University public lecture series: it’s free, informative and focused on the future

In this series, researchers at the University of Brighton and Brighton and Sussex Medical School give intriguing insights into the future of healthcare, education and sustainability. Find out more about how cutting-edge medical education can improve patient outcomes, discover what is really happening in the classroom, and learn about a remanufacturing approach that might signal hope for the future of the planet. 

Delivered by newly appointed professors, the lectures will delve into the pioneering research Brighton academics are carrying out to improve understanding of diverse issues and address challenges facing people and communities in Brighton, across the UK and around the world. Lectures also give insights into how academics become experts in their chosen field. 

The lectures are free to attend, and open to staff, students and the general public – but booking is essential. A reception follows each lecture where conversations can continue informally with people from across the university and the wider community. 

Mark International Day of Radiology (8 November) early, by joining Malcolm Johnston, Professor of Radiology and Medical Education on Thursday 6 November 2025. He will be exploring radiology’s vital role in diagnosis and treatment, why a groundbreaking approach to clinical radiology education is needed and how we can ensure that future doctors reflect the communities they serve.

Discover more about what is really happening in the classroom on Thursday 20 November 2025 with Michael Jopling, Professor of Education. There is an ongoing debate about whether mobile phones should be banned in schools. But this is part of a much bigger question – how are digital technologies already enmeshed in education? What are the tensions between privilege and disadvantage, between progress and learning and, most alarmingly, between technological utopianism and apocalypse? Come along to rethink how learning is approached in education more broadly.

Yan Wang, Professor of Circular Manufacturing, will be unveiling the secrets of remanufacturing as a powerful pathway to improve sustainability and protect the planet. She will demonstrate how restoring end-of-life products can provide a cost-effective, environmentally friendly alternative to producing new products, and even recycling. Join her on Thursday 4 December 2025. 

Whether you’re a student, educator, healthcare or sustainability professional, or simply curious about how the future is evolving and the new challenges and opportunities, these lectures offer fascinating insights into fast-moving fields.

You will find details for all inaugural lectures available to book on the University of Brighton open lectures page. If you would like to attend, please register online no later than 48 hours prior to the event.  

Find out more about inaugural lectures and explore films from our previous ones for insights into a variety of enthralling research topics. 

Book now 

Professor Malcolm Johnston
Image is everything: Promoting radiology in medical education
Thursday 6 November 2025 at 6.30pm, Chowen Lecture Theatre, BSMS Teaching Building, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9PX 

Professor Michael Jopling
Beyond our depths: The (post)digital future of schooling
Thursday 20 November 2025 at 6.30pm, University of Brighton, The Professor Sir David Watson Lecture Theatre, Watson Building, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9PH.

Professor Yan Wang
Remanufacturing: The ultimate pathway for a circular economy
Thursday 4 December 2025 at 6.30pm, University of Brighton, Huxley Lecture Theatre (300), Huxley Building, Lewes Road, Brighton, BN2 4GJ

Staff related to this story

Professor Yan Wang

Professor of Circular Manufacturing – School of Arch, Tech and Eng

Communication and Creative Ecologies Research Excellence Group, Design for Circular Cities and Regions (DCCR) Research Excellence Group, Advanced Engineering Centre

Professor Michael Jopling

Professor of Education – School of Education, Sport and Health

Education Research Excellence Group