Lai

Explaining the challenge of donkey identification, Gordon Pattison, trustee of the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, which is home to 108 donkeys, said: “The donkeys used to wear collars with their names on, but they weren’t safe or comfortable for them. Many donkeys don’t have distinguishing features, and they live in herds in our fields, so identifying individual donkeys can be challenging.”

Dr Xiaohao Cai, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of Southampton, is developing the app, along with PhD student Pengcheng Fang and master’s student Yu-Cheng Lai.

Dr Cai said: “The app will use AI technology to automatically identify individual donkeys. The AI recognition will identify individual donkeys from all angles – their faces, as well as from the side or behind.”

A preliminary version of the app, featuring the algorithm that will be at the core of the final product, is complete. It contains a library of hundreds of images of the donkeys from all angles and uses deep learning technologies to inform its decisions on which donkey it is identifying.

The project team is aiming to release the app for mobile phones at the end of 2025.

Dr Cai added: “It’s a really exciting project. It’s great to be working on something that’s beyond our own research and to be able to help such a fantastic charity as the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary.”

Stephen Tobitt, General Manager at the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be working with the University of Southampton on this project, which promises to revolutionise our visitor experience.”

ai could improve uk public services

A new report published by the universities of Southampton and Cambridge, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, has outlined the growing role of AI in services like healthcare, local government, and justice.

It also looks at how the technology might be harnessed to improve quality of life.

AI is already influencing public service delivery, including council chatbots, GP appointment systems and hospital triage tools.

But the report warns that without robust regulation, public oversight and investment in digital skills, AI adoption could lead to job losses, increase inequality, and hand control to unaccountable tech giants.

Co-author Dame Wendy Hall is a Regius Professor of Computer Science at the University of Southampton and member of the UN’s high-level advisory body on AI.

She said: “Artificial Intelligence is too profound a breakthrough not to use — it will help us all lead better lives.

“But public services won’t automatically deliver fairer or more effective outcomes with AI unless we intentionally design systems in the public interest.

“Without clear rules, skilled staff and public engagement, we risk building systems that are unfair, intrusive, and alienating.”

The report was produced by the Web Science Institute at Southampton and the Bennett Institute for Public Policy at Cambridge.

It coincides with the launch of AI@Southampton, a new university-wide initiative led by Dame Wendy Hall to bring together cutting-edge AI research.

The report identifies some gaps in current research and how the technology could help deliver more joined-up public services.

Administrative justice: AI could reduce errors and delays in judicial decisions – but safeguards are needed to ensure fairness and accountability.
Local government: Councils could use AI to improve services in planning, transport and care – but must be supported to develop skills and ensure ethical use.
Public health: AI could analyse health, social and environmental data to predict and prevent illness – but privacy protections and public trust are critical.
Regulation and markets: With AI development dominated by a few large tech firms, the government should consider alternatives that deliver a wider set of social goods and benefits.

Findings from the report, titled Just outcomes: How can AI make people's lives better?, were drawn from a series of workshops involving leaders from healthcare, law, policy and academia.

While recognising the potential for AI to improve productivity and economic growth, authors emphasised the importance of people understanding the risks and opportunities of the technology for jobs and income.

Professor Dame Diane Coyle, Co-Director of the Bennett Institute, said: “AI has the potential to improve public services but only if it's used in ways that prioritise fairness, transparency and public value.

“The decisions we make now will shape the future of our society. With the right strategy, evidence and collaboration, AI can help build a more just, connected society.”

Read the report in full at www.southampton.ac.uk/wsi/news.

For more about AI @ Southampton go to www.southampton.ac.uk/ai.

Scientists detect deep Earth pulses beneath Africa

These pulses are gradually tearing the continent apart and forming a new ocean.

The findings, published in Nature Geoscience, reveal that the Afar region in Ethiopia is underlain by a plume of hot mantle that pulses upward like a beating heart.

The team’s discovery reveals how the upward flow of hot material from the deep mantle is strongly influenced by the tectonic plates – the massive solid slabs of Earth’s crust – that ride above it.

Over millions of years, as tectonic plates are pulled apart at rift zones like Afar, they stretch and thin – almost like soft plasticine – until they rupture. This rupturing marks the birth of a new ocean basin.

Looking out into the Main Ethiopian Rift, taken at Boset Volcano in Ethiopia. Credit: Prof Thomas Gernon, University of Southampton

Lead author Dr Emma Watts, who conducted the research at the University of Southampton and is now based at Swansea University, said: “We found that the mantle beneath Afar is not uniform or stationary – it pulses, and these pulses carry distinct chemical signatures.

"These ascending pulses of partially molten mantle are channelled by the rifting plates above. That’s important for how we think about the interaction between Earth’s interior and its surface.”

The project involved experts from 10 institutions, including the University of Southampton, Swansea University, Lancaster University, the Universities of Florence and Pisa, GEOMAR in Germany, the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, Addis Ababa University, and the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences.

A window into Earth’s interior

The Afar region is a rare place on Earth where three tectonic rifts converge: the Main Ethiopian Rift, the Red Sea Rift, and the Gulf of Aden Rift.

Geologists have long suspected that a hot upwelling of mantle, sometimes referred to as a plume, lies beneath the region, helping to drive the extension of the crust and the birth of a future ocean basin. But until now, little was known about the structure of this upwelling, or how it behaves beneath rifting plates.

Microscope image of a thin sliver of one of the volcanic rocks from Afar, Ethiopia. Credit: Dr Emma Watts, University of Southampton/ Swansea University

The team collected more than 130 volcanic rock samples from across the Afar region and the Main Ethiopian Rift.

They used these, plus existing data and advanced statistical modelling, to investigate the structure of the crust and mantle, as well as the melts that it contains.

Their results show that underneath the Afar region is a single, asymmetric plume, with distinct chemical bands that repeat across the rift system, like geological barcodes. These patterns vary in spacing depending on the tectonic conditions in each rift arm.

Tom Gernon, Professor of Earth Science at the University of Southampton and co-author of the study, said: “The chemical striping suggests the plume is pulsing, like a heartbeat. These pulses appear to behave differently depending on the thickness of the plate, and how fast it’s pulling apart. In faster-spreading rifts like the Red Sea, the pulses travel more efficiently and regularly like a pulse through a narrow artery.”

Professor Tom Gernon sampling volcanic deposits at Boset Volcano in the Main Ethiopian Rift. Credit: Prof Thomas Gernon, University of Southampton

Links to volcanism and earthquakes

This new research shows that the mantle plume beneath the Afar region is not static, but dynamic and responsive to the tectonic plate above it.

Dr Derek Keir, Associate Professor in Earth Science at the University of Southampton and the University of Florence, and co-author of the study, said: “We have found that the evolution of deep mantle upwellings is intimately tied to the motion of the plates above. This has profound implications for how we interpret surface volcanism, earthquake activity, and the process of continental breakup.”

“The work shows that deep mantle upwellings can flow beneath the base of tectonic plates and help to focus volcanic activity to where the tectonic plate is thinnest. Follow on research includes understanding how and at what rate mantle flow occurs beneath plates,” added Keir.

Dr Watts added: “Working with researchers with different expertise across institutions, as we did for this project, is essential to unravelling the processes that happen under Earth’s surface and relate it to recent volcanism. Without using a variety of techniques, it is hard to see the full picture, like putting a puzzle together when you don’t have all the pieces.”

Electronic knee sleeve transforms osteoarthritis pain relief

The wearable device has been designed in collaboration with people with knee osteoarthritis, and with input from physiotherapists and surgeons.

It uses TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) to relieve knee pain and enable people to walk better, further and longer with less or no pain.

The sleeve has electrodes printed around the knee area, which are connected to an electronic control unit which provides optimal TENS performance.

Professor Kai Yang

The project is funded by the Medical Research Council. The team behind the pioneering device is led by Kai Yang, Professor of E-textiles in Healthcare at the University of Southampton.

She said: “Knee osteoarthritis is a prevalent condition affecting about five million people in the UK. We’ve developed the electrotherapy knee sleeve with healthcare professionals and with the input of people who have osteoarthritis knee pain.

“The response from participants has been fantastic, with most reporting that it is helping to reduce pain and stiffness, enabling them to do more activities. The device is also comfortable to wear and easy to use.”

The device is currently undergoing a 12-week clinical trial involving participants with knee osteoarthritis. They are using it for up to one hour at a time, five to seven days per week.

Mike Coyne and Charlie (left), and Steve Marsh and Bentley

They include Mike Coyne, 58, from Hedge End, and Steve Marsh, 69, from Dibden Purlieu, who are both on the NHS waiting list for a knee replacement.

Mike, who has suffered with knee osteoarthritis for about eight years, said: “With the sleeve on, I can walk a lot further and a lot quicker, without limping. It’s really helped me when it comes to taking my dog Charlie for a walk – taking him out is now enjoyable exercise rather than a painful chore. With the sleeve, I can get a bit of exercise – it’s improved my overall health.”

Steve, who can now walk his dog Bentley without being in pain, added: “In terms of improving everyday life, the sleeve has been fantastic for me. I walk Bentley twice a day, I can now walk further using the garment. I would highly recommend it.”

Join the trial

The research team is aiming to recruit 80 people to join the trial of the knee sleeve. If you have been diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis, are aged between 45 and 75, and would like to enquire about taking part in the trial, please contact the research team at Etex@soton.ac.uk or call 07767 701701.

Watch our video about the project:

Researchers enlist the public as citizen scientists at national exhibition

At the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, which opens to the public on Wednesday 2 July in London, visitors will be invited to help find phages – tiny viruses that could be key to combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

At their exhibit, the Southampton scientists will ask people to collect and send water samples from their homes, local parks or rivers, or even their toilets.

These samples will be analysed by researchers on the hunt for phages that could help fight resistant bacterial infections.

The World Health Organization identifies AMR as one of the top global public health threats, estimated in 20221 to be directly responsible for over one million global deaths per year, and contributing to over 4.7 million deaths per year.

Dr Franklin Nobrega, Associate Professor in Microbiology at the University of Southampton and lead researcher on the project, said: “The threat of antimicrobial resistance grows year on year, and we urgently need to find alternative treatments to reduce our reliance on antibiotics. Phages have enormous potential. They are everywhere and can provide incredibly precise, targeted treatments for resistant infections.”

The promise of phages

When bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, infections become harder to treat. AMR threatens the safety of a wide range of medical procedures, from chemotherapy and organ transplants to tooth extractions, because even minor infections resulting from these interventions can become life-threatening without effective antibiotics.

A scientist testing phages' ability to infect and kill different bacteria

Phages present a promising alternative. Unlike antibiotics, they are highly specific, targeting harmful bacteria without affecting healthy microbes.

Phages also multiply at the site of infection, providing continuous, focused treatment until the bacteria are eradicated. This self-amplifying ability could make phage therapy a sustainable and efficient solution for tackling resistant infections.

In the UK, phages can now be used under existing regulatory routes for unlicensed treatments in individual patients, and new guidance from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) aims to accelerate the safe development of licensed phage-based medicines for wider clinical use.

Phage therapy has already been used in the UK and globally to treat patients with life-threatening, antibiotic-resistant infections, including bone infections, sepsis, and cystic fibrosis-related infections.

Dr Nobrega said: “We know that phage therapy can be effective in treating resistant infections. However, there are billions of different phages, each targeting a specific microbe. By finding more of these phages, we can improve our chances of beating AMR. In this arms race against resistant bacteria, every new phage we discover adds a valuable weapon to our arsenal.”

Free sampling kits

Over 500 visitors to the Summer Science Exhibition will be provided with free sampling kits.

Prior to posting the water sample back to Southampton for analysis, participants will be asked to name their phage (in the hope the scientists isolate a phage from their sample) and upload the coordinates of where their sample was taken to the project website.

Once the researchers have the samples collected by the public, their next step will be to determine if any of the 500+ citizen scientist samples contain therapeutically relevant phages.

Participants will be able to track the progress of their own sample, and the overall findings, on the project website.

Visitors to the Summer Science Exhibition will also be able to meet the researchers, take part in a VR experience that explains how to apply phage therapy therapeutically, and build their own Lego model of a phage.

The Summer Science Exhibition is open to the public at the Royal Society, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG from Wednesday 2 July to Sunday 6 July 2025.

student-to-watch-satellite-blast-into-space

Alejandro Parra Pintado, from the University of Southampton, has travelled to Oman to watch a rocket carrying the payload get blasted into earth’s atmosphere.

The 23-year-old is part of a collaborative team of students from the universities of Southampton, Portsmouth and Surrey, backed by Space South Central, which made the satellite.

It was developed for the Joint Universities Programme for In-Orbit Training, Education and Research, known as JUPITER, which was established to give students hands-on space industry experience and training for their future careers.

Alejandro, who studies aeronautical and astronautical engineering at Southampton, developed the software that drives data between the Jovian-O payload and computer system.

He said: “This is nothing short of a dream come true. This experience has been invaluable in preparing me for a career in the space industry.

“I am very lucky to have learnt by doing, and I am sure that my fellow students, including Aditya Adwaith and Sam Gibson from Southampton who also contributed to the satellite, feel the same way.

“We are experiencing what it's like to actively participate in the development of a spacecraft that I get to see go into space first-hand.”

Alejandro is one of six students from the three universities to travel to Etlaq Spaceport in Oman, where their Jovian-O payload will launch. They will also be involved with its mission in space.

The small payload, which is roughly the size of a shoebox, contains an earth observation instrument called DAVE, or Dual Aperture for Viewing Earth, used to take images and videos of the planet.

Professor Hendrik Ulbricht from the University of Southampton said: "Jovian-O is a bold initiative accelerating access for a new generation of engineers in the space industry.

"Students like Alejandro get hands-on experience and the opportunity to build their skills and industry connections early.

“With DAVE heading out of our atmosphere and plans for annual JUPITER launches, the future of student-led space exploration is just beginning."

After launch, the DAVE instrument will transmit its data back to students, who will operate a mobile ground station using communications technology from AMSAT-UK.

Director of the Space South Central Enterprise Network Louise Butt said: “This collaborative initiative equips students with practical, real-world space industry experience and training, enhancing their career prospects and helping to address skills gaps in the space sector in Surrey and Hampshire – and beyond.”

Read more about the Jovian-O launch at www.spacesouthcentral.com/jupiter.

Study reveals what UK patients want from GPs

A major study has unearthed the top demands people have of their doctors, with the option to choose a GP and making appointments easier to book among most common.

The research, by the University of Southampton, also showed where GP surgeries are falling short – including that most patients do not want to be directed to a clinical pharmacist or nurse when doctors are unavailable.

The systematic review of 33 studies was published in the British Journal of General Practice.

Lead author Helen Atherton, a Professor of Primary Care Research at Southampton, said the NHS is too focused on measuring satisfaction rates and not on what services patients want from GPs.

She added: “Patients want a deeper connection with their doctor’s practice, better communication, and the choice to see the right professional in the best way for them.

“The NHS needs to better understand what people want so it can shape its services to work for patients. Ignoring these fundamental needs will only exacerbate the issues it currently faces.”

A recent British Social Attitudes survey showed patient satisfaction in general practice is at an all-time low, with just one in five people “satisfied” with GP services.

The new Southampton study comes at a pivotal time for the primary care in the UK, said Prof Atherton, as it shows what patients really want from GP practices – these include:

No more phone roulette: People want easy ways to book, clearer phone options, shorter recorded messages, and simple online routes with quick responses.
Face-to-face: Despite NHS plans to push digital, patients still prefer in-person appointments and consider them the "gold standard” – while confidence and trust scores were lower when people wanted a face-to-face and received a call instead.
Personal touch: Patients overwhelmingly want to choose a specific doctor to maintain continuity of care – trust and confidence decreased when people want to see a GP but are directed to a nurse instead says the study.
Information black hole: The public wants clear details the roles of different healthcare specialists, and to be informed on their care journey.
Closer surgeries: Patients prefer GP practices close to home and desire clean, calm and well-managed waiting rooms.

Plans to create more than eight million new GP appointments each year were recently announced by Health and Social Care Secretary of State Wes Streeting.

However, this misses the mark, said Prof Atherton, who added: “Simply increasing the number of GP appointments is not enough.

“Patient needs go beyond accessing their doctor – they value their relationships with their practice and want choice in how they access care and who they see.

“The government should focus on what patients want rather than try to fix their experiences with general practice or increasing appointments.”

Read the study in full at www.doi.org/BJGP.2024.0582.

Urgent need to tackle changes impacting river deltas

Deltas are low-lying areas that form as rivers empty their water and sediment into another body such as an ocean, lake, or another river.

Some of the largest in the world including the Rhine, Mekong, and Nile are threatened by climate change, facing rising sea levels and increasing frequency of extreme events.

With approximately 500 million people today living within or adjacent to delta systems, this is a major issue, said University of Southampton Professor Robert Nicholls, who co-authored the study with an international team of scientists.

Prof Nicholls added: “Deltas are the most complex coastal systems in the world and recognising these multiple drivers and how they operate in each delta is fundamental to finding solutions.”

Publishing findings in Nature Climate Change, the team includes experts from the universities of Southampton, East Anglia, and Oxford in the UK, and Deltares, TU Delft, Wageningen University and Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

To address the issues, they developed a new framework that identifies the 10 main drivers of change in deltas globally.

These are: climate change, sea level rise, deforestation, intense agriculture, urbanisation, impoundments, land subsidence, ground water extraction, flood defences, and resources mining.

Prof Nicholls, who also works at University of East Anglia, said local human actions often cause noticeable environmental problems quickly, giving scientists a chance to act fast.

He added: “To solve these issues, we need to understand the whole environmental system, not just isolated parts.”

The new framework developed by Prof Nicholls and the team will connect human actions to their effects over time, and help leaders and communities create plans to adapt and protect their environment.

He added: “This is important because human-caused problems like resource overuse or land changes can often have a faster impact than climate change itself.

“Since these local impacts show up quickly, local action is key for effective climate adaptation. This guide also helps different groups talk to each other better, making sure solutions are science-based and fair.”

Read the Nature Climate Change paper at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-025-02368-0.

Hats off to our 2025 graduates

Pioneering campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen will receive an honorary degree from the university, in recognition of her role as an ambassador for wellbeing.

And Formula 1 star Adrian Newey will be presented with an Outstanding Alumni Award to celebrate his impact on the global motor racing industry since he graduated from Southampton with a BEng in Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1980.

A total of 16 graduation ceremonies are taking place over six days in Southampton, with almost 4,000 students attending to be awarded their undergraduate degrees, masters degrees and postgraduate qualifications at the O2 Guildhall Southampton.

Ceremonies will take place every weekday from Wednesday 16 July to Wednesday 23 July, with a 17th ceremony at Winchester Cathedral on Thursday 24 July for graduates from the university’s Winchester School of Art.

Dame Esther Rantzen

Dame Esther, who is unable to attend graduation due to her terminal illness with cancer, said: “I would have loved to meet this year’s graduates to congratulate them in person on their wonderful achievements. Well done, all of you!

“I am particularly thrilled that the University of Southampton is awarding me this distinguished honorary degree. I owe this university so much! You are my local university – living as I do in the glorious New Forest, I am being treated – as my husband Desmond Wilcox was – by the University Hospital Southampton, and your track record for innovation is unrivalled.”

Adrian Newey, the world’s most successful F1 car designer, said: “I feel tremendously honoured to be receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from Southampton. When I think back to my days there in the late seventies through until 1980, to now be receiving this award is very special indeed.

Adrian Newey

“I really enjoyed the social side of Southampton as well as finding the academic side increasingly fascinating. The sort of blend of laboratory experiments and theory was a tremendous education.”

Professor Mark E. Smith, the university’s President and Vice-Chancellor, said: “Congratulations to our class of 2025, we are very proud of each and every one of you.

“Graduation is a highlight of our year as we celebrate and recognise the hard work of all our fantastic students and wish them well as they move forward with their careers.

“Graduation is also an opportunity show appreciation to our committed and dedicated staff who have supported the students throughout their studies.”

The University of Southampton is awarding a series of honorary degrees and fellowships at this summer’s celebrations, recognising those whose contributions and achievements are an inspiration, and whose expertise is valued nationally and globally.

The honorary graduates are:

Professor Dame Margaret Brimble, Director of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Auckland, New Zealand
Julian Joseph, jazz musician, composer, broadcaster, educator and author
Isaac Nzue Kiva, Secretary for Renewable Energy at the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum in the Republic of Kenya
Sir Peng Tee Khaw, Professor at the University College London Institute of Ophthalmology and Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital
Vice Admiral Jeremy Kyd CBE, former Fleet Commander of the entire Royal Navy Fleet
Professor Sharon Peacock CBE, Master of Churchill College and Professor of Microbiology and Public Health, both at the University of Cambridge.
Professor Sir Christopher Snowden, engineer, academic and former President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton (2015-19)

In addition, Stewart Edmondson, CEO of the UK Electronics Skills Foundation, is being made a Fellow of the University of Southampton, and John Lauwerys, former Secretary and Registrar of the University of Southampton (1992–2007), is being made a Doctor of the University of Southampton.

Four Outstanding Alumni Awards will also be presented. They are:

Samuel Ajayi (BA Film, 2019), Production Manager at Channel 4, and alumni volunteer and student mentor
Mfonobong Ekpo (LLM Law, 2011), CEO of The Discovery Centre, a training and development organisation in Nigeria, and Executive Director of The Future Project Africa
Charlie Pericleous MBE (BSc Politics and International Relations, 2001, and MSc International Relations (Research), 2003), Preventing Violent Extremism Officer for Portsmouth City Council
Francesca Trotman (MSci Marine Biology, 2015), founder of Love The Oceans, a non-profit organisation dedicated to marine conservation

Southampton’s flagship Delhi campus launch builds on UK-India relations

University of Southampton Delhi will provide Indian students with an exciting opportunity to earn a prestigious degree from a world Top 100 university without leaving the country.

The state-of-the-art branch campus is the first of its kind in India and a proud part of the University of Southampton – a founding member of the UK’s prestigious Russell Group, celebrated for its research and academic excellence.

The University of Southampton became the first international institution to be granted a licence by India’s Universities Grants Commission to set up a campus as part of the country’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which aims to create world-class, work-ready, graduates.

India’s top Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, celebrated the opportunities that the new University of Southampton Delhi will bring to Indian students at a ceremony held to open the new campus.

The campus launch marks a pivotal step in advancing transnational education in India and recognises the exceptional academic potential of Indian students and the country’s emergence as a global leader in research, innovation, and enterprise.

Department for Business and Trade Minister Douglas Alexander said: “It’s testament to the prestige of the UK’s first-class higher education institutions that we have become the first country to open an international campus in India.

“The University of Southampton’s Delhi campus will help set the standard for universities worldwide and this comes as we prepare to sign our landmark trade deal with India which will drive exports, increase wages, and deliver economic growth for the UK under our Plan for Change.”

University of Southampton Vice-Chancellor, Mark E. Smith, said: “The University of Southampton Delhi offers students the chance to earn a world-class degree at a university that is renowned for its excellence in teaching, global research, and connections to business and industry partners.

“Our Delhi campus builds on our long-standing relationship with India and fulfils our ambition to become a truly global institution, connecting students from around the world through Southampton’s ability to deliver outstanding education and world-leading research which has the power to transform lives.”

Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India, said: “Congratulations to the University of Southampton on their launch, the first international university to open a comprehensive campus in India under UGC regulations.

“The UK and India share a unique living bridge, and this significant announcement demonstrates our commitment to deepen our education partnerships – offering Indian and British students access to new world-class opportunities, and opening the door to new opportunities to increase research collaboration, drive innovation and growth, and inspire the next generation of global leaders.”

