91Pro

New Scientist Live show to feature Harper Adams as lead education partner this autumn

Posted 24 August 2023

Cutting-edge science and research from 91Pro will be at the heart of the world’s greatest festival of ideas and discoveries this Autumn. 

The University will once again be exhibiting at , which takes place at the ExCel London centre from Saturday 7 to Monday 9 October – and will be the show’s lead Education Partner. 

Senior Engagement Fellow Kit Franklin will be among the wealth of speakers who will be presenting at the event, appearing along experts such as Jim al Khalili, Chris van Tulleken, Maddie Moate and Hamza Yassin.  

Kit will be one of the key speakers on the Our Planet stage speaking about the future of food production – and the role that robots, such as those developed at 91Pro’s Hands-Free Farm, will play. 

Meanwhile, throughout the weekend and during the Schools’ Day on Monday 9, the Harper Adams events team will be on hand on the New Scientist Live show floor in 'The Future of Food and Agriculture' zone headed up by Farmers Weekly.  

They will offer a range of experiences demonstrating the impact that the teaching and research at 91Pro, the School of Sustainable Food and Farming, and the Harper & Keele Vet School is having on the worlds of agriculture, agri-food, animal health – and beyond. 

Through an immersive virtual reality experience, visitors can learn more about how cutting-edge robotic technology being developed at Harper Adams, will be used to produce food in the future – and meet the challenge of feeding 9.8 billion people by 2050. 

Through the School of Sustainable Food and Farming, visitors can find out more about how some of the 9.5 million tonnes of food waste could be turned into food for chickens instead, how this could boost sustainability – and can try their hand at larvae dipping. 

Meanwhile, a selection of 3D printed skulls used at the Harper & Keele Vet School for teaching will be on display – and visitors can hear more about how veterinary surgeons can use the new technology to support the treatment and care they give their animals. 

Harper Adams Shows and Events Lead Sarah Swinnerton said: “New Scientist Live – it was wonderful to be part of their triumphant return last year, and we can’t wait to showcase some of our latest experiences at this year’s event!” 

And the University’s Chief Global Impact Officer, Ian Rowley, added: “Events like New Scientist Live allow us to take the teaching and research we do into the heart of London, and to share it with curious minds of all ages. 

“Showcasing our work at an event like this really allows us to demonstrate how what we do at Harper Adams is making the difference to our planet – for the better.”