Professor Emma Carmel, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Research (Interim), hosted the University of Bath Research Day 2026. Opening the event, Professor Carmel said:

The University of Bath Research Day is a lovely Bath tradition showcasing the contribution of the interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research excellence and leadership from our Early Career Researchers. This is represented in our ECR presentations which demonstrate a real engagement with the world outside academia and interest in using research for public good. Their research output is admirable and exciting, enabling researchers to make a significant difference both in their research careers and in the wider world.

See the full presentations. These covered a range of topics including:

Building a zero-carbon future: Innovation in structural engineering practice

Dr Will Hawkins, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, showcased a range of research projects to equip policy makers and practicing structural engineers with the knowledge, tools and technologies needed to build a zero-carbon future. This includes vaulted timber floors, material emissions forecasting, optimised foundations, and simulated building loading.

Past and present futures for comprehensive sexuality education

Dr Rachel Wilder, Department of Education, spoke on how Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) – or relationships and sex education as it’s known in England – is associated with positive social outcomes. Nonetheless, CSE is consistently contentious and unrealised. Why is it significant and how education leaders imagine policy transitions and outcome for quality CSE? And what is needed for these anticipations to lead to sexual and reproductive justice for children and young people?

One Health, Many Microbiomes: How microbes shape animal, human, and environmental health

Dr Corey Holy, Department of Life Sciences, highlighted the community of microbes that live with a host or environment (the microbiome) in being vital to its success. He explained how invertebrates play important roles in ecosystem functioning and food production, yet their microbiomes remain relatively neglected. A particular focus is the diversity and evolution of microbial eukaryotes (i.e., protists), which are often overlooked despite their outsized roles in structuring host and environment microbiomes; mediating health, nutrition, and physiology in the host; and driving food webs and biogeochemical cycles in the environment.

Small is big in tribology

Dr James Ewen, Department of Mechanical Engineering, introduced the often-overlooked subject of tribology – the science and engineering of surfaces in relative motion – and how it can help in our pursuit of net zero, improve the sustainability of consumer care products, and even ensure the reliability of satellites. Many tribological processes, such as friction and wear, are governed by phenomena that occur at the nanoscale. Dr Ewen discussed how molecular dynamics simulations can be used to investigate the fundamental origins of friction and wear in a wide range of applications.

Using marketing messages to increase sustainable consumption

Dr Lisa Eckmann’s talk addressed how consumers often make suboptimal consumption decisions that may negatively affect both their personal wellbeing and the environment. She presents two examples of how marketing messages in a retail context can encourage more sustainable consumption choices that benefit both individuals and the environment.

Exercise Snacking in Older Adults: Sorting the Data from the Digestible Soundbites

Dr Oly Perkins, Department of Health, presented on three key questions on the theme of healthy ageing and human physiology: - What is the ‘minimum dose’ of exercise for older adults to maintain or meaningfully enhance muscle size or strength to improve overall quality of life. - What are the underlying physiological mechanisms driving improvements in health outcomes, and how can optimise the training effect. - How do we use this knowledge to support older adults, particularly those most vulnerable, for example due to multimorbidity or in clinical settings.

From Vernacular to Digital: Structural Engineering and Built Heritage Conservation

Dr Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, illustrated how historical building knowledge embodies principles of resilience, adaptability, and sustainability design that remain highly relevant today. Starting from vernacular and traditional construction systems, he then explored how these principles inform contemporary challenges in structural assessment, conservation, retrofitting, and post-conflict reconstruction, where engineering decisions must balance safety, authenticity, and social value. Looking forward, he introduced his work on Industry 5.0 and Human-Centric Digital Twins for built heritage conservation.

Where chemistry meets biology to unlock better health

Dr Maria Shchepinova, Department of Chemistry, talked about GPCRs – tiny sensors on the surface of our cells that act as messengers, orchestrating how our bodies respond to everything from light, coffee, and anti-histamines to new medicines. She explained how GPCRs do what they do, and how we as chemists and chemical biologists can apply new tools to uncover their function, paving the way for future therapies.

How fast does an iceberg melt? An applied maths case study

Dr Eric Hester, Department of Mathematical Sciences, explained his research which develops mathematical and computational models for physical systems governed by evolving geometry, using melting icebergs as a central case study. As ice sheets melt, they release vast quantities of fresh water into the ocean, altering sea levels, ocean circulation, and marine ecosystems worldwide. More than half of this fresh water enters the ocean via melting icebergs, yet current models systematically underestimate melt rates and neglect the central role of evolving iceberg geometry.