Discover the latest research at Reading’s Community Festival

Following the success of last year’s Community Festival, researchers from across the University of Reading will be back to showcase their work at the free one-day event, which is returning to Whiteknights campus on Saturday 18 May.

Meet Reading’s leading academics at the Research Zone

The Research Zone will be a space where adults and children can hear bitesize research talks and take part in hands-on experiments and activities, as well as having the chance to speak to academics about their work.

Visitors can expect to learn how to spot deepfakes and deceptive online videos, explore how microscopic worms can help researchers develop new therapies for neurological diseases, and discover where our seafood really comes from.

Researchers renowned in their fields will be giving short accessible talks about their fascinating projects including:

• The UK’s first celebrity book club
• Music fandom, emotions and anti-racism in Twentieth Century Britain
• The World of Stonehenge
• Understanding biological purpose

For children, there will be talks about whether baby cows like playing with toys, ghost poetry, the study of dinosaurs, and microplastics.

Professor Parveen Yaqoob, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, said: “The research talks and exhibits at last year’s Community Festival were received with such enthusiasm from visitors and allowed people of all ages to get hands-on and engaged with research from a wide range of disciplines.

We’re delighted that the Research Zone is back this year with new activities for visitors to explore and we hope they will be inspired by what they learn, and will leave the festival feeling more informed about the world around them.”

Take a look into last year’s Research Zone in this YouTube video.

Alongside the research talks and activities, visitors will also be able to enjoy a range of live music, theatre and performance, street food and activities – all while exploring the beautiful lakes and gardens of the University’s award-winning campus. View the full programme of activities.