The University is hosting a free event tomorrow (Saturday, 25 March) to showcase some of its research to members of the public of all ages.
The ‘Be Curious’ event will be held from 10am-4pm at the University of Leeds’ Parkinson Building in Woodhouse Lane
Car parking is available on campus at £2 for the first two hours and £1 per hour thereafter to be paid by credit/debit card only at the machine on level one of the multi-storey car park.
Bus routes including 1, 6, 28, 97 all stop outside the Parkinson building from H10 stop on the Headrow in the city centre..
‘Be Curious’ will demonstrate how researchers’ work makes a difference to the lives of people in Leeds and the wider region.
Stalls, talks and guided trails will be focused on five zones of activity: Science and Engineering, Culture, Climate and Water, Cities, and Health.
Stalls include:
Life and Death in Leeds
Find out how to do your own family research using the collections held at Leeds University Library and Leeds Central Library.
Cryptography: Creating and breaking into secrets
Learn how to create a secret message and how this is used to protect important information. Take home your own personal decoder.
Discover Yorkshire's climate past, present and future
Twenty thousand years ago the Dales were covered in ice and mammoths roamed the hills. Find out how Yorkshire’s climate is expected to change in the coming decades.
The Pavilion: Making Photography and Visual Art Visible in Leeds
The Pavilion is a contemporary art organisation which commissions new work and runs events. Find out about its history and check out the film programme at the Hyde Park Picture House.
Thirty minute tours include:
Electron microscopes at Leeds
Leeds has some of the most powerful electron microscopes in the world. Join a tour and see how researchers use super-cold liquid nitrogen to prepare samples and have a go at driving the amazing microscopes -
Demonstration of a bicycle warning system in an HGV simulator
Cyclists suffer a disproportionate share of series injuries and fatalities through road accidents. The XCycle project is helping to develop and test warning systems for HGV drivers to help reduce HGV/bicycle collisions. Come on a tour and demonstration of the simulator and warning system.
Treasure hunt: Let’s go viral!
If you are aged between five and 12 you can pick up a treasure hunt booklet from stall 7 in Parkinson Building. Collect all the virus stickers from posters displayed in different zones. Once you’ve got them all, go back to stall 7 and pick up a free memento (while stocks last).
Talks:
11.0am-11.30am
Dr Andrea Taylor
Climate change and extreme weather: What concerns us most?
11.45am-12.30pm
Professor Timothy Devinney
Why do people find it so hard to consume ‘ethically’?
12.30pm-1.15pm
Dr Michael Reynolds
How does Leeds work?
Dr Charlotte Haigh, Head of Public Engagement at the University of Leeds, said:
“Be Curious is about giving everyone the opportunity to have fun and find out more about the world-leading research happening at the University.
“This year we’re focusing on the relevance of our research to the people of Leeds and our region as a whole, with events for people of all ages.”
Dr Haigh said more than 1,000 people were welcomed to campus for last year’s inaugural Be Curious event.
“I hope even more will come along this time and get ‘hands on’ with our work,” she added.
Be Curious is running as part of Leeds Festival of Science.
More details, and a map of the event, can be found here.