Have you ever wondered why some things taste sweet and other things sour? Or where candle wax goes? Or what would happen if the earth lost its gravity for a day? The Nottingham Festival of Science and Curiosityprovides the chance to find out the answers!
Back again this February for the fifth festival, and bigger and better than ever before, events will run across the city from 13-20 February. With the help of scientists from the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University the festival will be getting the whole city centre curious with free interactive activities across different venues.
Projects about air quality, plant diseases and pathology are also being taken into local schools, and taking excitement for STEM subjects out into communities, with events in libraries during half-term.
Taking science out from behind closed doors
Megan Shore, the festival producer said: ‘The festival is about about taking science out from behind closed doors, and into our communities, where families can engage with it as part of our everyday lives. We’re all naturally curious, and curiosity is key for all future scientists, so we want to encourage people of all ages to ask questions and get stuck in to find out the answers’’.
The festival is organised by a partnership that includes Ignite!, Nottingham City Council, University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University, STEM Learning, Near Now and the Nottinghamshire British Science Association.
Professor Kevin Shakesheff, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Science at the University of Nottingham said: “Nottingham has so many great scientists working in companies, our Universities and our hospitals. The festival is a celebration of our City’s contribution to making the world a better place. We hope to inspire future generations to be curious and maybe consider becoming a scientist themselves.”
Festival Highlights:
Real Science in School Symposium, Thurs 14 Feb, 3.30pm - 5.30pm with formal start at 4pm - Celebration of authentic scientific research being undertaken by pupils in Nottingham schools, with attendees including pupils, teachers, MPs, councillors and researchers.
Baby Ambulance, Sat 16 Feb, 1-4pm, outside intu Broadmarsh, Listergate Square - Researcher, Dr Lorelei Gherman from the University of Nottingham has developed an incubator system for ambulance transport that improves comfort and removes stress for neo-natal babies. The ambulance and researchers will be showcasing their project and talking to members of the public.
The New Curiosity Shop, Sat 16 Feb, 10am - 4pm, Place at Sneinton Market - We’re inviting members of the public to come and ask us their questions on our board of curiosity. There will be real-life scientists from Sygnature Discovery in to help you work out the answers, and cabinets full of awesome items of curiosity.
Libraries Programme, Mon 18 (Meadows), Tues 19 (Clifton), Weds 20 (Strelley), 10am - 2pm - Lots of free interactive activities in local libraries. There are festival events in every city library in the festival programme.
Urban Greening Conference, Tues 19 Feb, 38 Carrington Street, 5.30 - 7.30pm - Event includes talks from high-profile researchers in the fields of vertical gardening and urban greening.