• Welcome to PubhD Brighton!

    Learn with beer*

     

    *other beverages available

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  • About PubhD

    PubhD is a public speaking event set in the familiar and friendly environment of the pub. It all began in Nottingham in January 2014 and soon spread to other cities across the UK and Europe - and now it's in Brighton!

     

    At each event, three PhD* students (from any academic discipline) explain their work to an audience in a pub in exchange for a drink. The talks are at “pub level” – the idea is that you don’t have to know anything about the topic to understand the talks.

    The format on the night is simple:

    • Each speaker will each have just 10 minutes to present their research at "pub-level' - no jargon allowed!

    • Afterwards there's up to 20 minutes for an informal Q&A session with the audience

    • Speakers are only allowed a whiteboard and whatever props they can gather to present their work!

    • At the end, each speaker will be rewarded with a pint (or other drink) of their choice!

     

    On the night, we ask for a voluntary donation to help fund future events and allow our three speakers the free drink they have earned!

     

     

    *EngD, EdD students, post-docs and former academics also welcome! Basically, anyone doing (or has done) some research they’d like to talk about.

     

  • FAQ

    Where did the idea for PubhD come from?

    It was Kash Farooq and Regan Naughton in Nottingham that came up with the idea for PubhD, hosting their first event in January 2014. They are not academic researchers, but wanted to know more about the neat research that was happening in their city!

    Can I set up a PubhD?

    If where you live lacks a PubhD, then of course the answer is yes! One of the (many!) great things about PubhD is that it is an easily replicated format. Also, you don’t have to be working at a university to run a PubhD (Kash and Regan were not when they founded the first ever PubhD in Nottingham). If you would like to know more about setting up a PubhD event, email us at pubhd.brighton@gmail.com or Kash & Regan at pubhdcontact@gmail.com

    What's in it for me?

    If you volunteer to be a speaker, then you will gain public engagement experience by explaining your work in an easy to understand and entertaining way. As a reward for delivering a great talk, you will gain a free drink of your choice, funded by audience donations.

     

    The audience get to hear what amazing research is happening in their town. It's a fun, informal (and cheap!) evening, where academics and non-academics alike come to chat and learn.

    I'm from the media, can I feature you?

    Yes please! We will initially give our speakers and audience members notice in advance in the event of filming or photography in case there is anyone who does not wish to take part.

     

    We have previously featured in a video by Angel Productions, as part of the 'Should I do a PhD?' video. A sample can be found here: http://www.angelproductions.co.uk/Shouldi.htm

    I want to talk, but I'm very nervous/have no data/have just started my PhD

    If you would like to talk for us one day but are hesitant, drop us an email and we are happy to help with any worries or queries you may have. It sounds scary to stand up in front of a group of people and talk about your work but it is a very friendly and informal space, the audience are always genuinely interested and ask great questions and our speakers give very positive feedback (we hope to feature some on here soon!).

     

    If you feel you can't volunteer because you have just started/ended your PhD or have no results yet - then I'm here to tell you that's just not true! PubhD is not about delivering mini academic seminars. When there is 10 minutes to give a public-level talk, we are most interested in what you are researching and why, and if there's time, the methods you use to answer your research question.

    What do you do with audience donations?

    We use audience donations to buy our speakers a well-earned drink. Any leftover money is saved & used to i) replace whiteboard pens & paper and ii) saved for future events - we may hold an event requiring venue payment or speaker travel reimbursement

    What sort of language should I avoid in my talk?

    We have enjoyed many wonderful varieties of talks at PubhD Brighton. Some have included props, other speakers didn't need to use the provided whiteboard at all. Do whatever you think will tell a good story. I'm a PhD student and I know that I do take knowledge of many words and concepts for granted! When you prepare a PubhD talk, really be critical of the words you choose. Here are a few examples of academic-speak that should be avoided. Unless you have clearly explained them first. Simpler is always better.

    • 'the literature' (when referring to existing knowledge in your subject)
    • p - value 
    • 'genes/proteins are (over)expressed...' 
    • quantitative, qualitative 
    • cognitive, cognition
    • equilibrium, antagonist, synergist 
    • paradigm, dogma
    • spatial, temporal
    • Unexplained Greek or Latin words/phrases!
  • Previous Events

    Take a look at what our previous speakers have talked about!

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    August 2016: Vlad Costin

    Psychology - University of Sussex

    The feeling of meaningfulness: Does it make sense, does it matter, and what's the point?

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    August 2016: Tom Nsabwa-Kigezi

    Electrical Engineering - University of Sussex

    What the electric car industry doesn't want you to know

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    August 2016: Siân Lyons

    Neuroscience - University of Sussex

    Why do the insides of locusts bounce?

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    July 2016: Peter Overbury

    Informatics - University of Sussex

    Using Evolutionary Algorithms to study complex networks: From the spreading of disease and information in the brain, to social media

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    July 2016: Olaya Moldes

    Psychology - University of Sussex

    Spending money & happiness: The myths & truths of retail therapy!

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    July 2016: Stephen Ashton

    Mathematics - University of Sussex

    Please vaccinate your kids: Using mathematics to study infectious diseases

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    June 2016: Patricia Sauthoff

    Sanskrit - SOAS

    Transgressive ritual in Hindu Tantra (Sorry Sting, it's not really all about sex!) :-)

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    June 2016: Martin Jung

    Biology - University of Sussex

    Life on Earth from above: Using satellites to study biodiversity loss

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    June 2016: Mattieu Ramsawak

    Anthropology - University of Sussex

    Race & ethnicity in Trinidad & Tobago

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    May 2016: Dr. Kayleigh Wardell

    Biology - University of Sussex

    Why do we all look different? It's all about sex (cells)!

