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1. The Ecologies of Hilbre Island - A Creative Expedition

   It has been 165 years since Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species, a landmark text in evolutionary biology. To mark this occasion, we invite you to join us on an expedition to Hilbre Island, a landmark in the river Dee estuary and our Galapagos in the North West of England. We embark on a creative investigation of the islands ecologies through storytelling, observational drawing, poetry and performance, looking closely at how the land, sea and humans interconnect. We will depart West Kirby on foot and walk to Hilbre island, listening to an audio guide that comprises a history of the island and oral histories from local residents. On the island, attendees will choose to take part in one of two workshops that observe and document the island: creative writing and charcoal rubbings will record the islands geology and generate a mapping of the islands geological history; a field sketching workshop will identify species of migrating birds visiting the island, before drawing an evolutionary (phylogenetic) tree. Finally, a poetry performance based on collected oral histories and poetry, will be performed in a costume that turns a performer into the native sea lavender. We will then walk back to West Kirby before high tide.

2. MA Art in Science exhibition - 'Fading Footsteps'

   Visual art can be a powerful activist tool to combat biodiversity loss and foster greater emotional regard for non-human animals. This exhibition presents an auto-ethnographical account of a visit to Uganda. Personal meaning maps, paintings and films aim to stimulate awareness of endangered and vulnerable primate species and evoke increased empathy towards supporting conservation.

3. MA Art in Science exhibition - 'The Speculative Herbarium'

   Despite a long history of preserving plants in herbariums, medicinal plants are often underrepresented in public-facing educational institutions such as museums. The Speculative Herbarium intertwines scientific practices used behind the scenes in herbaria with visual art and poetry, offering an insight into the important preservation work occurring in herbaria.

4. Doing a PhD in sport sciences

   To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, we asked some of the students who completed their PhDs with the Institute over the last 20 years to share their stories.

5. How to settle into halls as an International student

   Jorge David Capera Holguín an international student from Colombia answers some of the most commonly asked questions about settling into student accommodation.