Enquiring Minds: An Interactive, Problem-solving PGR Exhibition

In May 2024, the University Graduate School displayed an exciting new installation titled Enquiring Minds: An interactive, problem-solving exhibition. This exhibition challenged PGRs to bring their research to life for children aged 7–11.

Enquiring Minds featured 13 fantastic exhibits from across the University of Birmingham’s five Colleges. The topics represented in the exhibition included:

the plight of minority languages (Hannah Baxter, Liberal Arts and Natural Sciences)
how to be a researcher (Helen Evans, Education)
invasive insects in Antarctica (Octavia Brayley, Biosciences)
navigating public space as a disabled person (Vera Kubenz, Social Policy)
the structure of the Milky Way (Emma Willett, Physics and Astronomy)
natural materials and their uses (Zoë Powell, Metallurgy and Materials)
child labourers in 19th-century coal mining (Mia Kalogjera, Civil Engineering)
heart rate investigations (Holly Gedling, Psychology)
Western influences on 1920s Japanese fashion (Erica Tso, Art History)
thinking like a medical engineer (Sophie Louth, Chemical Engineering)
the meaning of life (Lisa Bentall, Philosophy)
how words are formed (Zhenyan Yin, Education and Social Justice)
traditional knowledge of nature and environmental change (Claire Bracegirdle, International Development)

As part of the development process for Enquiring Minds, PGRs attended a workshop with Andy Fowles (Learning and Access Manager) and Dr Felicity McWilliams (Curator of Science and Industry) from Birmingham Museums Trust. Fowles and McWilliams gave PGRs expert training in how to make research fun and interactive for young audiences, and how to craft exhibition text that is succinct and engaging.

Following a well-attended launch event on Monday 20 May, Enquiring Minds was open for a period of two weeks. During the second week, several PGR exhibitors ran activity tables to give visiting children an even more interactive experience of their research.

All exhibition visitors were invited to vote for their favourite exhibit. The four exhibits with the most votes were displayed for a second time at the 2024 Postgraduate Research Festival. The four shortlisted exhibitors included Hannah Baxter, Holly Gedling, Claire Bracegirdle, and Vera Kubenz.

Dr Felicity McWilliams selected an overall winner from this shortlist. Claire Bracegirdle was announced as the winner of Enquiring Minds at the 2024 Postgraduate Research Festival Awards Ceremony, winning a prize of £400. Congratulations Claire and well done to all the PGRs who took part!

To find out more about University Graduate School and our developmental opportunities for postgraduates, explore our website.