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    May 2016: Yasin Koc

    Psychology - University of Sussex

    From “Gay or Male?” to “Gay and Male!” Struggles between gender and sexual identities for men living in traditional cultures

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    May 2016: Nick Johnson

    Physics - University of Sussex

    Cats, codes and qubits - working modern magic with Quantum Computing

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    April 2016: Jennifer Mankin

    Psychology - University of Sussex

    Apples, rainbows, and relish: what synaesthesia can teach us about language and learning

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    April 2016: Dr. Sumitra Sribhashyam

    Counter-terrorism - LSE

    In the Opponents' shoes: Understanding the behaviour of 'Lone-Wolf' terrorists

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    April 2016: Anthony Hayes

    Physics - University of Sussex

    The uncertain Universe

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    March 2016: Esra Demirkol

    Sociology - University of Sussex

    Migrant families: Case study of Turkish migrants in Japan

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    March 2016: Patricia Soares

    Medicine - BSMS

    How your DNA affects your response to treatment

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    March 2016: José Vieira​

    Physics - University of Sussex

    The early expansion of the universe

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    Brighton Science Festival - Februrary 2016

    Caroline of Brunswick

    A Brighton Science Festival special! 6 speakers; AV allowed; 20 minute slots including Q&A

    Daire Cantillon, BSMS - Using NASA technology to understand Tuberculosis
    Chris Lovell, University of Sussex - Investigating how galaxies form
    Stephy Joseph, University of Sussex - Cells: Multiply to divide
    Rob Simmons, University of Sussex - 'X-rayted' drug design & virus research
    Maria Kennedy, BSMS - Can we improve on how doctors prescribe medicines?
    Dr. Matthew Musgrave, University of Sussex - A fissile talk about bombs & reactors

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    February 2016: Katie Ptasińska

    Biology - University of Sussex

    Putting biology into computers: Following the life of yeast

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    February 2016: Zara Grout

    Physics - University of Sussex

    Using the smallest components of the Universe to explore the unknown

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    February 2016: Paul Fisher

    Linguistics - University of Sussex

    How do comics work like a language? Using linguistics to make sense of graphic story telling

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    Sussex Refresher's Week Special - January 2016

    The Globe

    Aimee Eckert, University of Sussex - The cell cycle: targeting cancer's clock

    Andrea Jones, University of Sussex - Stories of practical utopias – a case study of an intentional community in the South of England

    Kyle Shackleton, University of Sussex - Waggle dancing for your dinner: communication in the honey bee

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    November 2015: Karen Leenders

    History - University of Sussex

    The Indian Corps on the Western Front in WW1

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    November 2015: Dr. Shreena Unadkat

    Psychology - Canterbury Christ Church University

    Singing together for couples where one person has a diagnosis of dementia

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    November 2015: Kyle Shackleton

    Biology - University of Sussex

    Waggle dancing for your dinner: communication in the honey bee

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    October 2015: Bruno de Oliveira

    Sociology - University of Brighton

    Manufactured to rot: Homelessness, democracy and well-being

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    October 2015: Rob Simmons

    Biology - University of Sussex

    How X-ray crystal structures can be used to study viruses

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    October 2015: Marie Rogers

    Psychology - University of Sussex

    Colourful language: can the language we speak influence how we see colour?

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    September 2015: Blanche Ting

    Science Policy - University of Sussex

    South Africa's energy crisis

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    September 2015: David Geiringer

    History - University of Sussex

    The sex lives of Catholic women in post-war England

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    September 2015: Daniel Molnar

    Physics - University of Sussex

    What can radio waves tell us about the lives of galaxies?

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    August 2015: Abu Hatimy

    Biology - University of Sussex

    Measuring the effects of DNA damage in cells

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    August 2015: Alistair Gray

    Philosophy - University of Sussex

    How can speaking frankly enable us to resist power?

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    August 2015: Rebecca Shtasel

    History - University of Sussex

    Resistance and Collaboration: Trade unionists in German occupied Le Havre, France 1940-44.

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    July 2015: Aimee Eckert

    Biology - University of Sussex

    The cell cycle: Targeting cancer's clock

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    July 2015: Sam Power

    Politics - University of Sussex

    What effect does the source of funding that a political party receives have on corruption?

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    July 2015: Elliot Rose

    Philosophy - University of Sussex

    What do you think you are? Exploring the theory of Human Nature

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    June 2015: Lee Crawfurd

    Economics - University of Sussex

    The Global Learning Crisis. Despite increased primary school attendance globally, millions of children cannot read or write - why is this & what can be done about it

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    June 2015: Sandra Pointel

    Science Policy - University of Sussex

    Switiching to sustainable energy sources in Sub-Saharan Africa, using Ghana as a case study

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    June 2015: Adam Talbot

    Sport - University of Brighton

    The history & context of corruption at FIFA

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    May 2015: Gillian Love

    Sociology - University of Sussex

    Collecting life stories from women who have ended pregnancies in austerity Britain, and exploring what they tell us about the body, reproductive rights, and the contentious issue of social class

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    May 2015: Andrea Jones

    Social Care - University of Sussex

    Why and how do older people come to live in intentional communities in England?

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    May 2015: Daire Cantillon

    Microbiology - BSMS

    Using NASA micro-gravity technology to more effectively grow & study Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes TB

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    April 2015:

    Cynthia Okpokiri

    Social Care - University of Sussex

    Parenting as a first generation Nigerian immigrant in Britain

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    April 2015:

    Claire Carter

    Science Policy - University of Sussex

    Global energy sources and the challenges of reducing greenhouse gas emissions

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    April 2015: Hani Morsi

    International Relations - University of Sussex

    Political implications of the digital age in post-revolution Egypt