The winners will be announced on Thursday 21 May at the Queen’s Technician Showcase. This event is open to technicians only.

• Please register here to attend the event.

Award categories

Awards are available in the following categories:

• Technician Award for Contribution to Outreach
• Technician Award for Contribution to Sustainability
• Technician Award for Contribution to Research
• Technician Award for Contribution to Education
• Technician Award for Outstanding Leadership
• Technician Award for Best Newcomer

• Programme Details*

  Class	Day	Time	Studio	Instructor	Dates	Duration	Price
  Zumba	Monday	1.10pm	PEC Studio 1	Heather	13 April to 29 June (no class on 4 May)	11 weeks	£66
  Pilates	Tuesday	1.00pm	PEC Studio 3	Jacqui	14 April to 23 June	11 weeks	£66
  Strength for All	Tuesday	1.00pm	PEC GTZ	Paul	14 April to 23 June	11 weeks	£66
  Yoga Express	Wednesday	12.00pm	PEC Studio 3	Treasa	15 April to 24 June	11 weeks	£66
  Yoga	Wednesday	1.00pm	PEC Studio 3	Treasa	15 April to 24 June	11 weeks	£66
  Tone 'n' Trim Hybrid	Thursday	1.10pm	Studio 1 and online	Heather	16 April to 25 June	11 weeks	£66

  • Zumba: fuses aerobic, conditioning and dance training exercises to a mixture of Latin and International music. This is an exciting, high energy class which is suitable for all fitness levels. You will have so much fun, you won't believe it's a workout!
  • Pilates: for everyone wanting to build up core, back and glute strength with control and without impact. With moves that will focus on posture alignment and engagement of the muscles.
  • Strength for All: provides the perfect platform for you to achieve your fitness goals. This class includes using Dumbbells, Barbells & bodyweight to challenge all major muscle groups to become stronger.
  • Yoga: you will be led through progressive Hatha Yoga with modifications for all. It will challenge and increase your strength and flexibility, while focusing on relaxation and mindfulness.
  • Tone 'n' Trim: a progressive class using resistance and stretching exercises for precision firming and muscle conditioning, it provides an intense, non-cardio workout that targets all the major muscle groups. This class can be joined in person or online, depending on what best suits you that day.

  If possible please bring your own exercise mat for the classes at Queen’s Sport.

  Changing facilities and showers are provided at Queen’s Sport.

* Please note, places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

You will be asked to complete a short health questionnaire when making your payment. This must be completed before taking part in the classes.

You will receive an email confirming the venue for the classes the week before the classes begin. The link to the hybrid Tone 'n' Trim classes will be circulated on 15 April.

The NHS Fleet Solutions and Queen's Reward Team representatives will be on hand to answer questions about:

• salary sacrifice;
• available electric vehicles;
• scheme benefits;
• how to sign up.

Find out more here about the EV Scheme at Queen’s.

Queen’s pension schemes provide staff with long-term financial security and stability.

Key benefits include:

• Financial security: a guaranteed monthly income upon retirement;
• Provision for loved ones: support for your family should circumstances change;
• Long-term value: assisting staff with confident planning and future financial wellbeing.

Learn more here about the University's Pension Schemes and how they can support future planning.

Please contact the Relocation team with any queries.

* Please note that the information you provide is strictly confidential and cannot be traced back to you individually.

More information

The REF is the UK’s comprehensive system for evaluating the quality, impact, and significance of research produced by universities, helping to ensure that public investment in research at Queen’s delivers meaningful and lasting impact.

The University’s REF Code of Practice sets out the University’s proposed approach to fulfilling its REF 2029 requirements and provides guidance on key areas, including:

• identifying staff with significant responsibility for research;
• determining research independence;
• selecting outputs for submission;
• embedding equality and diversity consideration throughout the process.

Further information and support

• If you have any questions or experience difficulties accessing the consultation form, please contact the REF Team at ref@qub.ac.uk.
• Further information, ​including FAQs, is available here​.

Developed in partnership with Queen’s Sustainability Team, The Naughton Gallery, Queen’s Film Theatre, The Seamus Heaney Centre, the MediaLab and academic experts across the region, this year’s programme brings a rich diversity of perspectives to key climate issues. Taking place across the University campus, the festival highlights the powerful connection between artistic practice and sustainability.

Art has the unique ability to translate complex scientific ideas into shared emotional experience, opening space for understanding, hope, and collective action. Through film, image, music, talks, panels, creative writing, design, and visual art, Reach’26 offers multiple ways to engage with themes such as the climate emergency, biodiversity loss, and environmental resilience.

More information

The good weather is finally arriving, but if are you unsure if e-biking is the commute option for you, try Queen's e-bikes at zero cost.

There are two hire bikes on offer: a Brompton Gline folding e-bike which is perfect for the multi-modal train / bus / car commute; and a Merida hybrid (city / MTB) bike that gets you home without the need to rely on another mode of transport.

Tim from Freedom Cycles and Nathan from our Sustainability Team will guide you through the exciting new options for staff, from e-bike battery range and safe commute options to info on how to safely charge the e-bike battery on campus and at home.

Explore sustainable commuting benefits

• QUB Net Zero Bikers
• QUB Staff Liftshare
• Sustainable Travel at Queen's.

To find out more, or for any queries, contact the Sustainability Team at sustainability@qub.ac.uk.

* Please note:

• Allocation will be on a first‑come, first‑served basis.
• Requests will be accommodated within reason, so that stock is shared fairly.
• Anyone who has requested equipment will then be contacted with details about when and where to collect it.
• Collection will be the responsibility of the requesting staff member(s).

PC specifications:

• Dell OptiPlex 7490 AIO
• 8GB RAM
• 512GB SSD/NVMe
• Intel Core i5 3.1GHz

1. Jog for five minutes, then walk for one and a half minutes for recovery (x4).
2. Jog for seven minutes, then walk for two minutes for recovery (x3).
3. Jog for eight minutes, then walk for three minutes for recovery (x2).
4. Top Tip: To keep a straight posture while running, bring your shoulders back and imagine a balloon is on the top of your head to keep your chest up.

More information

The afternoon will begin with student-led activities in the QFT foyer (2.00pm to 3.00pm), creating a welcoming space for creativity, conversation, and reflection. These activities invite young people, community members, and the wider public to come together to celebrate Roma identity, culture, and aspirations, while encouraging dialogue and community engagement in an open and inclusive setting.

The event will continue (3.00pm to 5.00pm) with a screening in QFT Screen 2 of I Want to Be a... (2025), a powerful film that follows the lives, ambitions, and everyday realities of young Roma people and their families. First screened at QFT last year, and produced in collaboration with EANI, the film offers an intimate and thought-provoking portrait of identity, aspiration, and the challenges young Roma people navigate in their educational journeys.

The screening will be followed by a live Q&A with the filmmakers and protagonists, reflecting on the year since the film’s release and discussing how their journeys have evolved, as well as the possibilities that lie ahead.

• Watch the Green Dot programme awareness video.

More information

Initially developed by Ulster University, the Green Dot Bystander pilot began at Queen’s in October 2025. Since then, 42 trainers have been recruited, and 232 participants have undergone Bystander training, learning about the prevalence of unwanted sexual experiences, domestic abuse, harassment and hate crime in Northern Ireland, and ways to challenge victim-blaming behaviour and redefine perceptions.

The training uses a 3D model of bystander intervention: Direct, Distract, Delegate, to help participants intervene safely and effectively when they encounter inappropriate behaviours or attitudes that could escalate.

Queen’s students, clubs and societies achieve amazing things, and the Students’ Union looks forward to celebrating them at this year's SU Awards.

There are nine awards up for grabs, including:

• Individual Achievement Award
• Best Student-Led Activity
• Best New Club or Society
• Society of the Year (small, medium, large)
• Sporting Club of the Year (small, medium, large)

Shortlisted nominees will be invited along to an awards night in Mandela Hall where the winners will be revealed.

• AI for Educators Course: Self-paced Canvas course for student-facing staff to build confidence using AI in education. Explore four modules (Basics, Teaching & Learning, Assessment & Feedback, and Research), with practical AI Skills Build activities and discussion. Complete what’s most relevant to you, or finish all four to earn a Digital Certificate of Completion, signed by Professor Judy Williams (PVC Education and Students).
• Webinar: What's new in AI in 2026 (webinar recording). Staff can also view the session resources here.

More information

AI Lightning Talks: A morning of insight, ideas, and conversation about the future of AI in education, featuring a series of short, engaging talks showcasing how colleagues across the University are already putting AI into practice.

Webinar: What's new in AI in 2026. The Digital Learning Institute recently hosted a webinar exploring new developments and trends in AI in 2026, facilitated by Joe Houghton, unpacking how AI is changing how we design, deliver and manage learning.

Please contact the team at AI-Hub@qub.ac.uk with any queries.

To contribute an article to Queen's Policy Engagement, please email Kevin at qpol@qub.ac.uk.

More information

The Conversation is a news analysis and opinion website with content written by academics working with professional journalists. It is an open access, independent media charity funded by more than 80 UK and European universities. View Queen’s academics’ articles on The Conversation here.

About this session

During this training session the editor will discuss The Conversation’s unique, collaborative editorial process, give tips on style, tone and structure (with examples), look at how to pitch (with examples) and look at different approaches and article types. You will also have the opportunity to discuss your research with the editor and pitch potential story ideas.

• * There are a limited number of places for this session. If you sign up and then are no longer able to attend, please cancel your registration so that your place can be re-allocated to a colleague on the waiting list.
• For more information on the session, please contact comms.office@qub.ac.uk. 

• Dahiyeh: the Beirut suburb at the heart of an Israeli military doctrine, by Professor John Nagle (QUB) and Assistant Professor Edouardo Wassim Aboultaif (Université Saint-Esprit de Kaslik (USEK) – AUF, Lebanon)
• What Keir Starmer can learn from 'little creep' Harold Wilson in dealing with an angry US president, by Dr Benjamin Quail
• World's biggest astronomy camera seeks to answer pressing questions about the Universe / Maior câmera astronômica do mundo começa a responder a algumas das perguntas mais importantes sobre o Universo, by Joshua Weston
• Could joining the state sector be an option for private schools? by Dr Tilly Clough
• Ukraine: after four years of war, exhaustion on both sides is the main hope for peace, by Dr Alexander Titov

• Queen’s strengthens global leadership through Global Talent Visa achievements
• In Pictures: Queen's 180 Concert
• Queen’s first on island of Ireland to receive accreditation for drug and alcohol support
• Transcript: Digital Transformation – University Admissions
• Celebrating minds and music at Queen's

* Findings from a European Research Council Advanced Award: 'The Social Identity Model of Traumatic Identity Change: A Novel Theory of Post-Traumatic Stress, Resilience and Growth'.

• Inaugural Lecture: Professor Paul Miller

  In this inaugural lecture, Prof Miller traces an unexpected and insightful journey through the evolving world of artificial intelligence—one that begins in the high stakes realm of cyber security, detours through surprising applications in agriculture and animal health, and touches every sector in between.

  Drawing on experiences across industry, academia, and innovation leadership, the lecture explores how AI has rapidly shifted from a specialised technical discipline to an everyday enabler of discovery, efficiency, and creativity. From defending digital infrastructures against emerging threats to using computer vision to monitor the welfare of poultry, these stories illustrate how AI is reshaping the boundaries of what is possible.

  The lecture highlights two core themes:

  1. Translation – the challenge and opportunity of moving AI from theory into practical, real-world tools.
  2. Trust – the ethical, societal, and security questions that must be confronted to ensure AI serves the public good.

  Humorous, human, and forward looking, A Journey with AI invites the audience to see artificial intelligence not as a distant technical frontier, but as a companion technology woven into the fabric of modern life—one that continues to surprise us, challenge us, and open new pathways for innovation.

  About Paul

  Professor Paul Miller is Director of Momentum One Zero, Queen’s University Belfast’s business-led innovation Centre focused on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and wireless technologies, delivered as part of the £70 million Belfast Region City Deal investment in digital innovation. Professor Miller's expertise spans the application of artificial intelligence to computer vision and cyber security.

Discounts include for:

• Shopping and Retail: Discounts at all major supermarkets: Sainsbury’s, M&S and Tesco;
• TV and Broadband: Savings on packages from Sky, BT, and Virgin Media;
• Travel and Leisure: Discounts on holiday attractions, such as Eurocamp, Alton Towers and LEGOLAND;
• Dining: Vouchers and offers at popular restaurants, including Pizza Express, Zizzi, and Harvester.

• QFT Late: The Killer
• Visions of Europe
• Walled Cities 8
• Imagine Festival: Five Films for Freedom: LGBTQIA+ Film Showcase & Expert Panel
• LUMI X CNFW: Chronically Online
• Exhibition on Screen: Turner & Constable
• DJ Ahmet
• Don't Be Prey
• No Ordinary Heist
• Orwell: 2+2=5
• Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2026
• Cinemagic On the Pulse
• QFT Late X BFI Flare: Pink Narcissus
• Frederick Wiseman: Ex Libris: The New York Public Library

Staff tickets are priced at £8.50. Staff and students aged 26 and under can join LUMI to get tickets for £6.00 every day, all year round.

Oliver Jeffers is well known for his award-winning picture books. Beyond his literary success, he is an internationally recognised painter and sculptor. Jeffers’ work, with its distinctive simplicity, beauty, and humour, invites people to engage with big ideas, offering fresh context, hope, and a renewed sense of purpose in these rapidly shifting times.

The Gallery is open daily from 11.00am to 4.00pm.

Spectrum.Life Wellbeing Series

Spectrum.Life, Queen's new EAP provider, has a range of wellbeing webinars and eLearning modules on their wellbeing hub. Access Spectrum.Life courses here using the Organisation Code QUBSTAFF.

Available courses

• The Impact of AI on your Mental Wellbeing – eLearning programme.
• It's Just Period Pain...Or is it? Wednesday 25 March, 1.15pm to 2.00pm
• Understanding, support and resources for domestic violence – eLearning programme.

In Case You Missed It

• Body Image - Letting go of labels
• Dermot Whelan's Practical Tools for Smart Living
• Raising Kids in an AI World
• Simple Practices for Gratitude and Self
• How We Break the Cycle: Stress

Please feel free to contact the University Safety Service at safety@qub.ac.uk or 028 9097 4613 should you have any queries or training requirements.

• If you are interested or have any questions, please contact DEFI-GDM@qub.ac.uk or phone 07823 368446. Participants will receive a £200 voucher reimbursement.

What’s involved?

• Two study visits (one x 3.5 hour and one x 2.5 hour) at the Centre for Public Health, Belfast
• Consuming study breakfast (scrambled eggs and toast)
• Weight and height measurement
• Appetite questionnaire
• Blood glucose measurements
• Two blood samples at each visit
• Completing two food diaries
• Voucher reimbursement

* You may be suitable to take part if you are:

• aged 18-50 years old;
• between 24-37 weeks pregnant and have GDM;
• not using antiemetic (anti-sickness) medication;
• not experiencing Hyperemesis Gravidarium (severe nausea and vomiting)
• have no history of Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus