On the 12th October, Exeter Phoenix opened its doors to hundreds of local residents ready to let their imaginations run wild. With more than 20 stalls to explore, adults and children alike were invited to learn from academics across the University through engaging, hands-on activities.
FUTURES is the South Westâs free festival of discovery, hosted in venues across Bath, Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Exeter, and Plymouth, and encourages new audiences to hear about the research happening on their doorstep. At the University of Exeter, this yearâs Pop-Up Curiosity Shop was at the very heart of the festival, welcoming hundreds of visitors to explore the various offerings from our research exhibitors.
Exeter Phoenix welcomed members of the public to a series of stalls, delivered by a range of departments for learners of any age. Visitors could explore quantum navigation with Dr Luke Smith, investigate the secret behind plant shapes, or even learn how light can help diagnose disease!
For those with more cultural interests, the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum and the Womenâs Screen Work in the Archives project highlighted forgotten stories in the history of cinema, while Professor Jane Whittle shared insights into the realities of the past, found in her new book, The Experience of Work in Early Modern England. The SHArD 3D Laboratory also explored how technology can feed into our understanding of archaeology, showcasing examples from their collections.
Attendees could learn about the life all around them, exploring how to extract DNA from strawberries, or discovering the functions of bacterial phages, with one attendee affirming afterwards that âPhages are the best things in the world!â And at the centre of the Pop-Up Shop, all were invited to try out the Belonging Game, a newly commercialised game that invites communities to get to know one another.
Anyone looking for more of an adventure could also join the Treasure Trail, which sent participants on a quest to test their FUTURES learning in exchange for a special prize.
Each of these activities attracted a great deal of interest, with one teacher in attendance stating that it âwas great to see so many people getting involved in science â particularly childrenâ, and another visitor saying it was âSo great to appreciate the advances happening on our doorstep, and build confidence in an academic environmentâ.
While the Pop-Up Curiosity Shop was hosted only on the 12th October, there were many other opportunities for audiences to get involved in the celebrations across the weekend, including walking tours, workshops, and even film screenings. Keep an eye on this page for more information about public engagement from our 2025 events!