Paul Butler and Stewart Sparke, founders of York-based production company Dark Rift Horror, developed the interactive horror game, which launched on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo in September 2025 and won Gameplay Innovation of the Year at the MCV/Develop Awards 2026. Produced at the Northern Film School's state-of-the-art studios, the game provided paid industry experience for Level 6 BA Filmmaking students, working alongside industry professionals and university staff, including Tom Bowers, Head of Subject for Music, who oversaw sound editing and mixing. The feature film premiered at London's FrightFest in Leicester Square and has since received critical acclaim, securing six awards and twelve nominations during its 2026 festival run, ahead of its New York City premiere in December. Paul and Stewart will also be delivering a talk to students, sharing insights into their creative journeys, the development of Dead Reset and their experiences in the film and gaming industries. Building on this success, Paul and Stewart are looking to explore new approaches to immersive storytelling across film, gaming and audio, showcasing the creative talent and industry expertise within the School of Arts.
The two-year OnTrack project has been funded by the MCS Foundation, and puts residents at the heart of improving the delivery of heat pumps, by addressing the gaps found between installation and their successful day-to-day use. Dr Kate Morland, Research Fellow in the Leeds Sustainability Institute (LSI) at LBU and project leader, explained: The number of heat pumps installed across UK social homes is rapidly increasing as part of efforts to decarbonise home heating. However, social landlords must be better supported to work with both their tenants and installers to ensure that heat pump systems deliver the full benefits as intended. Existing research has largely focused on technical design and installation standards, while less attention has been paid to what happens when responsibility passes from installers to landlords and residents. The OnTrack project introduces the concept of the heat pump handover gap in social housing - the critical transition between installation and successful day-to-day operation, where many performance and user experience issues arise. Alongside this, social landlords often lack the tools, confidence and technical capacity to assess whether heat pumps have been installed and commissioned correctly. Inconsistent communication and limited resident support can all affect heat pump performance, comfort for households, and running costs. By better understanding and improving these processes, we aim to ensure that heat pumps deliver the benefits expected by residents, landlords and policymakers. For residents, the project hopes to improve their comfort and the operating efficiency of their heat pumps; and for landlords, it aims to reduce the likelihood of problems being overlooked after installation and support them to oversee the quality of the installation by contractors. Collaborating with a group of social housing landlords, the LSI team will combine social research, behaviour change, and real-world energy performance analysis, to review existing processes, analyse how effectively the heat pumps are currently performing, understand residents experiences, and identify areas of communication, commissioning, handover and support to improve processes in future. The team will then put the improvements in place across a selection of homes and evaluate the impacts on residents understanding and confidence in using the heat pumps, alongside an analysis of energy and performance data. The findings will be used to create a practical framework of guidance for heat pump handover, snagging and post-installation support for social landlords and residents.
More than 40 stakeholders from local and national organisations attended Work and Wellbeing: Community Voices on Work, Job Seeking and Health at St George's Community Centre in Lupset, Wakefield. Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) Wakefield, for which Leeds Beckett University is the lead academic partner, the project brought together nine community researchers from St George's Community Centre and One Ummah Community. Supported by researchers from Leeds Beckett University and Sheffield Hallam University, the community researchers explored how unemployment and employment support affect health and wellbeing. They conducted interviews and focus groups with 42 people from across Wakefield district before helping to analyse the findings and identify key themes. At the event, five community researchers spoke about their experiences of taking part in the project and the value of community-led research. Dr Olivia Engle, from Leeds Beckett University's Centre for Health Promotion Research, said: "This project demonstrates the value of community-led research in addressing the wider determinants of health. Community researchers were involved at every stage, from shaping the research questions and collecting data to analysing findings and deciding how the results should be shared. By bringing lived experiences directly to stakeholders and decision-makers, we hope the project will help inform more compassionate and effective approaches to supporting people into employment." A highlight of the event was Job Hop, a board game co-developed with the community researchers using scenarios based on participants' experiences. Players took on the role of one of six characters facing different barriers to employment, including age, caring responsibilities, migration status, health conditions and a lack of formal qualifications. The game sparked discussion among attendees, with participants describing it as "eye-opening", "impactful" and an effective way of understanding the challenges people face when looking for work. Many said it had encouraged them to think differently about the barriers people experience and how organisations can better support those seeking employment. Representatives from organisations including South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and the Cabinet Office attended the event, which aimed to share lived experiences with stakeholders who support people back into work and have the ability to influence local services and policy. HDRC Wakefield is funded by the NIHR (NIHR158707). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.
