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Big Sleuth 2017

If you go down to the campus next month, you’re sure of a big surprise… in the shape of three Big Sleuth bears.

You don’t have to be Goldilocks to spend time with our giant teddies, but you will have to track them down using our special trail map. Use your bear-y good detective skills and join us at the University of Birmingham to support Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity this summer.

Professor David Adams, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Dean of Medicine and Head of the College of Medical and Dental Sciences said: “We’re really thrilled to have three of The Big Sleuth bears on campus given our close working relationship with Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity and our commitment to medical research and discovery. There is always plenty for the community to do on campus, so it’s fitting that we take part in such a major city-wide family-focused event.”

Our three bears will be on campus from Monday 10 July until Sunday 17 September and will include:

  • Professor Bee Kind - Academics like Professor Bee Kind are making breakthroughs in medicine and healthcare through research and discovery in our College of Medical and Dental Sciences.
  • Rosie - Rosie loves music, singing and dancing so she has decided to stay at the Bramall this summer as there are always loads of exciting concerts, shows and events going on.
  • Buzz - Our watchful bear Buzz will be overseeing the Green Heart development this summer, which will transform campus and provide beautiful new outdoor spaces.

Alongside the bears will be a series of free events you can join in with, including:

  • Rosie’s story time – an outdoor teddy bear’s picnic in Chancellor’s Court outside the Bramall from 12:00 to 12:45 on Wednesday 2 August, followed by a story and a bear hunt on campus until 14:00. Book a free place at The Bramall.
  • Winnie the Pooh – a relaxed film screening of the Winnie the Pooh film from 12:30 to 13:45 on Wednesday 9 August in the Elgar Concert Hall in the Bramall. Book a free place at The Bramall.
  • Teddy bear’s hospital at the College of Medical and Dental Sciences – bring your bear for a check-up on Friday 28 July or Friday 18 August.

You will be able to follow the trail on Twitter at @TheBigSleuth and our bears also have their own Twitter accounts, so you can see what they get up to! Follow them at @rosie_the_bear, @buzz_thebear and @beekind_thebear. Don’t forget the hashtags #uobbigsleuth and #thebigsleuth when Tweeting and look out for some competitions online for little cubs.

The University is easily accessible by public transport, and parking at the weekend is free. You can get plenty of food and drink on campus, and there are lots of other attractions:

For more information, please contact Sally Xerri-Brooks, Communications and Stakeholder Manager, University of Birmingham, +44 (0) 121 414 5028

Pictures of the bears will be made available once they arrive on 10 July.

The Big Sleuth
We are delighted to be supporting The Big Sleuth, a free public art event taking place this summer which will see up to 100 giant bear sculptures leave their paw prints all over the city for 10 weeks. The Big Sleuth, so named because sleuth is the collective noun for a group of bears, will see the individually designed, 165cm tall, sculptures appearing throughout the city, inspiring residents and tourists to uncover Bear-mingham’s cultural gems and discover areas of the city they may not have explored before.

At the end of the trail, the bears will be auctioned off with all proceeds going to Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity.
The second event of its kind, in 2015 The Big Hoot raised in total more than £625,000 to support the hospital’s pioneering work.

Visit The Big Sleuth website to find out more.

You can also follow The Big Sleuth on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The University as a community destination
More than a century after the University was established to unlock the global potential of a progressive city, we remain committed to ensuring our national and global influence while remaining at the heart of the city’s renaissance. Our campus is home to a wealth of historical, scientific, cultural and sporting assets open to our community. We welcome you to visit, be inspired, entertained and expand your knowledge. Find out more.

Following the opening of the new Sport Centre, which is open to the public, further development is taking place on campus for the benefit of the wider community. Find out more about developments including the Green Heart.