Plymouth University's Festival of Research

Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell and a member of Channel 4’s Three Hungry Boys will be among the special guests appearing at Plymouth University’s 2013 Festival of Research.

The event, running from March 4-22, will feature public talks and workshops showcasing some of the world class research currently taking place at the University.

It will also include seminars about a number of social and scientific issues, with a range of noted speakers from the University, across the country and further afield.

This is the second Festival of Research, following a successful debut in 2011, and Professor John Scott, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research) at Plymouth University, said: “This festival celebrates the vast range of exciting research undertaken at Plymouth University, and gives us the opportunity to share this world-class research with our region. We value our relationship with the people of Plymouth and the South West and look forward to this chance to involve them with us in debating some of the key challenges facing the world today.”

Speakers at this year’s festival include campaigner Mr Tatchell, who will talk about human rights challenges over the past 50 years, and BBC cameraman Hugh Miller, who will speak about his work filming on series such as Arabia, Africa and Frozen Planet.

Plymouth University academics will talk about everything from the science of blinking to internet safety, and strokes to robotics, while Marine Biology graduate Tim Cresswell, one of Channel 4’s Three Hungry Boys, will give a talk to aspiring scientists, as the Festival coincides with National Science and Engineering Week.

Sustainability will be a major focus, with a book launch and symposium hosted by the Head of Education for Sustainable Development, Professor Stephen Sterling, and the Festival coincides with the launch of two University initiatives, the Health and Wellbeing Innovation Centre in Truro and a multi-focus research group, the Cognition Institute.

The Festival of Research also includes collaborative events at Living Coasts in Torquay, Tate St Ives, the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter and the ExCel Exhibition Centre in London’s Docklands.

More information, and a full list of events taking place in the Festival of Research, can be found at http://www.plymouth.ac.uk.