Bath Beacons

Our multidisciplinary Beacons empower our research community to tackle major global challenges by building consortia for large-scale funding.

Research culture

Putting people at the heart of research and innovation.

Why evolution made us overconfident — the ‘peacock’s tail’ of human behaviour

The costs of overconfidence help signal who can afford to sustain it, new research finds.

Who people trust matters: new study maps a path to climate action

From celebrities to neighbours, the people around us can nudge us towards better climate choices. A new study led by the University of Bath shows how.

Immune navigation system discovered that could lead to better treatments for chronic inflammation

Scientists have uncovered how white blood cells are directed towards an infection site in the gut without damaging healthy tissue in the process.

New research turns the Dunning-Kruger effect on its head: Rethinking the confident incompetent

Study reverses one of psychology’s most famous findings to show confidence follows competence.

Moral injury can be devastating: new assessment protocol makes it easier to identify those at risk

A new measure designed to spot people with moral injury and to help them receive the support they need has been developed by psychologists at Bath.

Bath drug discovery spin-out wins national Emerging Technologies Competition

Revolver Therapeutics has won the health category of the Royal Society of Chemistry's Emerging Technologies Competition 2026.

Beatrix Potter was obsessed with fungi – and she was quite the naturalist

Joni Wildman (Life Sciences) writes in The Conversation about a little-known side to the children's author.

Vitamin D and calcium supplements may not protect against bone fractures, large new study suggests

For years, people have taken calcium and vitamin D supplements to help keep their bones strong, but a major new study questions this practice.

What Kevin Keegan’s cancer diagnosis reveals about how we find disease

Professor Kit Yates explains why it seems people who suffer from car crash injuries are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than those that don't.

Swatch brawls: why are people fighting over pocket watches?

Dr Roman Pavlyuchenko writes for The Conversation about the hype behind the Swatch collaboration with Audemars Piguet.

Why business students should spend time connecting with nature

Dr George Ferns explains for The Conversation that an outdoor education can offer something that conventional leadership programmes often miss.

Four reasons why the new DC cinematic universe may fail (again)

DC is attempting a revival to compete with the cinematic success of Marvel. Dr Roman Pavlyuchenko explains why he thinks the DC comeback isn't set to fly.

How chemistry research at Bath is tackling the plastics problem

In the sustainable chemical technologies space, we're putting chemistry at the core of new solutions that will enable a circular economy.

Bath research is helping businesses innovate for the future

From boosting crop yields to supporting workers with dementia, read about how our academics are making innovation work for business and industry.

Our research into psychology, digital behaviour, and pain is supporting young people's health

From tackling chronic pain and reducing self-harm to supporting mental health, autism inclusion, and healthy behaviours, our work is shaping better futures.

How our engineering and management research is powering the UK's industrial strategy

How Bath is helping to accelerate the UK’s transition to net zero, strengthen industrial capabilities, and foster inclusive growth.

How our research is making sport more inclusive

Through our sport research, we are making a huge impact on the lives of people worldwide and progressing positive policy change to help level the playing field.

How our pharmacology, psychology, chemistry and social policy research is protecting consumers

From reducing emergency admissions to tackling antimicrobial resistance, we're driving innovations that address some of the world's biggest health challenges.

Help us research fat tissue inflammation and the regulation of muscle in older people

Take part in research into whether differing levels of fat tissue inflammation are linked to levels of muscle loss as people age.

Help us research how metabolism is impacted by exercise at different times of the day

Earn £400 and help us research how exercise during different times of the day affects metabolism. We need healthy individuals aged 18-50 with a BMI of 18-35.

How do you cope with stressful and traumatic life events? Join our research study

We need volunteers to help us research how personal characteristics can help individuals cope with stressful and traumatic life events.

Modern Slavery and Trafficking Survivors: Albanian mothers’ experiences of parenthood in the UK

A study to explore the experiences of parenthood of Albanian mothers who have survived human trafficking and modern slavery.

Help us explore how VR and video mindfulness actions affect stress, anxiety, and confidence

We are researching how virtual reality (VR) and video-based mindfulness exercises impact stress, anxiety, and confidence in public-speaking situations.

Help us understand what matters when creating digital tools to support young people’s wellbeing

We need students (aged 14-18), parents, and secondary school staff to help us design school-delivered digital tools to reduce mental health risks in teenagers.