The Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts MP was at Bournemouth University (BU) today to help launch its Festival of Learning.

The week-long Festival of Learning features more than 150 free public events and activities – showcasing the work and research taking place at the university to the wider community.

“It’s so important to get members of the public into universities,” said David Willetts MP.

“Because there are lots of people who don’t quite know what happens on a university campus, it’s important to build good relations between the university and the wider community.

“Having thousands of people coming in to Bournemouth University this week, because of the range of activities available at the Festival, that’s a great idea.”

The Minister attended some of the sessions taking place at BU’s Talbot Campus on the first day of the Festival of Learning.

He joined schoolchildren taste-testing sweetcorn during the VeggiEAT – are you a supertaster? event, and visited the Are you a super-recogniser? Live Lab stand to find out more about the work being done into facial recognition at BU.

He also attended the Cuddly kittens, awesome lasers and free food graduate exhibition being run by BA (Hons) Interactive Media Production students, trying out some of the work they had created, such as mind-powered meditation lamps and a sound-wave bracelet.

David Willetts MP said: “It’s been great to visit Bournemouth University – there’s some really interesting and really exciting research work going on. It’s also great to meet the students and talk to them about the high quality of the teaching here.

“Bournemouth has a particular reputation when it comes to media and IT and I did have the opportunity of seeing some fascinating student work and projects, which really were excellent.”

BU’s Festival of Learning is a flagship regional event for Universities Week, which is run by Universities UK to demonstrate the relevance of university research and its impact on everyday lives.

While at BU, David Willetts MP gave a speech about the importance of higher education and university research to businesses, the economy and society as a whole.

He said: “This year’s Universities Week is a chance to celebrate what is a truly great time for higher education. Institutions across the country are doing excellent research that could have a huge impact on all our lives.”

Chief Executive of Universities UK Nicola Dandridge, who also attended the opening of BU’s Festival of Learning, said: “The aim of Universities Week is to highlight the world-leading research taking place in our universities.

“We hope BU’s Festival of Learning and other events being held during Universities Week will inspire members of the public and give them an opportunity to see how universities are helping to solve some of the UK’s and the world’s biggest challenges.”

BU’s Festival of Learning runs until Sunday 15 June with a wide-range of hands-on taster sessions, interactive workshops and seminars on offer – covering everything from the geology of Star Wars planets to why we’re obsessed with eating spicy foods.

The Festival of Learning is now in its second year, and BU’s Vice-Chancellor Professor John Vinney said he was delighted that the Minister attended the opening.

He added: “Universities play a vital role in our society and this is a great opportunity for our local community to find out more about our research and how it can impact their lives and the lives of those around the world.

“We want to share the knowledge and experience of our world-leading academics with the public through our Festival of Learning events.”

You can find out more about the Festival of Learning, and book onto events, at www.bournemouth.ac.uk/fol.