Tickets launched today for the world’s largest festival of public science talks, which will see 21 scientists take to the stage in venues across Hull.
On 18–20 May, the Pint of Science festival will simultaneously bring thousands of scientists and their research out of the lab and into pubs, cafes and community halls near you. The three-day festival has grown astronomically since its inception, and 2026 will see events in over 25 countries and more than 500 cities around the world. Each night will provide a unique line up of talks, demonstrations and live experiments held in a relaxed and informal environment.
University of Hull researchers will be speaking at venues across the city, including The Sailmakers Arms, Middleton Hall, The Blue Bell and St Matthews Community Enterprise Centre. Tickets are available from the Pint of Science website (pintofscience.co.uk), costing just £5 each. Attendees in Hull will enjoy a variety of exciting talks including:
Can your weekly supermarket shop help explain the evolution of galaxies? Is artificial intelligence just a powerful guessing machine – or can it truly understand the cultural soul of music? The illusion of choice: How vision and action can undermine our decisions
Prof Neil Gordon – Professor in Computer Science said: “Pint of Science is a fantastic opportunity to talk about the ethical risks of AI with people outside the university. The relaxed, friendly setting always sparks some great conversations and gives me fresh insight into how the public views the work we do at university.”
Dr Blake Morton – Lecturer of Psychology said: “Pint of Science is a great opportunity to discuss in a relaxed, friendly setting some of the world’s most pressing environmental issues, such as the impact of urbanisation on wildlife and people. The casual and fun atmosphere of the festival always leads to engaging conversations, and I really value hearing how people feel about their role in shaping the future of human-wildlife coexistence in the UK as our towns and cities continue to expand.”
Alongside the main talks, audience members will be able to take part in the largest ever multi-city pub quiz – in association with interactive quiz company, KwizzBit. Teams will tackle science-themed trivia and go head-to-head with other cities interactively, in the hope of claiming the top spot in their city and across the UK.
Pint of Science founders Dr Praveen Paul and Dr Michael Motskin set out with a simple but powerful mission: to reconnect people with the human stories behind scientific discovery. What began in just three cities in 2013 has since expanded to hundreds, shining a light on the remarkable research taking place all around us. These events not only give scientists a platform to share their work in an accessible, personal way, but also invite audiences to engage directly with the people driving new ideas and breakthroughs.
“It’s incredible to see how a conversation among friends has sparked such widespread curiosity and brought scientific research into the public eye,” said Co-Founder Dr Praveen Paul. “Everyone deserves the chance to explore and question the diverse research happening across the UK. None of this would be possible without our dedicated volunteers, who create inspiring events that ignite curiosity and connection. The toughest part is simply choosing which brilliant event to attend.”