On Saturday 13 June, the Lydia Becker Institute brought the world of immunology out of the lab and into the community by taking part in The University of Manchester’s Community Fair at University Place, part of the Universally Manchester Festival. This vibrant, annual event opens the University’s doors to celebrate research, culture, and community collaboration in a completely free, family-friendly space.

This year’s festival was incredibly lively, welcoming over 2,700 visitors from our local neighbourhoods and beyond. It provided an excellent opportunity for people of all ages to connect directly with researchers, staff, and community partners to explore the science shaping our world.

Under our banner Breathe, Build, and Battle: The Science of Immunity, we hosted an interactive stand designed to show how the human body detects and destroys infections. Using hands-on games – including a virus-splatting challenge named Splat the Virus!, an immune cell spinning wheel, and white blood cell target practice – our team demonstrated the critical role immune cells play in clearing viruses and maintaining lung health. It was a fantastic opportunity for our researchers to translate their daily research into accessible, real-world concepts for an enthusiastic public audience.

We’d like to send a big thank you to our brilliant team of volunteers who represented the Becker so brilliantly and made it all happen:

• Aleina Alex
• Fariha Khanom
• Ilse Mendoza Trujillo
• Lydia Thompson
• Mang Xu
• Erin-Claire Pallott

Related