Audience quenches thirst for knowledge at the Pint of Science festival

Six academics from Bayes Business School (formerly Cass) took part in this year’s Pint of Science Festival, an annual event which sees researchers present their findings in an informal setting, like a pub or a cafe.

The researchers presented their research over the course of three nights at the Artillery Arms pub on Bunhill Row.

There is an appetite for academics to distil their research into accessible formats for generalist audiences, as seen by the enduring successes of the TED Talks series and Pint of Science, which launched in London in 2012 and has since expanded globally.

Dr Sabrina Gottschalk co-organised the Bayes edition of the festival and said:

“The audience is exceptional: they are highly motivated, pose spot-on questions, and challenge the speakers to communicate clearly without hiding behind technical details. What I love about the format is that it provides a fabulous opportunity for PhD students and faculty members to present their work side-by-side. Many of the guests told us that they are returning to Pint of Science every year and that they love getting a ‘three-day science fix’ over a pint or two!”

Doctoral researcher in marketing Chrysa Gkotsi also co-organised the events. She said:

“It was great co-organising Pint of Science with Sabrina and getting behind the scenes of what it means to organise an event like this. I spent three nights learning more about what my colleagues work on and I am already excited for next year’s event.”

Unveiling hidden truths of marketing

On Monday 29 May, the first evening of the festival, lecturer in marketing Dr Jingshi (Joyce) Liu discussed counterfeit vs genuine brand products and what they mean for equality in consumption.

Her research findings showed that consumers who value social equality are more likely to buy “fake” products and that these purchases gives them the feeling that they are restoring equality in the marketplace.

Chrysa also spoke on Monday night. Sharing insights of her PhD thesis, she discussed how fashion brands use technology to ‘greenwash’ their image. She discussed lab-made leather, sustainability utopias and the role of futuristic clothes.

The secrets of corporate decision-making

The second evening, Dr Xiaoke Ye discussed the trading behaviours of corporate insiders after company takeover announcements, and why they sell significantly less of their firm’s stock profitably on and after these bid announcements. He was awarded a PhD in Finance at Bayes earlier this year.

Dr Tan Do, Lecturer in Accounting, then discussed how managers communicate to gain shareholder votes. He looked at case studies in which managers wanted to expand their business by acquiring or merging with other businesses and investigated how these managers spoke with their company owners to get their approval.

From priests to punctuality: insights into organisational structures

On Wednesday evening, lecturer in entrepreneurship Dr Ruben van Werven explored the Church of England’s journey towards entrepreneurship forty years ago.

Closing the festival, doctoral researcher in management Inka Luhrs discussed how people and organisations pace their work and manage, using the example of lawyers and law firms working by the billable hour.