Record numbers attend Be Curious showcase
Record numbers of visitors flocked to campus on Saturday for an action-packed Be Curious 2019 programme.
Young visitors enjoying the hands-on Be Curious attractions
More than 1,200 people enjoyed the many and varied displays and exhibitions showcasing some of the world-leading research being undertaken at Leeds.
Initial impressions are there were more children than adults attending what will have most likely been their first taste of university life.
Since the first Be Curious in 2016, more than 1,100 children have visited the event, with the youngest aged just two! And no less than 70% of past visitors have come from Leeds, which together resulted in Be Curious being nominated in the city council’s highly coveted Leeds Child Friendly Awards.
And feedback for the 2019 instalment was very positive.
Professor Lisa Roberts, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation, said: “I really enjoyed my time there and did everything from learn a bit of Arabic to try my hand at laparoscopic surgery!
“I guess that is the beauty of Be Curious. Everyone taking part was so enthusiastic it was a joy to see and both children and adults alike – especially the children, to be honest – were immersed in such great activities.”
Sir Alan Langlands, Vice-Chancellor, added: “This is a great showpiece for the knowledge, research and opportunities that make the University tick on a day to day basis throughout the year; but bringing it together in such an imaginative and compelling way is much admired and greatly appreciated.
“My thanks to everyone, including the many staff who gave up their time to participate with such commitment and enthusiasm.”
Other sources of recommendation included friends and family of colleagues, people who had attended past instalments and even the Women’s Institute, which advertised the event to members!
It was an early start for the Public Engagement (PE) team that organised the annual entertainment extravaganza, with Dr Charlotte Haigh, Academic Lead for PE with Research, appearing on the Radio Leeds breakfast show at 6.50am to promote the event.
There were lots of things to see and do at Be Curious 2019
Visitors started arriving at 9.30am in a bid to fit in as many activities as possible, with exhibits on dentistry and robotics proving very popular.
More than 40 exciting activities in total were on offer across several locations on campus.
Marty Jopson, resident scientist with the BBC’s One Show, proved to be one of the highlights of Be Curious 2019. He performed Invisible Worlds – a journey from everyday life, down into the realm of microscopic wonders – to a packed audience.
And another hit was the School of Music teaming up with Leeds International Piano Competition to offer craft activities and the rare chance to play a Steinway grand piano. There were also performances by three globally-renowned musicians from the Lang Lang Music Foundation.
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