ARC Conversations: Failure, Collaboration and the Culture of Research

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ARC Conversations: Failure, Collaboration and the Culture of Research

Wednesday, 11 February, 2026, 4 p.m. – 5.30 p.m.

Advanced Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Chapel Lane, off Byres Road, G11 6EW

Nicol Keith, Professor of Molecular Oncology discusses how researchers create meaningful impact beyond academia.

Over his career, Nicol Keith, Professor of Molecular Oncology at the School of Cancer Sciences, has seen a growing shift that places the human experience at the core of research and innovation – driving more purposeful, impact-focused work. Join us for this talk, where Nicol considers some key moments and people, that have enabled him to connect with an evolving cross-discipline, cross-generational research culture, and discusses how these encounters have shaped his thinking on how researchers create meaningful impact beyond academia.

After the talk, stay for drinks, networking – and experience for yourself, one of Nicol’s most valued collaborations, the ARC Futures Exhibition on ‘Equitable Communities of Health in the Climate Era’. Here you will get some sense of evolving collaboration from sharing knowledge to sharing experiences and co-creating understanding and insight.

The exhibition showcases future-focused, speculative projects, by final year Design students at the Glasgow School of Art’s School of Innovation & Technology in collaboration with the University of Glasgow’s Advanced Research Centre and other partners. It is led by Kirsty Ross at the Glasgow School of Art in partnership with Nicol and Olivia Wu from the UofG.

Agenda:

16:00 -16:30 – Welcome and talk from Nicol Keith

16:30 -17:00 – Audience discussion and Q&A

17:00 -17:30 – Drinks

Nicol’s research activities focus on translational cancer research including biomarker development, clinical trials and cancer cell immortality. His research has successfully delivered preclinical findings into clinical studies.

Nicol is interested in:

finding ways that place the human experience as a driver for research, innovation, and impact and creating pathways to impact where people wish to tread.
helping create cultures that let rare, underrepresented, neglected or invisible topics into our fields of research and understanding.
creating conditions that allow an inclusive and diverse range of stakeholders to participate in evolving our value systems to more ’emotional’ indicators such as social cohesion and quality of life.

This event is free, but ticketed. Reserve a spot

There will be drinks available after the event, while stocks last.

Please enter the ARC via the main entrance

If you have any specific access requirements, please contact ARCEngage@glasgow.ac.uk