When Elon Musk unveiled Teslas latest Roadster, much of the attention focused on the obvious spectacle. Here, apparently, was one of the oldest promises of science fiction finally made real: a flying car. Yet what struck me most, as a researcher in performance and public communication, was not the car itself but the audience. The event was livestreamed, captured from multiple camera angles and quickly circulated online. People were also assembled to witness it physically. Most revealingly, Musk reportedly remarked that the live audience was there so nobody would think the footage had been made with AI. In a single sentence, he captured one of the defining cultural anxieties of the present moment: seeing is increasingly not enough when it comes to believing." Read Oliver Brays post for The Conversation here
Leeds BID is a not-for-profit organisation working to improve Leeds city centre through a range of events, initiatives and projects. Through our university's partnership with Leeds BID, students and staff can access a variety of opportunities, including project and research support, work experience, and visits that bring learning to life. Most recently, the partnership gave students the opportunity to join Martin Dickson, Director of Brand and Innovation at Leeds BID, for an exclusive tour of Leeds Playhouse ahead of this year's Leeds International Festival of Ideas (LIFI). The Leeds International Festival of Ideas is an annual programme of talks and discussions designed to inspire debate, challenge perspectives and explore some of today's most important issues. During the 60-minute tour, students accessed key areas of the venue as preparations were underway, including performance spaces and backstage facilities. They also observed the construction of the main stage and the installation of lighting rigs, gaining valuable insight into the operational and technical work involved in delivering a large-scale event. Throughout the tour, Martin highlighted the importance of collaboration, effective planning, attention to detail and strong project management. Students saw firsthand how these skills contribute to the successful delivery of major events and how event management theory applies in a real-world environment. Reflecting on the experience, one student said: "I think today will help me with my course as it's shown me an event working behind the scenes the day before, and how the cogs are moving". Dr Michelle Lanham, Senior Lecturer in Events Management and Student Experience Lead said: We really value our partnership with Leeds International Festival of Ideas over the past five years. It's been fantastic to build such a strong relationship and create opportunities for our Events Management students to experience the industry first-hand. From field trips and guest talks to working on live consultancy projects in their final year, the partnership gives students the chance to learn from industry professionals, develop their confidence and put their knowledge into practice. These experiences are so important in helping students understand the realities of working in the events industry, and it's great to see how much they get out of being involved. We're really proud of what we've developed together so far with many more plans up our sleeve for future collaborations. Find out more about Event, Tourism and Hospitality Management at Leeds Beckett University.
Professor Emily Zobel Marshall, from Leeds Beckett's School of Humanities and Social Sciences and Co-Chair of the David Oluwale Memorial Association (Remember Oluwale), has played a key role in developing the programme, which explores themes of migration, identity, memory and belonging. Working alongsideDr Max Farrar and Joe Williams of Heritage Corner and Chlo Hudson of the David Oluwale Memorial Association (Remember Oluwale), Emily has helped research and develop the festival's David Oluwale walking tour. Alongside a wider programme of events, the tour will encourage people to engage with David Oluwale's story and reflect on its continuing relevance to communities in Leeds today. The programme includes three events taking place across the city during November, bringing together history, creative practice, community storytelling and education. Students studying English Literature are also contributing to the project through the Level 5 Black British Culture module. The module explores Black British literature, history and culture, giving students the opportunity to apply their learning through live projects with community organisations. Professor Emily Zobel Marshall said: These placements have proved incredibly enriching for students. They speak passionately about their experiences and the value of working with a small charity whose work connects historical injustice with contemporary struggles for racial equality and tolerance. Our students will also be directly involved in delivering the Being Human events, helping to bring the Remember Oluwale charity's work and message to younger generations. It offers an opportunity to inspire a new generation to engage with Leeds' Black histories and contribute to building a more inclusive, anti-racist future. Through their partnership with Remember Oluwale, students will have the opportunity to support festival activities, attend events and create content for a new Remember Oluwale website and accompanying zine. The work offers students valuable experience of community-based cultural projects while enabling them to contribute to public engagement activity connected to one of Leeds' most significant social justice stories. The involvement of both staff and students reflects Leeds Beckett's commitment to working in partnership with communities across the city. Their contribution forms part of a wider festival programme that uses history, creativity and discussion to engage new audiences with David Oluwale's story and its enduring relevance today. The programme features three events taking place across Leeds: City at the Crossroads: A David Oluwale Walking Tour Saturday 7 November Two free guided walks (10.30am and 1.30pm), starting at Leeds City Museum and finishing at Hibiscus Rising in Aire Park. The tours explore David's life, his tragic death and his enduring legacy, alongside the changing cultural landscape of Leeds. Developed with Heritage Corner and led by Emily Zobel Marshall, Max Farrar and Chlo Hudson. Book here Writing at the Crossroads Sunday 8 November A free creative writing workshop at Chapel FM, led by poet and artist Sai Murray, exploring migration, identity, memory and belonging. The afternoon includes a shared meal inspired by fusion and migration, followed by a separate live radio broadcast hosted by Sai Murray and Peter Spafford, featuring writing inspired by the workshop. Creative writing workshop booking Live radio broadcast booking Oluwale's Story and Our Crossroads Communities Thursday 19 November A special schools film and poetry workshop at Hyde Park Picture House for KS4 students, led by Emily Zobel Marshall and filmmaker Ashley Karrell. Through film, discussion and creative writing, young people will explore David's story and reflect on how they can contribute to more inclusive communities. This event is for school groups rather than general public booking. Schools interested in taking part can contact sylvia@hpph.co.uk.
