Susmita Aown giving a talk on the meadow spittlebug - an insect that can spread disease to vineyards and orchards

Dr Liat Levita discusses the nuances of the teenage brain

Soapbox Science Brighton 2024 took place on Brighton beach on Saturday 1 June, with large crowds gathering to hear about some of the latest scientific discoveries by Sussex academics.

Soapbox Science host events across the UK, designed to celebrate women in STEMM (science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine), and provide an opportunity for the public to learn from, and be inspired by, some of our leading scientists.

An incredible array of topics was covered on the day, with subjects ranging from plastic ingestion by UK hedgehogs through to dark energy and the sub-atomic secrets of the cosmos. Passers-by were encouraged to think about the human body in new ways, with a talk from Professor Claire Smith about why some humans possess muscles that others don’t, and a presentation by Dr Liat Levita about the unique sensitivities of the teenage brain.

Speaking about the day, Dr Levita said, "Soapbox Science was a blast! The audience's engagement, genuine interest, and fun interactions were amazing. I started by asking people to shout out their first thoughts about teens. Many negative responses came up, which we listed on a board—it was a bit shocking but not surprising. My aim was to shatter these misconceptions and highlight how incredible teens are. I emphasized that adolescence is a prolonged developmental period—from puberty to the mid-twenties—marked by incredible brain changes. Supporting young people during this normal developmental phase is vital. The insightful questions and deep interest from the audience were inspiring—I just want to do it again!"

A photo-story webpage has been created to display some of the beautiful photography from the day, alongside a little more information about each speaker and their area of expertise.

A huge amount of thanks must go not only to the speakers but also to the organising team from Sussex, made up by staff from the School of Life Sciences and the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences. They co-ordinated the participation of the Sussex scientists and the contributors from other universities in Southeast England and were on hand all day to ensure the smooth running of the event.

We hope you feel inspired to come along to next year’s event - for more information about past and future Soapbox Science events in Brighton, please visit the Soapbox Science website.

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