University of Southampton Biological Sciences

26/10/2026

🌟 Spotlighting Dr Charlie Birts

It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we caught up with Dr Charlie Birts, Lecturer in Antibody Therapeutics at University of Southampton, at his lab to find out about his research into breast cancer.

Charlie is working with partners like Against Breast Cancer to better understand how the disease develops and spreads, and how conditions like obesity can affect how the body responds to treatment.

The ultimate aim is to develop new and better immunotherapy treatments and improve patient outcomes.

13/10/2026

Today is Ada Lovelace Day, an international celebration of the achievements and contributions of women in STEM.

Across our School, women are leading world-changing research and tackling some of society's biggest challenges.

Dr Fatima Pereira, Dr Jessica Nelson, Professor Claire Clarkin and Professor Amritpal Mudher share their STEM journeys and inspiration.

Read more on the website here: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/biosci/news/2026/10/ada-lovelace-day-celebrating-our-female-scientists.page

29/09/2026

🌟 Spotlighting Professor Diego Gomez-Nicola

We caught up with Diego to find out more about the work taking place in his lab to understand how immunity influences the origin and progression of dementia. The goal is to uncover mechanisms that can be modified to slow development of the disease and improve patient outcomes.

24/09/2026

🌳 Our researchers are part of a new £2.5 million project that aims to support the future of oak woodlands.

Dr Tomislav Cernava is involved in IMPULSA, a newly funded project supported by the Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) and led by the University of Birmingham. The project will investigate whether disease resistance in oak trees can be enhanced by priming them at an early age.

By exploring both plant immunity and the plant microbiome - the communities of beneficial microbes that help protect plants from disease - the team hopes to find new ways of improving tree resilience.

The research could enable nurseries to grow oak trees that are better prepared to thrive in increasingly challenging environmental conditions.

Find out more about the work of our Plants and Food Security research group: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/research/groups/plants-food-security

17/09/2026

🧆 Chickpeas, culture and cuisine

With the British Science Festival well and truly underway in Southampton, we are shining a spotlight on some of the exciting School of Biological Sciences events taking place.

Join our researchers to cook up a storm in celebration of the humble chickpea and discover how small food choices can spark big, sustainable change. Take home tasty recipes and eco-tips to share with your friends and family and explore how one simple ingredient can impact us, our societies, and our planet.

📅 Sunday 20 September
⏰ Drop in between 12pm - 5pm
📍 Guildhall Square

Find out more on the British Science Festival website:

Run time: 12.00 – 17.00 Cooking demos will take place at 12.30, 13.45 and 15.00 Are you ready to take on the humble but mighty chickpea? Chickpeas may seem like a simple legume, but even the smallest…

16/09/2026

🍽️ Meals, moods and microbes

The British Science Festival has started in Southampton today and we’re shining a spotlight on some of the exciting School of Biological Sciences events taking place.

You are what you eat! Discover how gut microbes and meals can influence your emotions at our street festival – with painting, games, plant-based African street food, and music.

📅 Saturday 19 September

⏰ Drop-in between 12pm and 5pm

📍 Guildhall Square

Find out more on the British Science Festival website:

This drop in activity runs from 12.00 – 17.00 What your meals are made of can change your emotions. It’s all down to your gut microbes and how they work with your brain to create changes in mood.

15/09/2026

🦠 Microbes Unmasked

As we get ready to welcome the British Science Festival to Southampton later this week, we’re shining a spotlight on some of the exciting School of Biological Sciences events taking place.

Create art with microbes and unmask how microbes can support your wellbeing and protect you from diseases at this event, held in partnership with the National Biofilms Innovation Centre.

📅 Saturday 19 September
⏰ 12pm - 1pm
📍 Southampton City Art Gallery

This workshop runs from 12.00 - 13.00 You might find microbes in mud, but it’s not a dirty word! Found across soil, water and all animals,…

14/09/2026

🔬 Invisible illness through AI eyes

As we get ready to welcome the British Science Festival to Southampton later this week, we’re shining a spotlight on some of the exciting Biological Sciences events taking place.

AI is transforming our understanding of hidden diseases, helping to detect illnesses such as cancer. Join our researchers and artists at this event and get hands-on revealing the invisible inner workings of our bodies.

📅 Saturday 19 September
⏰ Drop in between 11am - 5pm
📍 Sir James Matthews Building, City Centre

Find out more on the British Science Festival website:

This drop in event runs from 11.00 – 17.00 AI has the potential to transform our understanding of hidden diseases. Doctors use specialist medical imaging to uncover what’s beneath the skin – think X…

14/09/2026

We're moving up 📈

We have risen two places in The Guardian University Guide 2027, to 18th position 🎉

The league tables consider a variety of factors, including student satisfaction, teaching, and career prospects, and the result is testament to the incredible dedication and work of our colleagues, as well as the fantastic achievements and engagement of our students.

The guide also shows 12 of our subjects are ranked in the top 10, which includes:

🥈 2nd for electrical & electronic engineering
🏅 4th for civil engineering, physiotherapy, and midwifery
🏅 5th for aerospace engineering, and chemistry

A huge congratulations to everyone whose work has contributed to these results.

02/09/2026

The British Science Festival is coming to Southampton from 16 – 20 September and we are excited to be holding 4 events across the Festival weekend:

🍽 Meals, moods and microbes – Join our street festival at Guildhall Square to find out how your gut microbes work with your brain to create changes in mood

🦠 Microbes Unmasked – Create art with microbes and find out how they support your wellbeing and protect you from diseases

🔬 Invisible illness through AI eyes – Through games and hands-on activities, explore how AI is helping transform our understanding of hidden diseases

🫘Chickpeas, culture and cuisine – Cook up a storm in celebration of the chickpea and discover how small food choices can spark big, sustainable change

Visit the British Science Festival website to find out more and book your place: https://britishsciencefestival.org/