Leeds Beckett academics and alumna set for vibrant LIFI25 line-up

The Leeds International Festival of Ideas returns to Leeds Playhouse this October, and LBU academics and alumna are involved on fascinating panels, showcasing our role in the city's intellectual life as well as our ongoing partnership with LeedsBID.

Among a line-up that includes legends from the worlds of hip-hop, comedy, writing and sport - David Baddiel, Fara Willams MBE, Caitlin Moran and Public Enemy's Chuck D among them - Professor Leanne Norman and Dr Nicky Taylor will be taking to the stage.

Professor Norman, an expert in inclusive sport, will be joining a debate called How Level is the Playing Field? on Saturday 18 October, discussing inequalities in women's sport. She'll be with Verity Smith, Shebahn Aherne, Fara Williams MBE and Emily Campbell, the weightlifter and LBU alumna who recently received an honorary doctorate from Leeds Beckett for services to sport.

Dr Taylor's research at LBU's Centre for Dementia Research and pioneering work in accessible theatre makes her the perfect person to join BAFTA-winning actress Vicky McClure and host Andrew Edwards for a discussion, Q&A and live performance around Vicky's Our Dementia Choir. You can get tickets for this must-see event on Saturday 18 October via the Leeds International Festival website.

You can also still get tickets for events such as David Baddiel: Is religion the ultimate culture war? on Thursday 16 October and, on the same date, Why do we need to talk about domestic abuse? with Victoria Derbyshire.