Annual Review 2023: Empowering People, Places, Culture and Society
The University is a hub of creativity – of thought, of practice, and of ambition

When the pandemic started, my plans changed very quickly, but continuing with my idea gave me a sense of personal stability. I hope people who see it realise that although it was a turbulent time, the skies during those months were very often clear and blue. Despite what was going on, the sun – like the tides – still rose and fell every day.
Dr Heidi Morstang
Associate Professor in Photography
These results demonstrate the substantial power of poetry. In addition to supporting health and wellbeing, our website now provides an historical archive for how people around the world used English language poetry to navigate the crisis.
Professor Anthony Caleshu
Professor of Poetry and Creative Writing
Iraq suffered, and continues to suffer, from vast social and demographic change, with infrastructure and the health system in ruins and poverty and unemployment rife. I hope this ongoing work will amplify Iraqi voices but also their stories, memories and traumas.
Dr Sana Murrani
Associate Professor (Spatial Practice)
Throughout their course, we give our students experience of real-world projects the like of which they will encounter through their careers. It gives them the opportunity to apply the skills they are developing to a set brief, and to then adapt their thinking and ideas in response to client feedback.
Mr John Kilburn
Lecturer in Illustration
Nowadays, audiences are expecting a lot more from a live performance, and the blending of digital innovation with live experiences means we are in a great position to provide them with it. As technology continues to advance, the immersive space is really creating opportunities for us.
Professor Chris Bennewith
Executive Dean, Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business
You could start the composition process exactly as you do now, putting together notes or sounds and seeing how they blend. But if you then run music through your own programmed quantum software, it could give you results you had never even thought of.
Professor Eduardo Miranda
Professor in Computer Music
Those we spoke to also felt that the curriculum was delivered very much as a partnership between educators, families and the children themselves. In that sense, its uniqueness from other forms of education – and the innovative and inclusive way in which it is delivered – is something that should be celebrated and preserved.
Professor Verity Campbell Barr
Director of Plymouth Institute of Education
Joining the PCCU has taught me how to work effectively online and in groups to deliver a report. By working cold cases, we have learnt to think outside the box, as everything may not appear as it seems.
Taking public transport can be more than just a journey. It can help people maintain contact and avoid loneliness and isolation. This research’s confirmation that, since COVID-19, concessionary travel is down across England is a concerning one.
Dr Andrew Seedhouse
Director of Transport
From the outside, many people may look at Devon and Cornwall and perceive them as being relatively affluent. However, there are thousands of people having to make very difficult financial choices every day as they struggle to keep a roof over their head.
Dr Nigel Jackson
Associate Professor (Reader) in Persuasion and Communication
When you think of civilian vessels and the roles they played during the war, what probably springs to mind are the rescues from Dunkirk or the battles encountered by merchant ships transporting goods across the Atlantic. But this is a battle that took place every day within sight of our coasts, and it is a story of outstanding bravery and heroism that has been significantly undertold.
Dr Harry Bennett
Honorary Associate Professor
By supporting the collaborative design of novel technologies, the ICONIC project presents a unique opportunity to engage with local communities to address digital exclusion in Cornwall and Devon. Cultural, environmental, and heritage sites have also embraced the role of these novel technologies in promoting both wellbeing and digital inclusion.
Professor Sheena Asthana
Director of Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research