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.
Sign up!
Would you like to give a talk for us? Send us a message, including a little bit about you and your research, and we will be in touch!
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!
August 2016: Vlad Costin
Psychology - University of Sussex
The feeling of meaningfulness: Does it make sense, does it matter, and what's the point?
August 2016: Tom Nsabwa-Kigezi
Electrical Engineering - University of Sussex
What the electric car industry doesn't want you to know
August 2016: Siân Lyons
Neuroscience - University of Sussex
Why do the insides of locusts bounce?
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
July 2016: Olaya Moldes
Psychology - University of Sussex
Spending money & happiness: The myths & truths of retail therapy!
July 2016: Stephen Ashton
Mathematics - University of Sussex
Please vaccinate your kids: Using mathematics to study infectious diseases
June 2016: Patricia Sauthoff
Sanskrit - SOAS
Transgressive ritual in Hindu Tantra (Sorry Sting, it's not really all about sex!) :-)
June 2016: Martin Jung
Biology - University of Sussex
Life on Earth from above: Using satellites to study biodiversity loss
June 2016: Mattieu Ramsawak
Anthropology - University of Sussex
Race & ethnicity in Trinidad & Tobago
May 2016: Dr. Kayleigh Wardell
Biology - University of Sussex
Why do we all look different? It's all about sex (cells)!
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
May 2016: Nick Johnson
Physics - University of Sussex
Cats, codes and qubits - working modern magic with Quantum Computing
April 2016: Jennifer Mankin
Psychology - University of Sussex
Apples, rainbows, and relish: what synaesthesia can teach us about language and learning
April 2016: Dr. Sumitra Sribhashyam
Counter-terrorism - LSE
In the Opponents' shoes: Understanding the behaviour of 'Lone-Wolf' terrorists
April 2016: Anthony Hayes
Physics - University of Sussex
The uncertain Universe
March 2016: Esra Demirkol
Sociology - University of Sussex
Migrant families: Case study of Turkish migrants in Japan
March 2016: Patricia Soares
Medicine - BSMS
How your DNA affects your response to treatment
March 2016: José Vieira
Physics - University of Sussex
The early expansion of the universe
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 & reactorsFebruary 2016: Katie Ptasińska
Biology - University of Sussex
Putting biology into computers: Following the life of yeast
February 2016: Zara Grout
Physics - University of Sussex
Using the smallest components of the Universe to explore the unknown
February 2016: Paul Fisher
Linguistics - University of Sussex
How do comics work like a language? Using linguistics to make sense of graphic story telling
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
November 2015: Karen Leenders
History - University of Sussex
The Indian Corps on the Western Front in WW1
November 2015: Dr. Shreena Unadkat
Psychology - Canterbury Christ Church University
Singing together for couples where one person has a diagnosis of dementia
November 2015: Kyle Shackleton
Biology - University of Sussex
Waggle dancing for your dinner: communication in the honey bee
October 2015: Bruno de Oliveira
Sociology - University of Brighton
Manufactured to rot: Homelessness, democracy and well-being
October 2015: Rob Simmons
Biology - University of Sussex
How X-ray crystal structures can be used to study viruses
October 2015: Marie Rogers
Psychology - University of Sussex
Colourful language: can the language we speak influence how we see colour?
September 2015: Blanche Ting
Science Policy - University of Sussex
South Africa's energy crisis
September 2015: David Geiringer
History - University of Sussex
The sex lives of Catholic women in post-war England
September 2015: Daniel Molnar
Physics - University of Sussex
What can radio waves tell us about the lives of galaxies?
August 2015: Abu Hatimy
Biology - University of Sussex
Measuring the effects of DNA damage in cells
August 2015: Alistair Gray
Philosophy - University of Sussex
How can speaking frankly enable us to resist power?
August 2015: Rebecca Shtasel
History - University of Sussex
Resistance and Collaboration: Trade unionists in German occupied Le Havre, France 1940-44.
July 2015: Aimee Eckert
Biology - University of Sussex
The cell cycle: Targeting cancer's clock
July 2015: Sam Power
Politics - University of Sussex
What effect does the source of funding that a political party receives have on corruption?
July 2015: Elliot Rose
Philosophy - University of Sussex
What do you think you are? Exploring the theory of Human Nature
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
June 2015: Sandra Pointel
Science Policy - University of Sussex
Switiching to sustainable energy sources in Sub-Saharan Africa, using Ghana as a case study
June 2015: Adam Talbot
Sport - University of Brighton
The history & context of corruption at FIFA
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
May 2015: Andrea Jones
Social Care - University of Sussex
Why and how do older people come to live in intentional communities in England?
May 2015: Daire Cantillon
Microbiology - BSMS
Using NASA micro-gravity technology to more effectively grow & study Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes TB
April 2015:
Cynthia Okpokiri
Social Care - University of Sussex
Parenting as a first generation Nigerian immigrant in Britain
April 2015:
Claire Carter
Science Policy - University of Sussex
Global energy sources and the challenges of reducing greenhouse gas emissions
April 2015: Hani Morsi
International Relations - University of Sussex
Political implications of the digital age in post-revolution Egypt
© 2016