FUTURES2023

Bath Spa researchers took part in FUTURES2023, a festival of discovery. Lizzie Bryant, our International Projects Manager, and Sam Lane, our Academic Leader for Biology, tell us more.

On Saturday 30 September 2023, Bath Spa University played host to members of the public who attended our Biology in Action! event.

Biology in Action! was one of several events which took place this on the last weekend of September across the south west, and aimed to make research accessible to the general public.

Working in a consortium with Bristol, Bath, Exeter and Plymouth universities under the banner of FUTURES2023, the events were part of the wider European Researchers night.

Designed for both adults and children, Bath Spa’s researchers welcomed the public into their labs, to explore the campus and to experience mini lectures. The events included:

• Entomophagy (insect eating). Attendees found out more about the sustainability of alternative protein sources including cricket cookies, flavoured meal worms, fried grasshoppers and various bugs. 
• Plant biodiversity. We made wildflower seed bombs and looked at biodiversity of plants and wildflowers. 
• Microscope setup - look close up! We observed seeds and slides on diseased tissues.
• Mini-talk on bees. An interactive session, with the audience asking questions throughout.
• Wellbeing nature walk Newton Park campus. We explored University grounds including these around the Castle, Walled Garde, and our allotments, which led into...
• Forrest Bathing. A talk on feel-good plant chemicals.
• Educational DNA Tech. Participants extracted their own DNA and took it home with them.
• Living lab. We observed the behaviour of cockroaches, millipedes, and ants.