University of Southampton
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The University of Southampton is a British university, with a reputation for quality research. It is a member of the Russell Group of research-led British universities and according to the Sunday Times newspaper league table is perennially among the top ten for research, which is its primary focus, and comes 11th overall (2002).
Southampton is probably best known as an engineering, science and social science university. In the most recent RAE assessment (2001), it has the only engineering faculty in the country to receive the highest rating (5*) across all disciplines. According to the Times newspaper Higher Educational Supplement, Southampton has the second largest research income among British universities for the physical sciences and mathematics, and the third largest research income for engineering and technology.
The inventor of the World Wide Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Southampton. The University's Professor David Payne invented the optical amplifier, without which fibre optic cables would not work. Professor Payne is also Chairman of Photonics, a commercial company which is a spin-off of this research. Another Southampton Professor, Martin Fleischmann, Professor of Electrochemistry, came to notoriety in 1989 when, along with a research collaborator, he claimed to have produced cold fusion in a laboratory. Subsequent researchers were unable to substantiate his claims.
This university places great emphasis on inter-disciplinary cooperation and on collaboration with industry. This is most evident in the University's Centre for Enterprise and Innovation, which is jointly run by Faculty of Engineering and the School of Management. This focus has recently been augmented by the establishment of a separate Institiute for Entrepreneurship (http://www.ife.soton.ac.uk). The School of Management (http://www.management.soton.ac.uk) is widely regarded as one of the top 5 graduate business schools in Europe.
In addition, the university is home to the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (formerly Southampton Oceanography Centre), a leading research centre for oceanography. Southampton is a member of the Worldwide Universities Network (http://www.wun.ac.uk). It also has close links with America's MIT.
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Faculties, Schools and Centres
- Faculty of Engineering, Science and Mathematics
- School of Chemistry (http://www.chem.soton.ac.uk)
- School of Civil Engineering and the Environment (http://www.civil.soton.ac.uk)
- School of Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) (http://www.ecs.soton.ac.uk)
- School of Engineering Sciences (includes Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Ship Science)
- School of Geography (http://www.geog.soton.ac.uk)
- School of Mathematics (http://www.maths.soton.ac.uk)
- School of Ocean and Earth Science (http://www.soes.soton.ac.uk)
- School of Physics and Astronomy (http://www.phys.soton.ac.uk)
- Institute of Sound and Vibration Research (http://www.isvr.soton.ac.uk)
- Optoelectronics Research Centre (http://www.orc.soton.ac.uk)
- National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (home of the School of Ocean and Earth Science)
- Southampton E-Science Centre
- Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences
- School of Social Sciences (http://www.socsci.soton.ac.uk)
- School of Management (http://www.management.soton.ac.uk)
- School of Education (http://www.education.soton.ac.uk)
- School of Law (http://www.law.soton.ac.uk)
- School of Art (http://www.wsa.soton.ac.uk) (based at Winchester School of Art)
- School of Humanities (http://www.humanities.soton.ac.uk)
- Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
- School of Biological Sciences (http://www.sobs.soton.ac.uk)
- School of Health Professions and Rehabilitation Sciences (http://www.sohp.soton.ac.uk)
- School of Medicine (http://www.som.soton.ac.uk)
- School of Nursing and Midwifery (http://www.nursingandmidwifery.soton.ac.uk)
- School of Psychology (http://www.psychology.soton.ac.uk)
- Health Care Innovation Unit (based at Southampton General Hospital)
- Southampton Statistical Sciences Research Institute (http://www.s3ri.soton.ac.uk)
- ESRC National Centre for Research Methods (http://www.ncrm.soton.ac.uk)
History
The University of Southampton was originally called the Hartley Institution and was formed in 1862 as the result of a benefaction by a local wine merchant. In 1919, it was renamed Hartley University College and subsequently University College Southampton. Before 1952, the college's degrees were awarded by the University of London. In 1952, the Queen granted the University of Southampton its own Royal Charter to award degrees in its own right. This conferred full university status and made Southampton independent of the University of London.
Famous alumni
- Laura Bailey (Model)
- Guin & Miriam Batten (Swimmers)
- Roger Black (Athlete)
- John Denham (Politician)
- Sue Douglas (Journalist)
- Dr. Astrid Fischel (Vice-President, Costa Rica)
- Guy Fordham (Hockey Star)
- Jeremy Hardy (Comedian)
- Baroness Hooper (Politician)
- John Inverdale (Sports Journalist)
- Stuart Maister (CEO, Broadview Communications)
- John Nettles (Actor)
- Adrian Newey (Technical Director, McLaren Formula One team)
- Chris Packham (Wildlife Presenter)
- Dr. Stanley Pons (Claimed to have discovered Cold Fusion in 1989)
- Jon Potter (Hockey Star)
- Jon Sopel (Journalist)
- Stella Tennant (Model)
- Lord Tonypandy (Politician)
- Dr. Alan Whitehead (Politician)
Motto
Strenuis Ardua Cedunt (The Heights Yield to Endeavour)
Corporate slogan
At the Cutting Edge of Innovation
Student Union
The Student Union, SUSU, is sited in two buildings, one much older than the other, close to the Hartley Library. It is less political than many student unions, but is not shy to confront conformity. In May 2002, it chose to disaffiliate itself from the NUS, of whom SUSU believed to be 'political time-wasters' and 'bureaucratic'. Imperial College has also chosen to leave NUS. The union does not boycott Nestle. The student radio station, Surge, is based in the Glen Eyre halls, north of the university, and broadcasts throughout the year on the 1287AM and the internet and twice-yearly on FM. The student newspaper is the Wessex Scene, which comes out fortnightly. Events are held in The Cube, the union's nightclub.
See also
External links
- University of Southampton website (http://www.soton.ac.uk)
- Southampton University Student's Union (http://www.susu.org)
- Surge - student radio station (http://surge.soton.ac.uk)
- Wessex Scene - student newspaper (http://www.wessexscene.co.uk)
News articles
- Southampton student union parts company with NUS (http://www.externalrelations.soton.ac.uk/media/02075.htm)
- Students demonstrate at university ball sponsored by BAE Systems (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/dorset/2995702.stm)