Co-creating civic exchange through academic and museum partnership

Two years after the launch of the “Muslims in the North” exhibition, Dr Maria Hussain and Leeds City Museum curator Adam Jaffer reflect on the journey of transforming academic research into a public exhibition seen by more than 300,000 visitors. They discuss the power of university–museum partnerships, the importance of challenging stereotypes through evidence-based storytelling, and the value of bringing underrepresented voices into civic spaces and thus public discourse. The conversation also offers practical advice for researchers interested in public engagement and explores what the future may hold for the exhibition as it reaches new audiences.

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This podcast episode was recorded remotely on 21 July 2026. If you would like to get in touch regarding this podcast, please contact research.lubs@leeds.ac.uk. A transcript of this episode [add link] is available.

Speaker bios:

Dr Maria Hussain is an Associate Professor in Management and Organisations at Leeds University Business School. Her research focuses on management education and practice, intercultural competence, and organisational culture relating to equity, diversity and inclusion in complex organisations.

Adam Jaffer is curator for ‘World Cultures’ at Leeds Museums and Art Gallery. Prior to Leeds, Adam worked at the People’s History Museum in Manchester and for Birmingham Museums Trust.