Hull has been involved in Pint of Science festival since 2017 and has put together an exciting list of events
Pint of Science takes place in May.(Image: Pint of Science)
Scientists and researchers from The University of Hull are set to showcase their latest discoveries to the public in pubs, cafes and community centres as part of an exciting festival. Pint of Science is an international festival which takes places in cities around the world, involving the best brains in the business.
And next month will see 21 Hull scientists take to the stage in venues across the city as they take part in the world’s largest festival of public science talks, having first got involved in 2017. The festival was originally launched by Drs Praveen Paul and Michael Motskin at Imperial College London, leading to the first official event in 2013 in three cities – London, Oxford, and Cambridge.
Since then, the event has grown massively, as more and more cities around the UK and beyond give people the chance to meet and discuss the incredible research taking place on their doorstep. From May 18 to 20 the Pint of Science Festival 2026 will simultaneously bring thousands of scientists and their research out of the lab in more than 500 cities in 26 countries.
Tickets are now on sale for the Hull events, which will see University of Hull researchers speak at venues across the city, including The Sailmakers Arms, Middleton Hall, The Blue Bell and St Matthews Community Enterprise Centre. Talks planned in Hull include: Can your weekly supermarket shop help explain the evolution of galaxies? Is artificial intelligence just a powerful guessing machine – or can it truly understand the cultural soul of music? The illusion of choice: How vision and action can undermine our decisions.
Other events include Bees, Beaks and a Changing World: The Science of Adaptation, Pandemics, Superbugs and the Future of Infection Control and The Illusion of Free Will.
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Prof Neil Gordon, Professor in Computer Science at University of Hull, said: “Pint of Science is a fantastic opportunity to talk about the ethical risks of AI with people outside the university. The relaxed, friendly setting always sparks some great conversations and gives me fresh insight into how the public views the work we do at university.”
Dr Blake Morton, Lecturer of Psychology, added: “Pint of Science is a great opportunity to discuss in a relaxed, friendly setting some of the world’s most pressing environmental issues, such as the impact of urbanisation on wildlife and people. The casual and fun atmosphere of the festival always leads to engaging conversations, and I really value hearing how people feel about their role in shaping the future of human-wildlife coexistence in the UK as our towns and cities continue to expand.”
Alongside the main talks, audience members will be able to take part in the largest ever multi-city pub quiz in association with interactive quiz company, KwizzBit. Teams will tackle science-themed trivia and go head-to-head with other cities interactively.
Festival co-founder Dr Paul added: “It’s incredible to see how a conversation among friends has sparked such widespread curiosity and brought scientific research into the public eye,” says “Everyone deserves the chance to explore and question the diverse research happening across the UK. None of this would be possible without our dedicated volunteers, who create inspiring events that ignite curiosity and connection. The toughest part is simply choosing which brilliant event to attend.”
Tickets are available from the Pint of Science website costing £5 each.
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