Earth in Motion: Waters, Land and the Atmosphere

This talk explores the fascinating world of waterfalls and their profound impact on the landscapes around us.

The discussion will examine how waterfalls vary from small 30cm cascades to powerful torrents over 100m high and how researchers measure and compare them. By tracing the evolution of scholarly discourse since the late 19th century, we’ll uncover how our understanding of waterfalls has developed over time.

Join us as we dive into world-leading research, exploring how waterfalls shape the natural environment and influence the landscapes we see today.

This talk provides an overview of research investigating whether reservoirs supplying drinking water across the Midlands can function as sinks or potential sources of legacy pollutants and volatile organic compounds that contribute to foul odour and taste.

The discussion will explore the environmental factors that influence these reservoirs and examine how pollutants accumulate or are released into the water. By examining case studies and scientific findings, we’ll uncover the impact of these pollutants on water quality and public health.

Join us to explore how understanding these dynamics can lead to better management practices for maintaining clean, safe drinking water in the future.

This talk explores how water flow in rivers and oceans plays a crucial role in natural hazards that impact communities. Measuring water movement in fast-flowing rivers and the open sea presents significant challenges, which is why scientists use model laboratory experiments to replicate these environments.

We’ll dive into how lab-based water channels, known as "flumes," help us understand complex phenomena such as coral reefs trapping microplastics, seagrass protecting coastlines, and how riverbed topography influences flooding. Using 3D-printed coral reefs, miniature rivers, and even invisible seagrass, we'll showcase how these innovative models offer insights into some of nature’s most vital systems.

Join us to discover how these controlled experiments can lead to better solutions for safeguarding our coastlines, rivers, and oceans.

This talk will introduce Loughborough-led research on marine litter along Scotland's west coast, highlighting findings that show litter densities on surveyed beaches are over 20 times the UK average. The research, developed in collaboration with community groups across the region, reveals significant gaps in existing research and policy, which often overlook the input of local communities living in these environments.

Through substantial investment in community-led efforts, the research has focused on engaging locals to better understand marine litter on their coastlines, empowering community action, and supporting local artists to help communicate the findings. The talk will feature a variety of props to bring the work to life and can align with either the environmental challenges or community empowerment themes, depending on the focus.

Join us to explore how this innovative, community-driven approach is reshaping our understanding of marine litter and its impact on coastal communities.