Research institutes

Interdisciplinary research

Interdisciplinary researchers working together in the field of Maths and Medicine

Tackling global concerns, from climate change to healthy ageing, needs a multifaceted approach. Interdisciplinary working lets us do this.

Ideas and creativity bridge disciplinary boundaries to bring together teams and experts from different fields. Our interdisciplinary institutes foster inspiring and innovative solutions to help solve our world's greatest challenges.

  • 4 interdisciplinary institutes

    The backbone of our interdisciplinary network

  • Networking events

    Regular workshops help interdisciplinary teams pilot new ideas

  • Funding calls

    Regular project call-outs offer early-stage funding

  • On-demand advice

    Interdisciplinary expertise and guidance whenever you need it

Our interdisciplinary institutes

At Southampton, we encourage and support interdisciplinary research in all areas of our academic community. Our institutes are the super connectors that bring together world-renowned teams and experts.

Research highlights

Delve into examples of our interdisciplinary approach with highlight stories. Learn about the real-world impact of our work, and the people behind the research.

Central Bank Digital Currency: Uncertainty and Attention Indices

Business tools being used to make and asses calculations and risks

Academics collaborate to create a series of news based cryptocurrency using a big data approach.

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Turning the blight of sargassum seaweed into an economic boon

Sargassum seaweed

Blight to boon: encroaching seaweed. Researchers predict when and where the sea will dump vast amounts of sargassum – and find good ways to use it.

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Improving the diagnosis and treatment of a rare genetic disease

Doctor using stethoscope on a child's back

Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia research is enabling earlier diagnosis and access to treatment of young children with the disease.

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Cutting international shipping carbon emissions

A large cargo vessel sailing on the ocean. It has a 20 metre-high wing sail.

Researchers from Southampton have coordinated sea trials of a 20-metre high wing-sail that could be fitted to large cargo vessels, cutting carbon emissions by a third.

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Working collaboratively in our research

Working across disciplines, collaboratively, is firmly rooted in our ethos for all our institutes, centres and groups. It helps us understand global challenges, facilitate social action and innovate in fields like artificial intelligence.

Supporting researchers

Our research culture fosters interdisciplinary collaboration inside and outside our institutes, and through our tailored research support. This includes creative workshops to help new interdisciplinary teams set up pilots, support for early-stage projects and dedicated surgeries to discuss interdisciplinary work.

Our advocates

Associate Vice Presidents (Interdisciplinary Research), Professors Rebecca Hoyle and John Holloway, champion our work.

Rebecca Hoyle
Associate VP Interdisciplinary Research
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Interdisciplinary research brings different perspectives together to tackle complex challenges and stimulate innovation. It is often very creative, bringing curiosity, adventure and new connections for our research community. I feel excited and inspired to see new teams coming together and ideas sparking between them!
John Holloway
Associate VP Interdisciplinary Research
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It is a privilege to be able to support our research community to undertake interdisciplinary research. Some of the most exciting and impactful research arises from the interfaces between disciplines and it is always inspiring to see the interdisciplinary research concepts developed by our colleagues.

Join us

Become part of our community and tackle some of the world's most complex societal and environmental challenges.

Get in touch

Talk to us, we're happy to help

Find the individual contact details for our interdisciplinary institutes by visiting their pages directly, or get in touch with our Associate Vice Presidents by email:
avpir@soton.ac.uk

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