Beyond Futures

Kicking off the festival is our Research Student Conference – an exciting opportunity to hear directly from our research student innovators. 

Guests are warmly invited to attend, engage, and support our talented student community as they share their research through live presentations and interactive posters. 

Programme Overview: 

• 09:00 Registration and Networking (MC Foyer)
• 09:10 Welcome Address - Professor Laura Caulfield, Incoming Dean of Research Culture & Postgraduate Research (MC001)
• 09:30 Proper presentation skills for public speakers - Dr Martin Khechara (MC401)
• 10:00 Student Oral Presentations (4th Floor MC Building)
• 13:00 Networking Lunch & Poster Exhibition (MC437)
• 14:00 Poster Presentations (MC437)
• 16:00 Close of day round up & announcement of prize shortlist - Professor Prashant Pillai MBE, Pro-Vice Chancellor Research & Enterprise (MC001)

See full Beyond Futures Research Student Conference Schedule 2025 for more information.

Even if you are unable to make the conference you can still vote for your favourite poster in the People’s Choice awards 2025 at https://www.surveyhero.com/c/gbntmfdq

Celebrate the next generation of research excellence.  Your support and feedback will help shape their development and confidence. 

Sign Up to Attend Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/student-research-presentation-poster-competition-tickets-1551624072369?aff=odcleoeventsincollection&keep_tld=1

A deep dive into the transition to Net Zero and sustainable futures through collaborative research and knowledge exchange. 

Agenda

• 09:00: Registration and Networking
• 09:50: Welcome address - Professor Prashant Pillai MBE, University of Wolverhampton
• 10:00: Addressing the Green Innovation Grand Challenge
• 10:30: The Green Innovation Corridor (GIC) - Paul Woodcock, Programme Director, City of Wolverhampton Council and Professor Prashant Pillai MBE, University of Wolverhampton
• 11:00: Panel Discussion chaired by Professor Arun Arjunan
• Anusha Shah, Global Senior Director, Arcadis
• George Seplyarsky, Systems Engineer, Areamine
• James Willets, Technical Director, AceOn Group
• Perminder Balu, Head of Net Zero, City of Wolverhampton Council
• Rupert Lyle, Investment Director, West Midlands Co-Investment Fund
• Sarah Moorhouse, Chief Executive Officer, Black Country Chamber of Commerce
• 11:45: Closing Remarks
• 12:00–13:40: Networking Lunch, Exhibitions & Courtyard Talks
  Explore a vibrant mix of interactive stands and informal talks showcasing current work across Green Innovation, Digital & Creative, and General Research & Knowledge Exchange. This includes contributions from stakeholders across the region, with university insights into enterprise support, research impact, international development, creative collaborations, and more. Content is tailored to each theme to enrich your experience.

 Sign Up to Attend: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/green-innovation-tickets-1417142704979?aff=odcleoeventsincollection&keep_tld=1

Explore how emerging technologies and AI are reshaping creativity and empowering new forms of digital expression. 

Agenda

• 12:00:    Registration & Networking Lunch, Exhibitions & Courtyard Talks - Explore a vibrant mix of interactive stands and informal talks showcasing current work across Green Innovation, Digital & Creative, and General Research & Knowledge Exchange. This includes contributions from stakeholders across the region, with university insights into enterprise support, research impact, international development, creative collaborations, and more. Content is tailored to each theme to enrich your experience.
• 13:40:    Welcome Address - Mr Ceri D. Jones, Director, Research & Enterprise Directorate, University of Wolverhampton
• 13:45:    Overcoming Disadvantage and Supporting Development through Innovative Informal Digital Solutions - Professor John Traxler, UNESCO Chair, University of Wolverhampton
• 14:10:    Nurturing Intelligence: A Human-Centred Approach to Responsible AI
  - Professor Mohammad Patwary, University of Wolverhampton 
• 14:35:    Brain Tumour Diagnostics using Deep Learning - Muhammad Imran,
  ThermoSol Limited and Umar Manzoor, University of Wolverhampton
• 14:50:   Panel Discussion chaired by Professor Zeeshan Pervez, Professor in Cyber Security, University of Wolverhampton
  • Andy Hague, Chief Operating Officer, TechWM
  • Asha Devi, Healthcare Lead, ARUP
  • Chris Dowen, Director, MoRServ Group
  • David Hough, Managing Director, Smart Ballustrades
  • Heather Clark, Head of City Economy and External Funding, City of Wolverhampton Council
  • Mike Chinn, Co-Director, StonesThrow Media

15:35: Closing Remarks

Sign Up to Attend: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/digital-creativity-tickets-1551557733949?aff=odcleoeventsincollection&keep_tld=1

