southampton

How we are changing the world

Our female academics and alumni are changing the world for the better. This is just a small showcase of the many talented women who make up our staff, student and alumni body.

Our academics are changing the world

Postgraduate research student Angeles Camacho

Angeles Camacho could not speak a word of English when she moved from Mexico to the UK. Six years later she has found her voice at our University where she is studying a PhD, heading up a society and playing a huge part in inspiring the next generation of scientists through her outreach work.

The mum-of-two’s determination and perseverance paid off when she was invited to Buckingham Palace to be part of the group that received the Queen’s Anniversary Prize on behalf of the University's Optoelectronics Research Centre.

Find out more about Angeles' journey to her PhD and beyond.

Meet more of our academics

Professor Syma Khalid

In 2017 the Office for National Statistics stated that antibiotic resistance has caused a fall in life expectancy for the first time. Professor Khalid is leading research to find solutions to this issue.

Professor Freda Stevenson

Professor Freda Stevenson has been at the forefront of cancer immunology research at the University for over 40 years. She has led, shaped and continues to pioneer ground-breaking research.

Dr Shelley Cobb

Dr Cobb has just published research which shows how under-represented women are in the British film-making industry. The research found that only 14 per cent of all directors are women.

Dr Kathryn Woods-Townsend

Dr Woods-Townsend has just been appointed to the board of an influential children’s health body, UK active. This body aims to improve the lives of children across the UK.

Professor Maria Stokes, OBE

Professor Stokes explores the similarities between muscle weakness in astronauts and muscle weakness in patients on Earth. Professor Stokes was awarded an OBE in 2018 for her services to physiotherapy.

Professor Elena Simperl

Professor Elena Simperl is part of an international consortium making online transactions more secure by studying how blocks of information are distributed across a network.

Katie St John Glew - Postgraduate research student

Katie is helping to conserve sea life and safeguard against illegal fishing by making a chemical map of the UK's shelf seas.

Professor Ling Wang

Professor Ling is using Tribology, the science of all interacting surfaces in relative motion, to improve the performance of renewable energies, such as wind turbines.

Professor Shirli Gilbert

Professor Gilbert has collected over 350 recordings of music and song, documenting experience of the Holocaust. These are now available on an educational website.

Dr Jana Kreppner

Dr Kreppner led a groundbreaking study which has revealed the lasting impact of profound deprivation during early childhood, which could help to inform policy and practice in the future.

Dr Judith Holloway

Dr Holloway, Associate Professor within Medicine and Programme Director of the MSc Allergy course, was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship in 2017 for her work improving the outcomes of people with allergies.

Dr Helen Rees

Dr Rees has been appointed President of the Canadian Federation of Podiatric Medicine. Dr Rees first encountered the CFPM when she worked in Canada on her University of Southampton placement.

Professor Diana Eccles

Professor Eccles led the world's largest study looking at breast cancer survival rates of women with the BRCA gene mutation.

Our Alumni are changing the world

Dr Kizanne James

After graduating from the MSc Leadership and Management in Health and Social Care programme last year, Dr Kizanne James has made the world her home. A Community Engagement Specialist with the 'She Decides' organisation, Kizanne now helps support and establish national and regional movements in Latin America, Africa and India that promote women’s sexual health rights.

During her studies at Southampton Kizanne won a WiSET award, which recognises the impact of women in science. She also benefited from a SEED grant that helped with the development of a mobile phone application to enable women to access contraceptive advice and support.

Read an interview with Kizanne about her work.

Meet more of our alumni

Satvir Kaur, leading local councillor

"It was a massive battle for me to go to university.....My sisters and I were the first girls to actually go from my community." Find out how Satvir continues to champion diversity.

Katie McDonnell, freerunner

Katie is one of the world's leading female freerunners, working on large, blockbuster movies and life-changing documentaries. She was a finalist in Ninja Warrior UK.

Ini-Abasi Umotong, professional footballer

Ini juggled her economics degree with playing professional football. She now plays professionally for Brighton and Hove Albion and is on the Nigerian national team.

Claire Gott, MBE

Claire was awarded an MBE (2018) for starting the charity Cameroon Catalyst. She founded the charity whilst in her final year at Southampton and now runs it alongside her work in an engineering consultancy.

Andrea Byrne, TV newsreader

Andrea is the face of ITV News in Wales. She says the best part of her job is the privilege of people letting her into their lives to hear their stories – stories which are often very personal and emotional.

Our student bloggers

Hear how some of our students are inspired by the women they encounter in their studies here.

Georgia

a third year BSc Biologist

Emily

a second year student studying BA English

Sarah

third year BA Geography student

How we are encouraging the next generation

Our outreach teams are busy across the South-East encouraging girls and young women to take an interest in higher education and particularly in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths).

We work with local girl guiding groups on a STEM badge programme, our Women in Science and Engineering Network runs regular outreach events and we attend regional events such as the Women into Digital Industries Fair.

International Women’s Day