The Air We Breathe: How to Talk about Our Air and Our Future

How clean is our air? How does Leicester compare with the rest of the UK? The Guardian’s ‘Pollution Watch’ columnist, Gary Fuller, will talk about his experience as an air pollution scientist and newspaper columnist, and about how science can best communicate its research to the public. We’ll also hear about local air quality research, and experience newly commissioned art and spoken word poetry on the subject of Leicester’s air quality from locally based and nationally established artists, Lydia Towsey and artist Lucy Stevens.

The Guardian’s ‘Pollution Watch’ columnist, Dr Gary Fuller, is an air pollution scientist at Imperial College London and clean air champion for UK Research and Innovation and the Met Office. He is the author of The Invisible Killer: The Rising Global Threat of Air Pollution - And How We Can Fight Back.

Lydia Towsey is poet, performer, cat keeper, mother and ukulele strummer. Twice shortlisted for the international Bridport Poetry Prize, she’s spoken and performed everywhere from London’s 100 Club, Roundhouse, Bloomsbury Theatre to the House of Lords and been commissioned by The Guardian, The Royal Albert Hall, Kew Gardens, Apples and Snakes, Poet in the City and more. She is the author of two full length poetry collections, The Venus Papers and The English Disease (Burning Eyes Books). In addition to her practice as an artist, Lydia is an NHS Arts in Mental Health Coordinator; Co-Director of Brightsparks (www.brightsparksarts.co.uk and Chair of WORD! (www.wordpoetry.co.uk) - a poetry organisation delivering one of the longest running poetry nights in the UK.

Lucy Stevens is a multidisciplinary British contemporary artist whose work explores our relationship with the natural environment through vibrant coded artworks. She draws inspiration from ornithology and colour theory. Her projects often include working in collaboration with experts in the natural world including scientists, museum curators, ornithologists, photographers and musicians.

Learn more about, 'Creative Climates', the project behind this event HERE.

This event is held in partnership with the University of Leicester's Centre for Environmental Health and Sustainability. 

There will be an opportunity to buy Gary's book and have it signed, courtesy of our wonderful partners, Kibworth Books.

Getting to us:

To travel to Attenborough Arts, please find details (including parking) here. An interactive university campus map is also available here.

Refreshments:

Attenborough Arts has its own cafe.

Accessibility:

Attenborough Arts is a fully accessible venue. See HERE for details.