Giving Report 2021 by University of Southampton

GIVING REPORT 2021

TOGETHER WE ARE ACHIEVING REMARKABLE THINGS

WELCOME FROM OUR PRESIDENT AND VICE-CHANCELLOR I am delighted to welcome you to this 2021 giving report: a showcase of the incredible impact that donors and volunteers like you have made on the University of Southampton over the last 12 months. This past year has been like no other – and certainly not how I anticipated my first year as Vice-Chancellor. The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to hold its grip on the world, and only now are some countries beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The University and its students have, of course, faced their own monumental difficulties. However, it is thanks to your generous giving – of time, money, or both – that we have been able to overcome such unprecedented challenges, together. The uniting of our alumni and supporter community in the face of such adversity has been truly inspirational, and I am proud that, collectively, you represent such an asset to Southampton. The speed and enthusiasm of your response enabled us to have greater and further-reaching impact than ever before – continuing our innovation, strengthening our research, and reinforcing our links with the city. This report is just a snapshot of the breadth of activity where supporters like you made a difference – from philanthropy across our diverse funds, to providing students and recent graduates with advice and guidance, to acting as advocates for the University and the city. I hope that you also feel proud to discover more about Southampton’s strengths across the following pages. Please accept my sincere gratitude for your contributions to the University, through which we continue to advance as an institution. As a community, you also continue to demonstrate what can be achieved together – collectively transforming lives, both here and across the world. I know that so many at Southampton and beyond are extremely appreciative for your support. With thanks and warmest wishes, Professor Mark E. Smith CBE President and Vice-Chancellor

CONTENTS

HEALTH: Coming together in the face of adversity

HEALTH: Breakthroughs in cancer treatment

STUDENTS: Passing it on

STUDENTS: Funding brighter futures

ENTERPRISE: Careers support for students and recent graduates

ARTS: Enriching our city’s culture

HEALTH: Transforming sight research

NTERPRISE: E Supporting future entrepreneurs

Southampton’s legacies

TOGETHER WE ARE ACHIEVING REMARKABLE THINGS 3

BREAKTHROUGHS IN CANCER TREATMENT Last year saw tough times for cancer research funding. Reductions of hundreds of millions of pounds were felt due to the impact of the pandemic, and many lifesaving research projects were put on hold or simply didn’t happen. But thanks to your support, developments at our Centre for Cancer Immunology are providing increased hope to cancer patients. As you may remember – and indeed may have contributed to – our campaign for the Centre for Cancer Immunology completed just over three years ago. Thanks to our alumni and supporter community, we reached our £25m fundraising target (the University’s biggest to date) six months ahead of target. As a result of our donors’ generosity, we were able to build the UK’s first centre dedicated to cancer immunology research. Its exceptional cancer scientists have been hard at work within ever since, making incredible breakthroughs in the way we fight this terrible disease. The Centre has enabled different cancer research groups to come together and benefit from the cutting-edge facilities and new technologies that were part of its design. Links with the hospital have been further strengthened, and co-operation and collaboration across the team is at an all-time high. 4

Cancer during COVID-19 The past year has illustrated this enhanced co-ordination more than ever, with the Centre’s scientists “truly pulling together” during the pandemic – working on plans for a phased and safe return to the labs from the beginning of the first lockdown, the smooth implementation of which was helped by a strong collegial approach. The team have themselves commented that the COVID-19 crisis has brought everyone closer together. Worryingly, the pandemic has meant that, to some extent, patient clinics and research trials have been unable to proceed with the same intensity as before. Peter Johnson, Professor of Medical Oncology at Southampton – as well as National Clinical Director of Cancer for the NHS – discussed these concerns in detail during the University’s recent Distinguished Lecture on ‘Cancer Research and COVID-19’:

“It’s been an extraordinary year. We saw a huge drop off in cancer referrals as we went into the first lockdown. We had to change the way we provide services – for example, condensing treatments for people. But things are now coming back to normal levels thanks to a huge effort from services up and down the country. Of course, there is a huge amount that is still not normal, and we are still taking every precaution to keep people safe.” Professor Johnson sees further benefits for patients from the coronavirus vaccine research, which uses immunology and will positively impact work on cancer vaccines: “We’re pressing forward with our programmes in cancer vaccines, which have been really boosted by the scientific knowledge that’s come out of the whole vaccine field during coronavirus.”

Why I give – Anne Strong Recent successes Under a strong leadership team – including Professors Tim Underwood, Mark Cragg, and Edd James – the Centre’s dedicated scientists continue their groundbreaking work. And in spite of the pandemic, there’s been a great deal of good news lately. One of the most notable successes in recent months is an immunotherapy breakthrough that could help patients of mesothelioma – an aggressive form of cancer caused by asbestos – survive longer. A trial at the Centre found that an immunotherapy drug called nivolumab increased survival and made the disease more stable for patients who relapsed following standard treatment. Professor Gareth Griffiths, Director of the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, said: “This trial marks a major breakthrough in the treatment of mesothelioma – a disease where there are currently very few options for patients when first-line chemotherapy has stopped working, and prognosis is often very poor. This is the first study ever to show improved survival, and we therefore believe that nivolumab could be a game-changer.” Carol Wesson was one of the people who took part in the trial, having developed mesothelioma after years working for a company that used asbestos rope as a door seal in the manufacture of stoves: “ Nivolumab has made a huge difference to my life. I can go out and walk my dogs, I split logs for my wood burner, and I do my garden. I can’t do everything exactly as I used to, but then I am 73! I don’t take much notice of my age any more than I do of my tumour. I just get on with enjoying my life.” This success is in addition to other breakthroughs that have emerged since just the start of this year. For example, our scientists have shown that antibodies, designed to target the molecule OX40, give a more active immune response

