Public talks

Pint of Science Festival, Sheffield. Healthy bodies of the future. 

Wednesday 15th May 2024, Doors open: 6.30pm. 7.00pm to 9.30pm.

Alder Bar, Unit 111, J C Albyn Complex, Percy St, Neepsend, Sheffield S3 8BT

SOLD OUT! Tickets are £5 and are available at: https://pintofscience.co.uk/event/healthy-bodies-of-the-future

Our bodies need to be maintained, and engineering in medicine can help at every step of the way. In the future, algorithms will play a large role in our health, and biologists may be able to 3D-print custom implants. Join us for an exciting night about all things health, from growing new organs in labs to using technology to improve your fitness. Featuring:

Dr Caroline Taylor (Materials Science Engineering): Engineering the body: from the bones to the brain!
Have you ever wondered how scientists are trying to grow spare body parts in the lab? There are simply not enough donor organs in the world for those who need transplants, and so, in the lab, we are looking at ways to grow and replace spare tissues. Join this talk as we discover the field of tissue engineering from the bones, nerves and skin, right up to the brain! 

Jonathan Hinchcliffe: Defeating diabetes: a bubble tea-inspired approach
Diabetes is a huge problem both in the UK and worldwide! With the rising costs of insulin injections, we need a long-term solution that can be given once and produce insulin for extended periods of time. Join this presentation as we attempt to make an artificial organ – a pancreas that hides its cells from a merciless enemy: your own immune system...

Dr Lee Pretlove: My pacing is pants!
Ever track your runs with apps or watches? Join this lively 30-minute interactive talk to hear about how runners use that data – the good, the bad, and the just plain obsessive! Get research insights, practical tips, and even compare yourself to our participants' thoughts and feelings. Ready to ditch the tech obsession and reconnect with your run? Come along, smartphone in hand, and join the discussion! 

"My pacing is pants". An interactive talk on the effects of data on runners' health and behaviour.

Thursday 30th November 2023, 8pm to 9.30pm.

Hosted by Ely Runners, The High Flyer, 69 Newnham Street, Ely, CB7 4PQ.

This talk features runners in video and audio clips gathered in 2020 doctoral research by Dr Lee Pretlove (Information School, University of Sheffield). Drawing on his own doctoral research and existing scholarship, the talk covers:

• how runners use and think about their running data;

• the good and bad effects of running data on health and wellbeing;

• ways to improve poor digital wellbeing;

• his latest ESRC funded project about understanding links between self-tracking data and poor mental health.

The talk has optional audience participation. For members of the audience wanting to join in, attendees are encouraged to bring a smartphone or device that can read a QR code.