Festival research events
Unlike with an academic conference, the Festival is aimed at a general audience, so that anyone of any educational background can attend an event. Please think creatively about different ways of presenting your research.
Previous examples of formats and events include:
Talks
Shakespeare's Shipwrecks: The Tempest in ten objects
Lasting up to an hour, your talk needs to be engaging and accessible, with plenty of time included for questions and answers. Lauren Working, Lecturer in Early Modern Literature, investigated objects in the world of Shakespeare's The Tempest - from the fractured, storm-tossed ship, to magical books and glittering clothing - bringing fresh perspectives on the story.
Flash Talks
Revealing the Secret of Stem Cells
If you are hoping to do a talk, you may also be interested in presenting a 'flash talk'. These are back-to-back TED-style talks of 20 minutes in a city centre location, designed to create a buzz and bring research into the city. Postgraduate student Charlotte Titterington-Colman explained how stem cell and bone marrow research at York could help improve the understanding of blood cell and blood cancer development.
Online Panels
The Future of Higher Education in a Climate Crisis
We are facing a global climate crisis which requires urgent collaborative action to help tackle challenges, build understanding and capacity, influence policy and change mindsets. An international panel examined how we can work together to address this pressing issue and discussed what this means for the future of higher education.
Hands-on Family Activities
Each year the Festival offers departments the chance to provide hands-on family activities on campus and at venues across the city, providing great opportunities to highlight University research and showcase exciting educational activities across all subject areas. In 2025, for example, researchers sparked children's imaginations and brought their research to life at Discovery Zone events on the University of York campus and in New Earswick.
Workshops
Untold Stories of Migration and Belonging in York
As part of a research project about hidden histories of York’s diverse communities, this drop-in workshop invited people to rethink their relationship to the city, how layers of identity were shaped by waves of migration and consider how we can find shared spaces of belonging.
Making with Jane Austen and JMW Turner
Marking the 250th anniversary of the births of novelist Jane Austen and artist JMW Turner, an immersive workshop focused on the materials of their creativity and invited participants to use watercolour paints, inks and textiles.
Through hands-on exploration, workshop attendees discovered the ways in which experiencing touch affects not only how performers 'feel' the music, but also how listeners respond.
Walking Tours
Postgraduate researcher Rachel Feldberg helped people travel back 220 years to the world of Jane Ewbank, the 26-year-old daughter of a York apothecary who enjoyed a rich cultural life in the city.
Exploring the University of York Art Collection
A guided walk by curator Helena Cox revealed the hidden treasures of the University of York’s art collection.
Performances
The impact of visible and invisible air pollution on our health was explored through talks and a special meditative musical performance by Sonic Threads, featuring Carnatic singer Supriya Nagarajan on voice and Lucy Nolan on harp. They were joined by atmospheric chemist Alastair Lewis.
A group of PhD scientists have led interactive games to teach children about epidemics via a fictional zombie takeover of York.
Submissions for University of York staff and students are now closed for June 2026. Submissions are for External partners remain open until 19 January 2026, please contact yorkfestivalofideas-admin@york.co.uk for access to the online application form.