HRH The Earl of Wessex officially opened new state-of-the-art facilities at the University of Southampton Institute of Sound and Vibration Research. The Institute is Europe's leading centre for research in sound and vibration and has played a major part in developing more efficient cochlear implants for people with hearing loss and improving sound systems. In 2006 it was awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize.

To take the Institute’s internationally important work forward in the 21st century, a new £6 million purpose-built facility has been constructed on the University’s Highfield Campus. Read more about the new facilities here.