Living Laboratory

23/06/2026

What an incredible journey it has been!

We have now completed our second round of PPIE (Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement) working groups, bringing together 35 amazing community members to help co-develop our very first Policy and Codes of Practice. These will help shape how researchers and community members work together in a meaningful, respectful and inclusive way.

The sessions have been filled with great conversations, shared experiences, learning and lots of ideas. Community members have come together to share their knowledge, ask questions and learn more about research, innovation and healthcare innovation, while helping to shape how future engagement will look.

We are so proud of every single participant. Everyone has been welcoming, enthusiastic, supportive and eager to learn more. The confidence, passion and commitment shown throughout these sessions has been truly inspiring.

What makes this even more special is how far we have come together. Just two years ago, there was very little interest in healthcare innovation, university research or the opportunities available through the hospital and wider community. Today, we have people actively getting involved in projects, attending PPIE groups, sharing their views on new research and digital technologies, and making use of the Health Innovation Hub as a place to connect, learn and get involved.

This work is about so much more than creating a policy. It is about building relationships, growing confidence, creating opportunities and ensuring that community voices are heard and valued. We are already seeing participants suggest new workshop ideas, encourage others to join in, reach out with their own ideas and seek further health and wellbeing support.

A huge thank you to all 35 community members who have taken part so far. Your experiences, insights and enthusiasm are helping to shape the future of engagement, research and innovation in our communities.

We are excited to continue this journey together and look forward to welcoming even more people along the way. 👋💛

22/06/2026

We are looking forward to seeing you all on Thursday with more of our experts ready to have discussion about their projects.

Join us next Thursday for another Living Lab on Foot walk! 😍

We are looking forward to bringing the community together once again for a morning of walking, conversation, and connection in Govan.

Our next walk will explore mental health and wellebing, looking at how simple activities like walking can support our wellbeing while helping us connect with local people and places.

Our walk will head to the Health Innovation Hub for refreshments and another engaging session linked to health and wellbeing.

These free walks are delivered through our Meet Me in Govan project in partnership with the University of Glasgow and the Living Laboratory team, helping to create conversations around health, research, and community in Govan.

And if you would like to discover more of Glasgow with us, why not explore one of our Invisible Cities walking tours, led by guides sharing unique stories, hidden histories, and personal perspectives from across the city.

We hope to see you next Thursday! 😎

Invisible Cities
All About Govan
acumfaegovan
Govan Out and About
Glasgow Riverside Innovation District
The Pearce Institute

22/06/2026

I had the pleasure of being invited to take part in the panel discussion at the Living Laboratory showcase event, "A Celebration of the Living Laboratory."

Joining me on the panel were the amazing Robert Anderson, Assistant Principal for International and Business Development at Glasgow Clyde College, and Jess Brackenridge, Engagement Officer at the Living Laboratory. It was my first time being part of a panel discussion, and I have to admit it was a nerve-wracking experience! However, it was also a truly rewarding and enjoyable one, and I am so grateful for the opportunity.

The event featured some fantastic speakers and showcased the incredible innovation, collaboration, and community-focused work taking place across the Living Laboratory programme. It was inspiring to hear about the impact being made and the exciting developments still to come.

We were also treated to some beautiful displays of community artwork created by the talented women of Gilded Lily, alongside contributions from local schools and community organisations with the mosaic panels. The installation, brought together by Impact Arts, was absolutely stunning and a real testament to the creativity and collective spirit of everyone involved.

The journey doesn't end here. Over the coming months, we will be installing some of the mosaic panels in key venues across Govan and arranging further local events to celebrate and share this incredible work with the wider community.

Please keep your eyes peeled for updates—we can't wait to share what's coming next!

19/06/2026

Come along and join us. Great walks, great conversations and some refreshments to top it off.

Join us next Thursday for another Living Lab on Foot walk! 😍

We are looking forward to bringing the community together once again for a morning of walking, conversation, and connection in Govan.

Our next walk will explore mental health and wellebing, looking at how simple activities like walking can support our wellbeing while helping us connect with local people and places.

Our walk will head to the Health Innovation Hub for refreshments and another engaging session linked to health and wellbeing.

These free walks are delivered through our Meet Me in Govan project in partnership with the University of Glasgow and the Living Laboratory team, helping to create conversations around health, research, and community in Govan.

