The Pearl was pleased to take part in this year’s University of Reading Community Festival, which returned to the Whiteknights campus on Saturday 16 May. The event formed part of the University’s centenary celebrations, marking 100 years since its founding in 1926, and brought together research, culture and community for a day of shared learning and celebration.
Based in the University of Reading’s Department of Meteorology, The Pearl works at the intersection of climate change, risk and adaptation, focusing on how climate pressures affect people, livelihoods and decision-making in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions. Our research spans food systems, water, health, agriculture and conflict-affected settings, with a strong emphasis on evidence‑led, people‑centred solutions.
At the festival, The Pearl team offered a range of informal, conversation-based activities for all ages. Visitors engaged with hands-on questions for younger children, interactive map-based discussions for teenagers, visual stories from our fieldwork for older audiences, and reflective prompts for adults on how climate risks may shape communities over the next century.
In the spirit of the University’s centenary, we invited visitors to share their views on a simple question: what do you think the world’s biggest climate challenge will be in 2126? It was an open invitation to look beyond the present and consider the role of research, institutions and communities in shaping a more resilient future.
It was wonderful to welcome local residents, families visiting the campus, and followers of The Pearl’s work to join the conversation and contribute their perspectives.
Where: Whiteknights Campus
When: Saturday 16 May 2026
More information: University of Reading Centenary Community Festival 2026