Calling the curious! University’s Summer of Research to engage local community
By: Tom Walters
Last updated: Friday, 31 May 2024
- The University of Sussex is hosting a series of talks, lectures and events throughout in June to engage local community with latest research.
- Events held in Brighton & Hove, on the University’s campus and online.
- Summer of Research celebrates the diversity of research at Sussex – and its world-changing impact across sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities.
Curious-minded members of the public are invited to engage with world-changing research from the University of Sussex, through seafront exhibitions to art installations, as part of the University’s Summer of Research events programme in June.
The programme includes the annual Soapbox Science Brighton event, taking place on Brighton seafront this weekend [Saturday 1 June]. 12 women scientists from universities across the south coast, including Sussex, will talk through their latest discoveries with inspiring demonstrations. Hear from scientists studying our universe, deciphering the mystery of Dark Energy as well as scientists working to understand how our natural environment can help us to recycle plastics.
The Summer of Research programme will see other events being held in the city including:
- Think Again! The Science of Wellbeing (Thursday 13 June)
Author and BBC broadcaster, Prof Claudia Hammond, joins a panel from the University’s School of Psychology to discuss the psychology behind the way we think, feel and behave. With experts in mental health, anxiety, developmental psychology and experimental psychology, topics include how to reduce the transfer of anxiety from parents to children and understanding how gorillas and chimpanzees are feeling. - Multispecies Flourishing - The Living Coast Artist Residency (from Wednesday 19 June)
The Sussex Digital Humanities Lab teamed up with The Living Coast, ONCA and Fabrica Galleries to support an artist in residence. Daisy Stewart-Darling was selected as the successful local artist to explore the theme of ‘Multispecies Flourishing’ in her art, looking at how local environments aren’t just for human wellbeing but for all species. Daisy will present her interactive exhibition of large-scale lino prints from the Sussex coastline at the ONCA Gallery.
The University will also be welcoming visitors on to campus for various events, including:
- Sussex Beacon Series on climate action (Tuesday 11 June)
Three Sussex researchers will share their work on the pressing issue of climate change and how we can take action nationally and globally - including emissions and how to tackle them fairly, working with local people to bring together climate action and essential infrastructure development, and even how we could find solutions to the climate crisis by having more fun. - How do we change how we talk to young people? (Thursday 12 June)
A panel of Sussex experts will discuss how to challenge and disrupt ways of talking about young people that vilifies and excludes them, and how we can instead develop more empathetic language to support them.
Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor for Research, Prof Seb Oliver, says:
“The University of Sussex has a fantastic, vibrant community of researchers who are engaged in fascinating and diverse range of activities and who are keen to share and develop their work at the boundaries of knowledge.
“That’s what the Summer of Research is all about – enabling researchers to discuss the work they are passionate about with the local community, staff, students, alumni and with one another. There are events for everyone, from experts to those who are simply curious. We’d love people to get involved – in the city, on campus, or online.”
Find out more about the Summer of Research events here.