- Festival of the Mind, a 10-day programme of events which brings University of Sheffield research to life, is returning to the city for its 7th edition
- Free and open to all, the Festival includes activities, installations, exhibitions, films, performances, podcasts and talks for the public to explore the University research which is helping to tackle some of society’s biggest issues
- This year’s events are based around the themes of creativity, participation, cohesion, and learning
- Alongside events in the Spiegeltent and Millenium Galleries, the Festival will also take place in Persistence Works, an award-winning studio complex on Brown Street, part of Yorkshire Artspace
Festival of the Mind 2024 will see Sheffield’s cultural, creative and digital industries collaborate with some of the city’s brightest academic minds to help bring their research to life in exciting, entertaining and innovative ways. The 10-day Festival, which has brought more than 200,000 visitors into Sheffield city centre since 2012, is back with a series of free events, including activities, talks, performances and exhibitions that are open to everyone.
The biennial Festival provides the opportunity for the public to explore the University research which is helping to tackle some of society’s biggest issues, from frailty to sustainability, through activities, exhibitions, films, performances and podcasts.
Sheffield’s creative industries including artists, filmmakers and performers will help to showcase the University’s latest research around the themes of creativity, participation, cohesion, and learning.
More than 100 events from 43 projects covering exhibitions, interactive activities, talks, performances and screenings will take place in venues across the city, including Futurecade at Millenium Galleries, the iconic Spiegeltent at Barker’s Pool, and Persistence Works, an award-winning studio complex part of Yorkshire Artspace on Brown Street, new to the Festival this year.
In addition to the in-person activities, there will be additional content on the University of Sheffield Player, a groundbreaking digital platform featuring podcasts and films about the University’s research, which will be accessible beyond the Festival’s end date.
The Festival of the Mind website is now live with events and also offers a space to continue interacting with the Festival once it finishes.
Highlights for Festival of the Mind 2024 including engineering academics:
Origami Transformer: Dr Shuhei Miyashita and artist Seiko Kinoshita have created a captivating display of origami engineering and art. Witness large, dynamic sculptures undergoing stunning transformations, merging traditional origami craft with modern technology. Experience an extraordinary fusion of art and robotics, showcasing creations unlike anything found in standard university or museum exhibits.
Melting Point: Inspired by the research by Professor Rachel Rothman at South Yorkshire Sustainability Centre, Helen Brook created sculptural forms that visualise the most energy intensive point in the manufacturing process of individual materials. Melting Point sculpturally represents the most energy intensive point of industries that are synonymous with South Yorkshire and focuses on the conflict of heat generation and the need to decarbonise heavy industry.
Filling the void: developing biomaterials for soft tissue restoration: Have you wondered how plastic surgeons sculpt and reconstruct new tissues? We are developing biomaterials to restore and replace soft tissues following surgery, injury and disease. To illustrate this, Dr Vanessa Hearnden's research and work by artist Lynne Chapman has created a large textile sculpture showing how porous biomaterials interact with cells, fat and blood vessels.
We’re taking the pi$$”: recovering valuable resources from waste: A walk-through unisex walk-through WC prototype constructed with bubble columns containing different species of microalgae. Visitors will learn how urine can be used to grow algae, which can be used to make a variety of products as part of a circular economy. Co-created from research by Jagroop Pandhal and creative partner Mark Parsons, Stidio Polpo.
AE: Artificial Emotions - A robotic journey into Emotional Intelligence: Discover a semi-autonomous robot capable of unlocking individuals’ artistic expression and powered by AI. Gianmarco Pisanelli from the University’s AMRC Factory of the Future and creative partner MM Design exhibit the robot which captures the users’ emotional states and translates them into a unique painting. Previous examples showcasing the fascinating intersection of technology and creativity will also be displayed.
Hidden Worlds, Healthy Soils: Hidden Worlds, Healthy Soils focuses on the complex relationship we have with the soils and biodiversity around us and its place in the food system. The exhibit takes inspiration from the South Yorkshire Sustainability Centre research projects into food systems and environmental restoration and research by Dr Megan Lewis. Artist Richard Nicolle has created dioramas to distil the complex realm of biodiversity and how sustainable practices and methods aim at improving South Yorkshire’s food system.
Readings of a Lithium Language: Professor Martin Foster and artist Joseph Cutt present a multi-platform installation depicting the setup of the Willenhall Energy Storage System (a grid connected battery research and :demonstrator facility at the Willenhall substation), recording a series of readings in energy consumption and storage, alongside the monitoring of the system's overall stability and associated challenges.
MiRo—a talking robot pet: Would you like to have a robot pet and, if so, would you like to be able to talk to it? In this exhibit from Sheffield Robotics, led by Professor Tony J Prescott and Michael Szollosy you can meet MiRo. Miro is an animal-like robot the size of a puppy that now uses the latest AI technologies to have a conversation. Have a chat with MiRo and see what you think.
A Techno Live Coding Masterclass with The Black Dog: This event is both a masterclass in techno music production, and an introduction to computer programming. Sheffield techno legends The Black Dog will co-host a workshop with academic experts, including Professor Guy Brown, in which participants will learn to live code music. The workshop will conclude with a gig, in which every participant will hear their musical contribution played as part of an ensemble piece.
Professor Vanessa Toulmin, Director of City, Culture and Public Engagement at the University of Sheffield, said: “We’re thrilled to bring Festival of the Mind back to Sheffield in full force this year. I’m particularly excited to welcome visitors to our new venue at Persistence Works in Yorkshire Artspace.
“The Festival is a fantastic opportunity for people to discover the groundbreaking research happening at the University of Sheffield. From the latest medical and scientific breakthroughs to the complexities of AI and climate change, there’s something to inspire everyone.
“Festival of the Mind is more than just an event; it's a chance for the people of South Yorkshire to connect with our researchers. Over the years, we've shared the work of over 800 experts with hundreds of thousands of visitors. Our free events celebrate the rich diversity of our excellent research and its societal impact, while showcasing Sheffield's vibrant cultural, creative, and digital sectors.
“We invite everyone to join us in September on an exciting journey of discovery!”
For more information on Festival of the Mind, including the full programme of events, visit: https://festivalofthemind.sheffield.ac.uk/2024/