when they bind closer to the cell membrane, and can be modified to attack cancer in different ways. Elsewhere, an international trial run at the Centre has found that an intensive combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy can dramatically improve survival for some patients with secondary central nervous system lymphoma, a rare blood cancer that typically has a very poor outlook.

Cancer Immunology Fund While the impact of your donations to our campaign for the Centre for Cancer Immunology will be felt for many years to come, we continue to fundraise for the vital work happening within. The Cancer Immunology Fund supports the talented scientists, innovative ideas, and cuttingedge equipment required to save more lives – thanks to donors like you. Your ongoing philanthropic support has, for example, already enabled the UK’s first and only integrated PhD programme in cancer immunology, right here at Southampton. Esme Fowkes is just one of the new additions to the team whose work has been made possible thanks to this support – she joins around 30 other students on our unique PhD programme. Her position – which looks to improve vaccines to fight cancer – is funded through a generous scholarship from donors to the Cancer Immunology Fund. Esme says: “Cancer vaccines have massive potential to fight the disease without the toxicity associated with current treatments such as chemotherapy, and provide improved long-term protection against recurrence – increasing the survival time of cancer patients. Funding medical research is incredibly important to expand the field and push it forward, and it’s extremely humbling to know individuals are supporting me. Their generous donations are training me to carry out research that will help develop treatments to improve prognosis for cancer patients, and ultimately save lives.”

“I’ve been an alumna donor for many years, contributing to various funds at the University. When I learnt about the Cancer Immunology Fund, it felt right to direct my donations to this area. “Cancer had touched my life – fortunately not myself, but close family – and I knew anything that might bring a cure or alleviate suffering would be so worthwhile getting involved with, even if it was on a very small scale. “I was incredibly impressed with the way that my husband and I were immediately taken into what feels like ‘the immunology family’. We were kept up to date with the progress of the building, and this has continued with the research developments and other news since its opening. We’ve also been invited to presentations at the Centre and online, which have been most informative. “It’s clear that personal donations are essential to progressing this work, and I therefore feel honoured to be able to contribute. I particularly like having a personal contact at the University who keeps me updated and who, I can honestly say, has become a friend.”

We’re very proud of what’s been achieved at the Centre for Cancer Immunology over this past year – despite the challenges of the pandemic – and would like to thank you and our whole donor community for lasting support. You’re ensuring that our work can continue to save countless lives, both during this difficult time and forever more.

Find out more about the Cancer Immunology Fund: giving.southampton.ac.uk 5

COMING TOGETHER IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY

Within days of the first UK lockdown, we launched the Southampton Coronavirus Response Fund to enable our alumni and supporters, wherever they may be in the world, to fund our vital interdisciplinary research into fighting the disease. We also recognised the need to support our students, many of whom faced financial difficulties created by the pandemic. Our entire community came together like never before – your response in the face of such adversity has been truly amazing. More than 1,400 donors from 40 countries around the world – including the United States, China, and India – contributed to the Fund. The pandemic inspired more than 750 individuals to give to the University for the first time, and galvanised many of our staff as well. To date, almost £700,000 has been raised – a remarkable feat. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who gave, no matter how much – every contribution is sincerely appreciated.

Supporting our students Last year was an extremely challenging and uncertain time for everyone. The University moved all working and teaching online, closed research laboratories, and our campuses were left empty. The hardship experienced by our undergraduates and postgraduates was severe in many cases, but the positive impact of your donations was immediately felt right across the University.

PeRSo: Personal Respirator Southampton

“ We are grateful to everyone for their contributions – every single donation, no matter how big or small, has made a huge difference.”

Our students’ mental health was among our highest priorities; isolation and loneliness were felt by many. Thanks to your generosity, the Student Experience team were able to send care packages to those who remained in halls during the lockdown, and in addition, launched Togetherall: an online platform providing a safe space to discuss, confide, and self-manage their mental health and wellbeing. Similar to a chat forum, Togetherall is available 24/7, and is monitored by

