Milner Centre for Evolution

We are a unique, cross-faculty research centre bridging biology, health and education.

Our research

We aim to answer fundamental questions about evolution through our innovative and high-quality research. The quality of our research is reflected by publications in top international journals.

Giant sea lizard fossil shows diversity of life before asteroid hit

Illustration of a giant sea lizard swimming past a giant squid

Scientists have identified the fossil of a giant mosasaur in Morocco that grew up to eight metres long.

Scientists identify how harmless gut bacteria “turn bad”

Scientists have determined how harmless E. coli gut bacteria in chickens can easily pick up the genes required to evolve to cause a life-threatening infection.

Dinosaur-era sea lizard had teeth like a shark

Two sea lizards attacking a large sea creature

New study identifies a bizarre new species suggesting that giant marine lizards thrived before the asteroid wiped them out 66 million years ago.

Pupils can learn more effectively through stories than activities

Primary school pupils on floor holding their hands up to answer questions

Storytelling is the most effective way of teaching school children about evolution, say researchers at the Milner Centre for Evolution.

Can scientists predict all of the ways the coronavirus will evolve?

Ed Fell, Professor of Microbial Evolution, discusses whether scientists can predict how varients of the Coronavirus will evolve.

An incredible ocean crossing may have made human evolution possible

Nicholas R. Longrich, Senior Lecturer in Evolutionary Biology and Paleontology, writes about oceanic dispersal for The Conversation.

Our people

We aim to recruit leading biologists as well as train and mentor postgraduates, post-doctorates and undergraduates to go on and become researchers, teachers, and innovators.

People in the Milner Centre for Evolution

Find a member of staff or PhD student.

Crocodile evolution through fossils

Polly is in the third year of her PhD in Evolutionary Biology. She studies fossils to understand why crocodiles are how they are today.

Join the Milner Centre for Evolution

Apply to join the Milner Centre for Evolution as a member of staff or PhD student.

Outreach activities

Find out how we're educating the public and inspiring students of all ages with our outreach activities.

Teaching evolution: Free resources for primary school teachers

The Milner Centre for Evolution has produced free lesson plans and resources based on unique research into the most effective ways to teach evolution.

Outreach Virtual Display Wall

Showcasing outreach initiatives from researchers at the Milner Centre for Evolution.

Get involved with our educational evolution activities

'Eye see you' exhibit at Bath Taps Into Science schools science fair

Learn how your school can get access to teaching resources and how to get one of our exhibits at your event or festival.

Local children meet very hungry caterpillars to learn about evolution

Children meet creepy crawlies and learn how to use microscopes at the Milner Centre for Evolution.

Understanding and teaching evolution

Learn key concepts in biological evolution and find out how to integrate them into the classroom with our free online learning module.

Opening of the Milner Centre

The centre formally opened on 21 September 2018.

Fossils, owls and stick insects at the Milner Centre for Evolution

The Milner Centre for Evolution celebrated its launch on the 21 September 2018 by inviting local school children to the labs to learn more about evolution.

We’re teaching evolution the wrong way around

Children looking through magnifying glasses

The new Milner Centre for Evolution will help support teachers teaching evolution

Videos from the Milner Centre conference

Watch videos of the sessions from our inaugural conference.

Our building

Find out more about our new building, which was opened in September 2018.

How the Milner Centre was designed

The central meeting space and coffee area in the Milner Centre for Evolution

The Milner Centre for Evolution was opened on 21 September 2018 - find out how our staff got involved in the building design

Building the Milner Centre for Evolution

We've built a major centre for evolution, named after Dr Jonathan Milner who donated £5 million towards its establishment.

About us

The Milner Centre has three core objectives: to ask the big evolutionary questions, to find new technological and clinical research applications, and to take evolutionary research into the community.

We are based in a multi-million-pound centre on campus which opened in September 2018.