Hear how scientific grand challenges are connected to the citizens of Manchester, as world-leading European scientists work with researchers, students and artists to put big issues under the microscope. These include four grand challenges:

- health and wellbeing

- land use and degradation

- food security

- sustainable transport

The event will be hosted and facilitated by Professor Joanna Verran (Manchester Metropolitan) and Darren McGarry (European Commission Joint Research Centre).

World-leading researchers from the European Commission will deliver a short provocative talk dealing with the science behind each of the four themes. Manchester Metropolitan University academics (and students) will facilitate (and in some cases provide) a creative “local” response to each of the talks.

Refreshments will be served in the foyer area of Number 70 at 5.30pm and the formal programme will begin in the main cinema space at 6pm. It is anticipated that the event will close at 8.30pm.

PROVOCATIVE TALKS (GLOBAL)

- Will the electric car be killed (again) or is it the next mobility killer-app? by Mr. Christan Thiel (JRC Institute for Energy and Transport)

- The Elephant in the Room! by Dr. Ciarán Nicholl (Head of the Public Health Policy Unit in JRC, Institute for Health and Consumer Protection)

- Dishing the dirt on soil: the world’s most undervalued resource! by Dr. Arwyn Jones (Head of the Natural Capital: Soil Project JRC)

- Beauty and Science of Satellite Imaging, by Dr Alan Belward (Head of the Land Use Change Management Unit, JRC Institute for Environment and Sustainability)

RESPONDENTS (LOCAL)

- Dr Jaimie McPhee (Reader in Muscle and Exercise Physiology, School of Healthcare Science, Manchester Met).

- Haleh Moravej (Nutrition Entrepreneur, Educator, Senior Lecturer, Founder and Catalyst of MetMunch, a student food and nutrition social enterprise).

- Professor Simon Caporn (Professor in Ecology & Environmental Science, School of Science and the Environment, Manchester Met).

- Thomas Higginbottom (PhD candidate, Appraisal of land degradation over sub-Saharan Arica using remote sensing, School of Science and the Environment, Manchester Met).

- Dr Chris Field ( Lecturer in Environmental Ecology, School of Science and the Environment, Manchester Met).

HOSTS

- Professor Joanna Verran (Professor of Microbiology, Head of School of Research, Enterprise and Innovation, and Head of Science Communication and Public Engagement in the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Met.)

- Darren McGarry (Head of the Communication & Public Relations& team at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre. Responsible for communication specifically in the energy, transport and climate change domain. Areas of expertise include science communication, crisis communication, visualisation and interactive communication tools).