Free events set to inspire and intrigue this autumn

Roland Orlando Butcher, the first black player to play international cricket for England, will deliver a public lecture on Wednesday 19 October to mark Black History Month.

After making his England debut in 1980, Butcher played for Middlesex for 16 years and has worked in multiple countries around the world. A passionate football player, he also worked as an academy coach for Arsenal and Reading football clubs. In this special event, Butcher will share what he has learnt about diversity, inclusivity and equity through the course of his career.

This autumn also sees the launch of a new series which celebrates exciting research and collaborations between Staffordshire University’s best minds and colleagues across the world. ‘Catalyst Collaborations’ invites the guests into the £43m Catalyst building where they will be treated to complimentary hot food and drink as well as food for thought.

The series kicks off on Monday 7 November with a talk which delves into UK gun crime and the threat of DIY firearms. The explosive topic is tackled by Dr Helen Poole, Executive Dean of the School of Crime, Security and Sustainability and co-editor of the textbook Firearms: Global Perspectives on Consequences Crime and Control alongside leading firearms expert and Associate Professor of Forensic Science Dr Rachel Bolton-King.

Next up is Head of Games Development Professor Chris Headleand who invites you on a journey into the metaverse on Monday 5 December. In this talk, Professor Headleand will be joined by an industry colleague to discuss what the metaverse is, what it isn't and how it may impact our lives in years to come.

During Disability History Month, guests can hear Martine Wright’s compelling story of survival to sporting success in her talk ‘The Power of 7’ on Wednesday 30 November.

Martine is a survivor of the never to be forgotten day in 2005 when terror hit the streets of London. As 52 people lost their lives in a series of terrorist attacks across the city, she was the last survivor pulled from the train in Aldgate, losing her legs, and very nearly her life. The events of 7/7 are one bookend of her life in which her remarkable fight for recovery and rehabilitation culminated in becoming a Team GB Paralympian, appearing at London 2012.

University Events Manager Klaudia Tomkowiak said: “We are excited to be bringing this series of free events to our community in Stoke-on-Trent. There is a fantastic line-up of speakers with incredible stories to tell and research to share.

“Members of the public, students and staff are all invited and will receive a warm welcome in our Catalyst building at the heart of our Stoke-on-Trent campus. For those who can’t make it person, our public lectures and Catalyst Collaborations will be live streamed on YouTube and available to watch on demand afterwards.”

Staffordshire University’s Centre for Crime Justice and Security is also hosting a public seminar series, showcasing cutting edge research to tackle current challenges from mass shootings to wildlife crime. On 16 November it will also host its first symPUBsium with a range of expert talks in The Glebe pub in Stoke.

Visit www.staffs.ac.uk/events for full event information and booking details:

• Wednesday 19 October 2022 – Black History Month lecture Playing the game: how to be a good sport by Roland Orlando Butcher
• Wednesday October 26 – CCJS Public Seminar Series: ‘Mass shootings and Digital Forensics’
• Monday 7 November – Catalyst Collaborations: UK gun crime and the threat of DIY firearms
• Wednesday 16 November – CCJS SymPUBsium
• Wednesday 30 November – Disability History Month lecture The Power of 7 by Martine Wright
• Monday 5 December – Catalyst Collaborations: The Metaverse is Coming! The Metaverse is Already Here?
• Monday 5 December – CCJS Public Seminar Series: Enhancing the Recovery & Examination of Protected Birds Suspected of Being Shot