Making an Impact 2026: Sessions open to external audiences
Making an Impact is the University of Liverpool’s annual flagship programme of development opportunities for staff. The programme brings people together including researchers, professionals, community partners, and members of the public. Our public keynote talks, discussion panels, and workshops are designed to connect the expertise of the University of Liverpool with the passion and insight of our wider civic community, fostering the partnerships that will define our city's future.
We warmly welcome members of the public, university partners, and civic organisations to join us; this is your opportunity to explore how new ideas, discoveries, and collaborations can create positive change.
Creating innovation for societal impact - In Conversation with Philip Colligan CBE
When and where: Mon 1 June, 2–3 pm, University of Liverpool campus
What does it really take to turn bold ideas into lasting change? Join us for an inspiring conversation with Philip Colligan CBE, a leading voice on innovation, entrepreneurship, and the role institutions can play in shaping a better society. Philip will share insights drawn from his work at the intersection of technology, creativity, and public good, exploring how universities, businesses, and communities can collaborate to drive meaningful impact.
Why attend
- Hear first-hand perspectives from one of the UK's most respected innovators on translating ideas into real-world impact
- Explore how institutions like the University of Liverpool are shaping innovation ecosystems that serve society
- Gain practical inspiration for your own work, research, or organisation
- Connect with like-minded academics, practitioners, and changemakers on campus
Free to attend (Booking required). Book your place
Working across boundaries to tackle inequalities - In Conversation with Dr Ruth Hussey CB, OBE, DL
When and where: Wed 3 June, 9:30–10:30 am, Victoria Gallery and Museum, Liverpool
Inequality does not respect organisational boundaries and neither should our response to it. Dr Ruth Hussey CB, OBE, DL brings a distinguished career spanning public health, NHS leadership, and civic life to this timely conversation. She will explore what it means to work across sectors, disciplines, and communities to address the deep-rooted inequalities that affect people's health, opportunity, and wellbeing.
Why attend
- Learn from Dr Hussey's exceptional career bridging public health, policy, and civic leadership
- Understand the systemic barriers to cross-sector collaboration and how to overcome them
- Explore actionable approaches to embedding equity into research, practice, and policy
- Contribute to a growing community committed to tackling inequality in Liverpool and beyond
Free to attend (Booking required). Book your place
AI for Life - Panel discussion with academics working on AI, innovation and technology
When and where: Wed 3 June, 11:30am–12:30pm, Victoria Gallery and Museum, Liverpool
Artificial intelligence is reshaping every dimension of human life, from how we detect disease to how we understand the planet. This keynote panel brings together the leads of the University of Liverpool's AI for Life Research Frontier with academics working on AI in technology and innovation to explore the cutting-edge questions, collaborations, and real-world applications that are defining the next era of AI-powered discovery.
Why attend
- Hear directly from the research leaders steering Liverpool's AI for Life agenda across health, environment, and society
- Discover how AI is being applied to some of the world's most pressing challenges, right here in Liverpool
- Explore opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration with the AI for Life Research Frontier
- Engage in Q&A with panellists pushing the boundaries of what AI can do for human flourishing
Free to attend (Booking required). Book your place
Connecting campus, industry and community: The Liverpool Living lab programme
When and where: Fri 12 June, 10–10:45am, online
How does the living lab approach utilise the campus as a test bed for innovative sustainability solutions? Our Living Lab programme enables access to a real-world test bed to develop on-the-ground sustainability research for sustainability challenges faced by the University and beyond. The programme aims to pull together stakeholders from across the University community, to collaborate on projects that are accessible to students, academics and external partners.
Why attend
- Discover the Liverpool Living Lab model and how it bridges campus expertise with local challenges
- Hear about live projects connecting the University with industry and community partners across the city
- Explore how you, your team, or your organisation could get involved in future collaborations
Free to attend (Booking required). Book your place
Joining details will be sent 2 days and also 2 hours before the session begins to the email address you registered with. Please ensure that noreply@order.eventbrite.com is a trusted email to avoid these instructions being places in your spam folder.
Resources
Why not also check out the open access resources available on the Researcher Hub to see how we have generated impact over the years: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/researcher/making-impact/resources/, and view our blogs, podcasts and more in the Virtual Delegate Pack.