Cyber Security Academy is a hub for cutting-edge research and professional training and focusing on advancing the security of both cyber and physical systems.
These seminars, led by cyber security academics and professionals and are free to join.
Industrial Partnerships
The Academy has been working with a cohort of industrial partners If you have a research idea and would like assistance with making connections, get in contact.
We are also looking to expand this network and welcome any leads or suggestions from the University community. These partnerships create excellent opportunities for collaboration and funding.
The Hampshire and Sussex Cyber Cluster was launched recently by Dr Basel Halak from ECS. This initiative aims to enhance regional cybersecurity by fostering collaboration and innovation, with ambitions to build the UK’s largest cybersecurity network.
The cybersecurity ecosystem in Hampshire and Sussex is diverse and dynamic, encompassing over 50 entities from sectors such as rail, healthcare, energy, and more. Prominent organizations like NATS, BAE Systems, Roke, and Southern Water play pivotal roles in safeguarding digital infrastructure, while numerous SMEs provide crucial services within the supply chain. Academic institutions, particularly the University of Southampton, are at the forefront of cutting-edge research in human factors and advanced defence mechanisms.
The primary goal of the cluster is to enhance regional collaboration, coordinate cybersecurity efforts, and address evolving cyber threats. By leveraging the collective expertise of industry, academia, and government entities, the cluster aims to fortify the region’s cyber defences and support its digital economy.
Dr Basel Halak expressed his enthusiasm for the cluster's formation, saying ""This initiative is a significant step forward for our region. By bringing together diverse expertise and resources, we can tackle cybersecurity challenges more effectively and foster a safer digital environment for all. I encourage everyone involved in cybersecurity to join us and help shape the future of cybersecurity in Hampshire and Sussex.”
The cluster's launch event is on Tuesday March 25th @ 9.30-3.30pm, Highfield Campus.
Register as soon as possible, as spaces are limited. Attendees will need to present their e-tickets on the day of the event. A detailed agenda will be shared with all registered participants closer to the date. This is a great opportunity to connect and collaborate, so don’t miss out!
Currently, the standard way to check a person's breathing (or respiratory) rate is to manually count the number of breaths they take in a minute. This requires a nurse to be actively checking it.
Now, a new device has been shown to be able to constantly monitor breathing rate. It is thought to be the first of its kind and could provide a crucial early warning system that could save lives.
The research, published in Sensors, was led by Nottingham Trent University, the University of Southampton (UoS) and University Hospital Southampton (UHS). Professor Neil White is Director of the Centre for Healthcare at UoS. He worked with Dr Harry Akerman, Consultant Anaesthetist at UHS, to deliver the study in Southampton.
Wearable ‘sticker’ device
Changes in breathing rate can often be the first sign that a patient’s condition is getting worse.
Now, researchers are developing a wearable device known as a Pneumorator. This textile-based technology can be worn on the chest like a sticker to monitor breathing.
The device works even when not touching the skin. It could be wirelessly linked to a smartphone or tablet to alert healthcare professionals to changes in a patient’s condition.
In this study, the device was shown to be capable of continuously measuring the breathing rate of volunteers within an accuracy of two breaths per minute. It included researchers from Nottingham and Southampton. The med-tech company Zelemiq Ltd was also involved.
Dr Akerman said: “Respiratory rate is often the first physiological parameter to change as a patient is becoming unwell ahead of changes to heart rate, blood pressure, temperature and oxygen levels. It is also the only one of these that is routinely measured manually, and so is susceptible to human error.
“We know that earlier detection of diseases is better for patients whilst also being cheaper to treat, so a device that continuously and non-invasively measures respiratory rate could be a great tool in the early detection of deteriorating patients.”
Testing it in a trial
The next step will be to test the device in a clinical trial at UHS, with the aim of achieving regulatory approval within the NHS. The device is low cost and could easily be manufactured at scale.
Professor White said: “This wearable technology allows the measurement of respiratory rate over long periods of time, which is not achievable using conventional manual breath counting.
