RKE Festival Day 1 - Defence, Security and Digital

The security, defence and digital sectors are evolving rapidly, shaped by geopolitical uncertainty, technological acceleration, skills shortages and increasing pressure on supply chain resilience.

From AI and cybersecurity to drones and digital forensics, emerging technologies are transforming industries and our everyday lives.

Come and explore with our university experts what these changes mean for you, your workplace, and your community.

About the RKE Festival

The RKE Festival runs across 5 days: Monday 18th to Friday 22nd May 2026. There are over 65 events taking place and all are free of charge.

Our programme includes:

• Themed events for a particular industrial sector

• General events on research and knowledge exchange

• Exhibitions – drop in at a time that suits you

• Media – podcasts and short online films

The festival is open to the general public, businesses, and university staff and students.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Info: FOR ALL:

Posters, Experiments, Art & Ideas Come Alive
Dive into a whirlwind of creativity at this year’s Research Showcase. Explore everything from eye catching posters and short research films to sculpture, fashion, digital art, and science experiments. This interactive event invites colleagues from across the university to discover research in surprising formats, spark new ideas, and connect with the inspiring researchers behind the work.

Drop in anytime 09:00 - 17:00

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This photo exhibition highlights the amazing research going on across the University, with colleagues and students showcasing the essence, complexity, impact, and excitement of their research and knowledge exchange activity through compelling images. Attendees will have the opportunity to vote on their favourite images, with the winners being awarded on Thursday 21st May. The categories being awarded are:
• Colleagues
• Post-graduate Research Students
• Research Groups
• People’s Choice Award. Awarded to the image receiving the most votes from colleagues and students

Drop in any time between 09:00 and 17:00 to see the fantastic images and learn a little more about the work we do at the University of Lancashire!

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Themed around “Transforming Lives and Creating Prosperity for Lancashire, the UK and Beyond”, this opening session explores how university research aligns with nationally significant policies, including the UK Industrial Strategy, and regional priorities reflected in Local Growth Plans.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Graham Baldwin DL will formally launch the University of Lancashire’s 2026 RKE Festival, outlining the programme for the week ahead.

The session will then feature an opening keynote from Lord Vallance, Minister of State for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear, delivered via prerecorded video. Formerly Professor of Medicine at UCL, President of Global R&D at GSK, and the UK Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser (2018–2023), Lord Vallance played a central role in the UK’s COVID-19 response.

Lord Vallance will be introduced by Dame Sue Ion GBE, the University’s former Pro Chancellor and Chair of the Board, who will also offer reflections on the keynote.

Info: FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND STAFF:

Hear from Lecturer Dr Brenna Hassett, recipient of a large Wellcome Trust grant for "Tracing Diseases of Contact at the End of Human Mobility", on how she secured the funding.
Insights will include:
• How the collaboration and partnerships were secured.
• The development of the proposal
• The operating of the contract
• The subject matter of the research/ activity

Info: FOR ALL:

Step into the University of Lancashire’s Justice and Policing Tour and experience the full journey of an investigation - from realistic crime scene environments to cutting edge digital forensics in the iLab, immersive decision making in the Hydra Suite, and the drama of the Moot Court where cases are brought to life.

Open to all audiences, learn more about the University of Lancashire’s facilities and teaching in the School of Law and Policing. Please note that on-campus parking is limited and public car parks are available around the town centre of Preston.

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This event celebrates 10 years of the Criminal Justice Partnership (CJP).
We will look at why the Criminal Justice Partnership was set up, what it aimed to do and showcase some of the work undertaken by our members over the years and look at some of the partnerships going forward

We will hear from our strand leads from:
• Prisons and Probation
• Mental Health and Criminal Justice
• Youth and Justice
• Cybercrime
• Policing
There will also be presentations from our members on work they have undertaken over the period and from stakeholders we have worked with.

We hope you can come along to join us. If you can’t make this date but would like to know more about the CJP or receive our newsletter please email us on [email protected].

Info: FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND STAFF:

Hear from Professor Noemi Procopio, recipient of a large National Institute of Justice grant, on how she successfully secured the funding.

Project name: "The Impact of Processing and Sampling Procedures on the Integrity of Forensically Relevant Biomolecules in Bones"
Insights will include:
• How the collaboration and partnerships were secured.
• The development of the proposal
• The operating of the contract
• The subject matter of the research/ activity

Info: FOR ALL:

This is an interactive, hands-on session exploring how artificial intelligence is reshaping trust in digital media. As AI increasingly generates images, video, audio and text, this session equips participants with practical skills to recognise, analyse and verify synthetic content. Delivered as a multi-station AI Synthetic Media Lab, attendees rotate through guided “Real or Fake?” activities, examining AI-generated images, videos, voices and text using professional-style forensic techniques.

Importantly, the session moves beyond risk awareness to explore responsible and constructive uses of AI. Participants also examine how AI video avatars and generative tools can support accessibility, education, training, SME communication and cultural storytelling when deployed ethically. Designed to build confidence rather than fear, the lab demystifies AI, strengthens digital literacy, and supports informed, responsible engagement with synthetic media.

Info: FOR ALL: Unlocking Innovation Through Collaboration with the Doctoral Training Centre. Lunch included.
In 2022, the University established its Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) to enhance research innovation and deepen collaboration with industry partners. Today, the DTC supports a thriving community of more than 50 PhD researchers working across a diverse range of specialist disciplines.

This informal lunchtime event is designed to introduce organisations to the opportunities available through the DTC. Attendees will have the chance to engage directly with current students, who will be presenting their research through a poster exhibition, highlighting the breadth and relevance of their work to industry challenges.
Hear from our DTC Director, who will outline the strategic advantages of partnering with the DTC, explain the engagement process, and demonstrate how hosting a PhD researcher can provide a cost effective, high value route to innovation within your organisation.

Info: FOR ALL: Join this timely talk by Rommany Jenkins from Research England for a view on where UK research and innovation funding is heading and what it means for you. This session will begin with an overview of UKRI’s current funding allocations, strategic direction, and evolving priorities, before exploring Research England’s (RE) role and priorities, including its focus on collaboration and specialisation arising from the Post 16 Skills White Paper.

We will also consider what “excellence” means in an RE context and how this informs RE’s focus moving forward. Looking ahead, the session will highlight emerging directions of travel and key issues to watch, offering valuable insights for researchers, academics, students, and anyone interested in the future of the UK research landscape.

Whether you are navigating funding, shaping strategy, or simply curious about what’s next, this talk will equip you with perspective - and plenty to think about.

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From business and law to healthcare and the arts, artificial intelligence is transforming a whole range of areas of our lives. How can we adapt to this rapidly changing world, increasingly shaped by AI? What will the future look like? Our panel event will bring together experts from business, medicine, law, and art to explore how AI is being applied across these fields. What are the opportunities and challenges that AI presents and how are our panellists approaching them?

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

University of Lancashire, Fylde Road, Preston, United Kingdom

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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