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Research and Enterprise Institute

Southampton Space Institute

A towering satellite dish positioned in a wide, grassy field, silhouetted against a vivid orange sunset sky, with a winding dirt road leading toward it.

The Southampton Space Institute brings together world-leading elements of several research groups. We develop ground-breaking space-based technologies to address a range of real-world needs, to deliver scientific breakthroughs, and to drive domestic and international policy action.

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Research highlights

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Mapping tomorrow’s population distribution

Environment, sustainability and clean growth
Future societies and communities
AI, big data and analytics
Health and wellbeing
Research group WorldPop, based at Southampton, is developing maps which can be used to predict the impact of climate change on the distribution of Earth’s population by the end of the century. The maps will provide detailed pictures of humanity by 2100, including predicted population sizes, ages and genders.

Insights from Mars transforming healthcare technology

Engineering
Health and wellbeing
Laser and light-based techniques lie behind both the search for life on Mars and accelerated drug discovery on Earth.
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Building greener communities with satellite technology

Environment, sustainability and clean growth
Future societies and communities
Space
AI, big data and analytics
Scientists at Southampton are using satellite data to assess the carbon production of plants, monitor the Earth’s health, and help create greener, healthier global communities.
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Revealing space’s secret supermassive black holes

Space
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Protecting against rising sea levels

Engineering
Environment, sustainability and clean growth
Marine and maritime
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Eliminating cloud shadow impact on Earth observation imagery

Space
Environment, sustainability and clean growth
AI, big data and analytics
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Putting quantum computing in the palm of your hand

Space
Future societies and communities
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Enhancing astronaut health and helping physiotherapists consult during COVID

Health and wellbeing
Space
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Measuring the impact of the aurora borealis on climate change

Space
Environment, sustainability and clean growth
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Expanding the use of satellite data to provide real-world benefits

Environment, sustainability and clean growth
Health and wellbeing
Future societies and communities
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Bringing next-generation technology to the whole world

Future societies and communities
Environment, sustainability and clean growth
Space
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Optimising power transfer for renewable energy

Environment, sustainability and clean growth
Marine and maritime
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Population mapping saves lives

AI, big data and analytics
Future societies and communities
Health and wellbeing
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Related research institutes, centres and groups

WorldPop

We develop and implement open, robust and peer-reviewed geospatial methods. These are used for mapping population distributions, demographics and dynamics, with a principle focus on low and middle income countries.

Southampton Geospatial

The Southampton Geospatial team has the tools and expertise to collect, combine and interpret datasets about locations.

Sustainability and Resilience Institute (SRI)

We bring together colleagues from across the University, and work with experts from around the world to answer one of the most pressing questions of our time: “How will we choose to manage our planet for ourselves and future generations?”

Zepler Cleanrooms

The Zepler Cleanrooms Complex is a state-of-science multidisciplinary Centre which includes a variety of facilities and laboratories for materials and device research in electronics, photonics and nanotechnology, with both planar wafer and optical fibre capabilities supporting both Research and Enterprise.

Astronautics Group

Our published research activities have made a substantial contribution to advancing the field; and hardware developed by members has successfully flown on various space missions, including on the International Space Station.

Smart Electronic Materials and Systems

Our interests range from nano-scale biological sensors to complete sensor systems.

Quantum, Light and Matter Group

Our research group examines the connections between physics, chemistry and engineering.

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Contact us

We welcome queries from potential collaborators in industry and academia.
Please contact our Business Engagement Manager, Frances Clarke, for more information.
F.M.Clarke@soton.ac.uk