Festival showcases University of York research

Listening to the Commons: 200 years of women in Parliament Did you know women had a ‘presence’ in Parliament before 1918? On the centenary of the first women gaining the vote, find out how researchers at the University of York are bringing political history to life with acoustic technology and virtual reality. Learn how the Listening to the Commons project is recovering the soundscape of debate experienced by women gathering around a ventilator in the House of Commons ceiling c.1800 to 1834. Wednesday 6 June

York’s Dark Past: Crime, punishment and justice Find out about the York Crime Walk project, a collaboration between the University of York, York Castle Museum and the York Archaeological Trust. Prepare to immerse yourself in an intriguing aspect of the city’s history and discover surprising new stories about familiar buildings and landmarks. Saturday 9 June

Frankenstein at 200: The science of the novel Celebrating the 200th anniversary of the publication of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Mary Fairclough of the University of York discusses the science of the novel. Learn how this relates to early 19th-century studies in medicine, chemistry and electricity, and how Shelley’s presentation of the animation of the creature anticipates more recent developments in medical ethics. Thursday 7 June

Laurence Sterne: A sentimental picture This year marks the 250th anniversary of the death of novelist Laurence Sterne and of the publication of his last book, A Sentimental Journey. Join speakers and performers, including Jon Mee of the University of York’s Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies, as they illuminate the life of Sterne. Friday 8 June

Imagining a World without Food Waste How can we move from our ‘throwaway society’ to a world without food waste? Our expert panel from industry, policy, academia and non-governmental organisations will discuss the challenges and opportunities of preventing food waste across the food supply chain from farm to fork. Tuesday 12 June

Behind the Scenes of Science: Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories Take a look at the largest and best-equipped laboratories of their kind in the UK - the Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories. Join York scientists to find out about research into atmospheric composition, including air quality, ozone, marine and lab studies. Wednesday 6, Friday 8 and Wednesday 13 June

Discovery Zone: York Memory Games Have a go at new smartphone memory games and contribute to scientific research. Join researchers from the University of York’s Department of Psychology and find out about the York Memory Games (YORMEGA) project which aims to understand what limits our memory and how we might do better at preserving it. By playing the games, you’ll be able to help with this research. Friday 1 and Saturday 2 June

Behind the Scenes of Science: Jack Birch Unit, Biology Sponsored by York Against Cancer, the Jack Birch Unit studies epithelial tissues, which give rise to more than 80 per cent of all adult human cancers. The Unit’s main focus is on bladder cancer which develops from the urothelium, the specialised lining of the bladder wall. Join us for a tour and talk and learn more. Friday 15 June

Achieving Peace in the Middle East More than 20 years on from the Oslo Accords, we bring together world-class speakers from across the globe to discuss how peace can be achieved in the Middle East. Our Focus Day Is presented in collaboration with The Morrell Centre for Toleration, based at the University of York, and includes a number of expert speakers from York. Saturday 9 June

Creating Inclusive Economies Why in the 21st century do we have a more unequal society than ever before? Our Focus Day explores the relationship between economic and political decision-making and the impact of those decisions on the most vulnerable in our society. Presented in collaboration with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, expert speakers include Kate Pickett, author of The Inner Level, sequel to the acclaimed The Spirit Level, and Chris Renwick, author of Bread for All: The Origins of the Welfare State (Allen Lane, 2017), both of the University of York. Friday 15 June

Artificial Intelligence: Promises and Perils Find out more about AI and what we should and shouldn’t be worried about. What might AI mean for our future health, employment and everyday life? Join us for a special Focus Day brought to you in collaboration with the Assuring Autonomy International Programme, a £12 million initiative funded by Lloyd’s Register Foundation and the University of York to spearhead research, training and standards in the safety of robotics and autonomous systems (RAS). Saturday 16 June

Behind the Scenes of Science: Centre for Immunology and Infection Go behind the scenes of the CII, a joint research centre created by the Hull York Medical School and the University of York’s Department of Biology. Its aim is to integrate the study of basic and clinical immunology, microbiology and parasitology to develop a greater understanding of disease pathogenesis and through this, to develop new approaches to prevention and treatment. Tuesday 5, Thursday 7 and Friday 8 June

Behind the Scenes of the Science: The Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC) Take a look behind the scenes of  the BDC – an open-access research and development centre working at the interface between academia and industry to develop, scale-up and help commercialise bio-based products and processes. Learn about exciting ideas such as using potato starch to make batteries for electric vehicles, turning bread waste into pharmaceuticals and transforming household waste into biofuels. Tuesday 12 and Thursday 14 June

The Shape of Things to Come? Life in the quantum age Join Tim Spiller of the University of York and other experts on quantum technologies as they offer a glimpse of the tangible applications that will transform our everyday life in the future - from cameras that see around corners and through solid walls (and inside the human body) to supercomputers that can develop and test new drugs outside the lab. Monday 11 June