A UNIVERSITY of Brighton programme of talks by top academics has won national recognition.

Brains at the Bevy is the inspiration of the community university partnership programme and The Bevy in Hillside, Moulsecoomb, the first community-owned pub on a housing estate in the UK.

Funded by 700 shareholders and re-built by volunteers, it is now a major community hub.

The project has been highly commended in the Universities Association for Lifelong Learning 2017 awards which recognise programmes and practices that promote lifelong learning in the university sector.

CUPP director David Wolff said: “We are delighted that the excellent work of the Bevy as a community hub, and the contribution that the University of Brighton can make, has been highlighted.

“We intend to continue with the Brains talks as they are a useful and innovative way of involving new audiences in adult learning whilst helping the university illustrate the value of the research it undertakes.”

Brains at the Bevy brings learning to the community rather than the community to the learning with short talks by local academics.

It aims to support adult learning, research impact and widening participation in higher education via an innovative, easy to sustain model.

Talks are free and last for an hour, with time for discussion.

Speakers are mainly University of Brighton academics and topics covered include air pollution and what we can do about growing old.

They new programme of talks starts at 6pm on Wednesdays and anyone interested in attending should email cupp@brighton.ac.uk.

The talks are:

May 24 – encouraging creativity in uncertain young lives, with Dr Vicky Johnson. Researchers and youth workers will present “rivers of life” and stories about uncertainty in the lives of young people growing up in Ethiopia, Nepal and Brighton.

June 28 – all at sea? Brighton and Hove’s changing seafront, with Professor Fred Gray. This is a look at the history of the seafront, perhaps the most important thing that makes Brighton and Hove what it is.

July 26 – local air pollution: our health and our environment, with Dr Kirsty Smallbone

August 30 – How we grow old, why we grow old and what we can do about It, with Professor Richard Faragher.

September 27 – football and the refugee crisis, with Dr Mark Doidge.

October 25 – why are we paying so much rent? with Dr Rebecca Searle