Researchers'Night
Sun, 24 Jul 2011 13:20:00 BST
September Showcase to show-off research as part of a pan-European event
THOUSANDS will flock to the University of Huddersfield on one-off special night on Friday 23 September when it becomes a European focus for the excellence and excitement of its research.
(l-r) Dr Pammi Sinha and Dr Laura Waters
The public will be welcomed to the only UK event of its kind outside the London area that will take place on Researchers’ Night, which is held every year at a chain of universities and institutions throughout Europe. This year there will be events at 500 venues in more than 30 countries.
“It is quite a coup for Huddersfield,” says Art, Design and Architecture lecturer Dr Pammi Sinha, who along with Dr Laura Waters from Applied Sciences, will project manager ‘Living in a Material World’, the name chosen for the University partnership which made the successful bid to be included in Researchers’ Night.
Two schools – Applied Sciences and Art, Design and Architecture – have teamed up for the project. Dr Sinha explained that the first of the schools researches the science of materials while the other devises ways of designing and making articles from them – hence the ‘Material World’ concept.
Researchers’ Night takes place this year in September and the University’s goal is to stage events that will attract 3,000 members of the public of all ages. Access will be free of charge.
Visitors will be given insights into research at the University via lectures, exhibitions and workshops plus fun events such an attempt to break the world record for a single length of hand-spun woollen yarn – 1.23 kilometres is the current record. The event will end with a spectacular light show.
Dr Sinha explained that Researchers’ Night was intended to be a “demystifying event”.
“We will be trying to engage with the public and show them how research and its outcome has an impact on everyday life. We also want to engage youngsters, showing how research is a viable career option for them.”
One of the reasons that the University of Huddersfield was chosen to hold the Researchers’ Night event, Dr Sinha believes, is its long tradition of close connection with the community.
“We were originally built as an institution to service local industries, although the University has since moved on to become a place for all kinds of learning. Huddersfield is also acknowledged as one of the most creative towns in the UK.
“We engage closely with the public and we like to do so in a creative way, so the activities that we are planning for Researchers’ Night will reflect the creative interaction between science and art.”
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