Come and Be Curious about university research

Date

A free, family-friendly open day on Saturday 30 March will give an insight into some of the University’s most engaging research.

There will be more than 40 stalls with a range of activities for all ages, including a children's sticker trail, for 5 to 12-year-olds. This year the trail has as its theme the microbial world inside the body.

Be Curious takes place from 10am-4pm at the University's Parkinson Building and other venues around the campus, giving visitors the chance to get "hands on" with its world-class research and facilities.

Be Curious is a fun day out and a fantastic opportunity to meet researchers.

Dr Charlotte Haigh, Academic Lead for Public Engagement

Dr Charlotte Haigh, Academic Lead for Public Engagement said: “Be Curious is a fun day out and a fantastic opportunity to meet researchers and learn about some really interesting topics.

“The event has grown in popularity every year: it has attracted over a thousand visitors in previous years.

“It’s also a great chance to explore our campus, including its galleries and art trail.”

Click here for more details and a downloadable programme and map of events.

Stalls and activities for 2019 include:

  • Surgical Robots 101
    Have you got what it takes to perform robotic surgery? How are robots changing surgery? Test your skills on a surgical trainer and find out more.
  • Baxter’s sweet shop
    In this shop, people interact with a robotic waiter and can order their sweets through their smartphone.
  • Who wants to live in a pop-up home?
    If you could design your own home, what would it look like? Explore the social, environmental and political opportunities of moving away from bricks and mortar.
  • Growing up and old in the future:
    Test your brain: staff from the School of Psychology will showcase research into memory, sleeping and eating. Challenge your parents to a memory test and find out how plastic your brain is.
  • Crowd physics and psychology
    Learn about the physics and psychology of a crowd. How do we influence each other? Why do people not act immediately when an alarm sounds? Different activities for all ages.
  • Explore pianos and more with the Leeds International Piano Competition
    Join the School of Music and Leeds International Piano Competition for performances, craft activities, and a chance to play a Steinway grand piano. There will also be performances by three globally-renowned musicians from the Lang Lang Music Foundation.

New for 2019 will be a performance by Marty Jopson, BBC One Show resident scientist, showing everyday life at a microscopical level. Places are limited for that show – find out more here.

Be Curious is part of Leeds Festival of Science.

Parking is available in the University's multi-storey car park, payable by debit or credit card only.