The ADR Wales Climate Change team have presented their work at an event aimed at connecting researchers, their research and the general public.
Speaking at Pint of Science, Professor Rich Fry of the ADR Wales Climate Change team, reflected on the team’s research on how green spaces, air quality, and community infrastructure influence health and how these will be affected as the climate changes.
The evening event, part of the UK-wide Pint of Science Festival (19–21 May), was titled “What Climate Change Means for Our Health” and focused on how environmental change is already influencing our wellbeing.
Speaking following the event, Professor Fry said: “It’s great to bring these conversations into the community and outside the usual academic setting. The research supported by ADR and the MAGENTA project provide important insights into how the environment impacts our health and it was great to have this conversation with people about health, data, and our environment thanks to initiatives like Pint of Science that make research accessible to everyone.”
Following this, Dr Aisling Morrin, Postdoctoral Research Officer in Immunology at Swansea University and also part of the MAGENTA team, presented “Under Fire: Immune Health in a Warming World,” highlighting how rising temperatures can disrupt immune function and increase health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women.
“It was a fantastic opportunity to share our research in such an open, welcoming space — and the audience asked brilliant questions,” said Dr Morrin.
The event attracted a sell-out crowd of around 60 attendees and prompted a lively Q&A, with members of the public engaging directly with the speakers on the challenges and opportunities climate change presents.
Professor Richard Fry is a Professor of Environment and Health at Swansea University and Principal Investigator of the MAGENTA project. MAGENTA is a research project which aims to advance our understanding on how exposure to elevated or prolonged heat during pregnancy impacts pregnancy outcomes in Wales and London.