Professor Andrew Atherton, the University of Southampton’s Vice-President International and Engagement, said: “The University of Southampton Delhi will support the development of a work-ready, globally competitive workforce as India continues to emerge as a global leader in research, innovation and enterprise.

“Graduates will receive the same University of Southampton qualification as they do in the UK and that holds strong international recognition and is valued by employers and academic institutions alike.”

Initial undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes will be in Business Management, Accounting and Finance, Computer Science, Economics, Finance, and International Management, with the first cohort of around 150 students taking up their places in August.

By 2035, the University plans to welcome up to 5,000 students every year. This will further reinforce India’s emergence as a hub for high-quality higher education while deepening the UK–India strategic partnership in knowledge and innovation.

The University has delivered its state-of-the-art campus in Gurugram, Haryana, alongside partners including Oxford International Education Group (OIEG). The location is close to influential businesses and features excellent facilities, including a student hub, library and IT laboratories.

Students at the University of Southampton Delhi will also benefit from links to some of the country’s most influential and leading firms, including Deloitte India, Comviva and Investec, with internships and graduate placement schemes in place.

Find out more at Home | University of Southampton Delhi.

Improving access to good food across the South

Working with local councils and food aid services, the three-year project will aim to ensure food is distributed to food pantries more fairly and with less waste. Researchers will also consult food pantry users on how to improve the service.

The number of households needing to call on food aid has risen sharply in the last few years, from 2.5 million people in ‘food insecure’ households in the UK in 2021/22 to 7.2 million – 11 per cent of all households – in 2022/23.

Demand on food pantries has significantly increased in the South. Data from the Southampton Food Aid Forum, which includes food pantries in the city, shows that the volume of food redistributed to those needing food aid rose sharply from 12,319 kgs in 2022 to 32,964 kgs in 2024.

University researchers are working with Hampshire County Council, Southampton City Council, New Forest District Council and the Isle of Wight Council, plus 10 different food aid services in the region, to improve the food pantries in Southampton, the Isle of Wight and the New Forest.

Food pantries differ from food banks. Food banks are referral only, whereas food pantries are self-referral for those who need it and, for a small sum of about £5, people can choose a quantity of heavily discounted food.

Project lead Dianna Smith, Professor in Geography at the University of Southampton, said: “Food pantries are having to buy more and more supplies in because there is more demand than can be met through the surplus food redistribution system. But access to food pantries and the quality of the food they offer is a postcode lottery. Some have lots of fresh and nutritious food, whilst others less so due to storage or other constraints.”

Some of the food available at Southampton City Mission Marketplace

The research project, which has just kicked off, is split into three parts:

People who use food pantries and food aid will be recruited as ‘community researchers’ to ask other users how the food pantries could be improved.
Closer working between food pantries and local growers and retailers will be introduced, to improve sustainability by ensuring food stays local where possible, rather than being moving around the country.
An online platform will be created for each district, bringing together food banks, surplus food suppliers such as farmers or shops, and food aid organisations, so they can work cohesively to ensure food distribution is equitable and less waste is created.

Professor Smith added: “Food pantries are a lifeline for lots of people. This project is about trying to make food aid as good and as available as possible for those who need it, whilst also addressing environmental and sustainability challenges, such as ensuring less waste and less food miles.”

Steve Johns from Southampton City Mission Marketplace, which runs food pantries in the city, commented: “There is a sense of belonging, through the membership with the Marketplace. There is another aspect to this, beyond food; it is a place of community and friendship as well as providing food.”

The initiative is one of six new projects kicking off across the UK to tackle food inequality, all funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) as part of its work to create opportunities and improve outcomes.

The others include a mobile greengrocer for social housing in Liverpool, ensuring free school meals in Wales are nutritious, and a pilot of two subsidised restaurants in Dundee and Nottingham for deprived households with children.

Professor Alison Park, Head of UKRI’s creating opportunities, improving outcomes theme, said: “Everyone should have access to healthy, nutritious food. But the number of food insecure households across the UK is increasing, and we must establish why this is and what interventions can be successful.

“These innovative projects will go a long way in determining what could be the right course of action and tackle health inequalities for good.”

Exposing the cultural institutions complicit in the Nazi regime

From 1933 – when Hitler and the Nazi party came to power – onwards, Jewish orchestral musicians were dismissed, and Jewish concertgoers were gradually banned from attending performances.

Professor of Modern European History Neil Gregor’s research has also found evidence of German orchestras acquiring instruments stolen from deported Jews, and a German theatre ensemble performing for the SS inside the Auschwitz concentration camp.

After the war, many musicians claimed that the field had been innocent. Concert halls were represented as having been places to retreat from the violence of the Nazi regime.

In fact, they became places in which the nationalism and racism of the Nazi regime were just as profoundly present as in the rest of society.

Hitler listens to the Berlin Philharmonic, directed by Wilhem Furtwangler. Credit: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, courtesy of Gretchen Van Pool

Professor Gregor said: “Through this research, I was stunned to find out how fast so many people in the music world fell behind the new regime in 1933. I have never been under the illusion that orchestras and concert halls were places of retreat from the regime’s politics, but I was shocked to find out how close cultural institutions were to the genocide.”

Professor Gregor uncovered evidence – in the form of extensive organisational correspondence – that members of the Silesian State Theatre in Breslau (today Wrocław, Poland) visited Auschwitz to entertain the SS.

He said: “They would have witnessed and known about what was happening inside the camp. Discovering this complicity was horrifying.”

He also found evidence suggesting that instruments probably stolen from Jewish victims of the Holocaust found their way to German orchestras.

“There is evidence of the Propaganda Ministry writing to one of Germany's top orchestras in 1941, as deportations of Jews were getting going, and offering it two top violins – a Stradivarius and a Guarneri – for a cheap price, as a gift from Hitler,” explained Professor Gregor. “It is not hard to work out where they most likely came from.”

Professor Gregor has created a Spotify playlist featuring performances of symphonies from the era, including performances by Munich Symphony Orchestra, Hamburg State Theatre Orchestra and Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

“The recordings, I hope, provide a starting point for imaginative immersion into the world I have sought to bring to life,” he said.

The research is published in a new book, The Symphony Concert in Nazi Germany.

Dame Esther honoured by her local university

Dame Esther has been awarded an honorary degree in recognition of her role as an ambassador for wellbeing – including setting up children’s helpline ChildLine in 1996 and establishing the older people’s support service The Silver Line in 2012.

While she is unable to attend the graduation ceremony due to her terminal illness with cancer, she sent a message to students. She said: “I would have loved to meet this year’s graduates to congratulate them in person on their wonderful achievements. Well done, all of you! And thank you to all the university staff for your fantastic support which has made this happy day possible.”

Dame Esther, who lives in the New Forest, was nominated for an honorary degree by Roxi Carare, Professor of Clinical Neuroanatomy in the University of Southampton, as her research focuses on dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Dame Esther opened the first Interdisciplinary Ageing and Dementia Conference, which was hosted by Professor Carare, at the University of Southampton in 2015. The conference has led to the development of the Interdisciplinary Dementia and Ageing Centre (IDeAC) that focuses on new efficient treatments and early detection for dementia.

Dame Esther Rantzen at the first Interdisciplinary Ageing and Dementia Conference, at the University of Southampton in 2015

Professor Carare said: “Dame Esther’s contributions to campaigning for people’s wellbeing have been immense and extremely powerful.

“I am delighted that my nominating her for an honorary degree has been successful – it is so thoroughly deserved as she continues to have such a strong impact in her campaigning, including campaigning for the Assisted Dying Bill as she’s talked so publicly and passionately about recently.”

Dame Esther, 85, said: “I am so grateful to all the brave people, the terminally ill patients, their friends and families, and the healthcare professionals who have allowed me to tell their stories.

“Assisted dying is a very personal and emotional issue, as are child abuse and loneliness. It is only too easy for those who suffer to feel unheard, voiceless and ignored. So, I must thank everyone who listened and enabled vital progress to happen.”

About her honorary degree, she added: “I am particularly thrilled that the University of Southampton is awarding me this distinguished honorary degree. I owe this university so much! You are my local university – living as I do in the glorious New Forest, I am being treated – as my husband Desmond Wilcox was – by the University Hospital Southampton, and your track record for innovation is unrivalled. So, thank you so much, University of Southampton, and more power to you!”

Celebrating our NSS 2025 results together

The impact of these improvements is especially evident in areas such as assessment and feedback and student voice, with the University seeing an increase in performance scores across all metrics, performing above benchmark levels throughout.

This positive change reflects the importance of the student voice at Southampton and the impact of student feedback.

The results show:

74 per cent of students participated in this year’s survey – an increase of two per cent compared to 2024
94 per cent of students think the University’s teaching staff are good at explaining things
89 per cent of students feel it’s easy to reach out to teaching staff for things like guidance, support and information
89 per cent of students feel their course is intellectually stimulating
There’s been an increase in students seeing a difference made by their input
78 per cent of students thought the Students’ Union represents their academic interests.

Professor Deborah Gill, Vice-President (Education), said: “Students are at the heart of our thinking here at Southampton, and continuous improvement, co-designed with our students, is key to our development as a University.

“We’ve been listening to our students and working to better understand how we can improve their learning experiences and outcomes, inspire them in their future careers and enable them to thrive.

“These results reflect the hard and persistent work of a huge number of colleagues who teach and support learning here at Southampton and are a demonstration of our status as a leading global university and our commitment to providing the best possible education.

“I would like to thank all involved in making this improvement happen. I hope our students know how much their opinions and experiences are valued, and feel empowered to get involved in our decision-making processes to help us continue this important work.”

The NSS is a key indicator of how student needs are being met in higher education. It is commissioned by the Office for Students (OfS), and surveys final-year undergraduate students about key areas of student life, including the student experience, resources, teaching and support.

This latest success comes after several other reasons to celebrate at the University. Our students recently ranked us as 7th in the country, and our clubs and societies in the top 10, via StudentCrowd.

To further enhance the student experience, around £50m has been invested in fantastic new sports facilities and new teaching and learning spaces are on the way, with the latest developments on Highfield Campus due to open in 2027.

Find out more about Clearing 2025 at Southampton.

Parents face pregnancy loss could shape support

It is part of a project by the University of Southampton to change how personal information is used by health services.

It is being delivered within the National Institute for Health and Care Research’s (NIHR) Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).

The NHS currently collects and shares patient medical data to improve its care – but it usually discounts everyday information about people’s lives.

Now Southampton academics want to develop a new model which gives parents more control to decide how their data could be used to support others.

Professor Age Chapman, head of the University’s Digital Health and Biomedical Engineering Research Group, is leading the initiative, named the Roberta Project.

She said: “Health-related data outside of the NHS is increasingly important for improving health and wellbeing, but how can we be sure it is being handled with care, transparency and consent?

“The Roberta Project is about empowering communities to say where they want data to be used, so their voices and experiences can be at the very core of maternal support.”

As part of the project, researchers will ask parents to voluntarily contribute information produced by everyday tools, such as fitness trackers, wellbeing apps or diaries.

Professor Dame Wendy Hall, director of the University’s Web Science Institute and lead of the NIHR Southampton BRC’s Data, Health and Society Theme, said: “Data collected with consent is more inclusive and, above all, impactful for new research or improving care.

“We ultimately want to develop a ‘data trust’ – a framework for data governance – which puts families who have experienced early pregnancy loss at its centre.

“It would allow them to collectively decide how their information is used to shape support for those who may be affected by miscarriage in the future.”

The Southampton team are conducting workshops among community groups with lived experience of pregnancy loss, as well as clinicians, policymakers and legal experts.

These sessions use scenarios featuring a fictional character named Roberta, who navigates pregnancy after loss using digital health tools, such as phone apps.

“Sadly, some tools fail to account for pregnancy loss, often continuing to send notifications after a miscarriage,” said Professor Michael Boniface, project co-lead and an associate director of the Web Science Institute.

He added: “Roberta’s story helps participants surface these challenges and reimagines what respectful, inclusive digital health design might look like.”

The researchers hope the Roberta Project can serve as a national model for more equitable use of non-NHS data in tackling challenges across health and care.

Read more about the Roberta Project www.southampton.ac.uk/wsi.

Deep heat beneath US traced to ancient Greenland rift

The scientists argue it is not, as has long been believed, the result of plate tectonic movements causing the continent of North America to break away from Northwest Africa 180 million years ago.

The hot zone in question is the Northern Appalachian Anomaly (NAA), a 350-kilometre-wide region of anomalous hot rock that sits about 200 km beneath the Appalachian Mountains in New England.

The research, published today in the journal Geology, suggests the NAA in fact developed about 1,800 km from where it is now, when the Earth’s crust began to break apart near the Labrador Sea between Canada and Greenland.

Over time, this area of hot, unstable rock deep under the Earth’s surface has slowly moved to where it is today – at a rate of approximately 20 km per million years.

The research was undertaken by the University of Southampton in the UK, the Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam (GFZ), Germany, and the University of Florence in Italy.

Tom Gernon, lead author of the study and Professor of Earth Science at the University of Southampton, said: “This thermal upwelling has long been a puzzling feature of North American geology. It lies beneath part of the continent that’s been tectonically quiet for 180 million years, so the idea it was just a leftover from when the landmass broke apart never quite stacked up.

“Our research suggests it’s part of a much larger, slow-moving process deep underground that could potentially help explain why mountain ranges like the Appalachians are still standing. Heat at the base of a continent can weaken and remove part of its dense root, making the continent lighter and more buoyant, like a hot air balloon rising after dropping its ballast. This would have caused the ancient mountains to be further uplifted over the past few million years.”

‘Mantle wave’ theory

The scientists turned to a new idea they recently proposed called ‘mantle wave’ theory, which was recognised as a finalist for Science magazine’s 2024 Breakthrough of the Year.

The theory describes how hot, dense rock slowly peels away from the base of tectonic plates – much like blobs in a lava lamp – after continents break apart. These ‘waves’ ripple along the lower surfaces of the continents over tens of millions of years and can help explain rare volcanic eruptions that bring diamonds to the surface, and why some inland regions are unusually high.

Origin of the Appalachian anomaly
when Greenland and North America split

Using advanced geodynamic simulations, seismic tomography data (like a medical ultrasound, but using seismic waves to image Earth's interior) and tectonic plate reconstructions, the research team traced the likely origin of the NAA to the breakup of the Labrador Sea, which occurred between 90 and 80 million years ago when Greenland separated from Canada.

Professor Sascha Brune, co-author of the study who leads the Geodynamic Modelling Section at GFZ in Potsdam, Germany, said: “These convective instabilities cause chunks of rock, several tens of kilometres thick, to slowly sink from the base of the Earth’s outer layer known as the lithosphere. As the lithosphere thins, hotter mantle material rises to take its place, creating a warm region known as a thermal anomaly.

"Our earlier research shows that these ‘drips’ of rock can form in series, like domino stones when they fall one after the other, and sequentially migrate over time. The feature we see beneath New England is very likely one of these drips, which originated far from where it now sits.”

If correct, the NAA has likely been slowly migrating south-westward across the North American lithosphere at a rate of approximately 20 kilometres per million years, which is broadly consistent with independent geodynamic predictions. The NAA’s current size (roughly 350 km across) and depth align closely with what models predict for such migrating instabilities.

Based on the team’s research, the centre of the anomaly is estimated to pass beneath the New York region within the next 15 million years.

A mirror of the NAA

The study also proposes that a similar anomalous hot zone beneath north-central Greenland may share the same origin, making it effectively a mirror image twin of the NAA – having emerged from the opposite flank of the Labrador Sea as it drifted apart.

Beneath Greenland, this thermal anomaly contributes to elevated heat flow at the base of the kilometres-thick ice sheet, influencing how the ice moves and melts today.

In this way “ancient heat anomalies continue to play a key role in shaping the dynamics of continental ice sheets from below,” said Professor Gernon.

Dr Derek Keir, study co-author and tectonics expert at the University of Southampton and the University of Florence, said: “The idea that rifting of continents can cause drips and cells of circulating hot rock at depth that spread thousands of kilometres inland makes us rethink what we know about the edges of continents both today and in Earth’s deep past.”

The team’s findings build on research indicating that deep Earth processes can continue to unfold for many tens of millions of years after surface plate boundaries have ceased to be active.

These long-lived instabilities can shape everything from regional uplift to patterns of volcanism and erosion, even across parts of the continental interiors previously thought to be geologically stable.

Professor Gernon added: “Even though the surface shows little sign of ongoing tectonics, deep below, the consequences of ancient rifting are still playing out. The legacy of continental breakup on other parts of the Earth system may well be far more pervasive and long-lived than we previously realised.”

Southampton academics recognised for teaching contribution

Economics lecturer Dr Stefania Paredes Fuentes and Professor Bryony Whitmarsh, from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, have both received the honour from Advance HE.

The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) celebrates and recognises individuals who have made an outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession in UK higher education.

Dr Paredes Fuentes said: “I am honoured to receive this award which recognises the value of investing in evidence-informed economics education.

“It reflects a personal and collective journey driven by the belief that economics can, and must, be more inclusive and relevant to the world our students will contribute to shape in the future.

“I hope this recognition inspires others to challenge traditional boundaries and keep reimagining what economics education can be.”

Professor Whitmarsh added: “I’m honoured to have been awarded a National Teaching Fellowship in recognition of my work in internationalisation, which promotes social responsibility and social justice.

“This work is deeply important to me, as it has helped reduce barriers to participation for underrepresented groups and fostered greater intercultural understanding.

“This recognition reflects work that has been co-produced with students and colleagues in Southampton and beyond, and I am deeply grateful for their knowledge, collaboration, and accountability which have been central to making my work impactful.”

The University of Southampton celebrated an increase in student satisfaction this year when student-led improvements placed the university among the top 10 Russell Group universities in this year’s National Student Survey results.

To find out more about the awards visit advance-he.ac.uk.

Asian hornets have a unique sound – and that could be the key to controlling their spread

It paves the way to faster detection and removal of the nests of the invasive species, which is experiencing a surge in numbers this year.

The National Bee Unit is reporting 73 Asian hornet sightings and 28 nests in 2025 to date – more than double the 28 recorded sightings in the same period last year.

Scientists at Southampton have established the fundamental frequency of Asian hornet nests to be 125 Hertz (Hz) and the loudness in the region of 51 Decibels (dB), which is comparable to a normal conversation.

This means that Asian hornet nests, which peak in numbers during September and October, can be detected and their sound used to distinguish them from the nests and hives of other wasps and bees.

The project was led by Paul White, Professor of Statistical Signal Processing at the University of Southampton, and project advisor Adrian Dwyer, with research undertaken by Acoustic Engineering graduate Sophie Gray.

Researchers removing an Asian hornet nest in Jersey

Sophie said: “We observed and measured two Asian hornet nests and a European hornet nest in Jersey before they were destroyed. We found that the fundamental frequency is 125 Hz, and that the nest can be detected from about 20 metres away with a directional microphone.

“We also recorded European hornets and honeybees to determine if we can differentiate the frequency. The fundamental frequency of the European hornet is about 110 Hz, and honeybees about 210 Hz. It was great news to discover that the frequency is unique for each species, so they are distinguishable.”

Asian hornets originate from Southeast Asia and pose a threat to native biodiversity in the UK – especially honeybees.

Sophie said: “The main issue with Asian hornets is that they are omnivorous and feed on a wide range of pollinators to feed protein to their young, especially honeybees. One nest of Asian hornets can destroy an entire beehive in two to three days.”

Asian hornets measure 1-1.5 inches long and are black with an orange stripe on the fourth segment of the abdomen, with legs that look like they have been dipped in yellow paint.

They are not yet established in the UK, and all discovered nests – which can measure up to 80cm in diameter – are destroyed. Last year, 24 nests were destroyed predominantly in the South, and 260 in Jersey where they are prevalent.

“Asian hornet nests can be difficult to find because there is no typical place where they build them,” explained Sophie. “They can be underground, or 50 feet up a tree, or in a bird box, or a bush – they can be anywhere.

“It typically takes two to three days to find the nest once a sighting of an Asian hornet is reported – and in that time the hornets can have completely killed a beehive of upwards of 20,000 bees.”

Acoustic Engineering graduate Sophie Gray

In the UK and Europe, Asian hornets are active between April and November, peaking in September and October.

Sophie added: “Asian hornets first entered Europe in France in 2004, most likely in a shipping container. They spread like wildfire and are now established in France as well as across Southern Europe. They first came to England through Kent in 2016 and in the last two to three years have begun to establish themselves here.”

Sophie is hoping to start a PhD at the University of Southampton in September, building on her research. She said: “The next step is to build a drone that can locate nests and significantly speed up how long it takes to find them.”

If you spot an Asian hornet, you should report it to the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Information on how to identify Asian hornets is on The British Beekeepers’ Association’s website.

Law students to work with AI legal platform

The university’s Global Legal Clinic has partnered with CaseCraft.AI, an artificial intelligence platform that helps people and businesses navigate the small claims courts with AI, without the need for conventional interaction with a lawyer.

Students will work directly with CaseCraft.AI’s platform, offering feedback and helping to refine its tools, which include document generation and case preparation.

The collaboration bridges the gap between academia and real-life legal practice, giving students direct exposure to the challenges claimants face in today’s system.

The university’s Global Legal Clinic opened in February 2024, with law students offering free legal services to university staff, students and the wider public.

Dr Omar Madhloom, the clinic’s director, said: “We are delighted to be working with such an innovative and empowering product, and we are excited to be offering first-hand experience for our students, as well as improving access to justice across England and Wales.”

Jessica Bosworth, who is in her final year studying European Legal Studies LLB at the University of Southampton, added: “I feel so grateful to have had the opportunity to work alongside the incredible Casecraft.AI team on this project. It has been such an exciting insight into the what the future of the small claims process may be and how artificial intelligence can be integrated into the legal sector and utilised to improve access to justice.”

Ruslan Kosarenko, Co-founder CaseCraft.AI, said: “We are excited to be working with the Southampton University Legal Clinic, who we feel are the perfect match for our objective to improve access to justice across the country.”

Researchers campaign to raise awareness of ‘sharenting’ dangers

Researchers at the University of Southampton have conducted the first study on the harms of sharenting that demonstrates a link between sharenting and children becoming the victims of cybercrimes and digital harms such as cyberbullying, online harassment, identity theft, identity fraud, privacy breaches, and contact by a stranger.

The team surveyed more than 1,000 UK parents and found that 45 per cent actively ‘sharent’, and one in six reported that their child had experienced at least one of the above harms.

Sharenting is when parents or carers post photos or videos of their children on social media.

Lead researcher Pamela Ugwudike, Professor of Criminology, said: “Sharenting poses a real and present danger to our children. By proudly sharing photos and information about children on social media, parents are unwittingly putting them at risk of harm, both online such as cyberbullying, and in the real world – not just now, but also years down the line.

“For example, strangers contacting them online may also target them offline. There is financial risk from information shared by parents being used to hack into their children’s future bank account. Affected children may also be denied the clean digital footprint required to pass the verification checks increasingly required when applying for official documents such as a passport.”

The research has found that current regulations and social media platform safety provisions fail to protect children from digital risk and harm.

The team will be presenting its findings to Parliament later this year, calling for government intervention to tackle the issue.

Through in-depth interviews with 30 parents, the researchers also found that parents and stakeholders such as schools are largely unaware of the potential risks to children that sharenting poses.

Professor Ugwudike said: “Most parents are aware of the obvious risks, but they are not aware that social media features like tagging and resharing can override cybersecurity features such as privacy settings. Even if your profile is set to ‘private’ and posts only visible to ‘friends’, if anyone is tagged then their friends can see, copy and reshare the post.