trained clinicians – it has been a lifeline to many students in the last year. Students were also losing their jobs due to the lockdown, and left without an income to pay their rent or buy food. Through the Fund, they were able to apply for hardship grants that could support the costs of their rent, food, prescriptions, and travel. Online learning grants were also made available, which supported more than 1,200 students without access to computer equipment transition to online learning. Those who were coming to the end of their studies faced uncertainty about their future careers. The Fund was used to support them through the implementation of an online CV review and mock interview tool, which provided immediate access to careers support for those who were away from Southampton – meaning location was no barrier. Florence Harvey, Head of Student Success, said: “Many of our students have faced unprecedented hardship over the past year, and the Southampton Coronavirus Response Fund was pivotal in enabling us to help and support them with their difficulties. Many people were having to turn to online learning in a way that they’ve never needed to before, many were unable to go home, and many students felt isolated and alone. The Fund empowered us to act quickly, and get the support directly to students at a time when they needed it the most.” Our clinical students from Medicine and Health Sciences responded to the pandemic in their droves, with many graduating early so they could fight COVID-19 on the frontline. Your support was instrumental in making that happen. As well as providing uniforms for over 500 student nurses, the Fund was also able to help our medical students going on clinical placements in the summer. Over 400 third- and fourth-year medical students were required to have two extra sets of scrubs each to meet the infection control protocols in place at the hospital during their placements. This unexpected additional cost came at a time of considerable stress. The Fund was able to meet this cost on their behalf, allowing them to work safely on the frontline.

Florence added: “The pandemic has been an extremely challenging time for everyone, but it has also brought out the best in people. We are so grateful to have received such an amazing amount of support from our donor community all around the world.”

Our research response As the virus began to spread, our academic and scientific community urgently came together to find ways of fighting the disease and protecting the vulnerable. Thanks to our community, the Southampton Coronavirus Response Fund was able to accelerate our time-critical research, which has had far-reaching implications, and undoubtedly saved lives. Within weeks of the pandemic hitting the UK, the lack of properly fitted personal protective equipment (PPE) for our frontline healthcare workers became very clear. But an interdisciplinary team at the University developed and prototyped a unique personal respirator. Known as PeRSo, the PPE consists of a fabric hood that covers the wearer’s head, integrated with a plastic visor to protect their face. A small portable unit delivers clean air through a HEPA filter to the wearer from a battery-powered fan pack mounted on a belt. More than 3,500 hoods were used in Southampton General Hospital during the second phase of the pandemic – as well as in many other hospitals, from the south coast up to Glasgow – leading to very high staff satisfaction and low absence rates. The project received financial contributions from the Fund early on in the pandemic, and later through a gift of more than £168,000 from alumni Dr Alison Steele and Stefan Cross QC. Keeping healthcare staff and other key workers safe on the frontline, as well as giving them equal access to quality resources, is something both Alison and Stefan are very passionate about – and inspired them to make such a generous donation. Their gift enabled the PeRSo technology to be available to healthcare and other key frontline staff tackling COVID-19 Student nurses in their funded uniform

in communities around the world. The open-access design has been downloaded over 2,500 times, and prototypes made everywhere from South Africa, Ethiopia, Colombia, Bangladesh, to India. UK hospitals felt enormous pressure during the pandemic, and had to suspend services that people with other illness and medical conditions relied upon. Our colleagues in Health Studies launched the SHARE study, to understand the evolving experiences, information, support needs, and decision-making for families with children who required ongoing healthcare and hospital appointments during the pandemic. Your donations allowed the Fund to support this vital research to take place, and has since found that many families felt hospitals were unsafe, and started accessing information on social media. As a result of the study, the national charity Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group produced patient-facing information to support families – addressing the gap highlighted by many parents.

Read more of these stories: www.southampton.ac.uk/ news/coronavirus/stories. page

Thank you Jo Donahoe, Director of the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, said: “We launched the Southampton Coronavirus Response Fund to urgently assist vital projects across the University and beyond – and were amazed by the response of our community. As a result of our alumni and supporters’ incredible generosity, we were able to respond quickly, and allocate funding where it was needed the most. We are grateful to everyone for their contributions – every single donation, no matter how big or small, has made a huge difference.” The University’s pioneering COVID-19 research spanned across all disciplines at Southampton – bringing academics, scientists, researchers, and lecturers together. With your help, our response to the pandemic has made a remarkable impact. Thank you. 7

FUNDING BRIGHTER FUTURES At Southampton, we believe that all students should have the chance to thrive during their time at university. The Ignite Programme forms part of a wider effort by the University of Southampton to ensure that educational opportunity is based on merit, irrespective of a student’s background. According to 2017 data from the UK’s Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), students from disadvantaged backgrounds are four times less likely to attend university. In 2016, the University launched several initiatives to enrol more students from lower-participation areas of the UK. A Widening Participation office was opened in 2020, which has helped foster cross-departmental working and allow colleagues to come together and recognise a genuine desire amongst the alumni and supporter community to help disadvantaged students. Now in its third year, Ignite has gone from strength to strength. Thanks to the generosity of our community, 31 students were accepted onto the Ignite Programme in the 2020/21 academic year. “Ignite has gone from being one scholarship for one student to our flagship Widening Participation

programme,” says Florence Harvey, Head of Student Success. “It’s so fantastic to be able to offer this much-needed financial support; it provides stability to struggling students that they otherwise wouldn’t have had. However, money can only do so much. We can’t assume that just by giving people money, we are eradicating disadvantage. That’s really where we wanted to build the programme further.” The extensive three-year programme now includes a variety of personal and professional development opportunities. This approach enables students to enjoy a full university experience, supporting them to make key connections with their peers, maintain their physical and emotional wellbeing whilst at university, and grow a professional network of alumni and prospective employers. We spoke to Lottie, a recipient of the Ignite Programme, to find out how this new approach is helping shape her time at university.

