Hosted by InExeter, and brought to the city by a local resident, the First Thursdays scheme has been running on the first Thursday of every month this summer. Staff from across the University have been working with the Public Engagement with Research team to deliver pop-up talks, panels, and even a gameshow as part of this community-driven event.
First Thursdays draws upon similar models found in Baltimore and Philadelphia, inviting visitors into the city centre for some late-night shopping, speciality food and drink, markets, and performances. Taking place on Exeter’s Gandy Street, the events across June, July, August, and September highlighted local artists and businesses, such as Exeter Phoenix, Maker Mart, The Mermaid, Chococo, and more. As part of each month’s offering, academics from the University of Exeter contributed their time and expertise to showcase their research in novel and interactive ways.
June – Pop-Up Talks, and DJ Dr Doom
For the first iteration of this event, visitors could escape the bustle of the street outside, joining Flora Hemming and Dr James Dyke for pop-up talks in Exeter Phoenix. Flora Hemming’s talk, ‘Why is it so easy for you and so hard for me?!’ explained her research into executive function for young people who have experienced brain injuries, while Dr Dyke’s talk, ‘Is there intelligent life on Earth?’ left the audience with plenty of reflections on climate change, but hope for the future as well. This was followed in turn by a musical performance from DJ Dr Doom: ‘DJ Dr Doom and the Disco Popapocalpyse’, finishing the evening with a bang!
July – A Future of Sustainable Food (Panel talk)
“Food brings people together, doesn’t it?”
Dr Rebecca Sandover’s words summed up the discussion at this panel talk, which featured insights from local experts on how we can promote food security and sustainability. Dr Sandover was joined by Harriet Bell of Riverford Organic Farmers, Martyn Bragg of Shillingford Organics, Carolyn Dare of Resources Futures/ Community Action Devon, and Jenny Archard of Devon Communities Together in Exeter’s historic Freemason’s Hall. Their conversation covered a range of topics, exploring everything from food policy to community larders, as well as research into soil health, and its ability to support the growth of nutrient-rich food.
August – Take a Trip to Antarctica!
For the penultimate First Thursdays event of the season, visitors were invited to cool off in Chococo Chocolate House with an in-house gelato, while learning about the secrets of Antarctic ice flows! Dr Anne Le Brocq and Eleanor Cook brought a host of interactive materials, including Antarctic top trumps, 3D posters, and even the ‘Ice Flows’ video game. More than 30 attendees of all ages joined in with the fun, learning about how ambient water and air temperatures can affect Antarctic ice sheets – of course, with the help of some penguin character companions!
September – SHELL YEAH! A Prawn Farm Challenge
The final month of the First Thursdays scheme took interactivity to a new level, bringing a research-based gameshow to the stage. ‘SHELL YEAH! A Prawn Farm Challenge’ was designed by workshop facilitator and illustrator, Hannah Mumby, and creative researcher, Ella Harris, and drew upon the research of the UK Sustainable King Prawn Project. This project, supported by research expertise from across the University of Exeter, has investigated future possibilities for sustainable aquaculture and prawn farming in the UK, and is already demonstrating its importance beyond academia alone.
The gameshow looked to bring the complexities of this pivotal research to life, supported by researchers from the project team, including Professor Rod Wilson and Dr Rob Ellis. Audiences were invited to participate in a prawn farming experience, in which teams raced to design their very own farm. More than 40 members of the public participated in this pilot event, learning about the science behind the game, and how each decision they made could cause a potential impact for the health of their farm. One audience member described this as “a great way to make a novel, challenging subject engaging”, and more than 30 attendees said they were inspired to learn more about the topic.
A huge thank you to all our academic colleagues who contributed to these events. It has been great to see so much enthusiasm for all the phenomenal research taking place across our faculties, and we look forward to hosting more pop-up activities like these in the future!