Celebrating the Past, Transforming the Future
Join us on the 19th of June 2025 at a special research conference which marks the 150th anniversary of Queen Margaret University (Ðǿմ«Ã½), Edinburgh.
We invite you to come together with researchers, academics, staff and students at Ðǿմ«Ã½ to celebrate 150 years of our research, innovation and knowledge exchange.
- Overview
- Speakers
- Programme
- Concurrent Sessions & Workshops
- Afternoon Creative Spaces
- Research Images
We’ll showcase how our ground-breaking research and innovations are influencing the world around us by making a positive impact on health, wellbeing, culture, social justice, and sustainable business. Our dynamic conference programme will consist of keynote speeches, fascinating panel discussions, and exhibitions. We invite you to be inspired; and to learn, build and strengthen collaboration and partnership as we move forward into future innovation and research which supports wellness and creativity in individuals and societies.
We welcome academics, practitioners, policy makers, and strategic leaders, as well as students. Be part of this milestone celebration as we honour our past and present and chart the course for the next 150 years of discovery and excellence.
We look forward to welcoming you and sharing research and ideas, but most of all, bring an open mind, enthusiasm, energy, and laughter. By challenging one another and sharing ideas, we can harness our talents to make a better world. Be part of the discussion!
Keynote Speaker
Dr Katey Warran
Dr Katey Warran is Head of the PATHS (Public Health, Arts, Theory, Sociology) Research Group, based in the School of Health in Social Science at the University of Edinburgh, and the recipient of a Leverhulme-funded fellowship exploring how to co-construct a Sociology of Arts and Health. She is also Honorary Fellow in the Social Biobehavioural Research Group at University College London, where she was previously Deputy Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Arts and Health, and Global Healing Arts Advisor for the Jameel Arts & Health Lab. Katey’s research explores the complex relationship between the arts and health, and she is currently co-authoring a book with Professor Norma Daykin on the Sociology of Arts and Health (Routledge, forthcoming).
Katey sits on a range of committees (e.g., Vice Chair for Arts Culture Health and Wellbeing Scotland (ACHWS), Scottish Ballet Research Committee, Tonic Arts Advisory at NHS Lothian Charity), has worked on a range of policy activities and outputs (e.g., for the DCMS, Arts Council England, Scottish Government), and is Co-Director of the Arts Play Health Community. She has designed and collaborated on a diverse range of innovative research projects, including receiving funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Royal Society of Edinburgh, Medical Research Council, and the British Academy. Her PhD, funded by the AHRC, was a partnership of the University of Edinburgh, Queen Margaret University, and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society.
Speakers
MD Rezaur Rahman
MD Rezaur Rahman, known as MD, originally from Bangladesh, has called Scotland home since 2009. He considers himself a Global Citizen dedicated to building an inclusive society where future generations have equitable access to resources, well-being, and opportunities.
MD completed his master’s degree in 2022 and is currently a PhD candidate at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh. His research, funded by Police Scotland, examines the impact of social mixing activities on fostering connectedness and social cohesion among diverse ethnic groups in West Lothian, Scotland.
With a strong commitment to community engagement and policy impact, MD currently serves as a Community Relationship Specialist with Police Scotland, working to strengthen trust and collaboration between the police and minoritised communities through meaningful partnerships and service improvements.
Sofia Khan
Sofia is a Ðǿմ«Ã½ graduate and a Lay Member of the Court for Queen Margaret University. She has operated in a variety of roles within the further and higher education space, from Lecturer at Glasgow Clyde College, Widening Participation Tutor at the University of Glasgow and Access and Participation Coordinator at Strathclyde Student Union. She has been awarded the Herald Higher Education Award, NUS Scotland Education Award and Strathclyde Medal for her work developing projects to improve widening access and participation in higher education. In her current position as Scholarship Development Officer at The Robertson Trust, Sofia works with a small team to research and develop financial and non-financial support packages for undergraduate students from non-traditional background, with the aim of reducing poverty and poverty related trauma through the tool of tertiary education.
