Our City
To mark the University of Birmingham’s 125th anniversary, the public programme at The Exchange invited you to discover some of our research innovations that are rooted in the second city, bringing together generations of people and ideas, all working to build a better future for all of us, both now and in the years to come.
125 Years of Research
Our City featured three fascinating installations on the ground floor of The Exchange. These installations explored how three key issues of historic and continued importance within our city, Maternal Health, Youth Mental Health, and Microplastics, have been impacted by University research.
Our Environment
This installation addressed microplastics through a creative and interactive exhibit. It explored the connection between the invention of Parkesine, the first manufactured plastic, in Birmingham, and current research at the University. Visitors could learn about Professor Stefan Krause’s research on the transport and breakdown of plastics in freshwater systems, as well as the wider Birmingham Plastics Network, which tackles the presence of microplastics in our waterways and their potential harm to health and the environment.
Maternal Health
This installation focused on maternal health, which has been a priority in Birmingham since the 1800s. It highlighted the work of Professor Dame Hilda Lloyd, who established the obstetrical ‘Flying Squads’ in 1936. These teams provided emergency care to underserved communities, saving many lives. We also explored contemporary examples of University of Birmingham research that provide practical, life-saving care for mothers and infants in the moment they need it, such as: BSOTS (Birmingham Symptom-Specific Obstetric Triage System), which streamlines emergency care by providing a quick assessment now adopted in over 120 maternity units. E-MOTIVE, a global project tackling postpartum haemorrhage (PPH)—affecting 1 in 5 women in Birmingham and tragically claiming a woman’s life every few minutes worldwide. NIHR Challenge Maternal Disparities Consortium, through which the University is co-leading crucial research to tackle maternity inequalities faced by mothers and babies across the UK, improving care before, during, and after pregnancy.
Youth Mental Health
This installation centred on youth mental health, an urgent issue in Birmingham. Young people today are navigating unprecedented mental health challenges, with smartphones and social media shaping their experiences in powerful ways. Based on Prof. Victoria Goodyear and Prof. Miranda Pallan's Smart Schools project, which explores how smartphone bans in schools impact the mental health of young people, the exhibit asked: are we solving the problem, or do we need to do more? This display acted as a springboard to wider research across the University exploring how young people can "live healthily" with social media now and in the future, and focusing on what real "care" means in digital spaces.
Greg Milner Photography.
Greg Milner Photography.
Greg Milner Photography.