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Royal Society selects four University of Sussex research projects for prestigious Summer Exhibition
Posted on behalf of: Lauren Ellis
Last updated: Wednesday, 1 July 2026
The free, public event, which takes place from Tuesday 30 June to Sunday 5 July, invites world leading researchers from universities and science institutions from across the UK to showcase the latest cutting-edge science and research through hands-on activities, talks and interactive exhibits.
This University of Sussex projects exhibiting range from research on brain ageing to the evolution of galaxies.
This year, University of Sussex scientists will be contributing to four exhibits. Three are led by scientists from the University’s Astronomy Centre and explore how advanced telescopes and supercomputer simulations are transforming our understanding of the Universe. A fourth, led by Brighton and Sussex Medical School, examines how everyday factors such as sleep, social connection, movement and wellbeing can shape cognitive ageing.
Sussex exhibits include:
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The Art of Resilience for Successful Ageing explores how the brain adapts throughout life and the everyday lifestyle choices can support brain health and cognitive resilience. It also highlights the importance of factors such as social connection, physical activity, creativity, wellbeing, and lifelong engagement in helping people to age well. The exhibit also explores how resilience is shaped not only by biology, but also by relationships, environments, and opportunities to stay connected and engaged with the world around us.
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Euclid, the dark universe detective, explores the composition and evolution of the dark Universe over cosmic history. The exhibit will showcase how the Euclid space telescope aims to create a map of the large-scale structure of the Universe across space and time by observing billions of galaxies out to 10 billion light-years, across more than a third of the sky.
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Revealing the cosmos with the Simon’s Observatory, looks at how this new set of telescopes can observe the cosmic microwave background and other faint signals in the sky, to better understand how the Universe began.
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Universe Makers aims to recreate the Universe using some of the most powerful supercomputers in the world. Visitors will be able to explore how simulations allow scientists to model the complex processes that build cosmic structures.
Professor Stephen Wilkins, who is involved in all three exhibits said: “It is always a wonderful experience to showcase our latest discoveries to a wide audience, and the Summer Science Exhibition is truly the ideal platform for doing so. It brings together people from all backgrounds, creating a unique opportunity to share the excitement of our work, spark curiosity, and engage in meaningful conversations about science and its impact.”
This year the event will showcase 13 flagship exhibits, along with a Young Research Zone and a programme of talks, panel discissions, film screenings, performances and interactive activities.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sussex, Professor Sasha Roseneil, said: “It is fantastic that Sussex researchers once again have a presence at such a prestigious event. Sussex scientists are passionate about sharing the ground-breaking and transformative fruits of their work, and this event is a great opportunity to engage with the public and highlight just some of the world-leading research being conducted at Sussex.”