In her presentation, Sofia will present insights into barriers affecting mature learners accessing higher education and offer recommendations universities and others can implement to make degree level study more accessible for this cohort.
Dr Sanna Rimpiläinen
Dr Sanna Rimpiläinen, Head of Research and Skills at the Digital Health and Care Innovation Centre (DHI) in Glasgow, leads on one of DHI’s key strategic areas, the Skills and Future Workforce Development agenda. This work stimulates a future pipeline of talent to support the digital transformation of health and care services in Scotland through collaboration with key stakeholders in academia, industry, and the civic sectors. With over 25 years of experience in research, she manages the DHI’s Research and Knowledge Management team, who provide an internal research service to inform DHI’s work and administer the Scottish digital health and care master’s funding. Sanna is a member of several national boards and advisory, steering and reference groups related to workforce development and skills.
Sanna has a PhD in Education. Her work focuses on the softer side of digital innovation.
Details of further speakers to be confirmed, please check back here for updates.
Celebrating the Past, Transforming the Future
Thursday, 19th June 2025
0830 - 0900 | Arrival and Registration |
0900 - 0910 |
Welcome, outline of the day and house keeping Erna Haraldsdottir, Deputy Head, Division of Nursing & Paramedic Science, Ðǿմ«Ã½ |
0910 - 0920 |
Welcome overview of Ðǿմ«Ã½ – History and where are we now Sir Paul Grice, Principal, Ðǿմ«Ã½ |
0920 - 0950 |
Giving back’ through our research: making a difference (and knowing that we are!) Sara Skerratt, Chief Executive, Royal Society of Edinburgh |
0950 - 1005 |
Research on reasons for barriers to education Sofia Kahn |
1010 - 1155 |
Concurrent Session's See separate tab to be booked in advance |
1200 - 1310 |
Lunch served in Guthrie's |
1315 - 1415 |
Afternoon Creative Spaces See separate tab to be booked in advance |
1415 - 1430 |
Research into skills and workforce development Sanna Rimpilainen, Head of Research and Skills, Digital Health and Care Innovation Centre |
1430 - 1445 |
Educating for Connection: A Global Citizen’s Path from Lived Experience to Policy Impact MD Rezaur Rahman, PhD candidate, Ðǿմ«Ã½ |
1445 - 1500 |
Session TBC |
1500 - 1515 |
Refreshment Break |
1515 - 1615 |
Panel Session |
1615 - 1630 |
Closing Remarks Richard Butt, Deputy Principal, Ðǿմ«Ã½ |
Your preferred session must be booked in advance via Ìý
Live and Culture - Room 3105Ìý
1010 - 1025 |
Farmer: Narrative about Self, Land and the Future of FarmingÌý Ana TomincÌý |
1025 - 1040 |
Destigmatising Sex: How Sexfluencers Deconstruct Sex Positivity through Digital Advocacy on Instagram ÌýAbhilash Sugunan Nair |
1040 - 1055 |
Exploring Culture and Social Justice through Critical Realist LensÌý Georgios Tsigkas |
1055 - 1110 |
Refreshment BreakÌý |
1110 - 1125 |
Scotland in 1875- Ðǿմ«Ã½s Response to Educational, Health and Social InequalityÌý Kieran Taylor |
1125 - 1140 |
Impact of Carnival Tourism: Carnivals as Niche Product Ìý Leei John Ìý |
1140 - 1155 |
Childhood Across Time and Place: Exploring Evolving Perspectives through Ðǿմ«Ã½ 150 Year LegacyÌý Carolyn Blaisdell |
Living, Health and Wellbeing - Room 3106
1010 - 1025 |
The Past, Present and Future of Speech TechnologyÌý Jim ScobbieÌý |
1025 - 1040 |
Health, Wellbeing and British Sign Language Interpreting ÌýÌý Rachel MapsonÌý |
1040 - 1055 |