Ignite in numbers The 2020/21 academic year saw our biggest intake of Ignite students to date. Here’s what your generosity enabled…

238

Southampton students eligible

applications

bursaries

awards

scholarship awarded

like most of my peers. I managed to get an overdraft using a new student bank account, but I really struggled. I immediately tried to find work, just so I would be able to get myself through and support my mum at the same time.” Because of these challenges, students from backgrounds like Lottie’s are more likely to drop out before they finish their education. If they do make it to graduation, they are far less likely to achieve a 2:1 or first-class honours than their classmates.

Lottie: an Ignite student’s first year Lottie knew she wanted to study at Southampton from the moment she stepped foot on campus at an open day. Her extensive experience and qualifications in the education industry meant that she was a perfect candidate for the BSc Education and Psychology course, and after applying in January 2020, she received an unconditional offer to start the following academic year. “I met a current student and took part in a mock lesson, and from then on, I could not wait to start. I didn’t attend any other university open days because I knew from being on campus, being with the lecturers, and meeting the current students, Southampton is where I wanted to be.” Money worries Despite being excited for this new chapter in her life, Lottie was anxious that she would struggle to make ends meet at university. Like many of the students that apply for the Ignite Programme, she did not have a strong network of support that she could rely on for financial help. Lottie is from an underrepresented background: coming from a low-income family, as a full-time carer for her mum, and the first in her family to enter higher education. Whilst government loans and grants help the majority of students fund their university experience, some need extra support.

The Ignite programme helps level the playing field. Applying for Ignite Lottie was notified of the Ignite Programme by the Widening Participation team, and after a successful application, received an Ignite Bursary of £10,000 split over the three years of her education at Southampton. The bursary equates to just over £64 a week, which is the average amount a student could earn through part-time work, meaning that she can develop and flourish without having to compromise her study time. Lottie was ecstatic when she found out she had been successful: “The bursary has allowed me to get more involved with university life. I have met so many new friends, been able to join in with clubs and societies, and generally feel comfortable about having enough food and essential items. I would miss out on all of these experiences if it were not for the bursary.” Holistic support The support that this financial assistance offers cannot be emphasised enough, and the new holistic nature of the Programme also plays a huge part in helping students to develop and grow. Throughout the year, everyone has the opportunity to: ´ receive mentorship each year of their academic journey ´ improve their chances of getting into employment after university with guaranteed paid internships

These students face the additional pressure of balancing academic demands with the need to earn extra money just to get by. This can leave talented individuals unable to dedicate themselves fully to their courses, burnt out and isolated.

´ and develop new skills with a variety of exclusive workshops and group activities

“I was absolutely terrified of not being able to fund my way through university, let alone have a fulfilling experience

These opportunities all help to build a student’s confidence and support networks whilst at university.

Why I give – Chris Richards “I feel very strongly that people should not be denied opportunities because of their financial or social circumstances. Ignite immediately sparked an interest because I can relate to that: I was a young, ordinary guy going to university from a very ordinary background a long, long time ago. “It’s amazing how many people go to university and lack confidence – who aren’t sure if they should be there. And that there are people who are denied the opportunity to do things because they feel they aren’t entitled, aren’t good enough, or can’t afford to go – those are the things which can undermine someone’s confidence. “For an opportunity to do that to be denied because you just can’t afford it financially is not great, is it? So, if there’s a small thing that I can do, and many others can do, to actually enable that journey – if I can help someone think ‘yeah, I’m part of something, I should be part of it, and I can grow from here’ – that’s a nice feeling.”

“The Programme has supported me in many ways. It has enabled me to look into developing a freelancing business as part of my blog, I have been able to work with other students to support my new podcast, I have had opportunities to apply for internships, and meet staff around the University that can help me with all different problems: careers, general support, and money.” Lottie will continue to be a part of the Ignite Programme throughout her time at University, and she is incredibly grateful to the alumni and supporters that have made it possible: “Thank you so much for providing this bursary for me. Thank you for giving students the opportunity to succeed, and giving up your time and money to support us make change and improve the world for the next generation. There is nothing I can say that would thank you enough.”

Find out more about the Ignite Programme: www.southampton.ac.uk/ igniteopportunity 9

PASSING IT ON Ignite is our comprehensive programme to support disadvantaged students – not just financially, but also through experiences, mentoring, and opportunities. And this extends all the way to emotional support. That’s why, as part of our Ignite appeal earlier this year, we asked recipients to help our students – with messages. Each pack contained a blank postcard, inviting our alumni and supporter community to write a few words of support. These were passed on to our students, showing that somebody is thinking of them during the difficult times. We received dozens and dozens of responses – each with kind and heartfelt words, inspirational messages, and a dash of nostalgia. Here’s just a small selection of what you had to say…

CAREERS SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS AND RECENT GRADUATES As the world began to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, students were faced with worrying uncertainty about their futures. Many faced hardship and financial struggles, and questioned what type of career they may have after graduating in the year of – or in the years after – a global lockdown. To help our students through this challenging transition, our alumni community responded in their thousands to offer support, guidance, and advice. The results have been truly inspiring, and clearly demonstrate the good that can be done when people of all ages, backgrounds, and stages of their careers come together.

