FUTURES2022
A festival of discovery celebrating local research that has a global impact
The FUTURES festival of discovery invites people to learn more about research and meet the University of Plymouth researchers working to make a difference to our daily lives. This year FUTURES brings research to life in new and exciting ways online and in person, whilst breaking down socio-economic barriers to engagement with a whole host of events ranging from health, robotics, and digital heritage to 3D modelling and printing.
FUTURES is an annual public engagement festival dedicated to highlighting research innovation and funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). This exciting event showcases the South-West’s rich scientific and cultural heritage through fun, interactive learning with Universities of Bath, Bristol, Exeter, and Plymouth.
The festival takes place on Friday 30 September and Saturday 1 October 2022, online, in person and accessible afterwards on the University of Plymouth’s YouTube channel.
Read more about FUTURES2021 events and past cross-consortium activities on the FUTURES night webpage.
Researchers interested in participating in event delivery as part of Plymouth’s activities can register an expression of interest using our application form.
FUTURES22: Bridging Divides programme
Online events
Timings and booking links for these activities will be available in due course.
The Big Talk, Friday 30 September
Dr Tina Joshi is a lecturer in Molecular Microbiology and a committed advocate for public engagement. Tina’s keynote lecture will explain why Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is the most urgent global healthcare challenge for the human species.
The Big Quiz, Saturday 1 October
Hosted by the Sustainable Earth Institute, this year’s Big Earth Quiz will provide a quirky and engaging format to raise awareness of environmental sustainability.
In person events
Timings and booking links for these activities will be available in due course.
Get the dirt on!, Eden Project, Friday 30 September
Researchers from the University of Plymouth, along with Eden Project Learning, will deliver a series of interactive, fun workshops showing how you can ‘build’ a new soil from old building waste. We will show how science can deliver recycling at its best!
Voyage of discovery #2, Plymouth Albion, Saturday 1 October
Providing local communities an opportunity to experience the research that is going on in their city – Bridging the Divide by supporting access and participation. Families will get a chance to meet researchers and participate in hands-on activities.
History and Heritage Walking Tours, Plymouth, Saturday 1 October
Walking in the footsteps of some of the great explorers who hail from Plymouth, our History and Heritage walking tours will take in the Barbican, Hoe, and Waterfront.
Researchers in schools
New for 2022 is ‘Researchers in schools’ a new schools engagement programme linked to FUTURES2022 delivered in primary schools across the Southwest in the academic year 2022/23. Led by the University of Plymouth, a series of school visits, online activities and in-person activities for children will focus on focusing on bridging the social divide of engagement with research. The activities are tailored for classes and delivered by researchers, developed to encourage and inspire a love of learning.
Building on outreach activities, children will engage with a range of topics including:
- build your own robot
- what bubbles can tell you about physics
- 3D printing and scanning
- oral health and hygiene
- sustainability
- stories through dance
- keeping safe online.
Resources will be accessible to all researchers and Plymouth schools.
Activities are accredited by Devon & Cornwall Children’s University and will provide content to inform case studies submitted to UKRI for public engagement with research.
Teachers in Plymouth and surrounding areas who would like to register their interest in their class taking part in Researchers in Schools can sign up using our online form. Interested teachers should sign up by Friday 15 July 2022.
For further information, please email Emma Sherriff, Public Engagement Officer, with your enquiries: publicengagement@plymouth.ac.uk.
