Public Research Programme

A year-long series of public events showcasing our research
Public Research Programme
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.
Introduced by Professor Jerry Roberts, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, we welcome you to our programme of research-focused events for captivating explorations of science, engineering, arts, culture, health, medicine and more. 
Join us in 2021/22 for the Inaugural Professorial Lectures, now delivered as hybrid events that can be enjoyed in-person or from the comfort of your home, and the annual Research Festival this summer.

Inaugural Professorial Lectures

The Inaugural Professorial Lectures acknowledge our academics who have been awarded their professorship as a mark of their esteemed research.

Join us for a celebration of their accomplishments in a special evening where they share their journey so far and their insights into the specialist topics their high-quality research investigates. 

Nitrogen: the wicked element? – Professor Mark Fitzsimons 

Inaugural Professorial Lecture | Thursday 9 June | Watch now

Nitrogen has been described as ‘the wicked element’ but does it deserve such a title?
 
Professor of Environmental Chemistry, Mark Fitzsimons, is a leading voice on how chemicals interact in the environment on land, in our rivers and at sea. With a focus on nitrogen, Mark draws on his three decades of expertise to discuss both the effects of a man-made nitrogen imbalance and how an equilibrium might be re-established.

<p> Mark Fitzsimons - Inaugural Professorial Lecture <br></p>

Beyond exams: education that empowers – Professor Sally Hanks

Inaugural Professorial Lecture | Thursday 12 May | Watch now
How can educators and training providers best support learners to be prepared for the ‘real-world’? Professor Sally Hanks is passionate about empowering people to recognise their unique attributes and skills – known as capability – so that they can transition confidently into their professional roles. She shares how her work is used to inspire the next generation of dentists to achieve their career ambitions, regardless of their education, socioeconomic background or experience.

<p>Professor Sally Hanks</p>

The harms of hate: challenging Anti-Gypsyism – Professor Zoë James

Inaugural Professorial Lecture | Thursday 28 April | Watch now
Who is deemed valuable and who is not in society – and what can we do about it? 
Professor Zoë James reflects on her extensive expertise on how and why Gypsies, Travellers and Roma experience multiple and complex harms in the UK and Europe, sharing how she has evidenced where they have been placed socially, physically and politically at the margins of society, how this exclusion has been sustained, and the impacts such harms have on these communities. 

<p>Professor Zoë James</p>

Research Festival

<p>Research Festival 2021 visual ID - web header</p>

Research Festival 2022

24 June – 1 July
The annual Research Festival returned to celebrate curiosity and collaboration, showcasing leading work across disciplines. The week invited fellow academics, industry, policymakers, students and the public to understand how we are responding to global challenges with a systems-thinking approach to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Evolving into an extended edition that now encompasses the popular Sustainable Earth conference, the Research Festival welcomed attendees to hear about cutting-edge research from leading experts and keynote speakers, learning how your research or business could achieve greater impact through co-creation and collaboration, locally and globally.

<p>Public Research Programme header</p>