Online mentoring Through a new online platform, E-Mentoring Southampton, our students are now connecting with more than 2,500 alumni – including business leaders, entrepreneurs, and chief executives from 82 countries around the world. The platform’s directory allows students to search for a potential mentor by job sector, industry, level of study, location, or subject area. Each mentor gives their valuable time and expertise in a number of different ways – from being on hand to answer questions, to offering tips and advice, to engaging in a full mentorship programme. E-Mentoring Southampton was launched in Volunteers’ Week in June 2020, and since then, more than 1,600 current and recently graduated students have sought mentorship via the scheme. Mohit Brar, from India, is currently undertaking an MSc in Business Analytics and Management Science, and is learning a lot from the network of alumni he is engaging with through the service. “The E-Mentoring platform is an amazing tool for students like me,” he said. “I signed up to grow my contacts, find career opportunities, and seek professional advice. It’s really simple to use, and you can ask experienced alumni all types of questions. “But the platform doesn’t just provide mentorship – it is also a place where you can share your achievements, and discuss anything about your professional life on which you feel an expert opinion is required. There is also a system of liking and commenting on each post, which enables you to engage more and grow your network. 12

“There are some incredible alumni on the platform, and it is brilliant to be able to engage with them. E-Mentoring has the potential to help all students build their professional reputation, and approach their future careers with confidence.” The COVID-19 pandemic forced us all to live in a new virtual world. This presented the University with an exciting opportunity to reach more students at a time of uncertainty with a wider breadth of experience and knowledge from around the world. Oluwafemi Adedipe is a business strategist and entrepreneur based in Nigeria. He attended the University with a prestigious Chevening Scholarship, and graduated with an MSc in Business Strategy and Innovation Management. With a wealth of experience in business formation, operations, and finance, he has been supporting students through the E-Mentoring platform. He commented: “I have said it many times before: attending Southampton was one of the defining points of my career. The experience shaped me in many profound ways, and I have always wanted to, as they say, ‘pay it forward’ in any way I can. “By giving my time to mentoring others, and helping to open their eyes to the many incredible opportunities Southampton offers and represents, I am able to play a small part in helping them shape their futures. This is extremely rewarding to me, and I hope to be a part of these important activities for years to come.”

“ Attending Southampton was one of the defining points of my career. The experience shaped me in many profound ways, and I have always wanted to, as they say, ‘pay it forward’ in any way I can” luwafemi O Adedipe

Volunteering activities Our generous volunteers don’t just give time through mentoring. They’ve also been taking part in University recruitment drives, widening participation and social mobility activities, and supported other events by giving lectures and taking webinars – all helping to enrich our students’ education, and expand their career prospects. The effort and commitment displayed by our community has been incredible, and resulted in a real step change in how the University views its volunteering activity. We are proud to see graduates at all stages of their alumni journey come forward to be part of this important scheme; from former students who left Southampton within the last few years, to alumni who have supported us for decades – every single person is having a positive impact. And with the pandemic having such an adverse effect on areas such as employment, this has been needed more than ever. Sumaiya Hameed is a recent graduate, having left in 2018. While studying for her Accounting and Finance degree, she was an active volunteer for the Southampton Business School and for the University’s widening participation activity (a Higher Education policy that aims to increase the number of students from disadvantaged backgrounds). Now she is giving back by delivering talks to students, being involved in social mobility activities within the Careers and Employability Service, and has mentored two widening participation students as part of the career mentoring programme. She said: “From being a course representative, to an academic president, to mentoring current students – volunteering has really enabled me to widen my perspective, and allowed me to develop my skill set. “I received infinite support from University staff when I was a student at Southampton, and now it truly is fulfilling to contribute to the community that provided me with endless opportunities, support, and resources to shape my career.” Over the past year, volunteering and mentoring at the University has gone from strength to strength. We are truly grateful for everyone’s contribution; the inspirational guidance and support given from all four corners of the world have changed the lives of thousands of students, and enabled them to thrive in a year like no other.

Through a new online platform, E-Mentoring Southampton, our students are now connecting with more than 2,500 alumni

Join E-Mentoring Southampton: www.ementoringsouthampton.com 13

TRANSFORMING SIGHT RESEARCH Southampton’s eye disease experts are now conducting vital research on rare sight conditions in new state-of-the-art laboratories thanks to a generous donation. Mr Jeff Smith kindly gave £56,000 to Gift of Sight, the fundraising appeal that supports world-class research into the prevention and treatment of blindness undertaken at the University. The gift has allowed our vision scientists to move experiments to the Human Stem Cell Laboratory, enabling them to reduce the amount of research involving animals, and to expand their human stem cell projects. Dr Jörn Lakowski, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Vision Science, is using the new space to accelerate his research into retinitis pigmentosa, a rare but devastating disease. Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a genetic condition that affects the retina at the back of the eye, and over time, stops it from working – causing gradual but permanent changes that reduce a person’s vision. The laboratory enables Dr Lakowski to use the latest innovations in human pluripotent stem cell and genome engineering technology to investigate why the critically important cones in the retina of patients with RP die, despite not being affected by known disease-causing mutations.