“Parents overestimate the effectiveness of the privacy settings provided by the major platforms and this creates a false sense of security, which is what surprised me the most from our research.”

In 2017, an Ofcom survey found that 45 per cent of parents share information about their children online. “We have found almost exactly the same, eight years later,” said Professor Ugwudike.

Dr Anita Lavorgna, Assistant Professor in Criminology at the University of Southampton, said: “Sharenting can seem like a useful way to celebrate special occasions and update family members around the world on children’s progress, but parents should be mindful of the risks of sharing personal details such as their children’s name and location, or sensitive information like their children’s health condition.”

Raising awareness and using AI

Professor Ugwudike and her fellow researchers are campaigning to raise awareness of the risks of sharenting and calling for intervention at government level.

They have created a video and briefings for policy makers, parents and schools. They have also designed a Sharenting Risk Awareness Checklist.

Professor Ugwudike said: “Although sharenting is done with the best of intentions, the practice itself is exposing children to harm and crime. It’s something that requires attention from policymakers and regulators such as the Children’s Commissioners for England and Wales, the Information Commissioner’s Office, and Ofcom, plus the social media companies.”

The research team – which spans experts in criminology, sociology and computer science – is also developing an AI tool for social media content moderators to support them in scanning for risky sharenting content.

Professor Stuart Middleton, a computer scientist at the University of Southampton, said: “We have examples of risky sharenting content, such as posts revealing children’s health conditions or other personal and sensitive information including their age and location. We’re using these examples to train the AI tool to provide an early warning of risky content.”

Professor Ugwudike added: “Our research should serve as a wake-up call to regulators to address the issue. Children are at risk because of sharenting – for example, even children of primary school age can extract images from social media to create deepfakes.”

Hungry star is eating its cosmic twin

Their study found the double star, named V Sagittae, is burning unusually bright as the super-dense white dwarf is gorging on its larger twin in a feeding frenzy.

Experts think the stars are locked in an extraterrestrial tango as they orbit each other every 12.3 hours, gradually pulling each other closer.

They say it could cause a massive explosion so bright it would be seen by the naked eye from Earth, some 10,000 lightyears away.

The findings were made by an international team of astronomers involving Professor Phil Charles from University of Southampton, led by Dr Pasi Hakala from the University of Turku in Finland with Dr Pablo Rodríguez Gil from the Spanish Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias and University of La Laguna.

Southampton’s Professor Charles said their results crack a mystery about the star pair which has perplexed astronomers for a century.

He added: "V Sagittae is no ordinary star system – it's the brightest of its kind and has baffled experts since it was first discovered in 1902.

“Our study shows that this extreme brightness is down to the white dwarf sucking the life out of its companion star, using the accreted matter to turn it into a blazing inferno.

“It’s a process so intense that it's going thermonuclear on the white dwarf’s surface, shining like a beacon in the night sky.”

The new study was published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Researchers captured the cosmic carnage using the powerful European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile – and made another discovery.

They found a ring of gas, like a giant halo, is encircling both stars, a consequence of the huge amounts of energy being generated by the hungry white dwarf.

This unexpected ring, formed from the debris of the messy feast, gives us a clue that could change what we know about how stars live and die, said lead author Dr Pasi Hakala from the University of Turku.

He added: “The white dwarf cannot consume all the mass being transferred from its hot star twin, so it creates this bright cosmic ring.

“The speed at which this doomed stellar system is lurching wildly, likely due to the extreme brightness, is a frantic sign of its imminent, violent end.”

Dr Rodríguez-Gil from Spain’s Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias added: “The matter accumulating on the white dwarf is likely to produce a nova outburst in the coming years, during which V Sagittae would become visible with the naked eye.

“But when the two stars finally smash into each other and explode, this would be a supernova explosion so bright it’ll be visible from Earth even in the daytime."

Read the study at doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2507.22637.

Job demand shapes public attitudes on immigration

Researchers found members of the public are as likely to grant visas to fruit and vegetable pickers and care home workers as they are to lawyers or office managers.

The research published in the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies suggests the public is willing to accept lower-skill workers in jobs where demand is high at least as much as high-skill workers in occupations where demand is lower.

The research was carried out by researchers from the Universities of Southampton, Strathclyde, Amsterdam, Essex, Glasgow, Brunel, Kobe, and Waseda.

“In sectors facing acute labour shortages, public resistance to immigration may be lower than is commonly assumed,” says Professor Jason Reifler, a coauthor on the paper from the University of Southampton.

“The findings challenge the idea that skill level alone dictates how people feel about immigrants.”

The research team surveyed a representative sample of 646 people in England and 1,501 people in Japan. Both countries have low birth rates and face worker shortages. But while immigration has been a highly charged issue in England, in Japan it has been deliberately downplayed by politicians.

Participants were presented with different hypothetical profiles of immigrants and asked if they should be granted a visa to come and work in the country.

The profiles represented high-skill high-demand occupations, such as doctors or computer programmers, lower-skill low-demand jobs, such as telemarketers or retail salespeople, and occupations where the level of skill was at odds with the level of demand.

Citizens would grant visas to close to 70 percent of high-skilled migrants in both countries. Support fell to the low to mid-60s in Japan and mid-50s in England for lower skill migrants.

Granting visas to those in high-demand occupations was also near 70 per cent in both England and Japan, with similar drops in support for low-demand professions.

High-skilled high-demand workers received the most support overall and lower-skill low demand workers received the least. Interestingly, lower-skill high-demand workers had slightly higher levels of support than high-skill low-demand workers.

Prof Thomas Scotto from the University of Strathclyde, a coauthor on the paper, adds: “In England, occupation was far more of a factor in granting a visa than country of origin. Unsurprisingly, support is much lower for migrants approaching retirement age.

“As expected, those with higher trust, left-leaning ideology and a degree generally showed greater support, but the overall pattern regarding skill and labour market demand was consistent across all groups.”

Riku Kawakami, a recent graduate of the University of Glasgow and coauthor on the paper commented: “The results reveal a more nuanced picture than in often presented in the media and show that a public debate about immigration doesn’t have to be as contentious as it has become in England or remain ‘in the shadows’ as it has in Japan.”

Who Gets In? A Conjoint Analysis of Labor Market Demand and Immigration Preferences in England and Japan is published in the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies and is available online.

This research was supported by a joint grant from the Economic and Social Research Council of the UK and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

Student project brings near-death experience alive in VR

Players lie on a couch wearing a VR headset that simulates a near-death journey, taking them through snippets of life moments in locations including a classroom, a city, the countryside, a wedding, a hospital and a funeral.

The ‘memories’ appear as floating bubbles and the life journey is determined by how long players gaze at different bubbles. The experience culminates in a fleeting journey through the memories the player has engaged with.

The experience, called Echoes of the Last Breath, has been created by arts and media technology students Veronica Zhang, Yimeng Li and Xinyu Zhang.

Veronica, 26, studying a PhD in art, said: “The concept was inspired by research on near-death experiences showing they can reduce death anxiety and foster empathy. We wanted to design a short VR encounter that helps young audiences reflect on life’s meaning beyond extra lives or respawns in games. We hope it resonates with a wider audience.”

A scene from the VR immersive garden

The project forms part of Winchester School of Art’s exhibition, called Tender Interbeing, at London Design Festival.

Other projects include a board game about financial planning and resilience, VR shopping, a VR experience to interact with stars in the night sky, and using artificial intelligence to support older people at home.

There is a VR immersive garden featuring plants that are threatened with extinction. Fashion management student Tiffany Chan, 24, led the project and said: “Setting our project in 2065, we imagined that technology will be in our daily lives, and we created an immersive garden to heal emotional stress.”

The VR immersive garden project team

Four creative computing and graphic communication students from different backgrounds have created a VR experience that brings different cultures together.

Qingzhou Cai from China, Jocelyn Eddy from England, and Lavanya Sharma and Nehi Ipplil from India have developed a collage of footage from their three homelands highlighting cultural events, geographical features and different foods.

Jocelyn, 19, said: “We wanted to explore multiculturalism and how this this could lead to a utopian future. We have portrayed aspects of our cultures, shown simultaneously in three windows.”

Yuanyuan Yin, Professor of Design, who has curated the exhibition, said: “Tender Interbeing is all about how to use technology to create an inclusive and empathetic future. The main concept is looking at the future and how humans and technology will live together in harmony.”

The exhibition is open from Wednesday 17 to Friday 19 September at White City Warehouse, Wood Lane, London, and admission is free. Visit the festival website for more information.

supermassive-blackhole-bombshell

Scientists have peered into the centre of an infant galaxy – located 12 billion lightyears from earth – for the first time using a powerful new instrument.

They found that the supermassive black hole at its heart was ten times smaller than expected.

Experts say the finding suggests we have been overestimating the size of the biggest black holes in the early universe for years.

If confirmed in other galaxies, it solves a puzzle of how these early supermassive black holes can grow very big very fast – they are simply not that big.

The study, to be published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics, was carried out by the GRAVITY+ collaboration which includes University of Southampton scientists.

Professor Seb Hoenig of the University of Southampton, GRAVITY+ co-investigator and co-lead of its Extragalactic Science Working Group, said the findings are a revelation of cosmic proportions.

He added: “We have been wondering for years how it’s possible we discovered all these fully grown supermassive black holes in very young galaxies shortly after the Big Bang. They shouldn’t have had the time to grow that massive.

“Our results suggest the methods to weigh these black holes used previously are just not working reliably in the early universe.

"It could lead to a re-evaluation of our models of cosmic evolution."

Experts made the intergalactic discovery using an advanced astronomical instrument, called GRAVITY+, which combines the light of four of the world’s largest optical telescopes at the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile.

They looked at an ancient quasar – a galaxy with a black hole so old and bright it looks like a cosmic beacon from the dawn of time.

The instrument gazed into the heart of the quasar, revealing the spiralling motion of hot gas about to be swallowed by the supermassive black hole, which is about 800million times the mass of our own Sun.

This motion was key to making this precise measurement of the black hole mass.

Lead author Dr Ric Davies from the Max Planck Institute for Extragalactic Physics in Germany said: “Our result is reliable because it’s based on the actual motion of the gas.

“Many studies using the new James Webb Space telescope make use of scaling laws that might not hold at these early times.

“If our findings are typical, it means black hole masses in the early Universe may have been systematically overestimated.”

The study also revealed that the supermassive black hole is consuming gas at an unbelievable rate, much faster than commonly thought possible.

This feeding frenzy is sending out a powerful outflow of gas which may have tricked telescopes into thinking the giant was much bigger.

Prof Hoenig added: “Most of the gas falling towards the supermassive black hole is being violently blasted away rather than feeding it.

“Think of it like a cosmic hairdryer set to maximum power: the intense radiation around it is blowing everything away that approaches it.”

The GRAVITY+ collaboration is led by the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics and includes the University of Southampton as well as institutions in France, Germany, Portugal and Belgium.

The work was carried out in partnership with a Max Planck Partner Group in Beijing and colleagues at the Australian National University.

Read the study at https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.13911.

chronic-pain-project

It follows research showing that Black residents report higher rates of chronic pain than other groups and are less likely to access NHS services.

A research team from the universities of Southampton and Keele, who are working with the NHS, are urging people to talk about their personal experiences of pain.

The three-year project is funded by national charity Versus Arthritis.

Professor Tamar Pincus, a psychologist from the University of Southampton, specialises in supporting people living with pain.

She said: "Prior research showed a clear disparity in health for Black residents in our city, often compounded by poverty, poor housing, and unemployment, which are known to make living with chronic pain more difficult.

"This new project is about moving from research to action, working directly with our community to create a plan which is culturally sensitive, trusted and effective.

“We want to address reports that this community feels 'less served' by health services and use less than what is offered."

According to a Versus Arthritis report, 44 per cent of Black people in England live with chronic pain compared with 34 per cent of those who are white.

Southampton resident André Fergus, 51, has been living with chronic pain for more than a decade and recently joined the project team.

He said: “When you’re in constant pain, you just push it to one side, and it becomes part of your daily life. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

"I'm getting involved in this project to lead by example. I want to show other people that the support is out there and that pain isn’t something you have to manage yourself.”

The interdisciplinary research team aims to speak to participants to hear their experiences of pain and understand why many face barriers to care.

They plan to refine the support developed in an earlier study, named De-Stress Pain, led by Prof Pincus and Prof Carolyn Chew-Graham from Keele University.

It focused on improving wellbeing by shifting attention away from pain and toward “enjoyable” activities like book clubs, photography and music, said Prof Pincus.

She added: “This intervention we tested helped people manage their pain, improve their mood, and increase their engagement with activities they enjoy.

“In the follow-up project, we will work with our Black communities in Southampton to ensure their needs are met so we can provide recommendations that will inform healthcare providers across the UK on how to better serve under-represented groups.”

More than half a million pounds of funding has been provided by Versus Arthritis to launch the project in Southampton.

Deborah Alsina MBE, Chief Executive of Versus Arthritis, said: “Too many people still face unacceptable delays, barriers and inequalities in their journey through the healthcare system. This must change.

“That’s why we are really proud to be investing in this next stage of the De-Stress project, as part of our Living Well Funding Call, which focuses on reaching those whose needs have been traditionally overlooked.

“By providing funding we can make sure the voices and experiences of Black residents in Southampton are at the heart of care.

“This project also addresses a critical gap in chronic pain research and is a big step towards developing more equitable pain management plans that can be implemented not just in Southampton but across the UK.”

The project team includes the University of Southampton and Keele University, LifeLab, Versus Arthritis, Cathy Price, Callum Dixon and Ophelia Watson from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, and contributors from Southampton’s Black communities Pamela Permalloo Bass, André Fergus and Tecla Hlupe.

To get involved go to www.destress-study.co.uk.

Top image caption: (Back row, left to right) Cathy Price, Lucy Green, Ophelia Watson, Adam Geraghty, Kath Woods-Townsend, Jo Williams, Pamela Permalloo Bass, Callum Dixon, Tecla Hlupe, Holli

University of Southampton joins landmark UK trade delegation in India

Professor Andrew Atherton, Vice-President International and Engagement at the University of Southampton, joined Prime Minister Keir Starmer as he made his first official visit to India.

The trade delegation brought British and Indian business and industry leaders together with the aim of strengthening ties between the two countries following the signing of the free trade agreement.

In July, the University of Southampton became the first international university to establish a campus in India under the country’s pioneering National Education Policy which aims to create world-class, work-ready, graduates.

The University of Southampton Delhi provides students with an exciting opportunity to earn a prestigious degree from a world Top 100 university without leaving the country, marking a pivotal step in advancing transnational education in India.

At a joint press conference with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Keir Starmer highlighted the global reputation of UK universities such as Southampton.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Our great British universities are admired all over the world for their teaching excellence, high-quality research and commitment to innovation.

“I’m delighted that more Indian students will be able to benefit from a world-class British education in the near future - strengthening the ties between our two countries while pumping millions back into our economy and supporting jobs at home.”

Professor Atherton said : “The University of Southampton was proud to become the very first international university approved by the University Grants Commission to establish a campus in India thanks to our reputation for excellence in education, research and enterprise.

“Our first students are already benefiting from this flagship initiative and this week’s UK delegation offers further opportunities for our university to further strengthen our links with India.

“This visit is a powerful commitment to India-UK relations and demonstrates the importance of our higher education sector as we continue to deepen our engagement with the fastest growing country in the world.”

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said : “British higher education is world-leading - and this expansion shows its global appeal.

“Opening new campuses in India will give more young people the chance to benefit from a UK education, while delivering real returns for our universities at home.

“As we prepare to set out our International Education Strategy, these new campuses are a marker of our ambition: building long-term partnerships that deliver growth, innovation and opportunity for both countries.”

Alison Barrett MBE, Country Director India, British Council said : "The University of Southampton have successfully launched their campus in Delhi NCR and even welcomed their first batch of students. It's been wonderful to see the first UK university campus being set up in India and congratulations to the university team for this achievement. This milestone underscores the impact of India–UK Vision 2035, showcasing how world-class academic excellence and globally connected opportunities are nurturing talent that will shape the future of both our nations."

The University of Southampton Delhi is located in the thriving business hub of Gurugram, with students enrolled on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in business, management, computing, economics and finance. Plans to expand with courses in data science, AI and engineering are underway.

Home | University of Southampton Delhi

University brings hands-on event to city centre

The family-friendly Arts and Humanities Day, on Saturday 8 November, will be held across venues in the Southampton Cultural Quarter.

More than 50 activities will be held predominately at the Sir James Matthews Building with additional activities at the John Hansard Gallery, Southampton Central Library and SeaCity Museum. They will include:

Create your own cave art inspired by our ancestors
A VR rhythm-based challenge using your head and eyes to make music
Chinese lantern making
‘Bring Your Bones to Life’ by creating a skeleton marionette
Workshops on Baduanjin, an ancient Chinese Qigong exercise
Explore how Jane Austen is read in languages all over the world, on Austen’s 250th birthday this year
Turn a plastic milk bottle into a bird and learn about the Nightjar’s migration
A fact-finding mission at SeaCity Museum, then make your own Saxon brooches and modern-day badges.

Luca Di Gregorio, Elizabeth Hammond, Eldora Sequeira and Joan Tumblety at Arts & Humanities Day 2024

The day forms part of Southampton Arts and Humanities Festival, which has been running since 2014. The Southampton Arts and Humanities Festival runs from Thursday 6 to Saturday 15 November. Events as part of the festival include:

An online workshop on Finding Your Fictional Voice, led by Associate Professor of Creative Writing Toby Litt
A performance by Jazz Sabbath, a trio led by Adam Wakeman who played in Ozzy Osbourne’s solo band, that plays new jazz arrangements of Black Sabbath songs
A guided heritage walking tour through Mansbridge
An exhibition of Hartley Library through the ages.

Ben Littlefield, Head of Public Engagement at the University of Southampton, said: “Arts and Humanities Festival is a vibrant celebration of the people, stories, research, and creativity across our university and the wider Southampton region. Whether you're into gaming, music, archaeology, dance, or even Jane Austen, everyone is warmly invited to explore, discover, and connect over that question ‘What does it mean to be human?’.

VR at Arts & Humanities Day 2024

“This will be our second year of hosting Arts and Humanities Day in the city centre, and visitors will be treated to a sneak peek at some of the activities that might be at the British Science Festival when we host it in September. So, join us for this free celebration, feed your curiosity and let’s get creative together!”

Arts and Humanities Day runs from 10.30am to 4.30pm. Tickets are free but must be reserved via Eventbrite. Visit the Southampton Arts and Humanities Festival website for more information about the day and the wider festival.

This event is part of Being Human Festival, the UK’s national festival of the humanities, taking place from 6 to 15 November 2025. Led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London, with generous support from Research England, in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy.

New CChES chemistry consultancy

It is being led by its scientists to support new pharmaceutical and chemical research, alongside work in sustainable energy, healthcare diagnostics, defence and advanced manufacturing.

Known as CChES (Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Services), the consultancy is based at the university’s School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.

This boasts some of the UK’s most prestigious research-grade facilities, including its nuclear magnetic resonance, advanced Raman and infrared spectrometers, electron-beam and X-ray diffractometers.

CChES director Professor Sumeet Mahajan said: "This is a bold step in connecting Southampton’s world-class research and expertise with the needs of the industry.

“It's a powerful combination of academic excellence and industrial insight to offer consultancy, training, and access to some of the UK's most advanced equipment.

“By bridging this gap, we hope to become a catalyst for collaboration, discovery, and transformation.”

Access to world-class facilities

The University of Southampton is widely recognised as a world top 100 centre for research excellence and a founding member of the Russell Group.

It has significantly invested in its chemistry facilities, including a £12million outlay in its laboratories which opened at the start of the decade.

Clients can access key university assets including:

Its magnetic resonance facility, which houses powerful spectrometers used to examine the structure and dynamics of molecules, supporting advanced research ranging from drug design to new materials.
The X-Ray Diffraction facility, which uses powerful X-ray beams to scatter off crystals, providing an atomic "fingerprint" that reveals the arrangement of atoms in materials. This, said Prof Mahajan, is vital to analyse everything from new drugs to geological rock powders and semiconductor thin-film coatings.
A cutting-edge National Electron Diffraction Facility, which uses a beam of electrons instead of X-rays to determine the 3D atomic structure of materials. This enables scientists to analyse nanocrystals too small for traditional methods and opens new research in fields like drug discovery, batteries and catalysts.
A specialist glassblowing workshop, which can custom-make and repair scientific apparatus using materials like Pyrex and quartz.

Professor Mark Spearing, Vice-President (Research & Enterprise) at the University of Southampton, said: “The launch of CChES contributes to our ambitions as a world-changer in chemical research.

“Through CChES, industry can access the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering’s transformative expertise and exceptional facilities for design, discovery and analysis."

CChES is backed by the successful nC² Engineering Consultancy, also based at the University, to underpin the launch and provide expert advice to industry clients.

Find out more at cches.co.uk.

Southampton composer nominated for top UK music award

Benjamin Oliver, Professor of Composition, has been nominated for the Best Community and Participation Composition Award for a piece called VENT that he created with puppetry director and theatre maker Rachel Warr.

VENT, written for a choir and electronics, explores themes of protest and freedom of speech, and draws on elements of ventriloquism. Professor Oliver composed the music for London-based experimental choir Musarc.

He said: “VENT is in five parts, with each exploring elements of protest. For example, in the second section the choir is gradually suppressed until they are all mouthing the text stridently but silently. There are also sections with protest scenes, with placards and shouting, and more reflective sections that evoke rebuilding and the potential positive aspects of collective action.”

A scene from VENT. Credit: Yiannis Katsaris

On his Ivor Novello nomination, Professor Oliver, who has worked at the University of Southampton for 15 years, said: “It’s wonderful to be recognised in this way, and I am really proud to have this collaborative work with Rachel and Musarc celebrated.

“I am particularly proud to have been shortlisted in the Best Community and Participation Composition category, as that reflects the strong element of collaboration and inclusivity in the work.”

The Ivors Classical Award winners will be announced at a ceremony on Tuesday 11 November at BFI Southbank, London.

University scientists in epic space race with new telescope

The 4MOST telescope will explore the formation and evolution of stars and planets alongside galaxies and blackholes at a rate not seen before.

Astronomers from the universities of Southampton and Portsmouth are part of the project team, which includes more than 700 scientists worldwide.

The 4MOST super-scope, known as the four-metre Multi-Object Spectroscopic Telescope, operates from the European Southern Observatory in Chile. It can measure the light of nearly 2,500 celestial objects at a time, helping astronomers study their chemical composition and properties.

Dr Phil Wiseman from the University of Southampton will be working to crunch the massive amounts of data produced by the telescope.

He said: "4MOST is poised to crack the universe's biggest secrets. We'll be getting the most precise measurement ever of dark energy, the mysterious force tearing the cosmos apart.”

The analysis will be undertaken by a collaboration of 4MOST named the Time-Domain Extragalactic Survey (TiDES) that primarily targets exploding stars, of which the universities of Southampton and Portsmouth are founding members.

Dr Wiseman added: "Through our TiDES work, we're building the largest catalogue of supermassive blackhole masses and unlocking the secrets of the universe's rapid evolution.

“By weighing a massive catalogue of 1,000 monster blackholes and observing 10,000 lensed galaxies, we will finally understand the engine driving cosmic expansion and galaxy growth."

Thousands of clever fibre cables

The 4MOST telescope has been equipped with nearly 2,500 fibres, each one the size of a human hair, which will be used to build a map of how galaxies form and how supermassive blackholes were born.

Southampton astrophysics student Matt Quilt, who joined the university last month, is now working with Dr Wiseman and the scientific team as a postgraduate researcher, investigating supermassive black holes.

