LifeLab Showcase celebrates a year of success

Young people, teachers, researchers and collaborators came to LifeLab for a vibrant evening of celebration.

The 2025 Showcase event took place last week at the LifeLab facility at Southampton General Hospital.

LifeLab engages children and young people with the science behind a healthy lifestyle. It is a collaboration between the University of Southampton, University Hospital Southampton and

NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre.

This academic year marked some significant milestones for LifeLab. Their work was recognised by a Royal Society for Public Health award, and an invitation to a Royal Garden Party.

They welcomed their 17,000th student, and expanded their Early LifeLab programme for children in primary schools. Their Youth Panels continues to create outstanding resources.

LifeLab’s influence

The showcase event included thought-provoking presentations on the effect of LifeLab’s work on young people.

The evening was opened by LifeLab Director and Programme Manager, Professor Kath Woods-Townsend. Professor Mary Barker delivered an inspiring talk highlighting the transformative impact of LifeLab.

Dr Debbie Chase is Director of Public Health at Southampton City Council. She explored the benefits to the community. Sinead Holmes, Head of Access, Widening Participation and Social Mobility, spoke about the university’s Widening Participation Social Mobility report.

Dr Chase said: “It was fantastic to see such creative work from all the young people who have participated LifeLab.

“LifeLab continues to have an amazing impact for young people. Not just in teaching them about health and wellbeing, but it provides them the opportunity to develop leadership skills, science skills, the ability to influence people and then put all that on their CV. It’s such a great opportunity for them.”

Young people take the stage

Students from the NxtGen Researcher programme took to the stage to present their own research projects. They also shared the positive influence LifeLab has had on their lives.

Members of the Youth Panel also shared their findings on key issues. These included ultra-processed foods, climate change and the role of AI in medicine.

Professor Lucy Green also spoke about the Impact Case Studies Go Wild! project. This was a collaboration between the Youth Panel and researchers in the university’s Faculty of Medicine.

A special night

Jamie Clinton, Science Teacher at Warblington School, said: “It was a privilege to be invited to LifeLab’s Showcase.

“LifeLab has enriched our school curriculum by engaging our students in practical activities that we don’t have the resources for in our school. It allows us to meet inspirational scientists who make a difference in the world. This is inspiring our students to become scientists, and producing resources that make our students better scientists. Thank you LifeLab!”

The event was vividly brought to life by Emma Paxton. Her infographic of this year’s Showcase will be proudly displayed in LifeLab’s facility at the hospital.

Professor Woods-Townsend said: “The Showcase is always a special night for us. Hearing the reflections of the people who take part in LifeLab is so rewarding because you genuinely get to see what the impact has been for them.”

To find out more about LifeLab, visit www.lifelabonline.org