“Trends in respiratory rate can therefore be recorded and observed, offering the potential for rapid interventions that can potentially save lives.”
Presentation Title: Non destructive technique for measuring space charge and electric field in cables: from Research Laboratory to Industrial Application
Abstract:
This presentation presents an overview of research on space charge measurements on high voltage extruded cables, presenting some results obtained by the thermal step method in an academic laboratory and in an industrial setup.
The Software Sustainability Institute (SSI), which is led by the University of Edinburgh in partnership with the universities of Manchester and Southampton, has been awarded a record £10.2 million funding for a new project phase from 2024-2028 to continue its vital work as the first organisation in the world dedicated to improving software in research.
Arts and Humanities Research Council executive chair Christopher Smith said:
“Software plays a fundamental role in all disciplines of research. That’s why it’s so important that we invest in supporting the development of research software that is top quality, meets the needs of our research communities, is environmentally sustainable and is ready for the future.
“This record £10.2 million investment is part of the UKRI Digital Research Infrastructure programme’s ongoing investment in evolving existing capability and supporting new infrastructure. It reflects the SSI’s strong track record and the importance of its work for the future of research. I am delighted that AHRC will be hosting this investment for all UKRI communities for the next four years.”
Transforming research software
This marks the fourth time the SSI has been entrusted with public funding to carry out its mission of transforming research culture by establishing the principle that reliable, reproducible, and reusable software is necessary across all research disciplines.
It achieves this by working with, and investing in, individuals and organisations from across the sector. The SSI’s “collaborate, not compete” ethos has allowed research software to move towards becoming a first-class citizen in the research landscape.
“Every modern societal advance is driven by research which relies on software. From weather forecasting to whether we can build new narratives for the next decade, it’s important that we provide equitable access to the digital tools and skills enabling this. This grant - which will see the SSI into its 18th year - enables us to work with the research community to build capability and expertise, ensuring a sustainable future for research software.” - Neil Chue Hong, SSI Director
SSI-4 focus
The SSI was founded in 2010 as the first organisation in the world dedicated to improving software in research. It is now a world-leading organisation in research software. Phase 4 will focus on tackling the environmental sustainability of research software, investigating how to improve equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility (EDIA) in the research software community, and addressing the rising interest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML).
“Over the last 14 years, the SSI has changed research culture around the use of software. I am excited about what we can achieve in the next phase in vital areas such as the environmental impact of software, the use of AI and - most importantly - how we value software as a research output." - Simon Hettrick, SSI Director of Strategy.
“It’s an incredibly exciting time to be working in the field of Research Software. Over the next few years we are likely to see huge changes in both theory and practice, as AI-based methods gain traction. The environmental sustainability of research software is also a priority, and we look forward to working with our partners and fellows to gather the evidence and develop the policy that will help us to reduce the carbon footprint of computational research.” - Caroline Jay, SSI Director of Research.
For this phase, the SSI is partnering with OLS, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to diversifying leadership in research, to amplify the impact of the SSI Fellowship Programme. OLS will consult on mentorship training to further develop our Fellows. The SSI will also work closely with the University of Oxford developing strategic activities that strengthen its link to the Arts & Humanities communities.
"The SSI was instrumental in supporting OLS in the early days of our mentorship program, back when we were a fully volunteer effort. Now we're invited back years later as a full partner to consult on our mentorship expertise. This speaks volumes for the SSI's commitment to cultivating and supporting their community. We couldn't be more excited to give back by helping grow the next generation of Fellows and their mentors!" - Yo Yehudi, OLS Director.
“Oxford has been proud to support the SSI since 2010, engaging particularly with the Arts, Humanities and Cultural Heritage communities and focusing on national research infrastructure and shaping data and software policy. The Digital Scholarship at Oxford team is very excited to help further these strategic activities as SSI enters Phase 4, with digital tools and software continuing to transform how data is collected, analysed, managed, shared and sustained for future generations.” - David De Roure, Academic Director of Digital Scholarship, Oxford University.