Creating Inclusive Communities Through Collaboration, Partnership, and Community Engagement

Agenda

• 09:00:  Registration and Refreshments
• 09:50:  Welcome Address - Dr Opinderjit Takhar, Associate Dean Research & Knowledge Exchange, University of Wolverhampton
• 10:00:  Beyond the System: Leadership, Inequality, and Co-Creation with Communities - Professor Patrick Vernon OBE
• 10:30:  Wolverhampton City of Youth Culture Collaborative Case Study - Kelly Jeffs and Rachel Winsper (Wolverhampton City of Youth Culture) and Dr Mahuya Kanjilal and Dr Mary-Rose Puttick (University of Wolverhampton)
• 11:00: Panel Discussion chaired by Professor Laura Caulfield, Director of the Institute for Community Research and Development, University of Wolverhampton
• John Denley, Director of Public Health, City of Wolverhampton Council 
• Keshena Bowie, Community Research Manager at Birmingham Voluntary Service Council
• Professor Patrick Vernon, University of Wolverhampton
• Sapreena Kumari, Co-President of the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce
• Warinder Juss MP, Wolverhampton West
• 11:45: Closing Remarks
• 12pm–13:40: Networking Lunch, Exhibitions & Courtyard Talk
  Engage with hands-on exhibitions and informal talks reflecting the festival’s key themes, including Inclusive Communities, Health & Medicine, and General research and knowledge exchange. This includes contributions from stakeholders across the region with examples including projects focused on social engagement, health innovation, sports science, education, and community impact.

 Sign Up to Attend: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/inclusive-communities-tickets-1550704150859?aff=odcleoeventsincollection&keep_tld=1

Exploring the challenges and opportunities around Medicine and Clinical Trials with panel talks, collaborative case studies and live demos.

Agenda

• 12:00: Registration & Networking Lunch, Exhibitions & Courtyard Talks - Engage with hands-on exhibitions and informal talks reflecting the festival’s key themes, including Inclusive Communities, Health & Medicine, and General research and knowledge exchange. This includes contributions from stakeholders across the region with examples including projects focused on social engagement, health innovation, sports science, education, and community impact.

• 13:40: Welcome Address, Professor Andy Gibson, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Wolverhampton

• 13:45: Inequalities and biases of AI - Professor Rajeev Krishnadas, University of Cambridge

• 14:15: Detecting disease with Bio Detection Dogs - Dr Claire Guest OBE, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Medical Detection Dogs

• 14:45: Gynaecological Malignancies Dr Aditi Desai, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
• 14:55: Robotic Surgery in ENT Cancers Professor Farhan Hassan, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
• 15:05: RRDN Operationalising Research in the UK Dr David Shukla, National Institute for Health and Care Research
• 15:15: Delivering Research Ms Pauline Boyle, National Institute for Health and Care Research
• 15:25: International Collaboration Dr. Sharanprakash Patil, Hon’ble Minister for Medical Education and Skills Development, Government of Karnataka, India
• 15:35: International Collaboration Dr. M.C. Sudhakar, Hon’ble Minister for Higher Education, Government of Karnataka, India
• 15:45: International Collaboration Prof. Bhagavan Balagopal Channarayapatna, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Karnataka, India
• 15:55: Greenspace Exposure & Population Health Dr Weiju Zhou, Tsinghua University, Beijing
• 16:05: Panel Discussion, Q&A & Closing Remarks chaired by Professor Tonny Veenith, University of Wolverhampton 

Sign Up to Attend: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/health-medicine-tickets-1551728394399?aff=odcleoeventsincollection&keep_tld=1

Launch of the International Centre for Creative Industries & Critical Cultural Practice (CICCUP) – a dynamic new initiative supporting cross-disciplinary research in urban futures. 

Agenda

• 14.00: Welcome by Professor Vijay Reddy, Associate Dean Research and Knowledge Exchange, University of Wolverhampton

• 14.10: Introduction to CICCUP by Co-directors Professor John Roberts and Dr Fran Pheasant-Kelly

• 14.20: Can creativity save the world? Inspiration for sustainability at the intersections of creativity and culture, Professor Natascha Radclyffe-Thomas, Professor of Marketing and Sustainable Fashion, Ravensbourne University, London

• 15:00: Refreshments

• 15.20: Injustice at the Intersection: The Experiences of Black women in the Criminal Justice System, Dr Paula McLean, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Sheffield-Hallam University

• 16:00: Always Already After: Arts, Humanities and AI, Professor Caroline Bassett, Professor of Digital Humanities, University of Cambridge

• 16.40: Closing Remarks

Sign Up to Attend: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ciccup-launch-tickets-1550756497429?aff=odcleoeventsincollection&keep_tld=1