Previous research in animal models has resulted in useful information as to why this may happen, but to understand the details in more depth, researchers need to study the human retina. Until recently, this was virtually impossible. But thanks to the Human Stem Cell Laboratory and new advances in stem cell technology, our scientists can grow ‘mini retinas’ from scratch in a cell culture dish – enabling them to investigate a broad range of basic biological and clinical questions. This allows us to study a large number of retinal diseases in an innovative way. “Human embryonic stem cell cultures are very sensitive to environmental changes, highly labour intensive, as well as extremely expensive,” Dr Lakowski explained. “Our experiments are recapitulating the events of human embryogenesis, which is a long process – most of our stem cell cultures will be in place for about 200 days. “We are incredibly grateful to Mr Smith for his donation. Thanks to his generosity, the new laboratory enables us to work more efficiently, and lets us implement the environment we need without having to fear contamination from other generic cell line cultures used by different researchers in the same space. We hope that this vital research may lead to the discovery of new drugs to treat patients suffering from degenerative diseases of the retina, and prevent blindness by preserving critical cone vision.” The laboratory will also be utilised by Early Career Researchers (ECRs) and other research groups from the Faculty

Dr Jörn Lakowski

of Medicine, fostering collaboration and interdisciplinary working. Dr Rebecca Kaye, a PhD student with Professor Andrew Lotery and Dr Lakowski, is using the facility and stem cells to study a novel gene implicated in the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the commonest cause of blindness in the developed world. Dr Savanna Lynn, who has been a scientist with the Vision Science research group for the past eight years, will use the new lab to develop a microfluidic in vitro 3D model of the retina, mimicking the architecture of the human macula and modelling blood flow. This will provide a platform to test potential new treatments for patients. After completing her PhD, Gift of Sight funding made it possible for Dr Lynn to remain in Southampton to continue her research into AMD pathology. Dr Lynn has recently been awarded a two-year training fellowship by the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research. Mr Smith commented: “I was delighted to be able to assist such a worthwhile project. You only need to be in room during a power cut to appreciate the devastating impact of loss of vision, and any progress towards a cure by medical science is to be applauded. I am looking forward to seeing the laboratory once COVID-19 restrictions allow, and wish the team every success.”

Find out more about Gift of Sight: www.giftofsight.org.uk

Dr Savanna Lynn

SUPPORTING FUTURE ENTREPRENEURS Our alumni are guiding the next generation of entrepreneurs through Future Worlds, the University’s on-campus startup accelerator. Since its founding in 2015, a significant number have worked with Future Worlds, supporting more than 500 aspiring businessmen and women hoping to change the world with their ideas. One such example is serial entrepreneur and technology investor Rob Dobson. Our alumni – in addition to frequently investing in the emerging startups – give hours of their valuable time through training, mentoring, and facilitating introductions to industry experts, partners, and investors. Southampton alumnus Rob Dobson has taken part in Future Worlds’ 20MINFOUNDER, a regular talk series where startup founders share their entrepreneurial journey, and give valuable tips to the next generation. He has also spent time with individual startups providing personal mentorship, and participated in investor events – for example, offering advice to founders on how to prosper in the Future Worlds’ Dragons’ Den event. “It’s critical to have advice and mentorship from people outside your own business,” Rob said. “It offers you another professional point of view, and can help you consider other areas of business. There are so many moving parts, especially in the startup phase. Having advice from others who have been where you are can help you develop your weaknesses as well as your strengths – which is so important in helping your business succeed.” Rob received a first-class honours degree in Electronic Engineering from the University in 1985, and went on to form Actix – which created products to optimise mobile phone

networks, and were used by over a billion people with 300 different operators before exiting for $100m. Now a prolific angel investor, he has backed more than 30 earlystage tech companies in the last few years. He invested in TopMD, a University spinout that is using topology, the mathematical measurement of shape, to revolutionise drug development and disease diagnosis by redefining biomarkers. “I’m very proud to work with Future Worlds and help new companies and young people from the University develop their ideas. Starting a business is an uncertain game, a lot can go wrong, and many important aspects – like recruitment, marketing, and sales – can be put aside if you’re always focusing on getting investment. Startups are incredibly important to our economy, and unfortunately many of them fail. But if we can help more business be successful, we can do a lot of good in this world and solve a lot of problems. “Future Worlds is offering something unique. Many mentorship schemes are only engaged with a startup at the very beginning, or some schemes are so big that they can’t give companies a lot of time. Future Worlds is personal, and matches their mentors with companies so we can make a valuable contribution. Personally, I really enjoy it – being involved with hardworking and passionate people who really care about what they are doing is inspiring.”

