In January, SustAI postgraduate researchers joined colleagues from MINDS for a joint symposium on Responsible Research and Innovation, now in its second year for SustAI. The event asks researchers to present their work in technical terms and in relation to the wider questions it raises: who it affects, why it matters and where it could make a real difference.
Interactive demonstrations invited the public to talk to a river, a robot and more
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Children were drawn to the robot, the river and the music, while adults often wanted to understand the real-world uses behind them. Among the projects on show was Talking Itchen, co-developed with the local River Itchen community, with seven children from the Young Guardians of the Itchen River confidently sharing their own experience of collecting water samples and building sensors.
For the researchers, the day was a chance to explain complex ideas clearly, field unexpected questions and build confidence in communicating their work. It is exactly the kind of public engagement that shows how doctoral research connects with real people and real problems.
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