He said: “4MOST may find things in the universe never seen before – and to be part of that so early in my career, after joining Southampton just weeks ago, is really exciting.

“We still don’t know all that much about the environment around black holes, how the stars, dust and gas behave and how this relates to the strange explosions I’m investigating.

“Being part of 4MOST is thrilling – to have the chance to help discover new things about our universe drew me to Southampton and it’ll open the door to many future opportunities for me.”

Verge of a new era of cosmic discovery

The 4MOST telescope will observe a new set of objects in the sky every 10 to 20 minutes using its innovative fibre cables.

Experts from Southampton and Portsmouth, working under TiDES, hope the data can better understand how stars evolve and die, and contribute to the measurement of the effects of the mysterious dark energy force.

Dr Chris Frohmaier, from the University of Portsmouth, said: "4MOST will enable us to collect spectra for the largest explosions in the universe at unprecedented volumes and scale. These explosions, known as supernovae, will allow us to measure vast distances across the cosmos and study the mysterious force known as dark energy that is causing the accelerating expansion of the universe.

“I am most excited by the overwhelming amount of data that will arrive from the number of telescopes across the world that the UK universities have invested in. Not only will this put us at the global forefront of scientific exploration, but it will also enable us to lead with the technical achievements necessary to analyse these observations."

See more at www.4most.eu/cms/home.

Winchester students’ artwork picked for regional showcase

Creations by art graduates Yasmin Jabi and Grace Atkins are featured in this year’s Platform Graduate Awards exhibition at Aspex Portsmouth.

The awards, organised by the Contemporary Visual Arts Network (CVAN) South East, see artwork by 30 graduates from across the south selected for exhibitions at four art galleries. Following the exhibition, four artists will be chosen as winners.

Yasmin, 21, who graduated with a degree in Fine Art in July, is exhibiting work inspired by traditional Palestinian embroidery.

She said: “I feel incredibly honoured to be shortlisted for the Platform Graduate Award. It’s exciting to have my work recognised in such a meaningful way, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my practice with a wider audience.

“This recognition is also an encouragement to continue pushing my work further, and it means a lot to be part of a platform that supports emerging artists.”

Grace, 22, who also graduated in Fine Art this summer, is now studying for a master’s in Fine Art at Winchester School of Art. She is exhibiting a painting called The Cowboy that is based on stills and photos from old Western films.

Grace Atkins with one of her paintings

Grace said: “I’m incredibly excited to be shortlisted for the Platform Graduate Award 2025, it’s such a great opportunity to exhibit alongside other talented graduating artists and be part of such a vibrant and diverse show.

“I love the chance to explore how my work interacts in different environments and to see the new dialogues that emerge when it's placed in conversation with other pieces.”

Oliver Sumner, Manager of CVAN South East, said: “The award has long recognised the quality of emerging practice in the South of England, outside of London. It is about developing greater contact between rising graduate artists and supportive venues in the region. I wish all this year’s exhibitors the best of luck as they begin to forge their creative paths.”

The exhibition featuring Yasmin and Grace’s work is on at Aspex Portsmouth, in Gunwharf Quays, from Friday 24 October to Sunday 30 November.

Electronics in our clothing: Developing our future wardrobes

Scientists are working on a flagship project that will take e-textiles to the next level, with imperceptible and invisible wireless electronics integrated into textiles.

The possibilities are limitless but could include clothing for health and fitness monitoring, socks for monitoring gait, clothing to enhance virtual reality, and smart textiles for car interiors.

Experts in electronics, sustainability and textiles at the University of Southampton, alongside colleagues at the University of Glasgow, have embarked on a £10 million five-year project to address three challenges: making the electronics in textiles wireless and imperceptible, ensuring they withstand everyday wear and tear and washing, and making them sustainable.

Steve Beeby, Professor of Electronic Systems and Devices at the University of Southampton, said: “This is the first time researchers in electronics, sustainability, and textiles have joined forces from the beginnings of the design process, so everything we develop will take all needs into account from the early stages. That includes effective electronics, practical textiles, and all-round sustainability.”

A machine coats yarn with material that can conduct electricity

The researchers have already developed a bespoke machine for making electronic yarns and their state-of-the-art printing machine can print electronics at sub-micron (one thousandth of a millimetre) size.

While Southampton researchers are leading on textile manufacture and sustainability, academics at the University of Glasgow are leading on the wireless technology development.

Dr Mahmoud Wagih, Reader in Electronic and Nanoscale Engineering at the University of Glasgow, explained: “We will look at how to integrate electronics within fabrics wirelessly and invisibly, so they are imperceptible to the user. At the same time, we need to develop a means of separating the two for a sustainable end-of-life.

“Current examples of e-textiles are powered by batteries, which are bulky and obtrusive. We will research the use of wireless power transfer by picking up energy from radio waves, similar to RFID technology. And where an energy reservoir is needed, we will collaborate with the team turning the textile into a wirelessly rechargeable battery. It is possible to turn almost any fabric into a battery.”

The prototype smart insole

Smart bandages and smart insoles

The research team has created prototypes demonstrating the promise of the technology, including smart bandages that treat chronic and infected wounds, and smart insoles for diabetics.

The electronic insoles, developed by Innovation PhD student Michael John Lynch, are designed for people with diabetes who are at risk of pressure sores and ulcers on their feet due to nerve damage and poor circulation.

Insoles can provide cushioning and pressure relief, and the prototype smart insoles monitor wear and tear and pressure points electronically. They are battery-free, wireless and have been tested to withstand more than one million steps.

Professor Beeby said: “Diabetic patients are often given insoles to help prevent foot ulcers, but they wear out, so our smart insoles ensure timely replacement.”

Sustainability

Sustainability is at the heart of the project. “Everything we develop will be underpinned by sustainability,” said Ian Williams, Professor of Applied Environmental Science at Southampton.

“Textiles is the second most polluting industry in the world, after the petrochemical industry, and discarded electronics are also an environmental challenge.

“We are combining these two different industries, and we will do this in a sustainable manner by using eco-friendly and natural materials, and reusable and recyclable electronics.”

Demystifying a visual illusion: Why we see colour that’s not there

The phenomenon of ‘colour afterimages’ is when you see illusory – or false – colours after staring at real colours for a longer time. Through this, the brain can be tricked into seeing colour in a black and white image.

The cause of this illusion is the mechanism that allows us to see colours the same throughout the day, independently of light changes. Without it, the colour of the world would change as we are under yellow sunlight, a green canopy, or in a bluish shadow.

Scientists have long debated what causes colour afterimages, and how the brain creates them.

Stare at the cross in the middle of the photograph and, after a few alterations between false-colour and greyscale, the greyscale image will appear in colour

Dr Christoph Witzel, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Southampton, has found the missing link between the illusory colours we see and the neural mechanisms that produce them. The answer is in the cone cells in our eyes.

Dr Witzel said: “Colour afterimages is an age-old classical phenomenon, but the more we have understood about it, the more it has become the subject of confusion amongst experts and in textbooks.

“Some say the phenomenon is caused by responses in the light-sensitive cone photoreceptor cells in our eyes, while others have argued it’s due to the neural pathways making us see opposing colours. Others have even suggested it’s due to some kind of yet unknown mechanism in the brain.

“We’ve finally got a conclusive answer – colour afterimages are not opposing colours as everybody had thought. Instead, those illusory colours reflect precisely what happens in the cone photoreceptors.”

Fixate on the cross and you will see the moving grey circle become purple

Dr Witzel carried out extensive experiments to work out where in our visual system afterimages come from. He devised tailormade methods to measure the precise colours people see in afterimages and tested three different predictions.

In one experiment, 50 participants were asked to stare at a specific ‘starter’ colour and then immediately afterwards colour-match what they saw. In another experiment, each of 10 participants adjusted 360 times the colour of sustained afterimages in a special display.

Dr Witzel compared these measurements with computational models of different stages of neural processing: the photoreceptors, intermediate structures in the brain like the Thalamus, and the visual cortex in the brain.

“Across all the experiments, we found the same thing – afterimages are not caused by opposing colours, as many scientists have believed,” he said. “Instead, they match what we’d expect if they were caused by how cone cells in the eye adapt to light.

“So, we have been able to say for certain that afterimages come from cone cells and not from other parts of the visual system.”

He added: “The phenomenon of colour afterimages is not new, but this mass of data provides a full and coherent explanation for the first time. It is the missing link to fully explain what is happening in the eyes and the brain.”

The research is published in the journal Communications Psychology.

Engineering firm nC2 marks 10-years of success

nC², which is based at the University of Southampton, has become an established name across the UK’s engineering industry since its launch in 2015.

The experts are specialists in material sciences – working from the University’s labs to stress-test and improve the quality of safety components used across tech: keeping planes airborne and trains running on time.

Now, talking for National Engineering Day, its founder Professor Nicola Symonds has revealed how the unit grew from a start-up to a consultancy with a million-pound turnover in just a decade.

"Material sciences underpins everything that’s been engineered – from the fingerprint-ID function on your mobile to making bionic limbs for amputees,” said Nicola, who is one of the few female chartered engineers in the UK.

“Companies want to understand how the materials used in their innovations react to different environments – whether they will fail and if so why. nC² is a bridge between industry and Southampton’s vast academic expertise and equipment.

“Our specialist knowledge and access to the University facilities is unlike materials test houses, and means we can measure materials to a very high level of accuracy to understand how they behave in certain conditions.”

Becoming a million-pound business

In the last decade, nC² has grown to a team of eight engineers and scientists who have supported nearly 200 companies, and recently achieved a million-pound turnover.

One of their longest running projects has been to support the National Museum of the Royal Navy’s conservation of HMS Victory in Portsmouth, protecting it from fungus and the destructive deathwatch beetle.

“HMS Victory is the oldest commissioned warship in the world, but rainwater inside its woodwork caused fungus to grow, which attracts the beetle,” added Nicola who, before nC², was a scientific officer for the Royal Navy.

“Through our testing, we investigated the materials used for glues, caulking, bolts and paints so that she can last at least another 50 years.”

Air crash investigations

But it is not all materials testing.

The team also works to save lives by investigating the causes behind transport accidents – including the tragic helicopter crash that killed Leicester City football club’s owners in 2018.

This is a specialism built directly on Nicola’s internationally-acclaimed career as a forensic investigator for the Ministry of Defence, and now Professor of Forensic Engineering, analysing incidents and accidents involving military jets and helicopters.

She said: “I’m proud of our investigative work to better understand why the helicopter crashed, it was a tough challenge given the intense scrutiny across the media.

“We discovered that a crucial ball-bearing on the tail’s rotor had seized which led to a series of mechanical failures and caused the crash.

“Our findings informed the government recommendations which will improve helicopter safety in the longer term.”

Inspiring more women engineers

After a decade of success, the nC2 team are now hoping to inspire a new generation of engineers and scientists – particularly among young female students.

Nicola is a self-confessed trailblazer for women in engineering, having graduated from the University of Southampton’s aeronautics and astronautics degree in the 1990s.

In 2023, she was named among the UK’s top 50 female engineers by the Women in Engineering Society, and has more recently become a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Nicola added: “I am passionate about celebrating and promoting the role of women engineers in the industry.

“There are still not enough women in engineering – nor enough studying it at university level. It has improved since I was a student but we need to do more to encourage girls.

“nC2 employs more female scientists than men – we are now getting out into schools to spread the word. I hope our decade of success inspires a new generation of women to see the incredible opportunities that careers in engineering can bring."

Read more about nC² at nc2consulting.co.uk.

Sand mining threatens the future of critical SE Asian ecosystem

The huge Tonlé Sap Lake in Cambodia, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is one of the world’s most ecologically diverse lake ecosystems, home to endangered amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds, with a diverse array of 885 species. It provides livelihoods for almost two million fishers, and its fish feed millions more.

But its future is in danger as the intensity of the unique ‘reverse flow’ that feeds water into the lake has been declining year-on-year.

Scientists have now conclusively determined the cause of this decline to be sand mining in the Mekong River in Cambodia and Vietnam.

Sand mining is the practice of extracting sand from the riverbed, with the majority used in the construction industry.

Rates of sand mining in the Mekong have rapidly increased, with over 100 million tonnes of sand now being removed every year.

Riverbank collapses triggered by lowered riverbed levels on the Mekong River in Cambodia. Credit: Andy Ball / University of Southampton

Steve Darby, Professor of Physical Geography at the University of Southampton and co-author of the new research, said: “There has been lots of speculation as to why the intensity of the reverse flow has been declining, with climate change and damming on the Mekong upstream in China and Laos previously being identified as possible causes.

“Our work demonstrates that, while climate change and damming are minor contributory factors, by far the dominant driver has been riverbed incision caused by largely rampant sand mining on the Mekong.”

The reverse flow system

Tonlé Sap Lake is sustained by an unusual reverse flow system. The Tonlé Sap River normally drains the lake, flowing downstream to Phnom Penh, where it joins the Mekong River.

But, during the monsoon season, the Mekong’s flood pulse rises high enough to force the Tonlé Sap River to reverse for several months, filling the lake.

The Tonlé Sap Lake stores so much water during this seasonal flood pulse that it acts as a giant ‘flood capacitor’, regulating flood water levels down across the Mekong Delta – home to 23 million people – before releasing the stored freshwater back downstream to the Delta during the dry season.

The study, published in Nature Sustainability, shows that between 1998 and 2018, riverbed lowering of the Mekong River mainstem, driven by sand mining and upstream sediment trapping, has reduced the reverse flow volumes by between 40 and 50 per cent.

Projections to 2038, with additional riverbed lowering driven by ongoing sand mining, suggest that the reverse flow could decline by up to 69 per cent compared to 1998.

Professors Julian Leyland and Steve Darby conducting fieldwork in Cambodia. Credit: Andy Ball / University of Southampton

Dr Quan Le, Research Associate in Delta Flood Risk at Loughborough University and lead author of the study, said: “Rapid urban growth has fuelled a global surge in a demand for construction sands, increasing river sand mining rates.

“Our study finds that this intensive sand extraction, combined with sediment being trapped by dams in the Lower Mekong basin, has already weakened the Tonle Sap lake’s flood pulse, causing lasting environmental harm and underlining an urgent need for sustainable sediment management to ensure that these future projections are not realised.”

On average, riverbed levels across much of the Lower Mekong’s course in Cambodia and Vietnam have dropped by two to three metres in the last two decades.

“At this rate, within 10 years the system is at risk of a near total collapse,” said Professor Darby. “The Mekong is the second most biodiverse aquatic ecosystem in the world, after the Amazon, and its health depends on the normal functioning of the Tonlé Sap Lake. A collapse of the lake system would have catastrophic consequences for the biosphere, for millions of people’s livelihoods and food sources, and for flooding in the region.”

Understanding and mitigating the impact

Scientists are continuing to assess the consequences of sand mining in the region.

Pesticide sheen on the surface of Tonlé Sap Lake. Credit: Edward Bellomy

A project called Hidden Sands, led by Professor Julian Leyland at the University of Southampton, is investigating the impact of sand mining on the environment and on communities in Cambodia. The team has also been working with agencies in Vietnam to provide a more risk-based approach to the governance of sand mining.

Along with the above researchers, Craig Hutton, Professor of Sustainability Science and director of the Sustainability and Resilience Institute, and Paul Kemp, Professor of Ecological Engineering, both at the University of Southampton, are embarking on a new project to fully understand the ecological impact on Tonlé Sap Lake, particularly the impact on fish.

Professor Hutton said: “The lake is estimated to feed about six million people and provide as much as 60 per cent of Cambodia’s protein. The disruption in lake levels from sand extraction along with deforestation, illegal fishing and extreme pesticide and fertiliser use are exacting a heavy toll on fish production. This decline is threatening both food security and livelihoods.”

Professors Hutton and Kemp interviewed fishing communities in a recent visit to the region.

“Struggling fisher folk have seen as much as an 80 per cent mortality in aquaculture fish, declines in wild catch and mounting household debt,” said Professor Hutton. “One interviewee told us, ‘We just want another life for our children now. Anything but fishing’.”

Scientists create tiny versions of gut liver and fat tissue

It is part of a new multimillion-pound project co-led by an expert in metabolic disease from the University of Southampton.

The initiative is aiming to fight Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease, or MASLD, a form of fatty liver disease.

Co-lead Professor Jaswinder Sethi, from Southampton, said the condition is a rapidly growing health concern driven by increasing rates of obesity which could be affecting millions across the country.

She added: “Our work here at the University is crucial to understanding how body fat contributes to the progression of this disease. I am thrilled to work on this project and to contribute my expertise in adipose tissue biology and immunometabolism.”

The new project involving Prof Sethi, known as MIMIC, is jointly led by the universities of Nottingham, Southampton, Edinburgh and Harvard.

Using organ-on-chip technology, models of the gut, liver and fat tissue will be built to simulate the function of human organs.

Prof Sethi added: “These new human models may be used to screen new drug treatments to determine how effective they are for individual patients. By creating more accurate human models, the platform will significantly help to reduce the reliance on animal testing for metabolic diseases.”

The scientific team will use adult human stem cells generated from the blood of patients with MASLD, allowing them to recreate complex metabolic diseases in the lab.

Professor of Clinical Genetics Diana Eccles, Dean of Medicine at the University of Southampton, said: “We are delighted that Prof Sethi has been awarded funding as part of a larger consortium to develop a human liver disease model system that can be used to study the metabolic disease – one of the adverse medical consequences of obesity.”

The new MIMIC project is part of a £15.9million joint investment by the UKRI Medical Research Council (MRC), Wellcome and UKRI Innovate UK.

The funding package will launch a co-ordinated network of five interdisciplinary teams will focus on the development of in vitro disease models – including liver, featuring Southampton, alongside the brain, cancer, pain, and blood vessels.

Continents peel from below, triggering oceanic volcanoes

The research, led by the University of Southampton, shows how slivers of continents are slowly stripped from below and swept into the oceanic mantle – the hot, mostly solid layer beneath the ocean floor that slowly flows. Here, the continental material fuels volcanic activity for tens of millions of years.

The discovery solves a long-standing geological mystery: why many ocean islands far from plate tectonic boundaries contain materials that look distinctly continental, despite being found in the middle of oceans.

The study, published in Nature Geoscience, was led by the University of Southampton, and involved the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam, Germany, the University of Potsdam, Queen’s University Canada, and Swansea University.

Ancient chemical trails in the mantle

Many ocean islands, such as Christmas Island in the northeast Indian Ocean, contain unusually high levels of certain so-called ‘enriched’ elements that are normally found in continents – possibly because deep Earth processes have folded in older, recycled material, much like a churning cake mixer.

It was thought these elements came from sediments that get recycled when ocean plates dive into the mantle, or by columns of hot rock, known as mantle plumes, which rise from deep within the Earth.

But these explanations fall short, as some volcanic regions show little sign of crustal recycling, while others appear too cool and shallow to be driven by mantle plumes.

“We’ve known for decades that parts of the mantle beneath the oceans look strangely contaminated, as if pieces of ancient continents somehow ended up in there,” said Thomas Gernon, Professor of Earth Science at the University of Southampton, and lead author of the study. “But we haven’t been able to adequately explain how all that continental material got there.”

The continents are peeling from below

A piece of the lowermost continental mantle (the crystalline roots of the continents). This represents the material that the research proposes is removed and swept sideways into the oceanic mantle. Credit: Prof Tom Gernon

The study proposes a novel answer: continents don’t just rift apart at the surface – they also peel away from below, and over much greater distances than previously thought possible.

The scientists developed simulations to mimic the behaviour of continents and mantle as they are stretched by tectonic forces.

Their work builds on their previous research showing that when continents break apart, deep tectonic forces trigger a wave of instabilities – a ‘mantle wave’ – that sweeps along the continents’ base, disturbing their roots at depths of 150 to 200 km.

This sweeping movement unfolds at an incredibly slow pace, just a millionth the speed of a snail, gradually stripping material from the deep roots of continents.

These peeled fragments are then swept sideways – sometimes over more than 1,000 km – into the oceanic mantle, where they feed volcanic eruptions in the ocean over tens of millions of years.

Study co-author Professor Sascha Brune, of GFZ in Potsdam, said: “We found that the mantle is still feeling the effects of continental breakup long after the continents themselves have separated. The system doesn’t switch off when a new ocean basin forms – the mantle keeps moving, reorganising, and transporting enriched material far from where it originated.”

Evidence from the Indian Ocean

The team analysed geochemical data from areas of the Earth including the Indian Ocean Seamount Province, a chain of volcanic features formed after the supercontinent Gondwana broke apart over 100 million years ago.

Through simulations and chemical analysis, they discovered that soon after Gondwana broke apart, a burst of unusually enriched magma rose to the surface.

Over tens of millions of years, that chemical signal faded as the flow of material from beneath the continent waned. This happened without a mantle plume coming from deep in the Earth, which geologists had long assumed must be responsible.

Professor Gernon explained: “We’re not ruling out mantle plumes, but this discovery points to a completely new mechanism that also shapes the composition of the Earth’s mantle. Mantle waves can carry blobs of continental material far into the oceanic mantle, leaving behind a chemical signature that endures long after the continents have broken apart.”

The study builds on the team’s recent discovery that mantle waves can also stir dramatic changes deep within continents. Their earlier work showed that these slow, rolling movements in the Earth’s mantle can help trigger diamond eruptions and even reshape landscapes thousands of kilometres from the edges of tectonic plates.

University of Southampton renews Eastleigh FC partnership

The new agreement will see the University support free coaching sessions with the Spitfires at its facilities.

The partnership deepens its commitment to Eastleigh, having become the club’s official sponsor of its elite development squad last year.

Phil Malatesta, the University of Southampton’s Associate Director of Sport and Community Services, said: “Eastleigh shares our common goal of bringing our communities together through the love of football and physical activity.

“This renewed agreement will give women and children across the region access to high-quality training and coaches, and other invaluable opportunities.

“It directly addresses the University's civic goals of improving the quality of people’s lives and responds to the growing demand in our region for accessible sport.”

Access to high-quality coaching

The new agreement will see the University women’s football team host community sessions, acting as ambassadors and role models.

It includes free coaching sessions for women every Friday, at the club’s Silverlake stadium, with additional football activities planned for children on Saturday mornings for a subsidised fee.

Student Hannah Warner, president of the University of Southampton women's club, said: "We are very excited about our involvement with Eastleigh, a collaboration which extends beyond the pitch and strengthens our commitment to the wider community.

“We hope that supporting the provision of free, high-quality football coaching and facilities – the kind of opportunities we ourselves would have loved as young female players – will empower women’s football in our community and inspire the next generation."

As part of the agreement signed last year, Eastleigh men’s first team and its development squad train at the University’s Wide Lane sports ground.

The facility includes a grass and cork all-weather pitch, a strength and conditioning unit, and a designated Eastleigh FC changing room.

Tom Coffey, Vice Chairman of Eastleigh Football Club, said: "I am delighted to say our partnership with the University of Southampton has been extended for another year.

“Since we started working with each other 18 months ago, there has been a lot of synergy in our goals and motivations.

“We are keen to ensure our presence in the local area continues to grow and partnering with the University fits perfectly, creating a positive impact to the local community.”

Read more at www.southampton.ac.uk/sport - or go to eastleighfc.com.

Ancient bogs reveal 15,000-year climate secret

Researchers looking at peatlands have discovered that sudden shifts in the Southern Westerly Winds 15,000 years ago triggered a massive growth of the swamps.

Geo-experts have never fully understood what caused the bogs to form across the Southern Hemisphere after the last Ice Age.

But the scientists behind the new paper, published in Nature Geoscience, now think the shifting winds created the ideal climate for them to grow.

The study was led by the University of Southampton with experts worldwide.

