Two of our MidlandsMental Health and Neuroscience DTP fellows brought their research to the public stage as part of Nottingham’s Pint of Science festival, held across 3 sold out evenings between the 18th and 20th May 2026 . Hosted under the banner “Beautiful Minds”, the events offered a unique opportunity to bridge cutting-edge research with community curiosity and engagement.
Fellows Denisse Levermore and Anna Bangiri showcased their work, sparking thoughtful discussion, creativity, and reflection on some of the most pressing questions in mental health and neuroscience today.
Denisse Levermore – Exploring Young People’s Mental Health Through Relationships
Denisse (pictured on the left) presented her research on two of the three evenings, sharing insights from her study “Young People’s Mental Health and Relationships during the Transition from Adolescence to Adulthood.” Her sessions drew enthusiastic audiences eager to explore how relationships influence mental health and wellbeing during this formative life stage.
Through a combination of discussion and an interactive “brain sculpture” activity, attendees were invited to contribute their own ideas and experiences by adding connections to a glowing neural network. This immersive approach sparked curiosity and led to thoughtful, insightful questions from the audience, demonstrating both the relevance and accessibility of Denisse’s work.
Denisse also shared emerging findings from her ongoing research, which prompted audiences to express strong interest in following the study as it develops. The response highlights the value of opening up academic research to the public and creating space for meaningful, two-way conversations about mental health.
Reflecting on the experience, Denisse expressed her appreciation for the warmth and engagement of the Nottingham Pint of Science community, noting the event as a fantastic opportunity to connect research with lived experiences.
Anna Bangiri – Balancing Survival and Quality of Life in Brain Cancer Treatment
Anna (pictured on the right) took to the stage on the third evening with her compelling talk, “Zap the Tumour… But What About the Brain?”, as part of the session “Brains Under Pressure: From Impact to Treatment.” Drawing on her work as a postgraduate researcher and radiotherapy physicist, Anna explored the complex realities of treating brain cancer.
Her presentation focused on the delicate balance clinicians must strike between prolonging survival and protecting long-term quality of life. With particular attention to cognitive decline following radiotherapy, Anna highlighted how life-saving treatments can also carry significant impacts for patients’ day-to-day functioning and wellbeing.
A key theme of Anna’s talk was the importance of involving patients and their families in the research process. By placing lived experience at the heart of scientific investigation, her work advocates for more empathetic and effective treatment strategies; an approach that resonated strongly with attendees.
Connecting Research and Community
Together, Denisse and Anna’s contributions exemplify the Midlands MHN DTP’s commitment to impactful, person-centred research. Their participation in Pint of Science not only showcased the breadth and depth of doctoral research within the programme but also reinforced the importance of engaging the public in conversations about science, health, and wellbeing.
Events like Beautiful Minds demonstrate how powerful these connections can be, transforming research from something conducted behind closed doors into a shared, collaborative endeavour.
A huge thank you goes to the Nottingham Pint of Science organisers and audiences for their enthusiasm, curiosity, and openness. We look forward to seeing how these conversations continue to grow, and to future opportunities for our fellows to share their work with the wider community.