In the School of Biological Sciences, we're addressing the most pressing issues impacting people's quality of life around the world. From finding new ways to combat climate change to our pioneering research into plastic-eating enzymes, we're turning our expertise into action.

We cover all aspects of biological science – from developmental biology and epigenetics, to molecular biophysics, marine biology and applied environmental research – and our academics, lecturers and researchers are experts within their fields.

Our research and innovation activities are focused around our research strengths of developmental biology and epigenetics, molecular biophysics, marine biology and applied environmental research. We conduct cross-disciplinary research with staff from the school of biological sciences and the school of pharmacy and biomedical sciences. The positive outcomes of this collaboration can be seen in our 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) review results. Our work from the Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Science (IBBS) has also made headlines.

Working with researchers across the globe we have developed techniques that can address the growing issue of plastics and how to deal with their negative impact on the environment. This research lead to our Centre for Enzyme Innovation being awarded £5.8 million for its research into plastic eating enzymes.

Our areas of expertise include:

• Biodiversity and evolution
• Epigenetics and developmental biology
• Ecotoxicology and environmental monitoring
• Marine sciences
• Environmental microbiology and biotechnology
• Molecular biophysics