Lead author Dr Zoë Thomas, from Southampton, said the findings suggest the winds are not only responsible for regulating carbon stores in peatland, but how much CO2 the ocean absorbs and releases into the atmosphere.

She added: “When the winds shifted north 15,000 years ago, they changed the stirring action in the Southern Ocean which acts as the largest natural carbon sink on earth.”

Peatlands, which are massive natural carbon stores, form when waterlogged soil accumulate layers of dead plant material across thousands of years.

The team used peat found across South America, Australasia, southern Africa and the sub-Antarctic islands.

Using radiocarbon-dating, they were able to pinpoint when climatic conditions became wet and favourable enough for sustained plant growth, decay and bog formation.

Dr Thomas, pictured above in a Falklands bog, added: “We found a clear pattern – major peat growth occurred at the same time the winds shifted north or south, coinciding with changing atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide."

Recent climate observations show the Southern Westerly Winds are shifting again – this time in the opposite direction towards the South Pole due to climate change.

If this trend continues, Dr Thomas warned it could severely disrupt the ocean's ability to capture carbon.

She said: “This southerly shift has already led to increases in continental droughts and wildfires across the southern landmasses.”

Co-author Dr Haidee Cadd, from the University of Wollongong in Australia, added: “If the planet’s largest carbon sink becomes less effective, it will accelerate the rate at which CO2 accumulates in the atmosphere, amplifying global warming trends.”

Read more about the study at doi.org/10.1038/s41561-025-01842-w.

Ancient rocks reveal themselves as ‘carbon sponges’

Scientists have analysed lavas drilled from deep under the South Atlantic Ocean to understand how much CO2 is captured within the rocks due to reactions between the rocks and ocean.

The research, led by the University of Southampton, found that piles of lava rubble, formed due to erosion of seafloor mountains, form geological sponges for CO2.

It’s the first time the role of lava rubble as carbon sponges has been fully appreciated, and the research reveals secrets about Earth’s long-term carbon cycle.

Lead author of the research Dr Rosalind Coggon, Royal Society Research Fellow at the University of Southampton, said: “We’ve known for a long time that erosion on the slopes of underwater mountains produces large volumes of volcanic rubble, known as breccia – much like scree slopes on continental mountains.

Dr Rosalind Coggon examining cores of upper ocean crust lavas cored during IODP Expedition 390. Credit: Alyssa Stephens, IODP JRSO

“However, our drilling efforts recovered the first cores of this material after it has spent tens of millions of years being rafted across the seafloor as Earth’s tectonic plates spread apart.

“Excitingly, the cores revealed that these porous, permeable deposits have the capacity to store large volumes of seawater CO2 as they are gradually cemented by calcium carbonate minerals that form from seawater as it flows through them.”

The movement of carbon between Earth’s interior, oceans, and atmosphere over millions of years controls how much CO₂ is in the air, which affects Earth’s climate.

To understand past climate changes, scientists study how much carbon moves in and out of different parts of the Earth system.

Dr Coggon explained: “The oceans are paved with volcanic rocks that form at mid-ocean ridges, as the tectonic plates move apart creating new ocean crust. This volcanic activity releases CO₂ from deep inside the Earth into the ocean and atmosphere.

“However, ocean basins are not just a container for seawater. Seawater flows through the cracks in the cooling lavas for millions of years and reacts with the rocks, transferring elements between the ocean and rock. This process removes CO₂ from the water and stores it in minerals like calcium carbonate in the rock.”

Research vessel Joides Resolution. Credit: Dr Rosalind Coggon

The study determined how much CO2 is stored in the ocean crust, due to this process.

“While drilling deep into the seafloor of the South Atlantic, we discovered lava rubble that contained between two and 40 times more CO2 than previously sampled lavas,” said Dr Coggon.

“This study revealed the importance of such breccia, which forms due to the erosion of seafloor mountains along mid-ocean ridges, as a sponge for carbon in the long-term carbon cycle.”

The research was part of Expedition 390/393 of the International Ocean Discovery Program.

Three quarters not meeting recommended omega-3 intakes

A review by the University of Southampton found that 76 per cent of people worldwide are not meeting recommended intakes of EPA and DHA.

The peer-reviewed paper, published in Nutrition Research Reviews, was a collaboration with scientists at the University of East Anglia and Holland & Barrett.

It is the first global review of national and international omega-3 intake recommendations across all life stages for generally healthy people.

Professor of Nutritional Immunology Philip Calder from Southampton, who was part of the study, said: “The omega-3s EPA and DHA are essential for health throughout the life course. But to benefit from these nutrients, people first need to understand how much they should be consuming.

“In this review, we brought together all the recommendations for EPA and DHA intake in healthy populations from authorities around the world to help answer the important question: ‘how much do I need?’ What is clear is that most people are not meeting these recommendations.”

Omega-3 consumption supports a healthy lifestyle throughout all stages of life.

The new review found that the most frequently recommended intake for adults is 250mg per day of combined EPA and DHA, with an additional 100–200mg of DHA advised for pregnant women.

Prof Calder said these targets can be achieved by eating more oily fish, such as salmon, sardines or mackerel, or through supplementation where needed.

The paper also identified challenges that different populations have in achieving current omega-3 recommendations.

These include difficulties in meeting oily fish recommendations due to low seafood consumption, or sustainability concerns, as well as some populations having limited access to supplementation advice.

Dr Abbie Cawood, Science Director at Holland & Barrett and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Southampton, led the study.

She said: “Omega-3s play such a vital role in health, ensuring people can meet their needs either through diet or with the support of supplementation is essential at every life stage.

In fact, our review highlights that supplementation is often required to meet recommended intakes especially in pregnancy and in those with low fish intakes. We are hopeful that this publication can act as an enabler to inform omega-3 dietary guidelines and shape future nutrition policy and public health strategies.”

The full paper can be viewed at pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41277237.

Scientists discover how ecoli beats antibiotics in gut

New research has unmasked a super-pump inside the bacteria, and its related Shigella species, that is activated by our stomach acid, flushing the drugs out before they work.

Experts at the University of Southampton discovered how the pump, called MdtF, helps the E. coli bug survive the harsh environments in our gut.

Lead author Ryan Lawrence, a molecular scientist from Southampton, said the findings could explain why it is becoming more difficult to treat with antibiotics.

He added: “We've never fully understood how this MdtF protein helps protect E. coli bacteria when it’s inside our bodies – until now.

“Our research shows that this pump activates in response to the acid in our stomach, cleaning house and sweeping away toxins, even antibiotics.

“The MdtF pump supports biofilms which are very difficult to remove and may contribute to severe, reoccurring infections.

“Essentially, the harsh environment of our guts – where we need the medicine to work –potentially makes the pump more efficient.”

The study, published in Nature Communications, was led by Southampton in collaboration with a team of scientists worldwide.

Most strains of the E. coli bacteria are harmless and live in our intestines.

However, antibiotic-resistant E. coli and Shigella are listed by the World Health Organisation as pathogens that are of the highest concern globally.

It says that antibiotic resistance complicates treatment which is associated with higher mortality rates and longer hospital stays.

The Southampton team used cyro-electron microscopy – a technique that uses a beam of electrons to image the 3D structure of proteins – to investigate the MdtF pump.

They discovered how it changes shape to eject harmful molecules to boost its defences against toxins and antibiotics.

Co-lead Dr Eamonn Reading, an associate professor of Molecular Bioscience at Southampton, pictured above, said the findings explain how the bacteria thrives where drugs fail.

He added: “The harsh conditions inside our gut, low-oxygen and acidic environment, are the ones the MdtF pump is upregulated in and loves most.

“This makes it more resistant to the drugs we use against E. coli.”

The scientists now believe their results could open the door to new treatments for drug-resistance superbugs.

Dr Reading added: “Now we know the blueprint for this E. coli super-pump, we can work on a better way to jam this class of antibiotic cleaners.

“We could create drugs that can break the pump, making the bugs increasingly defenceless against normal antibiotics.”

Read the study at doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-65565-7.

Southampton signs landmark UK Australia pact

The new Advanced Skills Alliance was ratified by UK Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson MP at a signing ceremony in Australia with its Education Minister Jason Clare.

The Alliance brings together eight elite universities, including Southampton, to fast-track the skills and research needed to build security, defence and resilience as part of the UK-Australia Geelong Treaty and the AUKUS innovation program.

Professor Mark Spearing, Vice-President of Research and Enterprise at the University of Southampton, said: “We are proud to stand as a key partner in the new Advanced Skills Alliance.

"As a top-100 world university, we will bring the research and educational excellence of a leading UK Russell Group institution to directly support the sovereign security and defence capability in both nations.

"This partnership is an opportunity to apply our world-leading reputation for developing the next generation of highly-skilled doctoral talent to drive innovation and protect the AUKUS Agreement for years to come."

A cornerstone of the new Alliance is the creation of a joint UK-Australia Centre for Doctoral Training, which will focus on high-priority research areas crucial to national security. This includes:

Nuclear engineering – supporting the Nuclear Powered Submarine Partnership and Collaboration (Geelong) Treaty and the AUKUS Agreement
Systems design – developing resilient and defence tech
Cybersecurity – securing the two nations' digital security infrastructure

UK Education Secretary the Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP said: “Education and innovation are the backbone of the AUKUS partnership.

“By joining forces, our countries are investing in people as much as technology – training the brilliant minds who will drive innovation for shared resilience.”

The eight universities involved in the alliance signed a Memorandum of Understanding in close consultation with both the UK and Australian governments.

It also features input from leading organisations in the defence sector such as Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, Babcock International, Australian Submarine Agency, and Austal.

Australia’s Education Minister the Hon Jason Clare added: “This is about building sovereign capability in partnership.

“We’re not just buying submarines. We’re partnering with some of the best universities in the world to equip Australian and British talent to develop, operate and sustain cutting edge innovation for decades to come.”

UNSW Sydney Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs said: “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our universities to lead in high-impact innovation.

“By working together across borders and with industry, we can strengthen joint sovereign capability between the UK and Australia in security, defence and resilience – all while growing our economy and creating jobs – this is the strategic principle of Progress For All that lies at the heart of UNSW and we are extremely proud to be a part of this critical partnership.”

Prestigious Polar Medal awarded to Southampton scientist

Professor John Marshall has amassed over a year’s worth of time spent in remote camps in extreme conditions to better UK scientific knowledge of the polar regions.

He has been awarded a Polar Medal by His Majesty King Charles III in the 2026 New Year’s Honours. Previous recipients have included famed explorers Sir Ernest Shackleton and Sir Edmund Hillary.

The Polar Medal is awarded to individuals who have made outstanding achievements in polar research, and particularly those who have worked over extended periods in harsh climates. It was instituted in 1857 as the Arctic Medal and renamed the Polar Medal in 1904.

Professor Marshall, from the University of Southampton, is an expert on the Devonian Old Red Sandstone Continent which existed 380 million years ago and included parts of Scotland, East Greenland and Norway’s Spitsbergen.

“The Old Red Sandstone Continent is particularly important as it contains fossils of the first four legged animals, which evolved from fish with fins, and some of the world’s first forests,” said Professor Marshall.

Professor John Marshall wild camping on an expedition to Spitsbergen in 2023. Credit: Mike Newman

Over 30 years, he has taken part in 10 expeditions to East Greenland and nine expeditions to Spitsbergen, travelling via inflatable boats, helicopters and light planes capable of landing on the Arctic tundra. Expeditions involve camping in the great outdoors, frequently at altitude with the challenges of snow, ice, rain and storms.

He said: “It has always been a great privilege to work in these remote areas. There is dramatic scenery of glaciers with snowcapped mountains and wonderfully exposed geological sections. We can literally acquire entire mountains of data in a way we can’t do in the UK.

“You can visit places nobody has ever been so there is always a great sense of adventure and discovery. It can be very challenging with significant manual effort and endless climbing, often in extreme conditions with blizzards and storms. On the way we have encountered many of the fabulous arctic animals such as narwhal, muskoxen and of course polar bears.”

In East Greenland, Professor Marshall studied microscopic pollen and spores and discovered the earliest known seed plant, as well as the geological ages of the earliest four-legged animals.

His research demonstrated that the End Devonian mass extinction 360 million years ago was caused by an ultraviolet burst in the Earth’s atmosphere. He also resolved the debate over the cause of the late Devonian mass extinction, proving it was caused by volcanic eruptions.

Drilling the End Devonian mass extinction at 1000m on Celsius Bjerg, East Greenland. Credit: Alex Chevanne

In Spitsbergen he identified a new type of palaeo-equatorial forest from 384 million years ago. And, from studying rocks, he discovered that a 55-million-year-old warming event reached from the equator to the Arctic.

Professor Marshall said: “It is fantastic to receive this honour and royal recognition for my Arctic research. None of this has been achieved alone as scientific expeditions are always collaborative with many British and international colleagues, and I have benefitted from working with many talented geologists and palaeontologists.

“I have also received the vital support from family at home with ice free conditions in East Greenland – the ideal time to conduct research – always appearing to coincide with school summer holidays. I particularly value this medal as my great uncle John Warnock was awarded one as an officer on the RRS William Scoresby, and a forerunner of the National Oceanography Centre Southampton, where I am now based.”

Space scientists find mysterious shock wave around dead star

A team of scientists from the universities of Southampton and Durham, working with others, saw the phenomenon around a white dwarf some 730 light years from Earth.

The white dwarf is the remnant of a low-mass star being orbited by a companion.

Usually, material from its cosmic twin would transfer to the white dwarf, forming a disc which in turn drives powerful outflows from its surface.

Under the right conditions, these outflows create a shock wave around the object.

However, this white dwarf shows no signs of a disc and has a strong magnetic field that it should not possess, said Professor of Astrophysics Christian Knigge (below), a co-author on the paper from the University of Southampton.

He added: “This makes the power source of the surrounding shock wave a cosmic mystery.

“For years, we believed the strong magnetic fields from these stars prevent the generation of powerful outflows because they inhibit the formation of the discs that usually power such outflows.

“Seeing this enormous bow shock, stretching billions of miles into space, tells us there is an alternative, unexplained way for these magnetic stars to leak energy and mass into their surroundings. It is a missing piece of the puzzle in how binary star systems evolve."

The discovery, published in Nature Astronomy, challenges astronomers’ understanding of how dead stars interact with their surroundings and how they evolve.

The shock wave from the white dwarf is nearly 4,000 times the distance between Earth and the Sun.

It is formed because the white dwarf is moving supersonically through the Galaxy, creating a bow shock where its outflow sweeps up interstellar material

Research co-lead author Associate Professor Dr Simone Scaringi from Durham University said: “This is something never seen before and is entirely unexpected.

“This star is known as a polar white dwarf, which unlike other accreting white dwarfs, do not collect a disc of material around them from their companion.

“With no disc, we would not expect this type of star to have any bow shock wave, or nebula, around it. The surprise that this supposedly quiet, disc-less system could drive such a spectacular nebula was one of those rare ‘wow’ moments.”

Just how a dead star without a disc can power such a long-lasting outflow challenges previous understanding of the physics around polar white dwarfs.

To investigate the object in more detail, the research team used the MUSE instrument on the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope.

They were able to map the bow shock in detail and analyse its composition – its shape and size suggests that the white dwarf has been expelling powerful outflows for at least 1,000 years.

The results also showed the dead star has a strong magnetic field, channelling material accreted from its companion star directly into the white dwarf.

Convoluted systems block access to GP appointments

GP surgeries are delivering more consultations than ever before, with approximately 367.5 million in 2024, up from 312.1 million in 2019.

But ‘persistent tinkering’ to booking systems is confusing and frustrating for patients and causes significant work for GP staff.

The tinkering is, however, a necessary response to continually adapt the top-down systems to keep them working.

This is compounded by blanket nationwide policies that do not consider local needs.

The study involved in depth research in eight GP practices in different demographic areas and geographic locations across England.

Study co-lead Helen Atherton, Professor of Primary Care Research at the University of Southampton, said: “General practices are constantly tinkering and amending their access systems to try to make them work for their patients. They should be supported to do that.

“At the moment, systems are managed top-down from the Government. But that does not necessarily take account of what people want and need. A better approach would be to allow individual general practices to do what works for their population.”

Widescale policies implemented for all general practices is a problem, according to the research which is published in the British Journal of General Practice.

“There are a lot of blanket policies, such as the policy implemented in October that instructs all GP practices to offer online consultations from 8.30am to 6pm,” said Professor Atherton. “But that takes practice staff away from doing other things that may be more pressing or effective. Everything that is put in place to improve access is actually creating more work and challenging what practices are able to do.”

The study also questions why access to GP appointments is exclusively focused on managing demand, rather than providing access.

Study co-lead, Professor Catherine Pope, from the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, said: “Practices tend to view patients as a big group of people all demanding access, but they are of course individuals with individual health concerns. General practices may need to challenge their thinking about patient needs and wants in relation to access and consider how they can humanise a process that has become complex and technical.”

Romany history remembered at Holocaust Memorial Day

The event, organised by the University of Southampton’s Parkes Institute for the study of Jewish/non-Jewish relations, will feature an award-winning exhibition on Romany history in the New Forest co-curated by History student Kye Preston – himself of Romany descent.

Kye, 21, worked on an archaeological dig at the site of the largest of seven Gypsy compounds in the New Forest, at Thorney Hill near Bransgore. The compound was once home to his great grandparents.

The Thorney Hill compound was designed in 1926 and had about 400 inhabitants at a time.

A team working on the archaeological dig at The Close. Credit: Kye Preston

Kye, whose relatives lived nomadically in the New Forest, explained: “The dig revealed more about what happened at Thorney Hill. It came to light that the compound became, in the 1960s, what the council called a Gypsy Rehabilitation Centre.”

This rehabilitation centre consisted of second-hand prefabricated houses built on the compound and called The Close. Tents and caravans were no longer allowed.

“It was an assimilation project,” said Kye. “It’s hard to use that term because it had never been called that before. But it was cultural erasure.

“Whilst The Close provided crucial access to a previously unavailable quality of life, including adequate sanitation and facilities, it also meant that many families had to leave nomadic culture behind in order to gain full access to these amenities.”

Archaeological excavations reveal sewerage systems underground at The Close. Credit: Kye Preston

Along with Romani Community Archaeology and the New Forest Heritage Centre, Kye has co-curated an exhibition about the site and what was revealed by the dig.

“We found bits of pottery, parts of children’s toys, the remains of the sewerage system, even a fragment of a vinyl record,” said Kye.

His personal connection to the site and its history has also driven him to write his final year dissertation on Thorney Hill.

“My great grandparents were born out in the forest at Thorney Hill,” said Kye. “By the time they were in their early 20s, in the 1960s, they had moved into a council house, where they still live today.

“It was very moving and meant a lot to be excavating at a site where my family once lived. It has also opened up doors to the community to talk about what happened.”

He added: “This project has given me, someone from a Romany background, the chance to articulate my own family history that will otherwise be lost. It has also put Romany history back into the hands of Romany people.”

The Close exhibition. Credit: Kye Preston

The exhibition, called The Close, won the Touchstone Intangible Heritage Award at the national Association of Heritage Interpretation awards in 2025. The project is also the subject of an online documentary by Rural Media.

The Southampton Holocaust Memorial Day 2026 event will also feature a lecture from Professor Celia Donert, from the University of Cambridge, on ‘The Romani Holocaust. An Unfinished History’.

The event takes place at 6pm on Tuesday 27 January, in the Sir James Matthews Building, Southampton. More information and tickets are available via Eventbrite.

Data reveals hidden divide in coping with heatwaves

Scientists analysing data from record-breaking temperatures in 2023 found that common measures to protect people living in cities – such as issuing alerts or planting trees to increase shade – often fail to help the most vulnerable.

It follows a World Meteorological Organisation warning that the last three years are now officially the warmest on record.

Experts behind the study used anonymised phone records to see whether people stayed home during extreme heat or were forced to travel for work or essentials.

They found the most vulnerable groups least likely to escape the heat were elderly people, those living in low-income areas, and outdoor or agricultural workers.

The study, published in the Sustainable Cities and Society journal, was led by University of Southampton research group WorldPop and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai) in China.

Lead author Dr Haiyan Liu, a visiting fellow at WorldPop, said the findings show a stark divide in how different populations survive extreme temperatures.

She said: “Many heat measures do not translate well for certain groups, such as farmers or outdoor workers who may still need to work during heatwaves.

"Extreme heat is already a major killer, associated with around 500,000 deaths worldwide each year, according to the UN.

“Our results show that the most vulnerable are often forced into more movement, not less, during the most dangerous compound heatwaves.

“Heat measures require closer coordination between meteorological and public health services to combine heat warnings with guidance on hydration, cooling and being prepared for rising heatwaves.”

Researchers using records from 1.1 billion phone devices, collected from 366 cities in China, looked at how people changed their routines during extreme heat.

Results showed that wealthier people were more likely to stay at home during heatwaves while people on lower incomes were forced to travel for work – other key findings showed that:

• In cities with more elderly people or low-income residents, official heat warnings often increased people’s movement – likely because they worked outdoors or had less flexibility to stay home

• Public venues with air conditioning, like libraries and community centres, were the most effective lifeline during heatwaves and were used by low-income and elderly residents to cool down

• While urban greenery, such as parks and trees, helped younger, wealthier communities, it "consistently failed" to protect elderly residents or those in agricultural areas

Dr Liu added: "Ultimately, one-size-fits-all heatwave planning is ineffective.

“Public health authorities must use more precise methods to protect those whose age or economic status leaves them with no choice but to face the heat.”

The data behind the study was collected by research group WorldPop, based at the University of Southampton.

Its demographers have published more than 80,000 datasets in the last decade using mobile phone data, satellite images, and census records.

WorldPop director Professor Andy Tatem said: "With heat exposure already linked to roughly half-a-million deaths a year, the frequency of deadly heatwaves could increase tenfold by the end of the century as earth’s climate changes.

"We can no longer rely on average city data to plan for heatwaves. Governments must move toward more realist methods, as highlighted in this study, specifically where the socioeconomic need is greatest."

Read the study at www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2210670725009369.

Or for more about WorldPop go to www.worldpop.org.

‘Cancer research saved my mum – now I’m finding breakthroughs to help others’

Lara, who this week completes her PhD at the University of Southampton, was a year into her research when her mum Nicky became very ill and was diagnosed with multiple myeloma.

To mark World Cancer Day on Wednesday 4 February, Lara is sharing her experiences.

Multiple myeloma is a type of blood cancer in the plasma cells in bone marrow. Nicky, who was 58 when she was diagnosed in 2022, became seriously unwell.

Lara, 27, explained: “This type of cancer is notoriously difficult to diagnose, and to begin with we thought mum might have rheumatism. She was extremely tired and in a lot of pain – the cancer was in her bones, so she had tiny fractures everywhere.”

Nicky’s treatment involved immunotherapy, the very field Lara was studying for her PhD. It was successful and Nicky has been in remission ever since.

“It was fantastic to watch her health improve,” said Lara. “It showed me just how powerful immunotherapies can be to treat cancer. And it reinforced why this research matters – because it gives families more time, more hope, and the possibility of remission.”

The experience gave Lara, who comes from Andover in Hampshire, extra drive in her research at the university’s Centre for Cancer Immunology.

Lara Graham conducting research at the Centre for Cancer Immunology

Outlining her work, she said: “I am looking at improving the ability of the immune system to kill cancer cells by using immunotherapies. I am exploring white blood cells called natural killer – or NK – cells. Over time, cancers can acquire ways of shielding themselves from NK cells, leading to tumour growth. My research is on identifying these shields and testing new ways we can overcome them, allowing NK cells to kill cancer cells more effectively and improve the response of patients to therapy.”