Find out more about Future Worlds: www.futureworlds.com

Iris Kramer

Since 2019, more than £20m has been invested in companies that have emerged from Future Worlds. And during this time, much attention has been paid to their Dragons’ Den event on campus. Based on the television programme, students are invited to pitch on stage for equity investment from Future Worlds’ network of seasoned founders and multimillionaire investors – all in front of a live audience. Last year, at an online-only event due to lockdown restrictions, University PhD researcher Iris Kramer secured a £700,000 pre-money valuation for her startup, ArchAI, a deep learning tool for archaeological surveys – the highest ever for investment in the Den. ArchAI uses artificial intelligence to detect archaeological sites to speed up the lengthy and expensive planning processes for developers – saving historical sites from unnecessary destruction. The technology utilises techniques Iris honed whilst undertaking her PhD in Computer Science at Southampton, combined with the knowledge from her undergraduate degree in archaeology. “It’s a very exciting time for the company and the industry,” she said. “Using ArchAI’s technology over conventional techniques, developers could save hundreds of thousands of pounds in costs, as well as time savings of six months, on a major housing or road development of 100 hectares – and that’s just one use for our technology. Going forward, there are wide-ranging environmental challenges globally that our worldfirst technology can address.” 15

SOUTHAMPTON’S LEGACIES Did you know that over a quarter of the donations we receive today come from gifts in wills? Did you also know that the University was founded on a legacy gift? Henry Robinson Hartley left his estate to the Corporation of Southampton upon his death, wishing to promote the study and advancement of science and learning – the result was the Hartley Institution, opened below the Bargate in 1862. Now, more than 150 years later, the University is home to 25,000 students across seven campuses. Hartley may have made the first legacy, but it’s thanks to our alumni and supporters’ continued tradition of giving that we’re able to achieve so much – from nurturing the next great minds, to launching future research, to shaping tomorrow’s campuses. Our ever-growing community of legacy donors have made – and continue to make – a lasting difference across many areas of University life. In the last year alone, we’ve received gifts in wills towards cancer immunology, aeronautical and astronautical engineering, civil engineering, sound and vibration research, vision research, arts and culture, and student bursaries. Here are

Antony Wright

just a few examples of where the impact of our donors’ generosity is being felt – and will be for generations more.

Daphne and Antony Wright This year, the University received its largest ever legacy gift of £1m. Daphne Wright (née Lawrence) and Antony Wright were students at the University in the 1950s, where they completed their degrees in biochemistry and aeronautical engineering respectively. The married couple recognised the value of their education at Southampton, and after they both sadly passed away, the University received an incredibly generous gift in their will to support the two disciplines that they were passionate about. Daphne, a highly respected and widely published biochemist, chose to support PhD scholarships at the University’s Centre for Cancer Immunology, launching the careers of bright young scientists looking to create better, more effective treatments for cancer.

Mark Cragg, Professor of Experimental Cancer Research, explains: “PhDs are simply the lifeblood of scientific research. Through their training, they develop into the next generation of scientists, seeking to transform our understanding of the world, and aiming to translate this knowledge for the betterment of mankind. At the Centre for Cancer Immunology, this hugely generous gift will serve to support the development of four young and enquiring minds, over the next four years, in a world-class research environment.” Meanwhile, Antony – having enjoyed a distinguished and varied career of over four decades in the aircraft industry – chose to fund PhD scholarships in aeronautical and astronautical engineering, as well as undergraduate bursaries. The alumni couple’s support will benefit countless students over the next decade, and the impact of Daphne and Antony’s legacy will be felt by the recipients throughout their careers.

Denis Henry Desty with Margaret Thatcher

Leonard Thomas Fund In 2015, the University received an incredibly generous legacy gift of £381,000 from Eileen Leonard; she had been motivated to donate because her husband, Jack, had wanted to train as a doctor, but was sadly not in a financial position to do so. Since then, the Leonard Thomas Fund has had a transformative effect on our medical students, providing over 170 of them with diverse support: financial help; attendance at national and international conferences; scholarships and bursaries for masters’ studies; bursaries for overseas electives; opportunities for summer internships; and three widening participation PhD studentships. Many of the students have written to Eileen’s family to express their gratitude. Here are just a couple of the heartfelt messages. Salima Yasmin “I was fortunate enough to be a recipient of the elective bursary – the generosity kindly afforded to me meant I could undertake an incredible elective that broadened my experiences, not least as this was the first time I travelled abroad alone. Over my eight weeks in Bangkok and Melbourne, I gained so many educational, clinical, and life skills – all of which I will carry forward to my job as a new doctor in a few months, and beyond. I would not have been able to have such a fulfilling elective without your kind generosity, and I hope this message goes some way in showing the difference this bursary can make to receiving students.” Anonymous student “I am writing to express my gratitude for the generous contribution towards my conference costs. I was invited to present my third-year research project at the international meeting of the

Kristina Kovacic

European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. This was a valuable opportunity to enhance my CV since ophthalmology is one of the most competitive specialties to enter as a trainee, and chances like this should be taken eagerly. Unfortunately, given my difficult financial situation, I would have been unable to attend without the support of a sponsor. “The event was a success – I have walked away more confident in my skills and optimistic about my future in ophthalmology, and received advice and encouragement from senior ophthalmologists. Without this grant, I would have not been able to meet such leading figures in the fields of medicine and surgery. I hope to replicate your generosity in the future by encouraging and supporting other students in similar situations as my own.”

