On February 18th, the BILT Student Research Conference brought together students, academics and staff from across the University of Bristol for an inspiring afternoon dedicated to celebrating student research and academic curiosity.
Organised by BILT Student Fellows and Student Research Journal Co-Editors-in-Chief Emma Segal and Megan Stannett, the conference created a space for students to share their work, learn about research pathways, and engage with the wider academic community.
The event opened with a thought-provoking address from Professor Alvin Birdi, Associate Pro Vice Chancellor (Education Innovation and Enhancement), who reflected on the importance of research-rich learning and the role universities can play in empowering students to see themselves as researchers.
Following the opening address, attendees heard from an engaging panel of researchers and educators in the “Getting into Research” panel discussion. The panel brought together academics and postgraduate researchers from across the university to discuss their research journeys, the challenges they have faced along the way, and their advice for students considering research careers. The conversation highlighted the diverse paths into research and emphasised the importance of curiosity, resilience and collaboration.
A major highlight of the afternoon was the student research presentations, where students showcased their projects across a wide range of disciplines. Presentations were evaluated by academic judges from across the university, who carefully considered the quality of research, communication and engagement. Congratulations to our presentation prize winners:
- Jocasta Cochrane – Faculty of Health and Life Sciences – ‘Exploring the β-lactamases of the Psychrophilic World’
- Luka Kadrikj – Faculty of Science and Engineering – ‘Exploring Surface Chemistry through CSEHI’
- Theadora Gallie – Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences – ‘Barriers and Facilitators to the Engagement of Care Leavers with Health Services’
In addition to the presentations, students also displayed a fantastic range of research posters, giving attendees the opportunity to explore projects in an informal setting and speak directly with student researchers. The best poster awarded to:
- Natasha Davis
Alongside the research presentations, the conference also featured an “Ask the Editors” session led by members of the BILT Student Research Journal editorial team. Editors shared insights into the journal’s publication process, offered guidance for prospective authors, and answered questions about how students can develop their research into publishable work.
The event concluded with closing reflections and prize giving from Hannah Grist, Head of CREATE, who celebrated the impressive work presented throughout the afternoon and highlighted the importance of initiatives that support student research.
The conference would not have been possible without the support of the wider BILT team, including Amy Palmer, Caroline Harvey, David Johnson, Pratham Gupta, Elliot Green and Gaurav Saxena, whose work behind the scenes ensured the event ran smoothly.
Events such as the Student Research Conference play an important role in fostering a research-rich culture at the University of Bristol. By providing opportunities for students to present their work, connect with academics and explore pathways into research, the conference helps inspire the next generation of researchers.
We would like to thank everyone who contributed to making the event such a success, including our presenters, panellists, judges, editors and attendees. We look forward to seeing many of these exciting projects develop further through submissions to the BILT Student Research Journal.
Click here to learn more about the Student Research Journal and here to submit a manuscript (deadline 20/03/26). If you have any questions, please contact BILT-Journal@bristol.ac.uk.
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