The Pint of Science Festival coming to Suffolk pubs in May – the first time the three-day festival has run in the county. Professor Emma Bond, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange at the University of Suffolk, explains what it means
Ten researchers from the University of Suffolk will be heading to the pub in May to share their research projects with the local community as part of the Pint of Science Festival 2026. This is the first time the Pint of Science Festival has run in Suffolk since it was launched in 2013 as way of closing the gap between researchers and the public. The three-day festival now runs across 25 countries in nearly 500 cities worldwide. In the UK there will be over 400 events in 45 towns and cities.
Over the course of three evenings, Monday May 18 to Wednesday May 20, researchers will be presenting an informal overview of their scientific research before inviting the audience to ask questions.
The evening events will each have three talks of 20 minutes, followed by a 10-minute Q&A and over the three events topics will range from stem cells and food intolerances to the science behind facial expressions and why teaching children to code will help shape the future of the digital world.
The events will take place in Bin93 (Monday May 18) and The Greyhound Pub (Tuesday May 19) in Ipswich and New Street Market (Wednesday May 20) in Woodbridge and will start at 7.30pm.
Professor Emma Bond, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange at the University of Suffolk said: “We are excited to take part in the Pint of Science Festival for the first time with ten of our researchers going to on the road to share their projects with audiences in Ipswich and Woodbridge in a friendly and informal way.
“As a Civic University we look for new and engaging ways to bring the University closer to the local community and heading down to the pub is a great way to meet new groups who may not know some of the exciting work we are undertaking.”
The Pint of Science Festival runs from May 18-20, 2026. Tickets for the events cost £5 and can be booked via the Pint of Science Festival website: pintofscience.co.uk.
Pint of Science 2026 – Schedule
Monday 18 May 2026
Bin 93, 93-95 Fore Street Ipswich IP4 1JZ
Talk 1: Stem cells and regenerative medicine: it’s a kind of magic!’ by Dr Federica Masieri
A fun and interactive scientific talk to explain what stem cells are, how they can be derived and how they can be studied to help improve our health.
Talk 2: ‘Food intolerance: is it in the gut, or in the mind?’, by Dr Fandi Ibrahim
Many people with functional bowel disorders (such as IBS) are told their symptoms are ‘all in the head’, this talk explores how specific food components – from rapidly fermentable carbohydrates to resistant proteins and industrial additives – can provoke genuine physical symptoms.
Talk 3: ‘Shell, science and smugglers: how science helps fight the illegal turtle trade’, by Dr Hei Sung
Few people realise there is an incredible diversity of wild freshwater turtles and tortoises globally – and sadly, they’re among the most endangered animals on Earth. In this talk, Dr Hei Sung share how his research aims to save some of these species from extinction
Tuesday 19 May 2026
The Greyhound, 9 Henley Rd, Ipswich IP1 3SE
Talk 1: ‘How does the processing of human emotion contribute to anxiety and depression neurologically?’ by Dr Rachael Martin
The way our brain processes human emotion underpins some of our unconscious behaviours. This can manifest in emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression. Neuroscience explores the relationship between our brain, body and behaviour, revealing the unconscious processes that can create resilience or susceptibility to emotional disorders.
Talk 2: ‘Here’s to looking at (your face), kid’, by Dr Abigail Webb
Facial expression is considered a universal human language, but how true is this? This talk explores the universality of facial emotional expressions and why certain facial signals appear consistent across society and cultures.
Talk 3: ‘Orford Ness Power House’ by Dr Susan Barnet and Dr Jane Watt
Research Art Lab (RAL) on Orford Ness, is part of a long-term creative art lab project Power House, run in collaboration with the National Trust Orford Ness. RAL integrates art and science and is inspired by the creative spirit of invention and experimentation that took place on Orford Ness throughout the 20th century.
Wednesday 20 May 2026
New Street Market, 70 New St, Woodbridge IP12 1DX
Talk 1: ‘Killing fairies with magic: why I teach children to code’ by Dr Hannah Steventon
Inspired by the Cottingley Fairies and the science-fantasy worlds of Terry Pratchett and Neil Stephenson, Dr Hannah Steventon will explore how children, through creative physical computing, gain the ability to manipulate technology, becoming its creators and controllers. When technology is demystified, children become powerful makers, shaping and navigating their own digital worlds.
Talk 2: ‘Listening to nature: what animals can tell us about the environment’ by Borislava Krasimirova
The talk will introduce bioacoustics and spatial ecology in an accessible way and show how listening to nature can help us understand how species respond to environmental change. The talk will also explore future opportunities for citizen science and highlight how everyday people can get involved with data collection and support conservation efforts.
Talk 3: ‘3D printing for the future of healthcare’ by Dr Georgina Marsh
Pharmacist Dr Georgina Marsh is currently researching making medicines more personalised and effective for patients, using 3D printing either by producing child-friendly formulations, tailored dosage forms or biomimetic designs inspired by nature.
Featured image of Professor Emma Bond, pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange at the University of Suffolk (photo credit: University of Suffolk)
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