‘Conviction or Acquittal’ mock murder trial is part of Glasgow Science Festival
Glasgow Caledonian University and The Open University in Scotland (OU) have joined forces to give the public a unique opportunity to take part in a mock murder trial, stepping into the shoes of jurors to decide whether the accused is innocent or guilty.
The high-profile Glasgow Science Festival event, ‘Conviction or Acquittal: The Science of Jury Decision Making’, will be hosted by Glasgow Caledonian Lecturer in Applied Psychology Dr Lee John Curley and the OU’s Dr Hayley Ness, a Senior Lecturer in Psychology.
The free event will take place on Monday, June 9, from 7-9pm at Glasgow Caledonian’s Centre for Executive Education (CEE) Room 2 and is open to anyone over 18. Sign up here for the Conviction or Acquittal event.
Jurors are normal people temporarily given great influence – how do you decide whether someone is innocent or guilty? What might influence your decision?
Join us for an interactive exploration of the psychology behind jury decision-making with Dr Curley and Dr Ness, experts in forensic psychology, as they delve into the research on how jurors process evidence, biases in decision-making, and what this means for justice.
Whether you're a true crime buff, a legal enthusiast, or simply curious about how justice is served, this thought-provoking event is not to be missed.
The audience will take part in a mock murder trial, stepping into the shoes of jurors to deliberate on a case, based on a real trial from the early 20th century.
Following the verdict, a panel featuring Dr Curley, solicitor and OU Lecturer Gillian Mawdsley, Glasgow Caledonian Senior Lecturer in Law Professor Andrew Tickell, and leading criminal counsel Tony Lenahan KC will discuss key themes, challenges in jury trials, and take audience questions.
Dr Curley said: “This is a great opportunity to experience being a juror and to see how researchers study your decision making and what the legal perspectives are on your decision making.”
Derek Goldman, the Senior Knowledge Exchange Manager at The Open University in Scotland, said: “Hold the scales of justice in your own hands, as you reach a verdict, and get to grips with the complexities of jury decision making. If you’re interested in the justice system in Scotland, this event is not to be missed”.
The Glasgow Science Festival has launched its biggest-ever programme of events as part of the city’s ongoing celebrations of its 850th anniversary. To mark the occasion, Glasgow Science Festival will run from June 5-15 with the theme ‘Glasgow Celebrates’.
Throughout the Festival there will be a number of smaller events in which researchers from Glasgow Caledonian will be showcasing their research. Look out for Dr Jim Reilly’s Glasgow Celebrates Healthy Lives events, Dr Yvonne Dempsie’s ‘On the March. Be Tick Aware!!!’, Brian McGill’s Vision Matters, Dr Kaitlin Ramsay’s ‘Solving Crime with Science’ and Dr Juanma Parrilla’s ‘Life of Matter’.
View the full Glasgow Science Festival programme and sign up for events here - https://www.gla.ac.uk/events/sciencefestival/gsf2025/