And if you would like to discover more of Glasgow with us, why not explore one of our Invisible Cities walking tours, led by guides sharing unique stories, hidden histories, and personal perspectives from across the city.

We hope to see you next Thursday! 😎

Invisible Cities
All About Govan
acumfaegovan
Govan Out and About
Glasgow Riverside Innovation District
The Pearce Institute

08/06/2026

The GRID Civic Fund is here again. Please all apply.

📣 Applications are now open for the third wave of the University of Glasgow’s GRID Civic Grant Fund!

With £50,000 available, local organisations across the Glasgow Riverside Innovation District can apply for grants of up to £5,000 (or smaller awards up to £850) to support impactful community projects.

More than 50 initiatives have already benefited - reaching just over 8500 people in total over both waves 1 and 2.

If you’re working in areas like wellbeing, sustainability, youth engagement or inclusion, apply now and help drive lasting local impact.

⏰ Deadline for larger grants: 17 July 2026

👉 Don’t miss out—apply today!

🔗 More details and apply here 👉
https://www.glasgowriversideinnovationdistrict.com/grid-for-you/grid-for-residents/civic-fund/about-civic-grant-fund-2025

😍

06/06/2026

The Living Laboratory had the absolute pleasure of attending the The Old Govan Fair yesterday, and what a fantastic day it was!

We kicked off the celebrations at The Pearce Institute with some exciting hands-on activities exploring Precision Medicine and the new MRI scanner. It was wonderful to welcome over 40 young people, parents and carers to our stalls, sparking curiosity, conversations and learning. It was also a fantastic way to mark the start of the Glasgow Science Festival

Later in the evening, we joined our amazing partners Glasgow Science Centre, Gilded Lily , Invisible Cities and their Meet me in Govan walking group for the Old Govan Fair walk. We were honoured to carry the beautiful community tapestry, lovingly created by the women of Govan and beyond, and to be part of such a special celebration of Govan's rich history and community spirit.

The atmosphere throughout the day was incredible. From the activities and conversations to the walk itself, it was inspiring to see so many people come together to celebrate this remarkable 270-year-old event.

A huge well done to everyone involved in organising and supporting the Old Govan Fair. Thank you to all who stopped by, took part, shared stories and helped make the day such a success. We loved being part of it!!!

06/06/2026

Please all come along and visit the Glasgow Science Festival with a lot of great activities. Some listed below.

What’s On 5th June at Glasgow Science Festival

🚂GSF at the Riverside Museum
🍃GSF at the Glasgow Botanic Gardens
⚗Molecular Masterclass at The Alchemist
🌍Border thinking – shorts talks on the theme of migration
🎉Govan Inside Out: Celebrating local imaging innovation! – activities at The Govan Fair
🐾Dogs with Jobs – talks by working dog handlers

And more on our website 👉https://www.gla.ac.uk/events/sciencefestival/gsf2026/cheers/programme/byday/fri5/

03/06/2026

🎉 Come and See Us at the Govan Fair! 🎉
The Living Laboratory and University of Glasgow team will be at the The Pearce Institute as part of this year's The Old Govan Fair on Friday 5th June, and we'd love for you to come along and say hello!

🕐 1:00pm – 5:00pm
📍 Pearce Institute, Govan

We'll be running a range of fun, interactive activities that showcase some of the exciting work taking place at the Health Innovation Hub (HiH). It's a great opportunity to learn more about health innovation, have a chat with the team, and try out some of the activities for yourself.

Whether you're curious about the Hub, interested in innovation and research, or simply looking for something different to do at the Fair, we'd be delighted to welcome you.
The day doesn't stop there! In the evening, we'll be joining the walk with Gilded Lily, where you'll have the chance to hear more about the incredible tapestry created by the talented women involved in the project and the stories behind this amazing piece of community artwork.

Come along, get involved, and celebrate everything that makes Govan such a special place! 💙

02/06/2026

We would love you all to have a listen and hear more about the Health Innovation Hub, Public and Patient Involvement and the amazing walking groups.

In this episode of the Meet me in Govan radio show on Sunny Govan Radio, Michaela is joined by Georgina Aitchison from the University of Glasgow to talk about the new Health Innovation Hub in Govan and the growing connection between research and the local community. Together they explore the Living....

02/06/2026

This was an amazing walk great discussions and another amazing group of people.
Please come along to one or both of the last two dates and hear more about Govan and the new Health Innovation Hub.