University of Birmingham

27/05/2026

Join us at Birmingham City FC for a free family fun day! ⚽️

As part of our partnership with BCFC, we’re excited to be at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park on Sunday 31 May, from 9am until 6pm.
This free event is open to everyone, with fans and local communities all invited to enjoy a great day out.
There’ll be plenty to see and do – from activities and food stalls to meeting mascots Beau and Belle and watching the Trevor Francis Memorial Cup finals.

Come and visit the University of Birmingham team at our stall, where we’ll be offering free blood pressure checks and friendly advice about heart health.
High blood pressure is a major cause of heart attacks and strokes, but it often has no symptoms – so getting a quick check really matters.

We look forward to seeing you there!

26/05/2026

We’re proud to call Birmingham our home 💛
From its creativity and culture to its resilience and sense of community, this city a truly special place.

What do you love about living and working in Birmingham?

It might be that walk along the canal, a favourite café, a view you never get tired of, or the moment the city started to feel like home.

We’d love to hear those memories, places and moments that make our city special to you!

21/05/2026

Congratulations to Aston Villa FC on their stunning Europa League victory - a fantastic achievement and a proud moment for our city 👏

YOUR EUROPA LEAGUE WINNERS – ASTON VILLA! 😍

15/05/2026

Love trees? Here’s your chance to step inside a unique collaboration between research and art 🌳
Everything in the Forest is the Forest, by artist Clare Hewitt, is a response to a government report suggesting that loneliness and isolation are increasing in rural areas of the UK, and celebrates trees and their ability to nurture and communicate.

Setting up a studio within a circle of 12 oak trees at the University’s Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR FACE), Claire documented the forest and its seasonal changes, exploring nature and the forest through a range of sustainable photography techniques.

The exhibition draws on five years of immersive work in this living research forest, offering a new perspective on how trees and ecosystems support one another. It also marks a major milestone for BIFoR FACE; 10 years of pioneering carbon dioxide enrichment research.

📍 Midlands Arts Centre
🗓️ Until 31 Aug
🎟️ Entry to the exhibition is free
🔗 https://macbirmingham.co.uk/exhibitions/clare-hewitt-everything-in-the-forest-is-the-forest

11/05/2026

Breaking news! We're delighted to share that one of the peregrine falcon eggs has hatched successfully! 🐣

Have you joined the watch party? Make sure you visit our YouTube channel to see them live on our BirdCam.
Further updates to follow . . .
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/live/Dy-iWmyYIBk

07/05/2026

It's Deafness Awareness Week, and our researchers are finding ways to make education more accessible.
Thanks to a new partnership with Pearson, a pioneering suite of free British Sign Language resources are now available for teaching Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet in all UK secondary schools.

Signing Shakespeare has been led by Professor Abigail Rokison-Woodall, at our Shakespeare Institute, working with students and Braidwood School for the Deaf, who have been using the resources.

The national rollout is supported by Jodie Ounsley - aka Fury from the BBC hit Gladiators, former rugby player and BSL Advocate.

Tell your school about this new free resource, designed to make a key part of the curriculum and the work of Britain's most famous writer, accessible for everyone.

🔗 If you're a teacher or work in education, you can download the resources, videos and lesson plans for free: https://www.pearson.com/en-gb/schools/subject-resources/literacy-and-english/diversity-in-lit/signing-shakespeare.html

05/05/2026

Getting teenagers to eat well at school isn’t always easy but it can make a real difference to their health, learning and wellbeing 🍽️

Researchers here at Birmingham have worked with School Food Matters on a new report exploring how secondary schools can create healthier food environments for young people. The research looks beyond what’s on the menu, focusing on a whole school approach - where food education, school meals and everyday school culture all work together.
Our earlier research showed how challenging this can be in secondary schools, where busy schedules, packed days and different food providers can get in the way of healthy choices. This new report focuses on what actually helps schools make healthy food part of everyday life for pupils.

The findings come at an important time, as school food standards are set to be updated for the first time in more than ten years. With many parents concerned about what their children are eating during the school day, this research helps show what works, and why school food deserves attention.

🔗 Read more about the research here: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2026/new-research-highlights-key-conditions-for-successfully-improving-school-food-in-secondary-schools

30/04/2026

The Sekine Quartet are back at the Lapworth Museum this summer with two classical shows.
Whether you're a fan of legendary rock bands or love 70s/80s pop, you'll get to listen to a beautiful string quartet in the shadow of our campus dinosaur.

🗓️ Monday 8 June
Legends of Rock 6pm - covers of classic rock songs by the likes of Metallica, Nirvana, Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones and more.
🎟️ https://sekine-legends-of-rock-lapworth.eventbrite.co.uk/?aff=ec

Queen and ABBA 8pm - string tribute to the two iconic groups.
🎟️ https://sekine-abba-queen-lapworth.eventbrite.co.uk/?aff=ec

27/04/2026

We're proud to support grassroots football in our city ⚽
We were delighted to welcome young footballers from across Birmingham and Solihull to campus as we hosted the quarter‑finals of Birmingham City FC’s Trevor Francis Memorial Cup.

This city‑wide tournament for Year 9 pupils brought boys’ and girls’ teams together on our sports pitches, playing in the shadow of our iconic clock tower, Old Joe.

Schools from across the region competed for a place in the semi‑finals, with the journey continuing towards a special final at St Andrew’s Park on 31 May – the stadium where footballer Trevor Francis began his legendary career.

Sponsored by the University of Birmingham, the tournament launched last year as part of our strategic partnership with BCFC, celebrating our shared milestones and a shared belief in opening opportunities through sport, education and community connection.

Well done to everyone who took part 👏

27/04/2026

Obesity can leave a long‑lasting “memory” in the immune system - even years after weight loss.
In a 10‑year study our scientists found that key immune cells carry biological “tags” from obesity that can persist for up to a decade. These tags affect how the immune system cleans cells and ages, meaning the risk of obesity‑related conditions like type 2 diabetes and some cancers may remain long after someone reaches a healthier weight.

Led by Professor Claudio Mauro, the research highlights why maintaining a healthy weight over time really matters.
But the good news is, the team also points to future treatments that could help speed up recovery of immune health alongside weight‑loss therapies.

🔗 Read more about the study and its impact: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2026/obesity-leaves-a-lasting-memory-in-immune-cells

23/04/2026

Remembering Desmond Morris.
We were very sad to learn of the death of Desmond Morris (BSc Biosciences, 1951) this week.

Desmond studied Zoology at Birmingham in the early 1950s before completing a doctorate at the University of Oxford.
He become one the UK’s best-loved natural world experts, captivating generations through his television work and influential writing, including The Naked Ape.

🔗 Here art historian and author Ruth Millington remembers his life: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2026/remembering-desmond-morris