Research talks

Time: 12:00–17:00 | Location: Green zone, Health and Life Sciences building

Visit the Cole Museum for an afternoon of captivating talks!

Enjoy an exciting programme ranging from a special tribute to Norman, the Museum’s resident elephant, on his 175th birthday, to incredible fossils and where to find them, 100‑year‑old dinosaur eggs, and much more.

A fascinating day of talks awaits for curious minds of all ages!

For more information and the full talk schedule, visit the Cole Museum’s events page.

Time: 12:30–13:00 | Location: G10 Palmer lecture theatre

Would you do business with a former prisoner? Would you be comfortable working with someone who had a criminal past or a history of substance abuse?

What if you knew that their lived experiences and their self-transformation against crippling odds made them not only more inclusive and empathetic leaders, but also paradoxically more honest and trustworthy?

Come along to this research talk by Ananya Sengupta, where she highlights the stories of four such business leaders. These are stories of resilience and redemption that surprise, inspire and motivate.

Time: 13:00 | Location: Room 109, Palmer building (Pink zone)

We all carry billions of microbes in and on our bodies, with our guts housing the most of all.

Anything we eat but can’t digest becomes a meal for these tiny inhabitants. Our food literally impacts on which microbes live in our guts, and these, in turn, can impact on our health.

This talk explores the remarkable world of gut bugs – how our everyday habits affect them, and what this hidden community does for us in return.

Time: 13:10–13:40 | Location: G10 Palmer lecture theatre

How does accent reflect identity? Why do accents change – and why do they matter?

This talk explores the history of British English, the ways international media use accent stereotypes, and the reasons someone might choose to adapt their accent in different social or professional settings.

The goal is to help people understand how accents work, reflect on their own accent use, and think critically about accent prejudice and discrimination.

Time: 13:50–14:20 | Location: G10 Palmer lecture theatre

Would you trust AI to decide your fate in court? This thought-provoking talk explores pioneering research on artificial intelligence in the justice system.

Discover how human jury decisions stack up against AI systems, and learn about surprising insights into AI fairness, bias, and legal decision-making from University of Reading researchers at the forefront of this emerging field.

Perfect for anyone curious about AI, justice and the future of technology in society.

Time: 14:00–14:45 | Location: Pink zone, Ure Museum, 38 Edith Morley

Join Professor Amy Smith, Curator of the Ure Museum and Professor of Classical Archaeology, for a lively talk about the 117-year history of the Ure Museum, at the forefront of teaching, research and outreach.

She will start with University College Reading's receipt of some Egyptian artefacts from Thebes and elsewhere and the excavations of Percy and Annie Ure in Rhitsona, near Greece’s Thebes.

She will consider how their growing collection of antiquities for the Greek Museum, as it was then called, adapted to the changing needs of the University, the nation, and the world.

Time: 14:30–15:00 | Location: G10 Palmer lecture theatre

How can creativity help us think differently about climate change and urban life? This interactive talk shares research on how the arts – especially live performance – can spark new ways of imagining our cities.

Through diverse and inspiring examples, Dr Woynarski will show how the arts can offer optimistic alternatives to familiar stories of climate apocalypse, inviting you to imagine cities where people and planet can thrive together.

Time: 15:10–15:40 | Location: G10 Palmer lecture theatre 

How can we fix our relationship with nature – and why does it matter for our future?

This talk explores how modern society’s disconnection from the natural world drives ecological breakdown.

Drawing on his research, Professor Oliver will highlight practical ways we can rebuild a deeper sense of connection with each other and the planet, and how this cultural shift could help create a more sustainable, resilient society.

 

Time: 15:50–16:20 | Location: G10 Palmer lecture theatre

Cancer affects nearly half of us, yet it remains one of medicine’s biggest enigmas.

Offering a glimpse into the future of cancer treatment, Dr William Cross from the School of Biomedical Sciences will share his research on ‘cancer evolution’ – a field that uses evolutionary principles to understand, control, and hopefully, eradicate the disease.

Join him for a fascinating discussion exploring his work at Reading and the impact this new approach could have on the way we diagnose and treat cancer.

Time: 16:30–17:00 | Location: G10 Palmer lecture theatre

Exploring how housing affordability shapes productivity, migration and inequality, Lukas Makovsky from the Department of Real Estate & Planning will shed light on the forces driving high rents and house prices – and how these pressures affect us all.

Offering insights into one of today’s most urgent economic challenges, this talk is for those who are curious about the future of our towns and cities.