The British Science Festival is one of the UK’s longest-running celebrations of science, offering opportunities for people of all ages to explore the latest research through hands-on activities and events. 

This year, the UK GIBA Network+ was proud to contribute to the festival programme in Southampton, inviting visitors to discover how food, culture and gut health can influence brain health and wellbeing. 

In this blog, Professor Jessica Teeling, co-director of the network, reflects on an inspiring weekend of public engagement, creativity and science communication. 

 

Our experience at this year’s British Science Festival was a wonderful celebration of creativity, curiosity and community. Through food, art, conversation and science, we invited people of all ages to explore the fascinating connections between the gut, immune system and brain. 

One of the highlights was our vibrant graffiti pyramid, which quickly became a focal point for visitors. Children, young people, parents, students and whole families picked up our spray paint pens and shared their favorite foods, alongside words and images capturing how food makes them feel. The wall filled with colorful drawings of everything from broccoli and strawberries, to pizza, rainbows, bacteria, phages and neural networks, alongside reflections on happiness, comfort, energy and wellbeing. It became a powerful visual reminder that food is not only part of our culture and identity, but also plays an important role in our physical and mental health. 

Visitors also explored an art gallery featuring work from professional artists who were shortlisted to interpret GIBA research and the science behind it through creative practice. These thought-provoking pieces offered new ways of understanding the relationship between our bodies, minds and communities. The exhibition marks the beginning of an exciting journey towards creating a large-scale public street artwork in Southampton, bringing conversations about gut and brain health, food and wellbeing into everyday public spaces. 

Adding to the festival atmosphere was a delicious selection of African plant-based street food, accompanied by music and drums that encouraged people to gather, share stories and connect through culture and cuisine. The food provided a perfect starting point for conversations about how dietary choices can influence gut health and, ultimately, brain health. 

Day 2 was all about celebrating the humble chickpea! 

Three BBSRC-funded networks, NucNet, GIBA and FAIR-Food, came together to explore how chickpeas can benefit our health, support the planet and help address food poverty. Visitors enjoyed interactive games designed by the Winchester School of Art, recipe cards, live cooking demonstrations and our giant Snakes and Ladders game exploring the role of chickpeas in gut and brain health. 

The day sparked fantastic conversations about gut microbes, hummus, mental wellbeing, sustainable diets and the potential for growing under-utilized crops in the UK, including chickpeas. It was a wonderful example of how science, creativity and food can come together to inspire new thinking about healthier and more sustainable futures.  Who knew a chickpea flapjack and black bean brownie were so delicious! 50 recipe cards were gone in a flash. 

None of this weekend of events would have been possible without the enthusiasm and dedication of our fantastic team of GIBA researchers and students, including Sara, Alex Dan, Molly, Mia, Kate, Vicki, Gabriel and Jessica. Their energy, creativity and willingness to engage with visitors transformed the events into a truly interactive experience. Together, we demonstrated how science can be accessible, inclusive and inspiring, creating meaningful conversations that will continue long after the festival has ended.