Professor Greg Whyte OBE is an Olympian and World and European medalist. Greg is currently Professor of Applied Sport and Exercise Science at Liverpool John Moores University. Greg has spent over three decades investigating the limits of human performance in a broad range of people from Olympic Champions to celebrities and a range of patient populations.

An ultra-endurance athlete specializing in performance in extreme environments, Greg has completed some of the toughest challenges on the planet and is well-known for his successful support of many charity endurance challenges in extreme environments. Greg is a regular media contributor on the topic of limits of human performance and has published over 350 peer review journal articles and authored several popular science books including, ‘Achieve the Impossible’ and ‘Bump it Up’, in addition to several academic texts including: ‘Practical ECG for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine’ and ‘ABC of Sports and Exercise Medicine’.

The Science and Society lecture series returns for 2025, with Professor Perdita Barran, delivering her lecture; Weighing Molecules to Diagnose Disease, from Heel Prick to Skin Swab.

Every year more than 30 million babies worldwide are screened for inborn metabolic disorders directly after birth with a heel prick assay that takes a tiny amount of blood to be analysed with a mass spectrometer.

By analysing sebum with mass spectrometry, a new method to detect Parkinson’s disease has been determined.

Research Roasters is a live pop-up talk show where the public gets to meet real researchers and engage in genuine conversations. There are no slides, no scripts, and no jargon. Just honest questions, surprising answers, and a few laughs along the way.

In this special edition, we’re doing something different. After a series of short, relaxed interviews with early-career researchers, we’ll invite the audience to help shape a brand-new research idea. Together with the scientists, you’ll help build a research proposal from scratch, starting with what matters most to you.

This is science as conversation, not presentation. It’s about building trust, sharing power, and exploring how research can grow from shared curiosity. Whether you’re into big questions or small details, we’d love you to pull up a chair and join in.

As the very first event developed through The Mersey Forest’s Ideas Lab, this British Science Festival satellite event will be part of the UK’s largest celebration of science, and will bring together scientists, students, policymakers, practitioners and community voices to explore how research and evidence are shaping the landscapes we live in.

Expect a mix of talks and discussions across three key themes: people, nature and climate. Topics will include the science behind carbon and climate resilience, habitat and species mapping, urban tree modelling, woodland culture, and the health and wellbeing impacts of green infrastructure. The event will also highlight how science and technology are being used in creative ways to observe, measure and support the recovery of nature.

Lunch and refreshments will be provided during the day.

We’re Back — and Brighter Than Ever! 💡
Celebrate science, creativity, and all things Liverpool and be among the first to explore our brand-new exhibition: Lightbulb Moments.
Meet inspiring scientists and students from the University of Liverpool as they showcase their groundbreaking research through hands-on activities.
Step into the spotlight with our interactive show: Innovation and Beyond.
Get creative with fun crafts to make and take home.
Perfect for the whole family — come curious and leave inspired!