Denis Henry Desty Alumnus Denis Henry Desty studied chemistry at the University in the late 1940s. Becoming a prolific inventor and Fellow of The Royal Society, he devised practical techniques in the fields of chromatography and combustion science, many of which have had widespread application. Denis passed away in 1994, and chose to remember the University in his will. The result has been the Denis Henry Desty Scholarship Programme, which provides two £8,000 scholarships for chemistry undergraduates each year – similar to the support Denis himself

received during his student years, and which he claimed greatly contributed to his successful career. His legacy further funds PhD students and vital outreach activities with local schools. Kristina Kovacic is one of the beneficiaries of Denis’s gift. During the first year of her PhD in organic synthesis, she’s been working on large-scale synthesis of bile acid derivatives, which will be tested as potential drugs for neurodegenerative disease. Kristina is extremely grateful for the support: “Recently, I’ve been working really hard to catch up on lab time as lockdown put everything on pause for a while. The compounds I’ve been synthesising will soon be sent away for some measurements, and the results should give me a good basis to apply for an international chemistry conference in Canada – an opportunity that would be unavailable to me without this funding. The recognition that I was worthy of the support fills me with motivation and drive, and I hope to live up to Denis’s expectations.” By leaving a gift in his will, Denis has encouraged dozens of aspiring scientists to follow in his distinguished footsteps. Students like Kristina are now able to excel in their studies – creating a legacy that will continue for years to come.

Create your legacy If you’ve been inspired by the impact of these legacies, we invite you to let us know. Whatever stage you’re at with considering a gift in your will, if you’d like to talk in person, please contact Richard Wilson, our Legacy Manager, at richard.wilson@southampton.ac.uk or on +44 (0)23 8059 7157 In the meantime, find out more about leaving a gift in your will: www.southampton.ac.uk/legacy

ENRICHING OUR CITY’S CULTURE

Left image: Reliquary 2 by Larry Achiampong

At the University of Southampton, we believe that having the freedom to express ourselves creatively, be passionate about our cultures, and enjoy the arts are essential to making our society an inclusive and prosperous place – which is why we are proud to be an official partner in Southampton’s bid to become UK City of Culture 2025. The bid is a huge opportunity for our city to celebrate the wealth of diverse artistic activity taking place, and deliver social, cultural, and economic benefits for the city that will last for years to come. As well as community outreach programmes, the University runs two internationally renowned arts venues, John Hansard Gallery and Turner Sims Southampton, both of which excel in providing unique programmes attracting students and staff, local communities, and visitors from around the world. As a civic institution, we are proud that the two venues will play a key role in the bid through their innovative programmes that engage the community. They also rely on philanthropic donations from our community and patron advocacy to thrive, and the University is very grateful to have received unwavering support in both areas. Situated in the heart of Southampton’s Cultural Quarter, the John Hansard Gallery is one of the UK’s leading contemporary art galleries, and is internationally recognised for creating innovative and critically acclaimed art exhibitions, events, and research projects with prestigious artists from across the world. With free access to all, the gallery 18

serves as a welcoming hub of creativity in Southampton – enriching people’s lives with its diversity of contemporary art. Turner Sims Southampton is acknowledged as one of the finest music venues in the country. Based on the University’s Highfield Campus, the concert hall offers outstanding classical, jazz, world, and folk music performed by internationally renowned artists and rising stars. Over the years, we have been fortunate to benefit from a range of generous supporters, who have funded everything from a new Steinway piano to music workshops for local school children – as well as all new (and much more comfortable!) seating in the auditorium. During the past three years, the BarkerMill Foundation generously donated £100,000 to the John Hansard Gallery to support its Digital Array programme. The impact of this support was felt more than ever over the last year as it enabled the gallery to continue commissioning artists throughout the pandemic to create new and exciting digital artworks for audiences, both online and in person. David Blandy’s digital artworks How to Fly and How to Live reflected the uncertain times we found ourselves in during early

2020, while ahead of her solo exhibition at John Hansard Gallery in 2021, Irish artist Niamh O’Malley presented her film Glasshouse. Other works include Reliquary 2 by Larry Achiampong, COMMUCRACY NOW! by the world’s premier autistic green drag queen, Oozing Gloop, and a special film by Sam Laughlin entitled Falling wall, rising dust, which documented the final chapter of John Hansard Gallery’s original home on Highfield Campus. All of these digital artworks can be viewed on the gallery’s website. Supporting artists to create outstanding projects and reaching out to audiences online throughout the pandemic has been made possible through this vital support from the Barker-Mill Foundation. We believe that funding the arts for everyone is important to create a rich and diverse community in Southampton.

Find out more about our venues: www.jhg.art www.turnersims.co.uk

TOGETHER WE ARE ACHIEVING REMARKABLE THINGS Ways to stay in touch and get involved ´ Update your details at www.southampton.ac.uk/ alumni-update ´ Find out how to make a donation at giving.southampton.ac.uk ´ Email us about volunteering at givetime@southampton.ac.uk ´ Contact the Office of Development and Alumni Relations with any questions – or just to say hello – at alumni@southampton.ac.uk or on +44 (0)23 8059 2747

Find out more: giving.southampton.ac.uk

Office of Development and Alumni Relations, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom +44 (0) 23 8059 2747 supportus@southampton.ac.uk

The University of Southampton is an exempt charity. Our HMRC reference number for Gift Aid claim eligibility is X19140.

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