Public engagement
Find out more about our media appearances.
Professor Julia Simner on The Life Scientific, BBC Radio 4
Professor Julia Simner was the featured guest on the prestigous The Life Scientific with Jim Al-Khalili on BBC Radio 4. In this wide-ranging conversation, Julia discusses her pioneering work on how special brains process the sensory world in special ways: from synaesthesia (where senses blend, like hearing colours or tasting words), to misophonia (sound sensitivity), aphantasia (the absence of mental imagery), and a range of sensory phobias and manias. She also explores the links between these sensory differences and autism, personality, and mental health.
During the episode, Julia puts Jim to the test to see whether he might be a synaesthete or experience aphantasia with surprising results. She also reflects on the “sliding doors” moments that shaped her career and her passion for understanding the minds of people with unique sensory experiences.
BBC Radio 4 - The Life Scientific, Julia Simner on tasty words and hearing colours.
Giulia Poerio’s research on ASMR reported on by New Scientist and The Conversation
Dr. Giulia Poerio was featured in a video by New Scientist exploring the phenomenon known as Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) - those “brain-tingling” sensations triggered by gentle sounds and visual stimuli. Her research highlighted that ASMR isn’t just anecdotal: individuals who experience it show physiological changes such as reduced heart rate. Giulia Poerio’s research has also been featured in articles for The Conversation and in podcasts and radio programs discussing sensory and perceptual diversity.
Baby Grow Project on BBC Brain Hacks
Led by Professor Gillian Forrester, the Baby Grow Project was featured on the BBC series Brain Hacks, where the programme explored early brain development, neuro-plasticity, and how monitoring infants in their first months can provide insights into cognitive and neural development.
Infant Perception findings reported on by The Times, Daily Telegraph and RIBA Journal
Research by Professor Anna Franklin, Dr. Alice Skelton and Dr. Philip McAdams which finds that infants as young as four-months old look longer at certain architectural styles than others was featured in the news. The Times reported the study under the headline “Baroque or brutalist? Babies like buildings with bells and whistles” and it was also reported by The Daily Telegraph and RIBA Journal.
Baby Pavilion Trail on BBC and ITV Meridian News
Professor Anna Franklin and Dr. Alice Skelton’s research on infants’ perceptual experiences in museums informed Brighton & Hove Museums’ development of a Baby Pavilion Trail at the Royal Pavilion. The initiative was reported on TV, by BBC News and ITV Meridian News in September 2025.
Sophie Forster on BBC's All in the Mind
Sophie Forster discussed her work on inattentional smell blindness on BBC’s All in the Mind.
Gilly Forrester's research on BBC News
BBC News covered Professor Gilly Forrester’s work on how thermal imaging can reveal a person’s stress levels by tracking changes in facial temperature. The research shows that when someone is under pressure, the temperature of their nose drops by several degrees, a response caused by blood being redirected to key sensory organs like the eyes and ears. Professor Forrester explained that the speed of this recovery may offer a useful indicator of how well someone manages stress, especially valuable tool for those unable to express their feelings, such as babies and non-human primates.