DMU launches first Be The Change Research Festival


A 12-hour festival celebrating the work of academics across De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) is set to take place on Tuesday.

The Be The Change Research Festival – named after the saying attributed to Gandhi that you must “be the change you wish to see in the world” – aims to stimulate debate and showcase the dynamic work being done across DMU.

INSET research word cloud copy

It starts at 7.30am with breakfast at the Vijay Patel Building, near the big screen. Vice-Chancellor Professor Dominic Shellard will welcome guests to the event at 7.50am.

Researchers from the faculties of Business and Law, Arts, Design and Humanities, Health and Life Sciences and Technology will give short presentations throughout the day. The format is simple - each academic will have 10 minutes to showcase an area of their work and take questions from the audience.

Mark Charlton, Head of Public Engagement, said: “We hope people will appreciate the breadth of world-leading research that we have here at DMU. I hope it stimulates interest in other researchers and postgraduate students and encourages future events sharing how their studies can make a difference in society.”

Topics include housing, women in prison, Shakespeare, mental health, variety theatre and austerity. There will also be a special immersive performance in PACE based upon the accounts of refugees and asylum seekers in Leicester, led by Dr Craig Vear, at 6pm. 

Between 10am and 1pm, the winners will be announced of this year’s #DMUengage competition which sees academics win funding from the university to further their work.

There is also the chance to see the results of last year’s inaugural contest. Funding was put towards a series of diverse projects including helping young children to eat more fruit and vegetables, and celebrating the work of the legendary Windmill girls through to investigations of counterfeit medicines on sale in Africa. DMU will be creating a special web page and reporting live from the festival throughout the event – you can also follow on Twitter using #DMUengage.
Posted on Friday 23 June 2017

  Search news archive