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The Population and Public Health team at Edinburgh Napier University are taking their teaching and research beyond the campus.

A free pop-in event at the city’s Serenity Café will explore issues like Hepatitis C, drinking with diabetes, improving the lives of children and families, and end of life care.

A member of the team, from the School of Health & Social Care, will talk about their teaching and research every hour throughout the day on Wednesday June 28.

Academics will also share information about how to get a job in health and social care and the importance of real-world experience to make a leap into a new career.

And they will invite members of the public to shape the future of teaching and research by outlining their own priorities.

The free open-to-all event, at 8 Jackson’s Entry, The Tun, just off the Royal Mile, is being run in partnership with local charity Comas Scotland.  Individuals, couples and families are all welcome, and there is free coffee and cake and children’s activities.

The day will also showcase the work of local charities.  Every half hour, Comas and other local charities, including Diabetes UK, will be sharing the vital work that they do with communities across the city and country.

Dr Richard Kyle, an academic in Edinburgh Napier’s Population and Public Health Team, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Comas Scotland to run our first Pop-IN event at Serenity Café. 

“It is all too easy for academics to spend time talking to themselves.  Pop-IN gets us off campus to speak to the Comas community and Edinburgh folk.  Chatting over coffee we’ll learn about their challenges and priorities so that our research and teaching continues to support and work to change the lives of those we serve.”

Serenity Café is Scotland’s first Recovery Café run by people in recovery for people in recovery.  It provides people in recovery from addiction and mental health crisis with opportunities for volunteering, learning, skills, work experience and qualifications.