These were among the key questions explored at the 2026 International SEEDS Conference, organised by Leeds Beckett University's School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing and delivered in partnership with MLA College, Loughborough University, University of Suffolk and UWE Bristol. For over a decade, SEEDS has brought together academics, researchers, industry leaders and sustainability professionals from around the world to promote research on how to reduce negative impacts on the environment while providing for the health and wellbeing of the society. A recurring theme throughout the conference was the growing influence of artificial intelligence. Delegates examined both the opportunities and risks associated with emerging technologies, including how AI could help organisations improve sustainability performance while raising important questions around governance, ethics and long-term societal impact. Among the keynote speakers was Ben Richardson, Co-Founder and Chief Sustainability Officer at Zevero, whose presentation, Help or Hurt? How AI Is Reshaping Corporate Sustainability, explored the rapidly evolving relationship between artificial intelligence and environmental responsibility. Discussions also focused on the resilience of future energy systems. Professor Faye Banks, Managing Director for UK and Ireland at Arcadis, addressed the challenge of building a reliable electricity network capable of supporting the transition to net zero while maintaining resilience in the face of increasing demand and uncertainty. Saul Humphrey, President of the Chartered Institute of Building, outlined the sector's role in creating more sustainable places, while Don Ward, Chief Executive of the Confederation of International Building Associations, examined emerging global trends shaping built environment research. Questions of professional responsibility and ethical leadership were also high on the agenda. Professor John Chudley, Chair of the Engineering Council, explored the importance of ethics and sustainability in engineering practice, while Alison Watson MBE, founder of Class of Your Own, highlighted the need to develop the talent and human intelligence required to deliver a sustainable future.Looking to the future of digital transformation, Professor Farzad Rahimian of Loughborough University showcased the potential of digital twins, Building Information Modelling (BIM) and blockchain technologies to transform the construction and infrastructure sectors. The conference also provided a platform for emerging researchers to share new findings and build international collaborations. Among those presenting was Shivani Senthilkumar, who described the event as an opportunity to "exchange ideas with researchers from different backgrounds" and receive valuable feedback on ongoing research. Leonie Parkinson, Research and Project Coordinator at Leeds Beckett University, said: "From artificial intelligence and energy resilience to sustainable construction and the future skills our economy will need, the issues discussed at SEEDS reflect some of society's biggest challenges. "What makes this conference particularly valuable is its ability to bring together expertise from academia, industry and professional practice. It is through these collaborations that research can help inform real-world solutions and support progress towards a more sustainable future. Thank you to all of our speakers, researchers and everyone who attended. Founded in 2015, the SEEDS Conference has grown into an internationally recognised forum for sustainability research, knowledge exchange and innovation, supporting collaboration across disciplines and contributing to global efforts to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. For the fifth year, a competition to inspire ideas and action from younger people was run alongside the conference. RISE for Schools 2026 asked pupils from all over the country to think about whether science and technology could help us to live more sustainably or does it make it worse? The responses, submitted in the forms of posters, included using more wind turbines and solar panels, driving low emission vehicles, using water butts to collect and reuse rainwater, more recycling bins around school and special robot bins that collect litter and separate waste and recycling. The SEEDS Conference was organised by the following conference chairs and committee: Professor Chris Gorse and Dr Ali Saad (Loughborough University), Dr Alison Pooley and Professor Darryl Newport (University of Suffolk), Professor Colin Booth (University of the West of England, Bristol), Professor Mohammad Dastbaz (MLA College), Professor Saheed Ajayi (Leeds Beckett University), Leonie Parkinson (Leeds Beckett University), Natasha Telepneff (MLA College) and Donna Lee (Leeds Beckett University).
