Cass academics and researchers shine during 2019 Pint of Science Festival

No less than seven Cass Business School academics and researchers have taken part in this year’s Pint of Science Festival, with their informative and entertaining talks taking over Holborn’s Calthorpe Arms across three nights.

Pint of Science is a worldwide festival which encourages researchers to take their work outside universities and into pubs and cafes to present their findings.

This year, Cass researchers presented sessions on a range of topics – from the morals and ethics of charitable donations to why consumers love watching reality television and discussions about the intricate world of finance.

During the first of three sold-out nights, Cass PhD candidate Matilde Lucheschi challenged the audience to think about the paradoxes of charity giving and explored the differences between what people think, what they do and what data says about their behaviour.

Fellow PhD candidate Mikael Homanen presented a series of success stories demonstrating how average people are able to tackle global challenges like climate change, tax evasion, inequality and deforestation.

During the second evening of events, members of the business school’s Marketing Group took to the stage to discuss the pleasures and sins of consumption.

Dr Daniela Cristian discussed the positive side – beyond the obvious ones – of hedonic experiences, while Dr Marius Luedicke and Professor Caroline Wiertz joined forces to explain why people are drawn towards watching “Trash Television”, even when they know it is often terrible.

On the final night of the festival presenters included Dr Angela Gallo and Francisco Urzua I, from the Cass Faculty of Finance.

Dr Gallo’s presentation explained the dynamics of the shadow banking system during the 2007-2008 global financial crisis, while Dr Urzua I’s talk discussed ownership of firms and how differences in ownership affect the economy, employees, consumers and society as a whole.

Dr Sabrina Gottschalk, who helped organise Cass’s involvement in the Pint of Science Festival this year, said the events were a great opportunity to bring academics and the wider community closer together.

“It challenges us academics to present our research in an easily accessible and engaging manner, and at the same time it allows the public to reach out to science and join our discussions in a friendly and informal environment,” she said.

Dr Marius Luedicke echoed Dr Gottschalk’s sentiments and said he enjoyed the eagerness and curiosity of the audience.

“The pub is a place for conversation and social exchange, where a pint helps to let the proverbial hair down,” he said.

"Discussing academic research findings in such a setting feels surprisingly natural."

Dr Daniela Cristian also said the event was a lot of fun.

“You could sense the genuine curiosity of the audience so it was mutually rewarding,” she said.

“Pint of Science is a brilliant occasion to share research and spark refreshing conversations.”