Research Festival 2025: Celebrating Our Biosphere
The seventh annual Research Festival returns on Friday 17th October, and this year will be launched on Thursday 16th October by the Annual Biosphere Lecture, and will be held at the Villa Marina.
This year’s festival theme is ‘Our Biosphere’, hosted by University College Isle of Man (UCM) in partnership with Biosphere Isle of Man. Welcoming researchers from on and off-Island. The festival celebrates research on all aspects of our island biosphere, including our natural and cultural landscapes, while showcasing innovative research and creative thinking.
Excitingly, and for the first time, this year the festival kicks off on Thursday evening with the annual Biosphere Lecture, a keynote which will be delivered by the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT), Machynlleth, Wales. Titled ‘Living in a Laboratory – co-creating the future of the Isle of Man Biosphere’, as we approach our tenth year as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, this interactive lecture will explore where we want to be as an island community by 2036, and what we can all do both individually and collectively to get there, making way for a more sustainable and vibrant future for all! Previous lectures can be viewed on our Biosphere IOM You Tube channel – though we think things will be a little different this year...
On Friday 17th October, the festival hosts a full day of talks and workshops covering a wide range of topics, including regenerative economy and sustainability, biodiversity surveys, creativity and wellbeing, maternal health, light pollution and astronomy, climate commitments, local food traditions, and much more. Sessions are designed for and open to anyone with an interest – from students, to researchers, to the wider public - offering a chance to learn, engage, and network with experts and peers.
The festival also features exhibits from the Biosphere Artist and Photographers in Residence, research posters, and information from Tynwald Parliamentary Research Services, the Hive (UCM Library), the Manx Natural History Society, and others. Complimentary tea and coffee are provided, and lunch is available to purchase on-site.
Booking is essential. Tickets for the Annual Biosphere Lecture on Thursday 16th carry a small cost and can be booked via Eventbrite, while most sessions on Friday 17th are free – simply select the sessions you wish to attend on the Research Festival collection.
This is a unique opportunity to really contribute to shaping the sustainable future of our island, to explore the island’s research streams, and to celebrate our Biosphere through connections between environment, culture, and community. See you there!