On completing her PhD, Lara is staying at the University of Southampton as a researcher, looking at immunotherapy for solid cancer tumours.

Lara will be sharing her research, alongside other researchers in the field, at an online lecture on Wednesday 4 February at 6pm. Visit the event page to register to attend.

The University of Southampton has announced plans for a groundbreaking new medical institute in the city, which will bring the greatest minds in medicine, computer science and engineering together in one brand new building – advancing research such as Lara’s.

The pioneering Institute for Medical Innovation will be a joint initiative between the University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.

Based at Southampton General Hospital, the £100m facility will bring researchers and medics together in the fight against devastating diseases such as cancer, dementia, sight loss, infectious diseases and respiratory and allergic conditions.

Ancient rocks reveal annual climate cycles during Snowball Earth

During the Cryogenian Period, between 720 and 635 million years ago, it has long been believed that Earth’s climate entirely shut down.

The planet experienced its most severe glaciations, with ice sheets reaching the tropics, and much of the Earth entirely frozen. It’s a state known as Snowball Earth, when the planet would have looked like a snowball from space.

These conditions were thought to have shut down much of the interaction between the atmosphere and oceans, muting short-term climate variability for millions of years.

But a new study, published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, challenges that view. It shows that during at least one interval of Snowball Earth, climate oscillations occurred on annual, decadal, and centennial timescales – cycles strikingly similar to those seen in Earth’s climate system today.

The remote Garvellach Islands off the west coast of Scotland. Credit: Prof Thomas Gernon

The breakthrough comes from analysing exquisitely preserved laminated rocks, known as varves, on the Garvellach Islands off the west coast of Scotland. These sediments were deposited during the Sturtian glaciation, the most severe Snowball Earth event that lasted 57 million years.

Thomas Gernon, Professor of Earth and Planetary Science at Southampton and a co-author of the study, said: “These rocks preserve the full suite of climate rhythms we know from today – annual seasons, solar cycles, and interannual oscillations – all operating during a Snowball Earth. That’s jaw dropping. It tells us the climate system has an innate tendency to oscillate, even under extreme conditions, if given the slightest opportunity.”

Researchers examined 2,600 individual layers within the Port Askaig Formation, each recording a single year of deposition.

Lead researcher Dr Chloe Griffin, Research Fellow in Earth Science at the University of Southampton, said: “These rocks are extraordinary. They act like a natural data logger, recording year-by-year changes in climate during one of the coldest periods in Earth’s history. Until now, we didn’t know whether climate variability at these timescales could exist during Snowball Earth, because no one had found a record like this from within the glaciation itself.”

Microscopic analysis showed that the layers likely formed through seasonal freeze-thaw cycles in a calm, deep-water setting beneath ice. When the team used statistics to analyse variations in layer thickness, a surprising signal emerged.

“We found clear evidence for repeating climate cycles operating every few years to decades,” said Dr Griffin. “Some of these closely resemble modern climate patterns, such as El Niño-like oscillations and solar cycles.”

Brief disturbance in a frozen world

These climate cycles, however, were unlikely to have been the norm for Snowball Earth.

“Our results suggest that this kind of climate variability was the exception, rather than the rule,” explained Professor Gernon. “The background state of Snowball Earth was extremely cold and stable. What we’re seeing here is probably a short-lived disturbance, lasting thousands of years, against the backdrop of an otherwise deeply frozen planet.”

Close-up views of thin, repeating rock layers known as varves, each thought to represent a single year of sedimentation during Snowball Earth. Credit: Prof Tom Gernon

The research team ran climate simulations for Snowball Earth, which showed that a completely ice-sealed ocean would suppress most climate oscillations. However, if a small fraction, around 15 per cent, of the ocean surface remained ice-free, familiar atmosphere-ocean interactions could resume.

Dr Minmin Fu, Lecturer in Climate Science at the University of Southampton, who led the modelling work, said: “Our models showed that you don’t need vast open oceans. Even limited areas of open water in the tropics can allow climate modes similar to those we see today to operate, producing the kinds of signals recorded in the rocks.”

This finding supports a scenario in which Snowball Earth was generally frozen solid but punctuated by intervals, sometimes dubbed ‘slushball’ or more extensive ‘waterbelt’ states, when small patches of open ocean emerged.

Scotland’s unique rock record

The Scottish field site played a crucial role in unlocking this record.

Dr Elias Rugen, Research Fellow at Southampton who has worked on the Garvellach Islands for the past five years, said: “These deposits are some of the best-preserved Snowball Earth rocks anywhere in the world. Through them, you’re able to read the climate history of a frozen planet, in this case one year at a time.”

Understanding how Earth behaved during Snowball Earth matters far beyond deep time.

Professor Gernon said: “This work helps us understand how resilient, and how sensitive, the climate system really is. It shows that even in the most extreme conditions Earth has ever seen, the system could be kicked into motion. That has profound implications for how planets respond to major disturbances, including our own in the future.”

The research was supported by the WoodNext Foundation, a fund of a donor-advised fund program, whose generous support underpins Professor Gernon’s research group at the University of Southampton.

Is your phone your comfort blanket?

New research led by the University of Southampton, the Vinzenz Pallotti University and Ruhr University Bochum in Germany has examined why our phones come between us, even when we don’t mean them to.

The study, published in Behavioral Sciences, shows that people who feel insecure in close relationships are more likely to engage in phubbing or feel hurt by it – particularly when they also place a high value on material success, status, and external validation.

Phubbing, short for ‘phone snubbing’, refers to ignoring someone you are with in favour of your smartphone. While often dismissed as a modern habit or social faux pas, the research suggests it can be driven by attachment-related anxieties and seeking reassurance, attention and self-worth.

The researchers surveyed over 200 adults in romantic relationships, measuring their attachment styles, materialistic values, and both ‘enacted phubbing’ (how much they phub their partner) and ‘perceived phubbing’ (how much they feel phubbed).

They found that, for some people, phones are a source of reassurance, status, or distraction from uncomfortable emotions – even at the cost of face-to-face connection.

The results showed:

People high in attachment anxiety, who fear rejection or abandonment, are more likely both to phub their partner and to feel hurt by their partner’s phone use.
People high in attachment avoidance, who are uncomfortable with closeness, – are especially likely to perceive phubbing, even if they do not directly engage in it themselves.
Materialism acts as a psychological bridge. People who place greater importance on possessions, status and external symbols of success are more likely to translate attachment insecurity into phone-focused behaviour.

Study co-author Dr Claire Hart, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Southampton, said: “Phubbing isn’t just about screen time or poor etiquette. For many people, it reflects deeper concerns about security, self-worth, and where attention and value are coming from.”

Why materialism matters

The study demonstrates for the first time that materialistic values help explain why attachment insecurity leads to phubbing.

Smartphones offer constant access to social comparison, validation and symbolic ‘value’, from messages and likes to curated online identities.

For people who feel uncertain in relationships, this can make the phone especially hard to put down.

“Materialism amplifies the pull of the phone,” explained Dr Hart. “If self-worth is tied to external symbols or validation, digital engagement can start to compete with, or even replace, real-world connection.”

Implications for relationships and digital wellbeing

The findings suggest that tackling phubbing in relationships may require more than simply telling people to use their phones less.

Instead, the researchers argue, interventions should focus on strengthening relationship security, reducing reliance on external validationand helping people reflect on the values that drive their digital habits.

Dr Hart said: “Taking this approach could be especially valuable in relationship counselling, digital wellbeing initiatives, and conversations between couples about technology and intimacy.”

The research builds on Dr Hart’s previous work that examined people’s emotional responses to phubbing. She added: “Understanding why people reach for their phones helps us move beyond blame. Phubbing can be a signal of unmet emotional needs – not just distraction.”

Giving military surplus a makeover

Winchester School of Art has joined forces with Ministry of Defence surplus recovery and reuse specialists Ramco and the charity Help for Heroes on the pioneering initiative.

The second year Fashion Design students visited Ramco’s headquarters in Skegness to learn about where surplus items come from and to select items to upcycle. They have transformed these textiles into fashion pieces – from trousers and jackets to dresses, shirts and bags.

The students visited Ramco’s headquarters to select items of surplus military clothing

Selected students are now refining their designs before they will be produced on a large scale to distribute with the support of – and to raise money for – Help for Heroes.

Student Julia Horsley said: “When I first heard about this project, I was really excited because I love upcycling and sustainability is one of the main things I think about. In designing, there’s the issue of textile production being massive and wasteful.”

Fellow student Dylan Zhao added: “It’s really important to honour the memory of the military personnel, past and present, who wore these military garments.”

Sharon Williams, Principal Teaching Fellow at Winchester School of Art, is leading the students’ involvement in the project, called Operation Upcycle.

Student Julia Horsley sewing her upcycled garment

She said: “Operation Upcycle gives our students a rare opportunity to work with authentic materials and a real social purpose and giving them creative and commercial insight. This project is about making a difference, not forgetting the fashion element, but bringing in the story behind the textiles, plus sustainability and social impact.”

Every year, thousands of military uniforms are retired due to damage, design updates, or end of service live. Many can’t be resold and end up in waste streams, contributing to the 711,000 tonnes of post-consumer textiles discarded each year in the UK.

Neil Sanderson, Managing Director at Ramco, said: “Operation Upcycle was created to prove that surplus materials can create new value commercially, environmentally and socially.

Guanting Chen modelling one of the students’ creations

“Collaborating with Help for Heroes on the partnership is a major step forward. Their experience, reach and deep understanding of the Armed Forces community will help us ensure this initiative delivers genuine, lasting impact for veterans, while also scaling the programme nationally.”

Help for Heroes will introduce the students to veterans who will share their stories and explain what the uniforms meant to them.

James Needham, Help for Heroes’ chief executive, said: “For many veterans, the uniform represents pride, identity and belonging, and when service ends, that can be difficult to replace.

"This initiative honours that history while transforming surplus military textiles into pieces that carry real story and meaning. It brings veterans and students together to champion sustainability and ensure the experience of the Armed Forces community is seen and heard by new audiences.”

King and Queen present royal prize for Southampton rail research

Academics, students and senior leaders from the University of Southampton visited St James’s Palace in London to collect a Queen Elizabeth Prize for Higher and Further Education.

The prize recognises over two decades of groundbreaking research that has led to billions of pounds of public money being saved and improved the resilience of the UK’s ageing rail network.

The research has been driven since 2003 by William Powrie, Professor of Geotechnical Engineering and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.

He said: “Receiving this prize is a huge moment for us. It’s wonderful recognition of the work we do at Southampton. I’m extremely proud of my colleagues, and of the work we have done and continue to do to improve and safeguard railways.”

Professor Powrie and colleagues’ research applies fundamental science to solving real world problems.

Their work has developed improved and more sustainable ways to make railway cuttings and embankments resilient to the effects of climate change. It has also led to new standards that have eliminated the need for bridge reconstruction to accommodate railway electrification and reduced the depth of foundations for support masts on overhead lines. This in turn influenced and informed the Government’s decision to restart railway electrification in 2015, saving the UK economy several billion pounds.

Advances in monitoring tracks and managing climate-induced stresses on the rail network continue to be led by research in Southampton, including current work developing optical fibres for track monitoring.

Attending the prize presentation alongside Professor Powrie were Sir Ian Diamond, Chair of Council at the university, and President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark E Smith.

They were presented with a prize medal and certificate signed by the King.

Professor Smith said: “It is an enormously proud day for us as a university to receive this prize. Rail engineering research is a long-standing strength for us in Southampton, and to have that recognised by a Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education is a huge honour.”

Meeting the King twice in a week

Professor William Powrie outside Windsor Castle with his CBE

It is the second time this month that Professor Powrie has met the King, having been invested as a CBE on Tuesday 17 February at Windsor Castle. He was awarded the honour in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours for services to engineering.

Professor Powrie said: “It has been a once-in-a-lifetime week. The awards recognise the contribution of the many amazing people I have had the privilege of working with over the years, and the contribution that they, together, have made to engineering in the service of humanity.”

University holds science and engineering family event in run-up to hosting British Science Festival 2026

The family-friendly Science and Engineering Day, with more than 140 activities, workshops, live shows and talks to explore, is on Saturday 14 March.

The event is taking place in the run-up to British Science Festival being hosted by the university in September, bringing 100 free events, exhibitions, performances and installations to the city, celebrating ideas and stories at the heart of science.

At Science and Engineering Day, visitors will be able to see inside state-of-the-art facilities including the µVIS X-Ray Imaging Centre which is home to two of the country’s largest CT scanners; the 138-metre-long towing tank; the anechoic and reverberation chambers; and the R J Michell wind tunnel.

There will be live virtual tours of the UK’s deep underground lab, Boulby in North East England, where research is carried out 1.1km underground, free from the interference of natural background radiation.

Activities running throughout the day will include a Teddy Bear Hospital, slime making, code your own robot, fly in a drone simulator, learn basic life support skills, experience falling into a black hole (with a VR headset), a scientist dress-up photobooth, and learn about the science of eczema and asthma.

Hands-on science activities at Science and Engineering Day

There will be a series of talks, including on ‘phubbing’ (snubbing someone in your company in favour of your phone), on black holes, and on electronics in clothing. And live shows featuring science experiments, lasers and the university’s mobile planetarium will take place.

Ben Littlefield, Head of Public Engagement at the university, said: “Southampton Science and Engineering Festival is always a moment of genuine joy for us, a time when we welcome thousands of people onto our Highfield and Boldrewood campuses to explore, be curious and connect with the stories and people behind the incredible work happening here and across our region.

“This year carries an extra spark of excitement as we are building towards hosting the British Science Festival in September, which will showcase not only ours but other inspiring research stories and innovations from across the UK, celebrating the best of the country right here in Southampton. We can’t wait to welcome you this month for what will be an inspiring day out for all ages, and a glimpse of what to expect in September!”

Science and Engineering Day forms part of the 10-day Southampton Science and Engineering Festival (SOTSEF), part of British Science Week.

Events in the run-up to Science and Engineering Day include:

Crack the Code, an interactive talk and quiz about digital forensics, on Wednesday 11 March
Rejected TED Talks, a science-themed stand-up comedy show, on Wednesday 11 March
Science vs Pseudoscience, a talk on archaeology conspiracy theories such as whether the pyramids were built by aliens, on Thursday 12 March.

Visit the Science and Engineering Day website for the full programme and to book free tickets. And visit the wider SOTSEF website for information and tickets to events throughout the festival.

University marks major milestone for newest building

To mark the milestone, a steel-signing topping out ceremony was held on site attended by the University’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark E. Smith, the High Sheriff of Hampshire Susan Elton, and the Leader of Southampton City Council, Councillor Alex Winning.

The building, opening next year, has been named B75 to celebrate the 75-year anniversary since the University was granted a Royal Charter, and will form part of the new North East Quadrant on its Highfield campus.

Spanning five floors and built using a combination of steel and concrete frames, B75 will provide a modern and flexible teaching and learning facilities, including large lecture theatres and social areas to create a striking new gateway to Highfield campus.

Work at the site began in 2025 and Thursday’s topping out ceremony marked the building having reached its full height.

Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Southampton Professor Mark E. Smith said: "The North East Quadrant symbolises our dedication to creating innovative and inspiring learning environments for our current and futures students.

“We are committed to providing an outstanding experience and will continue to invest in our facilities to ensure teaching spaces meet the needs of our community.

"On the 75-year anniversary of being granted our Royal Charter, Building 75 stands as an enduring symbol of our history, our progress and our ambition.”

B75 will be the University’s most sustainable building to date, with several initiatives incorporated including modern building management systems and controls, including a fabric-first approach, solar panels and air source heat pump technology.

The building provides access to landscaped green and outdoor covered study spaces, and informal seating.

Kevin Argent, Executive Director of Estates and Facilities at the University, said: “Today marks a defining chapter in our history as we reach the topping-out of our largest ever capital project.

“The building is distinct and ambitious in its design and is a key component of our recently established estates masterplan.

“This focuses on developing our estate for a better day-to-day experience for students and staff, the ability to support future teaching and research and a stronger civic and national role as a regional anchor to shape, drive and lead growth for us and our community.

“I am delighted to have worked with Kier and all our partners to have reached this significant milestone.”

Emma Brown, President of the University Students’ Union, added: “It has been exciting to see Building 75 take shape over the last 12 months.

“Seeing the University invest sends a clear message, students matter and their experience matters.

“The new social and study spaces are exactly what students need – a modern, sustainable hub that supports both academic goals and wellbeing."

Steve Topliss, Operations Director at Kier Construction Southern, said: “It is almost a year to the day since we broke the ground on this project – and the transformation in just 12 months is testament to the expertise and collaboration of the entire project team. The impact of this project goes far beyond the new building.

“From apprentice opportunities and school visits, to regularly welcoming the University’s Civil Engineering Society to site – we are proud of the positive legacy this project is having here in Southampton.”

Top image caption (left to right): High Sheriff of Hampshire Susan Elton, University Vice-President (Education) Professor Deborah Gill, University Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark E. Smith, Leader of Southampton City Council Councillor Alex Winning, Operations Director at Kier Construction Southern Steve Topliss, and University Students’ Union President Emma Brown

No overdiagnosis of ADHD say experts

In a paper, published today in the British Journal of Psychiatry, a group of experts led by Professor Samuele Cortese from the University of Southampton say there is no robust evidence that ADHD is over-diagnosed in the UK.

The new paper refutes the view that ‘nowadays everyone has ADHD’ which is gaining traction in public discourse and has been amplified by some leading politicians, as demand rises for NHS assessments and services.

Bringing together academics, clinicians, people with lived experience and carers, the group say this narrative risks misleading the public and policymakers and overshadows a more pressing concern - unmet need.

Professor Cortese said: “Rather than focusing on increases or decreases in diagnostic rates, attention should be directed toward the extent to which those with ADHD are being adequately diagnosed and treated.

“While misdiagnosis and inappropriate diagnosis do occur, the available evidence indicates that under diagnosis and under treatment remain the predominant challenges.”

When standardised diagnostic criteria are applied, the prevalence of ADHD internationally is around 5 per cent in children and 3 per cent in adults.

While prevalence has increased over time, NHS administrative data in England remains substantially below these expected levels, suggesting that many people with ADHD are living without a diagnosis and adequate support.

The group acknowledge that misdiagnosis can occur in some cases, particularly where assessments rely heavily on self-reporting or where alternative conditions are not fully considered.

Professor Tamsin Ford, Head of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, a coauthor on the paper, commented: “While many more people with ADHD are being recognised and treated, we are failing to support many more. Overdiagnosis is not a problem, but misdiagnosis may be as people are driven into the private sector by long waits; and sadly, missed diagnoses remain common.”

The researchers stress that the absence of biological diagnostic markers means that thorough, multidisciplinary clinical assessment is essential. Field trials show that when clinicians are properly trained, an ADHD diagnosis is among the most reliable for a mental health condition.

“Similar to physiological traits, such as blood pressure or weight, ADHD symptoms are distributed along a continuum,” says coauthor Professor Chris Hollis from the University of Nottingham. “But as with hypertension or obesity, there are diagnostic severity thresholds that determine health risks and what interventions should be used. Similarly, in ADHD a risk-stratified stepped-care approach may be useful.”

Professor Cortese and colleagues highlight significant pressure on UK services, with long waiting times and growing demand, especially among adults who were not diagnosed in childhood.

They point to figures showing that around 27 per cent of children and young people diagnosed with ADHD reported waiting one to two years, while 14 per cent waited two to three years.

Evidence shows that untreated ADHD is associated with serious long-term risks, while effective treatments are available, backed by strong evidence, and generally well tolerated.

“The costs of untreated ADHD are often overlooked,” says Professor Cortese. “They include increased risk of academic failure, suicidal behaviour, substance abuse, criminality, injury and death. The failure to provide treatments which have been shown to reduce these risks represents a major ethical issue that needs to be urgently addressed.”

The authors call for improved funding, workforce training and a more balanced, evidence-based conversation to ensure accurate diagnosis while expanding access to care for those who need it.

The researchers are supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Office for Life Sciences.

ADHD (over) diagnosis: fiction, fashion, and failure is published in the British Journal of Psychiatry and is available online.

Southampton dinosaur expert’s part in new Spielberg documentary

And former undergraduate and master’s student at the university, Thomas Land, was a science researcher on the series.

Dr Gostling, Associate Professor in Evolution and Paleobiology, shared his research and expertise on spinosaurs for the four-part documentary, produced by Steven Spielberg and narrated by Morgan Freeman.

The spinosaur expert contributed to the show by detailing the sensory and feeding styles of the dinosaurs – an area of palaeontology he has researched for 10 years.

He said: “It was very exciting to take part behind-the-scenes in The Dinosaurs, I was delighted to be asked to share my research and am excited to see it go to air.

Artist’s impression of two new species of dinosaur closely related to the Spinosaurus that Dr Neil Gostling and colleagues described from the Isle of Wight in 2021. Credit: Anthony Hutchings

“There are parts of the show – including the opening scene of the trailer that depicts a Spinosaurus’s open jaws underwater waiting to strike – that I directly informed. Hunting like that is what many palaeobiologists believe the Spinosaurus did. Many researchers believe its hunting style was very much jaws in the water or jabbing, like a heron, rather than swimming and hunting underwater like a shark.

“It’s really exciting that research on spinosaurs, as a group, that we have worked on for years, and ideas we have had about how this dinosaur family lived, are being shared in this fantastic programme.”

Dr Gostling was approached to take part in research for the documentary by his former student and now TV researcher and producer, Thomas Land, who was working for production company Silverback Films.

His expertise features in Episode 3 of The Dinosaurs, now available on Netflix.

Dr Gostling’s research and expertise also received international prominence in 2023 when he featured in the Sir David Attenborough documentary Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster.

Watch the trailer for The Dinosaurs:

Lift off for new space institute in Southampton

The Southampton Space Institute will support government plans to develop Britain's fast-growing space sector, which is worth £17billion every year.

The institute belongs to the University of Southampton, building on its 65-year heritage of education and research in space science, aeronautics and astronautics.

It brings together the expertise of world-renowned research groups and facilities at the University to interact with government agencies and industry, driving the development of new space technology and conversations around policy and space sustainability.

Professor Matt Middleton, Southampton Space Institute’s inaugural director, said the University and wider area has an opportunity to make its mark in a fast-moving global industry.

He added: "Southampton already has an established heritage in space research, with a university that has taught thousands of students about aircraft and satellite design since 1959.

“The UK space industry is now supporting around 50,000 jobs and contributing billions to our economy. It needs the expertise of a university like Southampton to train the next generation, create new jobs and companies, and ensure that space is sustainable in the long term.

“We will be drawing on our expertise in electronics, fundamental science, astronautics, artificial intelligence and many others, to enrich the UK space industry and support the national space strategy.”

Southampton’s established international reputation for space training and research will drive the success of the new Institute, said UK space policy expert and former European Space Agency exploration director and UKSA CEO Professor David Parker.

Prof Parker, a Southampton alumnus who worked with Prof Middleton to set up the Institute, added: "Our vision is to drive sustainable, local and national economic growth by becoming one of the top UK universities for space education, novel space science, technology, and applications of space data here on Earth.

“The University has some unique strengths, and we are working on exciting initiatives that will come to fruition across the next few years – watch this space.”

Scientists at the University were recently awarded more than a million pounds through the UK Space Agency’s national space innovation programme.

They will use the funding to develop a plasma torch system, simulating the extreme thermal conditions spacecraft face during re-entry, as well as a sustainable water-based propulsion system for satellites.

The new Institute is working with the UK’s largest regional space cluster, Space South Central, which connects the University with 130 space-related businesses across Hampshire, Surrey and the Isle of Wight.

