Events
You have access to a range of exclusive events arranged by the University of Leicester and your fellow alumni. Events are open to all alumni: groups and individuals, those who graduated many years ago or recently; you are all welcome at any one of our events.
As an alum you are invited to attend our events all year round. We aim to make any alumni visiting campus feel comfortable and are aware that the site may look different to the last time you visited. Our interactive map (flash) of the University of Leicester enables you to see each building on campus. Detailed information about the accessibility of each building can be found on the Disabled Go website.
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Upcoming alumni events
Festival of Change
Since launching the Festival of Change in October 2020, over 1,300 alumni from 28 countries have joined us for a Festival of Change event. With 91% of alumni saying that they would recommend the event to a friend, we want to let you know about our programme of exciting events we have coming up. Details subject to change.
To hear about when bookings open, ensure you are on our mailing list.
Thursday 8 August 2024
Online, 6.00pm – 7.00pm UK time
Dr Katrin Scionti, My Journey as a woman in Science and Entrepreneurship
Everyone’s journey is different and challenging, yet there are still some common challenges of being a woman in the STEM fields, in entrepreneurship and in sport. Through this talk I would like to raise awareness on real inequalities I have seen on my path in science, sport, and entrepreneurship, drawing from my observations on strategies adapted to overcome them. Also, I will acknowledge the many inspiring people I have encountered (and am still encountering) on my way. Their mentorship has been invaluable in shaping my journey and fuelling my aspirations. Ultimately, my goal is to inspire young girls and women alike, demonstrating that it is possible to make a difference in traditionally male-dominated fields.
Katrin is an Italian-Austrian scientist and entrepreneur. Her main scientific interests focus on immune system, cellular and molecular biology, and on differences raising during disease conditions. In 2016 she received her BSc degree (Hon) in Biotechnology, at Sapienza University of Rome. Afterwards she attended an Erasmus Traineeship Program (2016) at the University of Leicester, UK, where she continued thereafter with her PhD research in the same Mayer IgAN laboratory (2017). In 2021 she awarded the PhD degree. Her scientific career continued in Belgium at Galapagos NV, where she worked as scientist in the Pathway Biology Team, looking into new molecular targets for inflammatory and fibrotic diseases.
Since October 2023 she is working at the University of Vienna as Project Manager for the EU funded project ‘Shift2Health’, a project aiming at better understanding the close link between shift work and overweight. Besides her scientific career, in 2019 he became co-founder of Gamanity, a natural skincare company based in Leicester, embracing the entrepreneurial journey. Gamanity uniquely combines scientific technology and research with traditional natural remedies. Beyond her career, Katrin has been competing in swimming at high levels, both nationally and internationally for more than 15 years, her main distance being the 200 m backstroke. Currently she is part of the ASV Wien women water polo team in Vienna.
Thursday 10 October 2024
Online, 6.00pm – 7.00pm UK time
Dr Hollie Marshall, What the (epi-)genetics of 'creepy crawlies' can tell us about our grandchildren’s health.
I’m an ecological/evolutionary geneticist, focusing on how environmental stress can affect future generations through epigenetic mechanisms. My background is in the use of invertebrate models to understand core genetic processes. Specifically, I carried out my PhD on imprinted genes in bumblebees (University of Leicester), with two postdocs on “paternal genome elimination” in mealybugs (University of Edinburgh) and genome-epigenome interactions in jewel wasps (University of Leicester). I also run a long-term collaboration with the University of Birmingham on “resurrected” population epigenetics of water fleas. In addition to my core research, I am passionate about improving the academic research environment and implementing enhanced opportunities for those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Environmental pollution is a major threat to ecosystem and human health. Whilst frameworks exist to try to understand the current health outcomes of pollution exposure, the transgenerational effects of pollution remain largely unknown. My research uses various invertebrate species to 1) understand the molecular consequences of pollution exposure and 2) understand how these molecular changes are passed on to future generations. Within this talk, I’ll cover: what we know about the transgenerational effects of pollution, how these effects could be passed on to future generations, i.e. epigenetics, and finally, why we use invertebrates, like water fleas and jewel wasps, to carry out this research.
Alumni Awards Dinner
The Alumni Awards Dinner is an annual opportunity for alumni to come together and celebrate University and alumni achievements, recognise our Alumni Award winners, and thank alumni for their valued contributions to business, research and society. Alumni are able to reminisce and network whilst enjoying a drinks reception, three-course meal, after dinner disco, our special guest speaker, as well as celebrating our Alumni Award winners.
Our 2024 Alumni Awards Dinner has already taken place and you can find out more about the evening and our award winners on our website.
We'll be back for another fantastic event in 2025, to hear about when bookings open, ensure you are on our mailing list.
You can make a nomination for our 2025 awards via our online nomination form. Please read the Alumni Awards criteria and guidelines carefully before making your nomination.
Alumni Annual Meeting
The Annual Alumni Meeting will provide a space for all alumni to share their views, which will ultimately help us to continue to support our global alumni community in the best way possible. You will also hear about alumni activities that have taken place across the last year, as well as future news and events that are on the horizon over the next 12 months.
Our Annual Alumni Meeting will be back in September 2024. For details or keep in the loop by ensuring you are on our mailing list.
Botanic Garden Festival
You’re invited to our Botanic Garden Festival on Sunday 1 September 2024, 11.00am - 4.00pm.
Vibrant views and the red-tinted golden hues of Autumn make this a perfect season to visit our beautiful Botanic Garden. We’ll be hosting a variety of activities, workshops, food and entertainment for all ages throughout the day in the Gardens and inside Beaumont House.
This event is free to all and open to the public, however registration is highly recommended to guarantee access to the Gardens.
Register your interest in attending the Botanic Garden Festival
Alumni are invited to make use of our exclusive Alumni Lounge in Beaumont House during the festival. This space is private to the public event, and separate registration is required. This space is designed for you to put your feet up and take some time away from the Festival. Complimentary refreshments will be available in the Alumni Lounge and the opportunity to meet our Development and Alumni Relations (DARO) staff members.
Secure access to the Alumni Lounge
Not only will guests have the opportunity to explore the Garden and enjoy the outdoor activities, but the DARO team have carefully curated an educational hub inside Beaumont House for visitors. Get hands on with a multitude of informal learning activities, such as a planetarium, robot wars and liquid nitrogen ice cream, all aimed at inspiring younger minds, or attend one of our ChangeMaker talks, hosted by passionate staff from across the University on a range of topics.
More information including a full schedule for the day will be announced soon. Make sure to check the University website for further details.
Alumni and Friends Christmas Quiz
Our Alumni and Friends Christmas Quiz event will be back in Christmas 2024. For details or keep in the loop by ensuring you are on our mailing list.
Solo visitor scheme
Are you attending an event alone? We want to ensure that our events are welcoming and accessible to all attendees and with this in mind, are launching a new solo visitor scheme. If you wish to attend an event as a solo visitor and would like to see a friendly face when you arrive, drop us an email in advance to alumni.relations@leicester.ac.uk and let us know you are attending. One of our friendly staff members will introduce themselves to you via email beforehand and be present at the event to greet you.