Around 70 people attended a pair of events at the British Science Festival showcasing how zine-making can foster empathy, dialogue, and human connection.
The first event, a Refugee Voices panel, facilitated by Dr Gayle Brewer, focused on a 2024 collaboration between Asylum Link Merseyside’s women’s group and the University of Liverpool, funded by Research England. Speakers highlighted how zines provide a platform for voices that are too often unheard. Artist Jean McEwan described zines as a democratic and collaborative form of expression; Sarah Buaye, co-developer of the Refugee Hub reflected on her own experience and the empowering potential of zine-making; Ewan Roberts, Centre Manager of Asylum Link Merseyside stressed the urgency of amplifying refugee voices in ways that can allow people to recognise shared aspects and to say ‘that’s me too’; and Dr Helen Stalford from the School of Law and Social Justice at the University of Liverpool / Co-Convenor of the Centre for People’s Justice emphasised zines as aligned with craftivism, offering a ‘gentle activism’ able to challenge hostile and often violent socio-political discourses and through this encourage more compassionate dialogues with ‘others’.
The second event was a Power of Zines workshop designed and facilitated by Jean McEwan, creative artist, where participants explored the therapeutic benefits of zine-making using prompts on solidarity, care, and compassion. Carefully chosen materials – including pastel blue paper symbolising gentleness – highlighted how creativity itself can embody care.
Alongside this, Jo Wilson shared her wandering zine library - Jo is a zine artist and collaborator in other zine-focused research with the University of Liverpool – and Tom Dillon introduced items from the University of Liverpool Museum’s Special Collection of science fiction zines, sparking rich conversations about the diversity and history of zine culture.
Participants from universities, community groups, and local authorities left inspired, with several planning new zine groups. The events demonstrated how academic and community collaboration can foster grassroots-led research grounded in creativity, solidarity, and change. Thanks to the British Science Festival for funding this event and to photographer Ahmed Nadi, also Dr Caroline Hands (IPH, University of Liverpool) and Lal Bakht Sharifi (project member of the Refugee Hub) for support.