Public Research Programme
Inaugural Professorial Lecture series
Research is at the core of everything we do at the University of Plymouth.
Our rich research culture seeks to better understand the world we live in, and – for many – make a difference that will leave it better for future generations.
We are celebrating the impact of this work by opening up the often intriguing world of research, inviting the public, researchers, businesses, and students to hear the fascinating research stories.
Throughout 2023 we will be running the Inaugural Professorial Lecture series which acknowledges the research expertise of our academics who have been awarded their professorship. Join us in a special lecture to celebrate their accomplishments and to discover more about their pioneering research.
We look forward to welcoming you to our programme of research-focused Professorial lectures for captivating explorations of science, engineering, arts, culture, health, medicine and more.
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On the border: cell and tissue surfaces in health and disease – Professor Simon Whawell
Inaugural Professorial Lecture | Tuesday 26 September | 18:30–20:30
Cell and tissue surfaces are crucial in the regulation normal body function. They control the passage of a variety of substances and physically separate parts of the cell and tissues which have different functions. In his inaugural lecture, Professor of Integrated Oral Sciences, Simon Whawell , will build on his research in cell biology and pathological science to highlight how these functions are disrupted in disease and how these borders represent diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities.
From dentistry to space: the pathway of evidence-informed research – Professor Mona Nasser
Inaugural Professorial Lecture | Wednesday 18 October | 18:00–20:30
Utilising systematic reviews with interdisciplinary topics that demonstrate diverse study design (clinical, animal and in-vitro) can present many challenges. As a methodologist, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology and Oral Health Research, Professor Mona Nasser focuses her work on how these challenges might be overcome when applied to space medicine. In her inaugural lecture, Mona will talk about her journey in the evidence-based healthcare movement and how she has developed frameworks to advance initiatives around setting priorities for research.
Recent events
Is Artificial Intelligence key to accelerating health research? – Professor Shang-Ming Zhou
Inaugural Professorial Lecture | Thursday 29 June
Professor of e-Health, Shang-Ming Zhou , discussed how Artificial Intelligence and machine learning technologies can be used to tackle the challenges in population health and epidemiology research during his inaugural lecture. Exponential growth in this field is beginning to have instantaneous impact across society; Shang-Ming's work focuses in particular on the Health and Care sector.
Smart cities and communities: the future of connected neighbourhoods – Professor Katharine Willis
Inaugural Professorial Lecture | Wednesday 7 June
Professor of Smart Cities and Communities, Katharine Willis , is a leading expert in how new technologies can help create inclusive environments in which people and communities can engage with the places that they live.
In her inaugural lecture, Katharine shared insight to ways in which we might live in cities in the future, identifying the need to take a place-based approach when developing smart cities.
The tangled bank: a view from geneland – Professor Mairi Knight
Inaugural Professorial Lecture | Thursday 18 May
Professor of Evolutionary Ecology, Mairi Knight , is an expert in the evolutionary and ecological processes that give rise to and maintain extant biodiversity. Her research explores the diversification and maintenance of life with a particular focus on bees, although she has worked on a range of other systems.
Mairi presented examples from this research in her inaugural lecture, discussing how advances in technology have revolutionised the genetic tools available in this field and unlocked new perspectives on Darwin’s tangled bank.
Public Research Programme events 2016–2022
- Research Festivals: 2018–2022
- Inaugural Professorial Lectures: 2014–2022
- Public Research Lectures: 2019