Lancaster University hosted one in a series of Fulbright Conferences for US visiting scholars and students 5 to 8 June.

More than 60 academics and students visiting UK universities on the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship from the US attended the conference at Lancaster’s Bailrigg campus.

During their time in Lancaster, guests attended a panel hosted by Lancaster University Pro-Vice-Chancellor Global, Professor Simon Guy on 'how the world's wicked problems', such as the impact of climate change and societal inequalities, 'can be solved using a cross-disciplinary approach in research fields'.

The panel included Lancaster University’s Professor Jan Bebbington, Professor Yang Hu, Professor Crispin Halsall and visiting Fulbright Scholar from Pepperdine University, Professor James DiLellio.

Panellists shared thoughts and experiences of an interdisciplinary research approach,.offering solutions to challenges and insights into how they worked and surprise outcomes. Questions from the audience followed along the themes of public buy-in to research and asking the right questions to find solutions.

This being one of three conferences throughout their time in the UK, academics and students took the opportunity to present on their research areas and network with one another as well as Lancaster-based academics.

Attendees were also taken on a day trip to the Lake District National Park where they took a boat tour of the islands of Windermere and explored Grasmere Village, home of William Wordsworth, and enjoyed a lakeside walk.

Lancaster University is an active member of Fulbright and often hosts scholars and students from US universities.

Professor James DiLellio visiting scholar from Pepperdine University, said: "I will hold fond memories of my time at Lancaster University as a Fulbright Scholar in Energy Engineering. Working with the world's leading engineers and economists, I helped lead the development of a probabilistic real options and valuation model to show the risks and opportunities of multiple renewable energy systems, with results appearing in a leading peer-reviewed conference.

"I am incredibly thankful for the warm hospitality I received from the faculty, staff, and students I encountered during my visit. Lancaster University is a truly special place, and I hope my academic career affords future opportunities to visit again."

As well as visiting Fulbright awardees, Lancaster University is also the home institution of 2024 awardee, Professor Gavin Brookes who travelled to Northern Arizona University for six months to examine how news media in the US uses language to communicate about dementia and people living with it.

Professor Simon Guy, Pro Vice Chancellor Global, said: “It was wonderful to welcome Fulbright scholars and students to Lancaster and to take the opportunity to discuss the importance of interdisciplinary research to tackle global challenges.

“Global partnerships are a cornerstone of what we do at Lancaster and we are fortunate to host Fulbright awardees from the US frequently, and to offer our staff and students the opportunity to engage in Fulbright programmes. I look forward to hosting future Fulbrighters and seeing more of our academics travel to US on scholarships.”

Lancaster staff and students and anyone looking to visit Lancaster on a Fulbright Scholarship can explore workshops, programmes and scholarship opportunities on the Lancaster University website.