Rap, Recycling and Resilience

Rap emerged in the late 1970s as a performance art form in which the relationship between the performer and the audience was always at the heart of the experience. This talk explores how rappers use body language, gestures and verbal cues to connect with their audiences, drawing on historical and contemporary performances by renowned artists. The project also collaborates directly with working rappers to better understand and develop these skills in practice. The end product is the 'Great Gig App', a practical guide for performers to help them navigate the many situations that arise during a live rap show.

People who believe that the world is a good place are often happier and feel less alone. But is that really because this belief helps us—or because some people are simply “wired” that way? In this talk, we will explore how our view of the world are shaped, what roles genes and personality play, and why these beliefs can still make a real difference in how we feel.

Inside our cells, a constant clean-up process is underway. Damaged or unwanted components are broken down and recycled to keep everything running smoothly.
But what happens when this balance is disrupted?
Failures in these degradation pathways can lead to serious diseases, including neurodegeneration and cancer.
By studying how these systems work—down to the structure and function of their individual components it is possible to understand what goes wrong in disease.