Category: Events

The FUTURES Festival also supported projects that connect communities to University research. Artist and workshop facilitator, Hannah Mumby, was joined by researcher Hannah Hayes to explore creative mapping of flood risk in the Exe Estuary, while Exeter Seed Bank investigated the health of local community growing spaces. 

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.

Making the most of the festival’s location at Exeter Phoenix, the city centre’s hub for cinema and culture, FUTURES 2025 included a mix of films and performances. Each of these took different areas of research and brought them to life in new and creative ways, inviting new perspectives on this work. 

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.

Our team is excited to share the work of Sidmouth Science Festival, an annual 10-day showcase bringing the work of STEM subjects to audiences of all ages and walks of life. This year’s events, taking place from the 10th to the 19th October will feature academics from the University of Exeter and beyond, each committed to sharing their passion for science. 

The inaugural Exeter Climate Forum, hosted by the University of Exeter in conjunction with the Met Office, brought prominent academics, policymakers, businesses, and young people to its conference events in Exeter. Alongside these main events, a diverse range of community activities were delivered to engage local voices in these pivotal discussions. 

The Public Engagement with Research team is proud to have supported Exeter’s contribution to Pint of Science 2025, an international initiative bringing cutting-edge research to new audiences in local pubs. Dr Harry Green, coordinator for Exeter’s events, shares his experience delivering this year’s festival and continuing to build on its success.

Last week, our team had the privilege of co-facilitating ‘Community Research: Exploring & Celebrating Collaboration’, a showcase dedicated to community-based research in the South West. Supported by the University of Exeter and the Devon Research Engagement Network, this event offered people from across the academic and voluntary sectors the chance to connect, and share valuable insights into their work. 

With the theme for this year’s Being Human Festival, Between the Lines, having been announced, we are taking the time to showcase some highlights from last year’s event. This extended across Devon and Cornwall and was supported by a range of academic and community contributors committed to celebrating the humanities. 

The UK Science Festivals Network – a consortium of science festivals and event organizers from across the UK, managed by the British Science Association – recently hosted its 2025 conference at the Watershed in Bristol. Engagement Manager, Dreolin Fleischer, and Regional Engagement Assistant, Catherine Hurcombe, attended the conference ahead of Exeter’s upcoming community festivals, including FUTURES 2025.