The Right Honourable the Lord David Willetts, former UK science Minister and a leading figure in the development of the UK space sector, spoke of his support for the new Southampton Space Institute.

Speaking at the recent launch event, he said: "Southampton has enormous strengths in bringing together academic and applied research."

Southampton Itchen MP Darren Paffey, who was also present at the event, added: "The Space Institute has the potential to bring together world-leading researchers to shape domestic policy.”

Read more about the new Southampton Space Institute.

New tool to support neurodivergent children

The Neurodiversity Profiling Tool, originally developed by Portsmouth City Council, is being digitised and adapted for a pilot project led by Southampton City Council.

In a unique approach, the tool focuses from the outset on the young person’s strengths and interests rather than what they find challenging.

This strengths-based approach is informed by research conducted by the Autism Community Research Network @Southampton (ACoRNS), a research centre at the University of Southampton.

The research focuses on including the voices of autistic children and young people, who may communicate in diverse ways. It has included using video cameras and wearable cameras to capture the strengths, interests, communication and interaction preferences and support needs of autistic children.

The work was led by Sarah Parsons, Professor of Autism and Inclusion, and Hanna Kovshoff, Professor of Neurodiversity.

Professor Parsons said: “Our work is focused on hearing and including the voices of autistic children and young people, and their families. We start with establishing a child’s strengths and interests and what they are good at, rather than beginning with what the concerns or issues might be.”

Southampton City Council has embedded this unique ‘positive first’ approach into the tool.

Professor Hanna Kovshoff

“The tool is intended as a first step that schools and other professionals can adopt to assess the needs of children who they want to support, possibly in advance of them receiving a formal neurodiversity assessment and potential diagnosis,” explained Professor Parsons.

Professor Kovshoff said: “Using the framework of our research, which places children’s voices front and centre, changes the original purpose of the tool to enable different people to share knowledge about a child, as often children, parents and teachers can have quite different perspectives and understanding of a child’s strengths and needs.”

Professor Parsons added: “This work will enable earlier support for more children, which is a key focus of the Government's recent announcement on reforms for SEND.”

David Anthony, SENDCo at Banister Primary School, Independent SEN Consultant and Founder of SENDForwardUK, has used the pilot tool.

He said: “It has been a great tool for capturing information and navigating those initial conversations with parents or other professionals. For families who are unsure if they want to pursue an assessment for autism or ADHD, it has been a good tool to explore the ideas of need around the child.

“We are using it as a tool to decide if a referral will be needed or not. We are in the early stages of this. We are also using the tool for families who are already on the waiting list and looking for strategies and support. The tool is a great resource for capturing this information.”

Ross Sanderson, Neurodiversity Family Engagement Practitioner at Southampton City Council, said: “We want to embrace and celebrate neurodiversity. The aim of the tool is to find out what the child likes and what they are good at, which focuses everything on them and helps to build a rapport from the start.”

The tool will help to provide support in the face of long waiting lists for autism and ADHD assessments. The current longest waiting lists for assessments in Southampton are two years and 16 weeks for autism, and three years and three weeks for ADHD.

The tool is part of a wider project led by Southampton City Council and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) to support neurodiversity. The ICB has led developments across the system to provide early support for neurodiversity.

The project is implementing a five-stage process, including open access support at bookable sessions, online support materials, targeted help such as therapy and parenting workshops, as well as formal assessment and ongoing support.

Daniel Beck, Strategic Lead for SEND Services at the city council, said: “Current support for neurodivergent children and young people is diagnostic-led, with only a small proportion of them receiving support – and many of those receiving inadequate support. This project is about introducing responsive support without a formal diagnosis being needed, empowering healthcare professionals, schools, children and families.”

Information collected via the tool is held for the benefit of parents or carers, for them to share with health or education professionals as appropriate.

The tool is being piloted at 38 education settings in Southampton. It will then support wider work to transform provisions for neurodivergent children and young people across Hampshire and Isle of Wight.

Children and young people’s cancers become focus of pioneering research in Southampton

Scientists, Dr Ali Roghanian and Dr Salah Mansour from the University of Southampton, in partnership with teams at MiNK Therapeutics have been selected to develop an immunotherapy treatment that could target paediatric cancers such as bone sarcomas, acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and medulloblastoma – a type of brain tumour.

Working together, the transatlantic team is among the first to be selected by ‘C-Further’ - a consortium which aims to rapidly transform innovative ideas into more effective and less toxic treatments for children and young people with cancer. This new initiative is enabled by Cancer Research UK’s innovation arm, Cancer Research Horizons, LifeArc, and Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity (GOSH Charity).

Dr Catherine Pointer, from Fareham, has beaten AML twice as a teenager but lives with life-long effects from her cancer treatment.

Dr Catherine Pointer

Now a cancer scientist herself in Southampton, Catherine said: “Acute myeloid leukaemia survival has remained poor for decades. After my AML relapsed at the age of 17, my only option was a stem cell transplant from a donor. The treatment I received had such harsh effects on my body and caused irreparable, life-long damage.

“In the 16 years since, I continue to develop new diseases as a result of the intensive whole-body treatment I was given and worry about what the future holds for me. As a cancer scientist I know we can do better and this study is doing just that.”

Dr Roghanian and Dr Mansour are based at the University of Southampton’s Centre for Cancer Immunology, where they are advancing new treatments that can use the body’s own immune system to recognise and attack cancer cells.

In this new immunotherapy research project, the international team will be developing a new type of immunotherapy, specifically for hard-to-treat children’s and young people’s cancers, that use cells from healthy donors – rather than from the patient.

Dr Ali Roghanian, Associate Professor in Cancer Immunology at the University of Southampton and co-lead investigator, said: “Using cells from healthy donors provides a more reliable starting point for creating effective treatments.

“With existing therapies, cells are taken from the patient’s own blood and can sometimes take several weeks to prepare before being returned to the patient. During this process, the patient may then become too unwell to receive them.

“What we’re aiming to develop is an ‘off the shelf’ treatment consisting of cells taken from healthy donors that are engineered, stored and ready to offer to the young patients who need them, without the delays they currently face.”

The team will engineer immune cells to target a protein called PRAME, which cancer cells produce to help them grow and spread.  In Southampton, Dr Roghanian and Dr Mansour will assess how effective this new therapy is, how safe it appears and how it works in different children’s and young people’s cancers, often using tumour samples donated by patients. MiNK Therapeutics will provide crucial proprietary immune cell technology and engineering capabilities alongside its translational and manufacturing expertise.

Dr Mansour, Associate Professor of Immunology at the University of Southampton and co-lead investigator, said: “We were delighted to have been selected by C-Further, allowing us to accelerate a new type of immunotherapy for children and young people with cancers that urgently need better treatment options. By combining engineered immune cells with cutting-edge translational research in Southampton, we aim to develop therapies that are both more effective and far less toxic than current approaches.”

“Many children and young people with these cancers either do not respond to existing treatments or face life-long side effects. Our goal is to develop therapies that not only improve survival but also protect long-term health.”

The University of Southampton has recently announced plans for a groundbreaking new medical institute in the city, bringing together the greatest minds in medicine, computer science and engineering. The pioneering Institute for Medical Innovation will be a joint initiative between the University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. The £100m facility will bring researchers and medics together in the fight against devastating diseases such as cancer, dementia, sight loss, infectious diseases and respiratory and allergic conditions.

Catherine, aged 14, in hospital after her first diagnosis

Dr Pointer, who was first diagnosed with AML at the age of 14 and again at 17, said: “This is better than the treatment I experienced because it potentially doesn't involve chemotherapy or radiation, which indiscriminately attack all cells, healthy or cancerous.

“This means patients are stronger and healthier going into their treatment, and most importantly won’t experience a lifetime of compromise and fear of what damage has been done.”

Professor Nick Evans, Faculty of Medicine Associate Dean for Research, said: “Southampton has a strong track record in advancing innovative immunotherapies from discovery towards clinical impact, and this programme reflects the quality and ambition of our research community. The C-Further scheme provides a powerful framework for uniting academic, industry and charity expertise to accelerate translation, and the combined strengths of Dr Roghanian, Dr Mansour and their collaborators provide an excellent team for progressing new treatment options for children who have cancer.”

The project also draws on the translational expertise and global paediatric oncology networks of C-Further’s core partners: Cancer Research Horizons, LifeArc and GOSH Charity. The collaboration aims to advance CF-033 to pre-clinical candidate nomination, subject to agreed scientific milestones. It is among the first programmes to join C-Further’s growing pipeline, which is backed by an initial budget of £30 million.

C-Further welcomes expressions of interest from researchers, innovators and partners aligned with its mission to accelerate well-tolerated, tailored cancer treatments for children and young people. The deadline for submissions for the next funding round is 13 March 2026.

The University of Southampton's Cancer Immunology Fund supports life-saving research at the university's Centre for Cancer Immunology. Visit the Centre for Cancer Immunology website to find out more about the work or to make a donation to the research.

Southampton appoints new Dean of Medicine

Professor Summers graduated from the University of Southampton with degrees in Medicine and Biomedical Sciences before completing her PhD at the University of Cambridge.

She is currently at the University of Cambridge where she is Director of the Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart & Lung Research Institute, Professor of Intensive Care Medicine and a Fellow of Selwyn College. She is also Chief Investigator of HEAL-COVID alongside serving as co-investigator in a number of international collaborations.

In her work as a clinician-scientist, her focus is on the improvement of care and outcomes for acute and critical illnesses – particularly those caused by respiratory failure or lung injury. She was the UK’s first NIHR Clinical Lecturer in Intensive Care Medicine and currently serves as NIHR Research Delivery Network National Specialty Lead for Critical Care and Chair of the UKRI-Medical Research Council’s Experimental Medicine Panel.

She was a recipient of the Fulbright All-disciplines Scholar Award and a Wellcome Trust Fellowship for Postdoctoral Clinician Scientists. Professor Summers is also a trustee for the Science Media Centre and the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre (ICNARC).

Professor Summers said: “As a proud alumnus of the University, I am thrilled to return as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, where discovery science delivers real-world impact for patients and populations.

“With plans for a new Institute for Medical Innovation well underway, I am particularly excited about working side-by-side with the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and other stakeholders to deliver improvements in human health in the UK and beyond.”

Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark E. Smith said: “Professor Summers is extremely highly regarded not just as a clinician and scientist, but also as a mentor for the next generation of cross-disciplinary researchers. I am delighted she is joining the University as Dean, and I know the values and strengths she brings will be invaluable to the Faculty and wider community. I wish Charlote good luck for the future.”

Professor Summers will join Southampton in September. She will be taking over from Professor Diana Eccles, who completes her term after eight years of service.

Family-friendly science day is fitting prelude to British Science Festival

Families from across the south and further afield visited the university’s Highfield and Boldrewood campuses, where more than 150 activities were available.

The event was held in the run-up to the university hosting the British Science Festival in September. It will bring 100 free events, exhibitions, performances and installations to the city, celebrating ideas and stories at the heart of science.

On Saturday, university facilities including the 138-metre-long towing tank, the wind tunnel, the anechoic chamber, chemical engineering labs, the cleanrooms, and the μ-VIS X-Ray Imaging Centre were open for the public to explore.

Live shows included science experiments with gases

Activities included a Future Scientists dress-up photo booth, a teddy bear hospital, creating Egyptian pottery, learning basic life support, a drone simulator flying experience, making your own optical fibre, and lots of hands-on science workshops, games and activities.

There were also live science shows featuring lasers, gases and experiments, plus science stand-up comedy and talks.

Children could learn about the human body at Science and Engineering Day

Ben Littlefield, Head of Public Engagement at the university, said: “The university has held this annual event for more than 20 years now, and every year it gets better. We are hugely proud to welcome thousands of people onto our campuses to share some of the incredible work happening here and across the region.

“This year had an extra spark of excitement as we are building towards hosting the British Science Festival in September, which will showcase not only ours but other inspiring research stories and innovations from across the UK, celebrating the best of the country right here in Southampton. It was great to share a glimpse of what to expect in September!”

Wildflower’s potential to help tackle antibiotic resistance

Tormentil, a yellow wildflower found in heath and boglands in the UK, Ireland and across Europe, can inhibit the growth of one of the world’s most deadly pathogens.

A team of researchers from the University of Southampton, the NatPro Centre in Trinity College Dublin and Brunel University of London examined 70 bogland plants from across Ireland for their potential antimicrobial activity.

They discovered that Tormentil inhibits the growth of the multidrug-resistant bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii, one of the World Health Organisation’s top priority pathogens.

It means Tormentil has the potential to contribute to the development of new antimicrobials.

Ronan McCarthy, Professor in Microbial Biofilms at the National Biofilms Innovation Centre, University of Southampton, led the study which is published in the journal Microbiology and forms part of the project ‘Unlocking Nature’s Pharmacy from Bogland Species’ awarded to Trinity College Dublin.

Professor Ronan McCarthy

He said: “It was extremely exciting to discover that this particular plant was inhibiting growth of this pathogen, and especially interesting because there is a long historical use of this plant in medicine to treat infection.”

He added: “Colistin is a last resort antibiotic, it’s our last line of antibiotic defence. When a pathogen is resistant to that there are few other options. We have discovered that there is potential for Tormentil to increase the efficacy of colistin to prolong its effectiveness and make it work better.”

The pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii is responsible for 50,000 deaths annually worldwide. It is commonly found in hospitals and can cause wound infections, respiratory infections and urinary tract infections, often in immunocompromised patients. It is hard to treat as it is resistant to most antibiotics, which is where colistin comes in.

Tormentil, with its buttercup-like yellow flowers, has been used for centuries to treat infection and is referenced in Irish and other folklore. Its name is derived from the ‘torment’ of pain it was believed to cure.

“This study underscores the value of revisiting plants long rooted in traditional knowledge and folklore and shows us that nature still has much to teach us,” said project co-lead John J. Walsh, NatPro Associate Academic Director and Associate Professor of Pharmacognosy at Trinity College Dublin.

Tormentil was used as far back as the 1850s, with its roots boiled in milk to treat colic in children, and its roots used to treat toothache, wounds and stomach issues.

Professor McCarthy said: “We have uncovered historically why Tormentil was used – and it wasn’t used by accident. Granted Tormentil was not as efficacious as modern medication but in the 1850s, for example, options were fairly limited.

“There is evidence it was used for oral issues such as gum disease, and for gastrointestinal issues. Its use by physicians would have faded with the advent of modern medicine and antibiotics in particular.”

The research team took their findings further, examining the plant’s different compounds for evidence of antimicrobial activity, and how they work.

They found that two compounds – agrimoniin and ellagic acid – can kill the same pathogen, and they do it by starving it of iron. They also found that the roots, the flowers and the leaves all contain enough compound to be effective.

“This study is particularly exciting because we have established not only that Tormentil works, but how it works and why it works,” said Professor McCarthy. “It was a big hurdle to overcome to establish exactly what is responsible for the antimicrobial activity.

“Then we established that the plant grabs iron out of the environment and starves the bacteria. When we fed iron back in, we reversed the activity, confirming that the iron was responsible.”

Tormentil from three boglands in Ireland, in Wicklow, Kerry and Tipperary, all produced the same activity.

Professor Helen Sheridan, founder of the NatPro Centre at Trinity College Dublin, and co-lead of the project, said: “When we secured funding for this bogland biodiscovery project, we hoped to find some meaningful activities in the species we investigated. Ethnomedical leads such as ‘Gargling with powdered tormentil infused in water makes loose teeth take hold again, by Johann Kúnzle (1857-1945)’, inspired us to look for antibacterial effects, and thus we reached out to the McCarthy group as leaders in the field for what has been a wonderfully successful collaboration.”

Professor McCarthy added: “The promise for Tormentil is really exciting. There is a lot of exciting work to do now to translate these findings into medications that could potentially benefit patients.”

University invites business leaders to table to pave way for a new era of graduate jobs

The Future Jobs roundtable, hosted by the University of Southampton, is one of a series of events happening across the UK as part of a broader national conversation about how universities can better match graduate skills to the future needs of employers.

It is estimated that more than 11 million additional graduates are needed to fill high-skilled jobs in the UK between 2020 and 2035. On average, 82 per cent of new priority jobs crucial to economic growth - including in the life sciences, creative, digital and tech and defence sectors - will require workers with higher education level qualifications.

The Future Jobs sessions, coordinated by Universities UK, are exploring how universities and businesses can respond to this demand and work together to grow the pipeline of graduates thriving in these industries and create new high-quality jobs for local people in Southampton.

Evidence gathered from the Future Jobs roundtable will feed into a national roadmap setting out practical steps universities and employers can take to ensure graduates’ skills better meet the needs of businesses, both now and in the future.

Local businesses who attended the event on Friday (March 27) included Hampshire County Council, Southampton City Council, ABP, Boeing and Carnival UK, alongside representatives from the University of Portsmouth and Southampton Solent University.

University of Southampton Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Mark E. Smith, said: “The University of Southampton has a proud tradition of supporting local and national employers via the graduates we educate, the cutting-edge research and innovation we conduct and the relationships we have with employers, business groups, local councils and other bodies that help to generate economic growth in our region.

“The Future Jobs campaign is about listening to businesses and understanding what they need from graduates for their businesses to thrive, and for graduates to have great careers.

“Through sessions like this, the University of Southampton is playing our part in creating a bold and optimistic long-term vision to ensure higher education drives a brighter future for decades to come.”

Karen Wheeler, Head of HR, ABP Southampton said: “It’s been really valuable to hear about the challenges facing our industry and to see how many of them are shared across other sectors. It’s also been helpful to understand the university perspective and how they are preparing graduates who are joining our industry straight from education. Overall, it’s been a great opportunity to share ideas and gain insights into areas we might not otherwise be aware of."

Professor Malcolm Press CBE, President of Universities UK, the representative body for 142 universities in the UK said: “Our Future Jobs roundtables, like this one in Southampton, are about sparking the conversations between business and universities to make sure we’re equipping people with the skills they’re going to need for long, successful careers and that business can access the talent they need to drive the country’s future prosperity.”

University community comes together to celebrate 25 years of supporting lifesaving research trials

Academics, software engineers, data technicians and support staff are marking 25 years of helping to connect teams working on groundbreaking research across the UK and beyond.

Created by the University of Southampton’s Clinical Informatics Research Unit (CIRU), EDGE is an award-winning software system used by researchers in hospitals, universities, charities and community health services.

By providing researchers real-time access to accurate study data, EDGE enables them to track progress, coordinate activity and oversee participant recruitment in a safe and secure way.

Improved data quality frees up valuable time, allowing teams to focus on patient care and deliver faster treatment.

Professor James Batchelor, CIRU’s Director and EDGE founder, said: “EDGE began as a way of giving research teams smarter and more connected ways of working. Twenty-five years on, it is helping to bring new treatments to patients quicker by supporting thousands of professionals to strengthen the quality of research.

“We’re incredibly proud of all the people who have worked so hard to make EDGE what it is. This is a Southampton success story, and we are looking forward to the future as we work towards making it the most trusted, intelligent, research management system for clinical research professionals around the world.”

Carly Ringrose, Cancer Research Sister from Southampton Cancer Research UK, added: “The EDGE system helps us deliver gold standard care day to day. It allows us to access information on any of our trials from wherever we are in a timely manner and we know that the information we are accessing is the current approved version. Not only is this time saving but it ensures that we are collecting the specific data that is needed and helps prevent errors.”

EDGE is currently used in more than 90 per cent of England’s NHS regions, as well as in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and across Canada, New Zealand, Cyprus and India.

The EDGE team kick-started their anniversary year with a silver jubilee conference celebrating 25 years of sharing, learning and innovating with their community of users.

Countdown is on to British Science Festival in Southampton

The British Science Festival, hosted by the University of Southampton and run by the British Science Association, is coming to the city from Wednesday 16 to Sunday 20 September.

The event will be a celebration of the people, stories and ideas at the heart of science.

And for the first time in the Festival’s history, local teenagers will be playing a vital role in helping to shape what visitors will see, hear and take part in.

Working alongside the Festival team and LifeLab, the University’s research-based educational project, a youth panel will help to curate the five-day programme.

Youth panel member Hena Sudiqi, 16, said: “I love how my input will play a part in the British Science Festival and it’s something I’ll remember and talk about. I have a strong passion for science, which made this opportunity even more exciting. It’s also helped me get a sense of the different science careers available out there other than just lab work, which typically most people associate scientists with.

“The youth panel has given me an insight into what the world of work is like, such as working as a team, communicating with others on the work that was set, and questioning them on things that I didn’t understand.”

Professor Kathryn Woods-Townsend, LifeLab Programme Director, added: “The youth panel has told us how much they’ve loved knowing their input will play a part in this year’s British Science Festival. There aren’t many opportunities for young people to be as involved as this in science, but this has given them a chance to voice their own opinions.”

The Festival will take place at locations across the city including the university campus, as well as arts venues including Turner Sims and John Hansard Gallery, and across Guildhall Square.

The full programme of events will be unveiled in the summer, but festival goers can expect interactive exhibits exploring topics such as AI and ocean creatures, as well as musical performances, comedy shows, panel discussions, creative workshops and much more.

The British Science Festival builds on the University’s strength for engaging young people in science. In March, almost 5,000 people attended the University’s annual Science and Engineering Day to see high-tech facilities and enjoy hands-on activities.

Professor Mark Spearing, the University’s Vice-President for Research and Enterprise, said: “The British Science Festival will be a fantastic opportunity to really celebrate science, and we are thrilled to be hosting it here in Southampton. Our annual Science and Engineering Day is always popular with local families and the British Science Festival gives our researchers and academics the chance to engage new audiences.

“We are looking forward to being able to reveal more about this year’s festival programme in the coming months and hope people from across the city will get involved in what’s sure to be an exciting five days of learning new things about science.”

James Brown, Head of Festivals at the British Science Association, said: “We can’t wait to bring the Festival to Southampton for the first time since 1992 – it's been incredible to see the diversity, quality and creativity behind the submissions made by people and organisations around the UK, and no easy task to select and shape our programme as a result! The input of young people from Southampton has been vital in giving us a programme that feels novel, relevant and inspiring.”

For more, visit the British Science Festival website.

Placing fruit and veg near store entrances

The results showed that the placement of the produce led to around 2,525 extra portions of fruit and vegetables being purchased per store, per week.

This contrasted with substantial declines in population-level fruit and vegetable purchasing and intake over the study period, which coincided with Covid-19 and the cost-of-living crisis.

The experts behind the paper, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), said government regulations to curb the promotion of unhealthy food should consider requiring the placement of a fruit and veg section at store entrances.

It also suggests limiting the placement of unhealthy foods in locations such as checkouts, aisle-ends and store entrances to maximise their health benefit.

The study, published in the journal PLOS Medicine, was led by researchers from the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre at the University of Southampton with the Centre for Food Policy at City St George’s, University of London, alongside others.

Lead author Professor Christina Vogel, an Adjunct Professor at the University of Southampton and Director of the Centre for Food Policy at City St George’s, said: “The food industry and the public are trapped in a ‘junk food cycle’, where unhealthy foods are cheap to make, profitable to market, appealing to eat and affordable to buy.

“To counter this, our study shows that placing fruit and vegetables at the entrances of discount supermarkets increased fresh fruit and vegetable sales. These results are important given population-level declines in fruit and vegetable sales and intake in the UK over the period of the study, due to COVID-19 and other issues.

“During the same period, UK household purchasing of fruit fell 7.2 per cent and 5.3 per cent for vegetables. On average, households are purchasing fewer than four portions of fruit and vegetables per day for the entire family.”

Previous research studies have shown that less than 1 per cent of retailer placement promotions are for fruit and vegetables.

Behind the study carried out the trial in 36 stores - 18 intervention and 18 control - of a discount supermarket chain in England, between March 2018 and May 2022.