The PROTECT study (Player Risk Observation, Testing and Early-Care Targeting) will also involve collaboration with the University of Sydney and the University of Leeds. The investment will be accompanied by continued emphasis on the Brain Health Funds existing partnership with Dementia UK in recognition of the potential impact on current and former players of the publicity around the ongoing legal case related to head contact in Rugby League and other sports. The trustees of the Brain Health Fund have also made a smaller grant to Wakefield Trinitys Past Players Association to support the breakfast clubs they have introduced to provide opportunities for social connection for former players with shared memories and experiences. The PROTECT study will screen higher risk current players for modifiable brain health risk factors, track players into retirement and develop a preventative programme for risk factors. Over four years from 2026-2029, it will involve the screening of at least 150 players, and alongside that the design of a preventative programme to reduce the risk for known dementia risk factors for players approaching or following retirement. Professor Ben Jones, the RFLs Head of Performance Science and Medicine, and Professor at Leeds Beckett University, said: In a short period of time, the Brain Health Fund has supported a number of important research initiatives. The focus has been on funding pilot studies, which can then progress into large-scale research projects, which are required to tackle the complexity of brain health research. This has included the pilot testing for the Traumatic Brain Injury - Threshold Study (TBI-TS), which is now a large-scale Medical Research Council funded project, aimed at establishing brain injury thresholds based on biological markers and instrumented mouthguard data, for the first time in the world. "The funding of the PROTECT project by the Brain Health Fund is also a significant step in developing our understanding of how we can best care for players. We know each player will have a different risk profile based on in-career and post-career factors, and we want to find out how we can modify this. The investment in the PROTECT project strengthens Rugby Leagues partnership with Leeds Beckett University, in addition to accessing world-leaders in this area, including Professor Andrew Gardner from University of Sydney. In 2025 the Brain Health Fund supported a pilot study with Leeds Rhinos, whereby small capillary blood samples were taken from players before and after a match, and then analysed alongside instrumented mouthguard data, to identify any head impact threshold for elevations in brain injury biomarkers. The Traumatic Brain Injury - Threshold Study (TBI-TS) led by Imperial College London, University College London, University of Bath, Monash University, and Leeds Beckett University was then successful in securing significant funding from the Medical Research Council to allow testing to occur across mens and womens rugby union and league teams. David Hinchliffe, who chairs the Brain Health Fund Board of Trustees having been chair of Parliament's Health Select Committee from 1997-2005 and MP for Wakefield from 1987-2005, said: The PROTECT project represents a major investment for the Fund, because we believe it can be an important project for the sport. We recognise that the media profile of issues around brain health and contact sport can only have added to the anxiety of current and former players and their families. Our priority at Rugby League Cares since launching the Brain Health Fund in 2023 has been to provide practical support and advice. The agreement with Dementia UK has been central to this, so we are pleased to have extended the agreement beyond the initial two-year term. The response from those who have arranged consultations has been overwhelmingly positive, and we continue to work with the sports growing network of former players organisations to ensure as many people as possible are aware of the opportunity. In addition to the investment in PROTECT and the smaller grant we have provided to Wakefield Trinity, with hopefully others to follow, it means we are already planning a major fund-raising event for 2027. Collectively, these projects show how important the Brain Health Fund is for supporting current, retired and future Rugby League players.
Created by undergraduate and postgraduate students from Leeds Beckett University's Performing Arts, Dance and Choreography, Theatre and Performance programmes, alongside contributors from Sound Design and Cinematography, Echoes combined light, movement and sound to explore the memories, voices and experiences that shape urban spaces. Designed by Gillian Dyson in collaboration with Level 5 Performing Arts students, the production featured sound design by Ben Winter, MA Sound Design student Eve Tattersall, and Performing Arts students Rachel Adams and Ollie Davies. Presented over two evenings as part of the Millennium Square Zone programme, Echoes drew audiences into a powerful sensory journey, and showcased the creativity and collaborative talent of Leeds Beckett students.
