In the university’s first TEDx Digital event, academics from across Queen’s have offered informed opinion pieces and reflections on the changes taking place all around us a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The programme of speakers included some of Queen’s University’s healthcare team who are working at the frontline of the pandemic, helping to find ways to support the fight against COVID-19. There were also talks by researchers and academics from the Faculties of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, as well as Engineering and Physical Sciences.

The event has been designed to offer broader reflections on society, how changes have come about and how people are adapting to lockdown. Our speakers have considered what we may learn from the current situation for beyond the crisis, and how it may influence and bring about changes in the future.

Thought provoking and ideas focused, our speakers have formed observations on what the future might hold or could look like. They have voiced their hopes for a future where we might learn lessons from this crisis, and act upon them to make changes which will bring benefits to society.

Professor Richard English, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Internationalisation and Engagement

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Programme: TEDx Queen’s University Belfast ‘Adapt and Change’

00:00 Introduction – Professor Richard English, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Internationalisation and Engagement, Queen’s University Belfast

03:10 Welcome – Professor Ian Greer, President and Vice-Chancellor, Queen’s University Belfast

06:41 ‘Solidarity between Generations during Lockdown’ – Dr Gemma Carney, Lecturer in Social Policy, ARK Ageing Programme, School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work

13:27 ‘Science, Certainty and Uncertainty: In the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic’ – Professor Stuart Elborn, Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences: School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences (MDBS), Centre for Experimental Medicine, Institute for Health Sciences. In May 2020 he was among 50 of the UK’s most prominent biomedical and health scientists elected to The Academy of Medical Sciences’ prestigious Fellowship.

20:32 ‘Funerals during Lockdown: The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic’ – Professor Heather Conway, Professor of Property Law and Death Studies, School of Law, Council Member of the Cremation Society

27:40 ‘Soap: A state-of-the-art Weapon in the War against Coronavirus?" – Dr Dan Corbett, Lecturer, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

35:52 'COVID-19 and Mental Health: Using what we know to allow us to adapt’ – Professor Cherie Armour, Professor of Psychological Trauma and Mental Health, Director of the Stress Trauma and Related Conditions research lab, School of Psychology, and Board of Directors member for the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies

42:26 ‘COVID-19, Cancer and Comorbidities: A Deadly Triumvirate’ – Professor Mark Lawler, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Digital Health. Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences; Chair in Translational Cancer Genomics, Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast: Associate Director, Health Data Research Wales-Northern Ireland: Scientific Director, DATA-CAN, The Health Data Research Hub for Cancer

51:12 ‘Who Cares? COVID-19 in Care Homes for Older People’ – Professor Carmel Hughes, Professor of Primary Care Pharmacy, Head of the School of Pharmacy

57:32 ‘Face Shield Design and Manufacture: an agile and flexible Response in Time of Need’ – Professor Brian Falzon, Professor of Composite Materials and Aerostructures, Head of the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

1:05:17 ‘Taking back the Street: COVID-19 as a Catalyst of shared Space’ – Dr Agustina Martire, Lecturer in Architecture, School of Natural and Built Environment

1:10:49 ‘COVID-19 and Comorbidities in the Elderly’ – Dr Bernadette McGuinness, Clinical Senior Lecturer, and Consultant Geriatrician, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences; Clinical Lead in the Healthy Cognitive Aging Project in the NICOLA study, a longitudinal Study of Aging

1:17:22 ‘The Crisis and Education: How it has changed and should change more’ – Professor Tony Gallagher, Professor of Education, School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work

1:23:20 ‘No One Thing - Supporting Performing Artists during and after COVID-19’ – Dr Ali Fitzgibbon, Lecturer in Creative and Cultural Industries Management, School of Arts, English and Languages

1:30:00 ‘Building Back Better: A green and just Recovery’ – Professor John Barry, Professor of Green Political Economy, School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics

1:37:23 ‘Post Pandemic Cities: Design Factors for Health and Equity’ – Dr Deepti Adlakha, Lecturer in Planning, School of Natural and Built Environment

1:43:00 ‘Ethics in Pandemic’ – Professor Dave Archard, Professor of Philosophy, School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics

1:48:46 Concluding Remarks – Professor Richard English, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Internationalisation and Engagement, Queen’s University Belfast