Research comes to life at British Science Festival
Thousands of people took part in science workshops, talks and hands-on activities at the British Science Festival in Southampton.
The five-day festival attracted more than 10,000 attendees and showcased research spanning health, technology, engineering and the environment.
It was hosted by the University of Southampton and organised by the British Science Association.
Researchers from the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC): Southampton were among those contributing to the programme, highlighting how research is improving health and wellbeing.
Science through style
Taking part in the British Science Festival provided an opportunity to showcase that research extends beyond traditional academic settings and engage directly with patients, families and local communities.
As part of the festival programme, the BRC supported several events that helped bring health research to new audiences through engaging and interactive experiences.
Visitors to Clothed with Protection explored the role of vaccination through an innovative fashion event that used clothing as a metaphor for protection against infection. The catwalk showcased designs developed in Uganda.
It formed part of an event series focussed on Lifelong health.
Professor Chrissie Jones said: “It’s fantastic to bring together science and fashion. The story we are sharing today is about vaccines in pregnancy, and it’s a new way of talking to people about a lifesaving message. It’s lovely to see people enjoy and appreciate our work and our message.”
Technology improving health
At Engineering Better Health, festival-goers discovered how researchers, engineers and clinicians are working together to develop technologies that could transform healthcare. This offered insights into the collaborative approaches driving future medical advances.
Meanwhile, Mapping the Air We Share highlighted research investigating air quality and its impact on health. Through hands-on activities and discussions, visitors learned how researchers are helping communities better understand the environments in which they live and work, and how this knowledge could support improvements in public health.
Read more British Science Festival highlights in this report from the University of Southampton.
Images courtesy: University of Southampton