The differences in the intervention group compared to the predicted store-level sales of fruit and vegetables were equivalent to around 2,525 extra portions per store, per week.

Prof Vogel added: “Given our findings, the Government should consider expanding the UK Food (Promotions and Placement) regulations in England to require the positioning of fresh produce sections near store entrances in all large food stores to boost fruit and vegetable sales and improve the nation’s diet.”

Professor Adam Briggs, Director of NIHR's Public Health Research (PHR) Programme, said: “Poor diet remains a leading cause of ill health and inequalities in the UK and tackling this requires action across a range of policy areas.

“WRAPPED's promising results show how small changes in our supermarket layouts can impact our shopping habits and encourage healthier diets that can help prevent obesity and diet-related disease.

“It’s a great example of how carefully involving retailers in research can help deliver practical real-world insights.”

Fashion avatars put Winchester students one step ahead

The students at Winchester School of Art are on the only Fashion Design course in the UK that is using AI to mirror the physical and digital processes of making new clothes.

The students are working with an AI creative program called CLO3D to create custom-made, perfect-fitting clothes.

Third year student Grace Cowan, 21, said: “The amazing thing about CLO3D is it allows you to create a garment digitally and be able to view it from all angles – even from above, which you cannot do on photoshoots with a model. It is also brilliant for learning to digitally drape by changing the weight and stiffness of fabrics, so you can experiment without generating waste.”

CLO3D enables designers to work out clothing sizes based on real bodies, creating an avatar according to body measurements. It boosts sustainability as it cuts the need to create lots of samples of items before achieving the best fit.

Student James Wang standing in the same pose as the avatar

Matthew Coats, Senior Teaching Fellow in Fashion Design, said: “This technology is massively changing how the workflow for the design and production of fashion garments operates.

“We are teaching our students to work with it through all elements of the workflow, from initial design to final product. It’s ensuring our students are at the cutting edge, but also experimenting with CLO3D in a way that the industry itself does not have time to do, it’s too fast paced. It’s one of the few areas where universities have the opportunity to be ahead of the fashion industry.”

He added: “What’s unique here is how we are mirroring the physical and digital processes. Often these are kept separate, but we are teaching students to do both – create both a physical and a digital pattern, try it on both physically and on their avatar, and understand the differences, allowing for direct comparison.”

Mr Coats worked as a designer at Chanel in Paris for several years, including under the direction of Karl Lagerfeld. “The UK fashion system is way behind Europe,” he said. “This technology is out there and being used across Europe – and should be used here in the UK too.”

For the students, CLO3D is helping them to understand bodies and the connection between physical and digital. Second-year students have used CLO3D to make a pair of custom-fit jeans.

Emma Barrington, 20, said: “Using CLO3D has been a big learning curve but I have enjoyed it, and the sustainability element is a big plus.”

Dylan Zhao, 21, said: “Fashion is all about experimenting, so it is really helpful to use CLO to try things out.”

Students get hands-on with sustainable linen production

Winchester School of Art alumna Alice Hume returned to the university to demonstrate the process to students on the first year of the new Sustainable Luxury Textiles course.

Alice, from Portsmouth, grows flax in public planters in her home city, in Landport Community Garden and at Southsea Green. The plant grows into tall stems with blue flowers and is then picked and dried.

She said: “I started growing flax in 2022, and I couldn’t believe you can grow it in this country – it’s amazing that you can literally grow your own linen. It’s a great feeling to be able to grow your own materials, and it makes you appreciate how much work goes into producing linen.”

Alice Hume using a traditional flax processing machine

Processing flax involves breaking up dried flax stems to reveal the long hair-like fibre inside. These are then combed and woven to create linen.

Course leader Dr Elaine Igoe, Associate Professor of Textiles, said: “There is a lot of work happening to bring flax production back to agriculture in the UK. It grows in just 100 days and can be processed at an industrial scale to create linen cloth for fashion and interiors.

“Today is about showing students some of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into creating textiles, and understanding where it comes from and how you get the fibre.”

Ruby Jeffery-Chipps, Leah Yarrow and Bibi Baldwin stripping dried flax stems

Student Leah Yarrow, 20, said: “The course, and sessions like this, make you think deeper about the textile industry, the processes behind making clothes and textiles, and where materials come from.”

Tessia Zhang, 20, added: “I am really interested in textiles and I chose this course in Winchester because I am interested in organic, natural things. Textiles are like a language you can touch and feel, and they can bring back memories.”

Antarctica sea ice collapse driven by triple whammy of climate chaos

For decades, the frozen wilderness at the bottom of the world defied global warming trends, with ice levels actually growing – until 2015 when it suddenly reversed.

Now scientists say they have discovered why.

The study led by the University of Southampton shows that a series of compounding events flipped the Southern Ocean – which surrounds Antarctica – out of balance, dragging unusually warm, salty water from the deep up to the surface.

It was so extreme, said lead author Dr Aditya Narayanan, that it wiped out vast areas of ice equivalent to the size of Greenland, leading to record-breaking lows in 2023.

Dr Narayanan, an oceanographer from the University Southampton, added: “Antarctic sea ice in the Southern Ocean helps drive the planet's ocean overturning circulation.

“However, since 2015, the region has undergone a huge transformation, with extreme ice loss around the continent.

“What started as a slow build-up of deep-sea heat under the Antarctic sea ice was followed by a violent mixing of water, ending in a vicious cycle where it’s too warm to let ice recover.

“It’s concerning because massive loss of sea ice destabilises the world’s ocean current systems, warming our planet far quicker than expected.”

The study, published in Science Advances, was undertaken by the Southampton experts working with scientists worldwide.

Using a sophisticated ice-measuring programme, the team found the sea ice decline happened in three stages, driven by shifting winds and warming oceans.

Around 2013 – strengthening winds began pulling warm, salty water from the deep ocean, known as Circumpolar Deep Water, closer to the surface
In 2015 – intense wind mixed the deeper heat directly into the surface layer, rapidly melting sea ice, particularly in East Antarctica
Since 2018 – the ice-ocean system has become trapped in a cycle where, with less ice to melt, the surface remains salty and warm, inhibiting new ice from forming

The study also found a striking asymmetry in how the ice is retreating across the continent, with East Antarctic loss almost entirely ocean-driven, fuelled by an upward surge of warmer deep water.

However, in West Antarctica, heat was trapped in the ocean by intense cloud cover, which was funnelled by warm air from the subtropics down to the pole, melting the sea ice during the summers of 2016 and 2019.

Paper co-author Dr Alessandro Silvano, also from the University of Southampton, said: “This isn't just a regional problem, Antarctic sea ice acts as Earth’s mirror, reflecting solar radiation back into space.

“Its loss could destabilise the currents that store heat and carbon in the ocean, accelerating global warming, and also destabilise ice shelves that prevent glaciers from sliding into the sea, raising global sea levels.”

The Southampton-led research team also warned human-driven climate change is fuelling stronger winds, exposing the Southern Ocean’s surface and pushing deep-sea heat to the surface.

If this continues, the Southern Ocean could be pushed into a "prolonged low sea-ice state,” said Professor in Physical Oceanography Alberto Naveira Garabato from the University of Southampton.

He added: “If the low sea-ice coverage prevails into 2030 and beyond, the ocean may transition from a stabiliser of the world’s climate to a powerful new driver of global warming."

Summit outlines food ambitions for Southampton

The Food Summit event, organised by the Southampton Food Partnership, was held at the University of Southampton.

Representatives from schools, universities, supermarkets, community groups, local farms and food producers, caterers and charities attended the session to discuss how to tackle food inequality and access to healthy, sustainable food across Southampton.

Dr Jenny Baverstock, Principal Enterprise Fellow at the University of Southampton and co-lead of the Southampton Food Partnership, said: “Our goal is simple but powerful: to strengthen collaborations across our local and regional food system at a pivotal moment. With 2026 marking the start of devolution and a new strategic authority, this is a unique opportunity to ensure that food – whether it’s tackling food insecurity and poverty, improving public health, supporting local supply chains, or driving sustainability – is firmly embedded in our regional priorities. The Southampton Food Partnership is aiming to make our community a better, fairer and healthier place to live in line with growth for our economy.”

Opening the Food Summit, Sue Littlemore, Director of Civic University at the University of Southampton, said: “Access to healthy and sustainable food is a problem that affects people’s lives, and it cannot be down to one organisation to solve it. If we come together and pool our strengths we have a much better chance.”

Darren Paffey, MP for Southampton Itchen, told the meeting: “Food is not just about what happens in kitchens. It’s about health and education and poverty and choice and climate and economic resilience, and it’s about dignity.”

He highlighted that food prices rose by 36 per cent between 2021 and 2025.

“Resilience is about whether a family can afford good nutritious food at the end of the month as well as at the start,” said Dr Paffey. “It’s about whether a community food pantry can meet demand, and whether schools can provide good meals.

“The most important shift we need to make is from emergency response to prevention. I am really heartened by knowing that we can be the sort of place that leads on this. Let’s make Southampton a city where good food and nutrition is not a privilege but a part of everyday life.”

The summit also heard from Duncan House, Chair of the Southampton Food Partnership, who commented on the regrettable need for food aid in our society.

Joseph Davies, Head of Food and Health at Upper Shirley High School, was the keynote speaker.

He said: “The state of the food nation is well and truly broken. Poor diet is the number one cause of death in the UK, particularly implicated in non-communicable disease. One-third of young people are overweight or obese, and in Southampton more than 44 per cent of children are overweight or obese. Instead of choice, we are bombarded with heavily marketed ultra-processed foods.”

Mr Davies has tackled this head-on at Upper Shirley High School, overhauling the food and nutrition curriculum, and redesigning the school menu.

The event also heard from Chris McWilliams, Community Champion at ASDA Southampton, who outlined her work in communities to teach people how to cook nutritious meals and Richard Pitt from Aldermoor Community Farm, who outlined the farm’s mission to enable more people to experience growing their own food. He wants Southampton to be the first UK city to have a municipal acorns production line, harvesting acorns and soaking them to remove the tannins so they can be consumed.

Other speakers included Gary Smith from Southampton University Students’ Union, Ben Fishlock from SORoast and Victoria Ugwoeme from the Feed the Community project in Southampton.

Severe asthma patients often battle multiple health conditions

Researchers analysing data from thousands of patients discovered that the additional illnesses – which range from obesity to osteoporosis – tend to appear in clusters.

They say that identifying these patterns could be the key to unlocking more effective treatment for those hit hardest by the condition.

The study, published in Lancet Regional Health, was led by academics from the University of Southampton, University Hospital Southampton and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).

Experts were working with SHARP (Severe Heterogeneous Asthma Research collaboration: Patient centred), a European Respiratory Society (ERS) Clinical Research Collaboration.

It provides the first detailed description of how long-term health conditions are regularly found together in patients with severe asthma.

Study lead author Dr Ramesh Kurukulaaratchy is a Professor in Respiratory Medicine and Allergy at the University of Southampton.

He said the results showed that nearly all asthma patients suffered from at least one other major health issue, with most suffering three or more.

“The patterns we found were linked to how well asthma was controlled, how often attacks happened and the treatments needed,” added Prof Kurukulaaratchy, who also works as an Honorary Consultant at University Hospital Southampton.

“Better understanding these patterns will help us look beyond asthma alone and improve the care for people living with severe asthma.”

The study analysed data taken from 2,700 patients across 11 European countries.

While asthma affects everyone differently, the researchers identified three distinct profiles that appeared consistently across the patient groups:

1) High steroid use – patients reported high rates of osteoporosis combined with weight gain caused by steroid treatments

2) Severe allergies – including from eczema alongside hay fever, or rhinitis

3) And sinusitis – patients with chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps

Joint first author Dr Anna Freeman, Respiratory Consultant at University Hospital Southampton, said: "People with severe asthma often live with a heavy burden of other conditions but, until now, we didn’t fully understand how they were linked.

“With our results, we can improve the quality of life for millions of people across Europe who currently struggle to keep their severe asthma under control.”

Read the study in full at authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S2666776226000128.

Reusable catheters a safe choice that could save NHS millions

Thousands of people use the devices to empty their bladders as much as four times a day on average, and the plastic tubes are used just once before being discarded.

Researchers from the University of Southampton followed hundreds of patients for a year to measure the health impact of reusable intermittent urinary catheters against single-use ones.

They discovered that those who tested reusable catheters used 35 per cent fewer antibiotics compared to their single-use only counterparts.

The landmark study, published in the International Journal of Nursing Studies, was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

Experts say the findings could save the NHS millions and cut down on thousands of tonnes of plastic waste produced each year.

Lead author Professor Mandy Fader, in the school of Health Sciences at the University of Southampton, said: “Until now, there has been a real lack of high-quality evidence to support the reuse of catheters.

“But, with our study, we can say for the first time that it is a safe option to switch to reusable catheters.”

For decades, patients in the UK have been strictly advised by healthcare professionals to use single-use catheters to prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs), leaving no choice for those wanting to use the more green-friendly reusable options.

The Southampton study followed 578 participants across a 12-month period, split into two groups – one of which stuck to single-use tubes.

The other group, however, used both the reusable and single-use catheters, and were given a kit to wash them in soap and water, followed by a soak in chlorine solution.

Scientists found 29 per cent of those in the mixed-use group had at least one UTI during the year, compared to about 34 per cent of those who used a fresh one each time.

Study co-author Margaret Macaulay, also from Southampton, said: “The NHS is full of single-use products, and many healthcare professionals caution against reusable items because of the risk of infection.

“However, our results clearly show that reusable catheters can and should be used by the NHS without increasing infection rates.

“People should have the choice to switch depending on their lifestyle needs – and cut down on the throwaway culture in our health service.”

Professor Marian Knight, NIHR Programme Director of Programme Grants for Applied Research said: "This study is a powerful example of how NIHR-funded research could lead to real-world impact, improving patient choice, saving the NHS millions, and reducing plastic waste.

“These findings will give the NHS the evidence it needs to consider introducing reusable catheters.

“It shows that thousands of people who use catheters every day could choose reusable catheters without concern about an increased risk of infection compared with single-use options, giving patients access to a more environmentally friendly choice."

According to the research team, around 100 million single-use catheters are prescribed by the NHS across the UK every year.

They also found that cost of the single-use tubes to taxpayers has risen from £22million in 1998 to around £200million in 2026.

“A box of 30 single-use catheters can cost about £50,” added Southampton Professor of Continence Cathy Murphy.

“Reusable catheters in our trial cost less than 10p per use and can be reused for a month. If just 25 per cent of patients made the switch, the NHS could save millions.”

Working up a sweat: How sweat patterns change as girls get older

A team from the University of Southampton measured girls’ sweating habits across different age groups.

Their findings can inform better sportswear designs for teenagers, and be used to encourage more teenage girls to take part in sport.

The study is the first to establish how sweating changes across the body as girls mature. It pinpoints age 14 as the point at which sweating becomes more adult-like, with an increase in sweat from the torso.

A total of 28 girls aged between eight and 25 took part in the study. They were fitted with absorbent patches before taking part in a 40-minute session on an exercise bike in 36-degree heat in the university’s climate chamber. The patches revealed where and how much the girls sweated.

Dr Hannah Blount, postgraduate researcher in thermal physiology, led the research. She said: “We found that at the age of 14, girls begin to sweat across their torso more than from the extremities of hands and feet. Up to that age, children sweat the most from their hands and feet.

“That increase in sweat across the chest, abdomen and back rises linearly with age, likely driven by higher sweat output per gland.”

The research by Dr Blount was supported by a PhD studentship co-funded by The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and NIKE, Inc. The findings are published in the journal Experimental Physiology.

Dr Hannah Blount

“The aim of the work is to help inform better clothing designs for girls’ sportswear,” explained Dr Blount. “We see quite a heavy dropout rate of girls doing sport in their teenage years, so anything we can do to help reduce the barriers to participation in sport for girls and women of all ages in a warming climate is a positive.

“So, given that our research found an increase in sweat across the torso, at the age of 14 we want to be using fabrics for sport tops that are moisture-wicking, and to design clothes that are more ventilated and allow sweat to evaporate.”

Research participant Kiera Habenicht, aged 13, said: “It felt surreal that my results would contribute to something so important but that made it exciting that I was helping with something meaningful – even though I was just cycling. There were moments when it was difficult and even a bit uncomfortable but overall, it was very enjoyable. It was so interesting to see how proper experiments are done with everything so carefully controlled and purposeful.”

Nine-year-old Beatrice Filingeri, who also took part in the study, said: “It was a sweaty experiment but real fun to do! It was very fun when the bike went faster and faster. I would definitely do it again because I quite liked wearing the mask and being able to see how fast I was going.”

The research also adds to research that informs public health messaging.

Davide Filingeri, Professor of Human Thermal Physiology and co-author of the study, said: “Traditional messaging around vulnerability to heat stress considers children to be more at risk – it is currently believed that they sweat less than adults, so they cannot cool down as well.

“This research has demonstrated there are parts of children’s bodies that sweat less, but also parts that sweat more. It adds to our understanding of who is vulnerable to heat stress and why – and at what age.”

Winchester Cathedral showcases fashion’s next big things

The 25 final year students each showed four of their fashion creations. Twelve collections were selected to be presented at Graduate Fashion Week in London next month.

The event was held for the first time at Winchester Cathedral and was attended by about 400 onlookers including fashion industry representatives, local councillors and members of the public.

Fashion show organisers Jiabei Zheng, Grace Cowan and Kathie Cooper

Matthew Coats, programme lead for Fashion Design at Winchester School of Art (WSA) and former fashion designer at Chanel in Paris under the direction of Karl Lagerfeld, said: “We are so proud of all the creations on show. The quality of this year’s graduates’ work is extremely high and each and every one of them shows real promise for the fashion industry.

“Holding the show in Winchester Cathedral for the first time provides the perfect inspiring and impressive backdrop for the students’ creative work, showing it off to its best.”

The annual fashion show was organised by the students themselves for the first time.

Show planner Grace Cowan, 21, said: “The fashion show is really special for all of us. It's a chance to come together as a year group and celebrate the work we've done. I'm incredibly excited to see the Cathedral as a backdrop for our final show. It's really made tonight as special as it can be.”

Many of the students already have exciting next steps lined up.

Augustin (Jiaheng Liu), centre, with his collection

Jiaheng Liu, 21, also known as Augustin, has been accepted onto a world-leading Master’s course at the Institut Français de la Mode in Paris, where he will develop his unique 3D printed accessories.

Augustin’s final collection, Couture of Them, features distinctive 3D-printed accessories including bags and models of birds, which explore the relationship between masculinity and technological evolution.

He said: “During the three years I have learnt a lot of professional skills for the fashion industry, how we can be creative and find our own styles, and how we develop this in the fashion industry in the future.”

The fashion show in full swing

Nuo Xu, 23, is embarking on a Master’s at London College of Fashion and has been selected by Graduate Fashion Week as a Talent of Tomorrow and had her work showcased in contemporary culture publication The Cold Magazine as well as the leading fashion industry publication Drapers. Her collection, Suspended Memory, weaves together Second World War heritage, brutalist and military architecture, punk rebellion and modernist structure.

The catwalk show was judged by a panel including WSA alumni Saskia Norris, Product Developer at Passenger, Isabella Kilshaw, who works in merchandising at Boden, and brand owner and YouTube influencer Rosie Calwell. Victoria Suffield, owner of independent Winchester department store The Hambledon, was also on the judging panel.

There’s another chance to see the students’ creations at the WSA BA Degree Show from Friday 5 to Wednesday 10 June, when the school opens its doors to the public to come and see graduating students’ work.

Southampton professor to receive Royal Society Fellowship

The Royal Society made the announcement today [27 May], with the formal admission ceremony due to take place on 10 July.

Established in 1660, the Fellowship of the Royal Society is one of the highest honours a scientist can achieve and is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge in their field.

Notable fellows include Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, Lise Meitner, Stephen Hawking and Tim Berners-Lee.

Professor Alberto Naveira Garabato is a physical oceanographer focused on the processes governing ocean circulation and how these influence global climate systems.

His research addresses how ocean processes operating at different sizes and timescales interact with one another - from tiny turbulent swirls a few centimetres wide to massive global currents stretching across entire ocean basins.

He has led and participated in numerous expeditions to remote regions, including Antarctica, combining advanced technologies with innovative analytical techniques.

Prof Naveira Garabato participated in the recent research expedition of the South Korean research icebreaker RV Araon to the Ross Sea, Antarctica.

His research has unravelled the complex, turbulent physics of the ocean’s interactions with its boundaries – the atmosphere, the seafloor, and ice.

Analytical and conceptual advances made by Professor Naveira Garabato have quantified the rates and mechanisms of the ocean mixing resulting from such interactions, and unveiled mixing’s global impacts on climate.

Alberto is from Galicia in Spain and was educated at the Universities of Southampton and Liverpool.

He has spent most of his career at the University of Southampton, where he now holds the Regius Chair of Ocean Sciences.

His research has attracted a range of awards, such as the Challenger Medal and the Fridtjof Nansen Medal.

Reflecting on the award, Prof Garabato said: “I am very grateful to the Royal Society for granting me this honour. Throughout my journey in oceanography, I have been immensely lucky to have had the opportunity to work with many gifted and kind collaborators of all career stages. I think of this Fellowship as a shared recognition of their talent and effort.”

Sir Paul Nurse, President of the Royal Society, said: “I am delighted to welcome this newest group of exceptional scientists to the Fellowship of the Royal Society.

“Our Fellowship is strengthened not only by individual distinction, but by the diversity of perspectives and experiences its members bring. This incoming cohort highlights the truly international character of contemporary science and underscores the vital role that plays in achieving breakthroughs that benefit us all.”

Chris Packham backs Southampton screening of The People’s Emergency Briefing

The screening is part of a UK-wide programme of events designed to help ensure that both the public and decision-makers are informed about the climate and nature crisis - and what it may mean for communities across the country.

In November 2025, more than 1,200 MPs, peers and leaders from business, culture, faith, sport and the media gathered at Westminster Central Hall for the National Emergency Briefing - a landmark event bringing together leading experts to assess the UK’s exposure to climate and nature risks.

The briefing, introduced by Chris Packham CBE, sets out the implications of climate and nature breakdown for food security, public health, infrastructure, the economy and national security, alongside evidence-based actions that could reduce these risks.

This national event has now been adapted into a 50-minute public film, The People’s Emergency Briefing, which is now being screened in communities across the UK.

The film brings together leading scientists to present a clear picture of the challenges ahead, while creating space for local communities to consider what these issues may mean in their local area, and how they can support their MP to call for stronger action.

Chris Packham, who studied at the University of Southampton, said: “I’d encourage people everywhere to attend a screening of The People’s Emergency Briefing. It creates exactly the kind of honest local conversation we now urgently need, both about what these changes mean where we live, and about what we can do together to address them.”

Following the screening, hosted by University’s Sustainability and Resilience Institute, there will be an informal discussion to hear audience responses to the film and thoughts about actions the community could take.

Dr Becks Spake, Associate Professor in Geography and Environmental Science at the University of Southampton is helping to organise the screening. She said: “This is about creating space for people to come together, look at the evidence, and begin a more open and informed conversation about what it means for our community - and how we can support the bolder action now called for by the science, which will also do so much to improve lives, as the film explains.”

With screenings taking place nationwide, local events form part of a broader effort to build a shared understanding of climate and nature risks across the UK, and to support constructive public dialogue about future choices.

Tickets for the University of Southampton screening are free, but advance registration is encouraged. It will take place in Building 100 on Highfield Campus.

To register, please click on this link: Registration | People's Emergency Briefing (Climate and Nature)