Delivered in partnership with Luminate Education Group, What no one told you about getting a job? brought together representatives from Lloyds Banking Group, Morrisons, Leeds Health and Care Academy and Jet2 alongside Educating Yorkshire's Musharaf Asghar to discuss the challenges young people face when moving from education into employment. Tickets were available to Leeds Beckett students through the university's partnership with Luminate Education Group and LeedsBID, enabling students to hear first-hand advice from employers about building experience, standing out during the application process and navigating different career pathways. Hosted by BBC Radio Leeds presenter Rima Ahmed, the discussion focused on the expectations and realities of entering the workplace, with panellists sharing practical advice and personal experience from their own career journeys. The discussion offered reassurance as well as practical advice for students preparing to take their next career steps. Panellists stressed that valuable experience is not limited to internships or part-time jobs and that students can apply everyday responsibilities and volunteering opportunities as examples of the skills employers are looking for. Students were encouraged to seek out their own opportunities to build experience, pursue projects linked to their interests and remember that career journeys are rarely linear. Speakers also reflected on the growing role of AI in applications, advising students to use it as a tool to support their thinking rather than replace their own ideas and experiences. The event formed part of LIFI Futures, an expanded programme within Leeds International Festival of Ideas focused on the questions, opportunities and challenges facing young people in Leeds today. Through partnerships with organisations across the city, Leeds Beckett continues to create opportunities for students to connect with employers, gain insights from industry professionals and develop the confidence and skills needed for their future careers. For students looking to build on the advice shared at the event, Beckett Careersoffers a range of support, including CV and application guidance, interview preparation, careers appointments and access to placement, internship and graduate opportunities. Whether you're exploring different career options, looking to gain experience alongside your studies or preparing for graduate employment, the team can help you to recognise and develop your employability skills.
Now in its third year, Chatbooth was developed in partnership with Carlton Junior and Infant School and Dr Pinky Jain, Head of Teacher Education at Leeds Beckett, following concerns about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's confidence and communication skills. What began as a pilot with one Year 6 class has since expanded to more schools across the region, giving children the opportunity to research, write and deliver three-minute, TED Talk-style speeches on topics they feel passionate about. Rather than adding to an already busy school timetable, Chatbooth is embedded within the Primary curriculum. Pupils develop their speeches in school before visiting Leeds Beckett's campus for workshops in debating, drama and public speaking, alongside opportunities to explore university life. Selected pupils then return to the university to present their speeches in the Great Hall before an audience of parents, teachers and guests. From climate change and social media to the value of failure, the children have tackled thought-provoking topics, demonstrating what can happen when young people are given the confidence and freedom to express their ideas.
Heather Paul, Associate Director of Centre for Race, Education and Decoloniality (CRED) in the Carnegie School of Education at Leeds Beckett, visited The Grammar School at Leeds to share the life and legacy of her mother, Gertrude Paul, who is recognised as one of West Yorkshire's Inspirational Women in History. Drawing on her mother's work to challenge inequalities in education, housing and employment, Heather highlighted the often-overlooked contributions of Black community leaders and volunteers who have helped shape Leeds and communities across the UK. Heather's message to students was that making history isn't always about extraordinary achievements or public recognition, it's also about the everyday actions that make a lasting difference to people's lives: "UK history is not only made in moments of visibility but also through consistent acts of care, strategic leadership, and responsibility. There are hundreds of volunteers in communities who gave and continue to give up their time without expectation of reward." Heather reflected on growing up in a family where volunteering and community action were part of everyday life, with her mother and grandparents encouraging her from an early age to get involved in projects that brought people and generations together. She explained how this commitment to collective action helped create opportunities for future generations, with grassroots leaders working to remove barriers and bring about lasting change in their communities. During the assembly, students also had the opportunity to interview Heather about her mother's approach to educational leadership and her own work at the university. Asked what she enjoyed most about her role, Heather spoke about her commitment to advancing social justice and antiracist practices, alongside her research into 'Black history and Black Feminist Thought'. She also highlighted the important but frequently unrecognised contributions of Black women educators, who have combined educational leadership with community advocacy, care and institution-building, often while facing racial and gender inequalities. For Heather, sharing her mother's story was also an opportunity to encourage the next generation to see themselves as community leaders. She said: "From an early age you too can volunteer as a community leader or organiser, help to bring people together to do things that make a difference to other people's lives." Joanna Haynes Boyd, Head of PSHE and EDI Lead at The Grammar School at Leeds, said the assembly had offered students a meaningful connection to the city's Black history: "We were delighted to welcome Heather Paul to GSAL for Black History Month. Her reflections on her mother Gertrude Paul's life and legacy offered our students a powerful connection to Leeds' Black history and the people who have helped shape our community. "Her message that leadership can begin with everyday acts of care and volunteering is one we hope students will take into their own lives, recognising their ability to make a difference at any age." The visit was one of a series of talks Heather has delivered across the area to mark Black History Month, celebrating the contributions of Black grassroots leaders and encouraging young people to recognise the difference they can make in their own communities. Read more in our blog post.