Dream AI Open Lab: Immersive AI-Generated Storytelling to Enhance WellbeingÌý John Dean, Bianca Mastrominico and Vlad Butucea |
1055 - 1110 |
Refreshment BreakÌý |
1110 - 1125 |
The Role of Workplace Spirituality in Finding Purpose at Work Susanne Ross |
1125 - 1140 |
Nature Connection for Health and Wellbeing: New Directions in the AnthropoceneÌý Alexia Barrable |
1140 - 1155 |
Food for health and the environment: 10 years of food innovation and development at Ðǿմ«Ã½ (2015-2025) Julien Lonchamp and Catriona Liddle |
Live and Education - Room 3091Ìý
1010 - 1025 |
Clinical Academic PartnershipÌýÌý Alison WoodÌý |
1025 - 1040 |
Strengthening transnational education partnership through shared contextual understandingÌý Ailsa Espie |
1040 - 1055 |
Ðǿմ«Ã½ and Religious Moral EducationÌý Stephen C Scholes |
1055 - 1110 |
Refreshment BreakÌý |
1110 - 1125 |
TBCÌý |
1125 - 1140 |
TBCÌý |
1140 - 1155 |
TBCÌý |
Workshops I & II - Room 3162
1010 - 1105 |
What Does it Mean to be Nero- affirming in Research Marion Rutherford and Lorna Johnston |
1105 - 1120 | Refreshment BreakÌý |
1120 - 1215 |
Wiggle- Waggle your Tongue on Screen ÌýJim Scobbie |
Workshops II & III - Room 3163
Ìý1010 - 1105 |
Anti-Ableism in Education through Imagination and Play Clare Uytman and Sian Jones |
Ìý1105 - 1120 | Refreshment BreakÌýÌý |
1120 - 1215Ìý |
Active Learning- A Socratic Nursing Approach Georgios TsigkasÌý |
Workshop IV and V Ìý- Room 3164
1010 - 1105 |
Perceiving Water: Digital Images, Texture and Transcorporeal IntimacyÌý Alice Giuliani and Regina MossÌý |
1105 - 1120 | Refreshment BreakÌý |
1120 - 1215 |
Sing for Wellbeing: Beats & Harmonies for Health Kat Lord and Stuart WilsonÌý |
Workshop VI and VII - Room 3165
1010 - 1105 |
Re-imagining the Future of Global Health and Developing IGHDÌý |
1105 - 1120 | Refreshment BreakÌý |
1120 - 1215 |
Communicating Scotland Through Food Ana Tominc |
Your preferred session must be booked in advance via Ìý
Creative space I - Room 3162Ìý
13.15 - 14.15 |
Opaque Bodies, Opaque Methods- Researching Queer Trauma through Film Art Regina Moss |
Creative space II - Room 3163Ìý
13.15 - 14.15 |
Co- shaping the Future of Palliative and Bereavement CareÌý Julie Young |
Creative Space III - Room 3164
13.15 - 14.15 |
Mountaineering, Expeditioning and Wilderness Medicine: Enhancing Wellbeing and Resilience in a Changing World Suzie DickÌý |
Creative Space IV - Room 3165Ìý
13.15 - 14.15 |
Erewhon- Fictional Lessons of Life with our With or Without TechnologyÌý Alan Bainbridge |
Creative Space V -Ìý Outdoor SpaceÌý
13.15 - 14.15 |
Ðǿմ«Ã½ Outdoors- Gifts of PlaceÌý Patrick BoxallÌý |
We invite research students and staff to capture an element of their research in a single A3 image
Interestingly, Succinctly, Meaningfully, Beautifully
and to explain / express how your image is relevant to your research in up to 150 words (including an image title if you wish).
Your entry could convey a concept, some data, your methods, a result.
It could express the rationale for your work, or its impact.
A group of staff and doctoral students will curate the entries, aiming to display as many as possible at the Ðǿմ«Ã½150 Conference (19 June 2025). We expect to have some prizes for particularly impressive entries!
Submit your entries by Friday 30 May to RKE_competition@qmu.ac.uk
Conferences and Events Enquiries
If you have an Event/Conference enquiry, one of our team will contact you as soon as possible.
We aim to respond to all enquiries within one full working day of receipt.
Show ContactsEvent Details
