UoS Research Fellows look ahead to the British Science Festival
At the end of last year, colleagues and their collaborators were invited to submit activity ideas and proposals in the closed call for the British Science Festival.
The organisers were looking for activities that showcase cutting-edge science taking place at our University and which engage the audience in open discussion about relevant issues that affect culture and society.
Dr Kate Hough, Research Fellow in Neuroimmunology, Clinical and Experimental Science and Dr Alix Chadell, Research Fellow, Medicine were two of the successful applicants.
Dr Kate Hough
What’s your area of expertise?
I’m a hearing and cochlear implant researcher and I co-lead ALL_EARS@UoS patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) group. I am a co-lead of the three connected Lifelong health events alongside Dr Danielle Schoenaker and Ella Proudly. I have lots of experience working alongside researchers and the public to raise awareness and encourage discussions about important topics such as hearing and brain health.
What will you be talking about/demonstrating at the BSF?
We are running three connected events around the theme of lifelong health where we will explore how health is shaped from before pregnancy (preconception) through to older age, and how each life stage contributes to lifelong wellbeing. Our events include: a catwalk which will showcase garments from Clothed with Protection, a fashion project led by Professor Chrissie Jones to champion vaccination in pregnancy, a creative workshop co-designed with local Black and/or South Asian women who have had a child in the last 10 years in a project led by Professor Lucy Green. The third event explores the yoga and the science of wellbeing where festival visitors will have the opportunity to take part in a free yoga and breathwork session alongside learning about the benefits of yoga for health and wellbeing.
What do you want people to take away from this?
We want people to leave feeling empowered knowing they can do something to improve their health and the health of their families and future families – whether it be through regular yoga and movement to understanding the importance of vaccinations during pregnancy.
What are you looking forward to about BSF? What do you want to take away from it?
I am looking forward to being involved in such an exciting and well-known science festival and having the opportunity to have valuable conversations with the public about such important topics in science.
What’s the one meaningful change you’d hope to see for yourself, your community, or the wider world from your involvement in the British Science Festival?
Our activities are all about how to improve lifelong health and why it is important. I hope that festival visitors will leave our activities feeling enthusiastic and motivated to change one thing to improve their health and even the health of future generations.
Dr Alix Chadwell
What’s your area of expertise?
Medical Engineering and upper limb prosthetics
What will you be talking about / demonstrating at the BSF?
Our exhibit showcases all the different ways our University is Engineering Better Health. We have exciting plans which include an interactive human, a data hub exploring how health data is used, and examples from across the University, our spinout companies, and outstanding alumni. We’re also developing a large-scale version of the classic ‘operation’ game where you can extract medical devices and learn about our involvement with them.
What do you want people to take away from this?
We hope that visitors will leave inspired by the expanse of healthcare-oriented research, innovation, and education at Southampton. We’d like them to better understand the variety of people/skills/vocations involved throughout the innovation process (including them). And through our data hub, we aim to reassure visitors about the ways their healthcare data is used.
What are you looking forward to about BSF? What do you want to take away from it?
I’ve been involved in several Science Festivals (including the last BSF in Liverpool) and I absolutely love chatting to the public, supporting them in learning how things work, but also learning from them, their journeys, and the ways they see the problems we might be looking at from a different viewpoint. I love the excitement and energy that you find in the room. For me, developing a new exhibit and seeing it have success and a longer-term legacy will be really enjoyable. Also, if I can inspire some young people to get involved in innovation that would be the cherry on top of the cake.
How exciting/ important is it to Southampton and UoS to be hosting BSF?
We are fortunate to already be surrounded by well-attended Science Festivals such as our very own SOTSEF. The BSF will give us the opportunity to showcase everything Southampton to an even broader audience. I really enjoyed the breadth of exhibits at Liverpool last year, and think we will be so fortunate to have this on our doorstep. I’d recommend everyone takes a look and attends at least one activity to learn something new….plus it’s all free.
What’s the one meaningful change you’d hope to see for yourself, your community, or the wider world from your involvement in the British Science Festival?
For me one of the real benefits of this has been getting to know my colleagues across the University working in this area. We can often be fairly siloed, but this is already bringing us together. There will of course be benefits for the community and wider world, but I think it’s important not to overlook the value for us as an institution as well.
Share this article on social media:
