Shedding Light on Long Covid Conference

On Wednesday, October 4, 2023, the Shedding Light on Long Covid Conference took place at the Museum of Making in Derby and online. Aligned with the Shedding Light on Long Covid Sci-Art Public Realm Research Project, co-hosted by the Museum of Making and Derby Cathedral, with support from S.H.E.D, The Royal Society of Arts, and the University of Derby, the conference aimed to nurture collaboration among academics, clinical and industry professionals, and the public in exploring research on long Covid through a place-based approach to knowledge generation.

The day featured a range of activities, including presentations, keynotes, workshops, and networking sessions. The programme sought to encourage dialogue on building a community of research and increasing the capacity for change to address long-standing social issues. CivicLAB, an agent dedicated to driving positive societal change and connecting universities, stakeholders, and communities, facilitated the conference.

Dr. Binita Kane, Consultant Respiratory Physician at Manchester University Foundation Trust and an internationally recognized Long Covid expert, delivered a keynote presentation. Additionally, Dr. Mark Faghy and Dr. Rhiannon Jones presented their research on the creative collaboration between Shedding Light on Long Covid, S.H.E.D, and various stakeholders, providing opportunities for artists and scientists to contribute to public understanding through their practice and research.

A stakeholder panel included representatives from Derby County Community Trust, Derby Cathedral, Museum of Making, Long Covid Kids, and Derby City Council. The event also featured an artist researchers panel, with Dr. Gemma Marmalade exploring explicit oralities of written accounts by Long Covid patients in her performance-based presentation titled "Big Mouth (Voice in my head)." Dr. Xristina Penna reflected on the significance of resting within the Shedding Light on Long Covid exhibit as a re-calibration point and a political act in her presentation "Pauses Matter." Professor Michael Pinchbeck discussed his immersive audio project "Breathturn," Dr. Alice Marshall demonstrated the inner workings of creating choreography via others' voices in "Moving Through Speech - in Real Time," and Tomar Beh, CEO of M-Prez Enterprise, shared insights from the first podcast for young people commissioned by S.H.E.D, focusing on Long Covid experiences and thoughts of individuals aged 6-18 years in Derby.

The conference provided a platform for diverse perspectives and collaborative efforts in shedding light on the multifaceted aspects of Long Covid. It reached a wide audience with circ. 100 , taking part in the day online and in person. It was also followed on with a VIP event and showcase of the installation with invited guests and stakeholders in attendance.