Three of the University’s most innovative researchers will feature in the diverse programme of events at this year’s Cheltenham Science Festival which runs from Tuesday, June 6 until Sunday, June 11.

Swansea University researchers at the Cheltenham Science Festival 2017

Dr Nilufar Ahmed

Becoming British: Immigration and Integration (S001)

Date: Tuesday 6 June 2017

Time: 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Venue: Parabola Arts Centre, Cheltenham Ladies' College

Citizenship. Integration. These words resonate so strongly in a country that for many of us feels divided, shaped by an uncertain future where borders hang in the balance. Shining a spotlight on the experiences of immigrants and refugees, Dr Nilufar Ahmed of Swansea University considers the psychological impact that fleeing political upheaval and arriving in sometimes hostile environments can have on those who have been displaced. 

The Criminal Mind: Can You Blame Your Brain? (S022)

Date: Wednesday 7^th June 2017

Time: 3:30pm - 4:30pm

Venue: EDF Energy Arena

If an injury or illness causes you to act out of character and commit a crime, are you to blame? Could we one day be able to prove somebody’s guilt by using a brain scan? As our understanding of the brain improves, the courtroom is increasingly faced with difficult ethical questions. Guardian Science Editor Ian Sample is joined by neuroscientist Barbara Sahakian, Swansea University’s Professor of Legal Theory Professor Dennis Patterson and criminal law expert Lisa Claydon to examine neuroscience’s impact upon crime and punishment.

Young Minds Under Pressure (S043)

Date: Wednesday 7^th June 2017

Time:  8:30pm - 9:30pm

Venue: The Crucible

The lives of teens and young adults are increasingly complex, with social media, peer pressure and body image anxieties all contributing towards a rise in mental illness. Join mental health expert Professor Ann John of Swansea University,  journalist and mental health campaigner Bryony Gordon, and emotional disorders specialist Martina Di Simplicio as they consider how we can transform the way we understand, treat and prevent mental illness in young people.

For full details of the Festival’s full programme and ticketing information, visit http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/science/