Wednesday, 10 April 2019
The University of Nottingham is opening its doors to the public and welcoming visitors to Wonder 2019 — its free fun day of discovery.
The interactive community event, held at University Park, is back on Saturday 15 June 2019, from 11am-4:30pm, and offers a huge variety of activities to amaze and inspire curious minds.
This year’s Wonder is celebrating the International Year of the Periodic Table to mark the 150th anniversary of the Periodic Table of Elements. The University’s very own Sir Martyn Poliakoff, famous for his YouTube Periodic Table of Videos, suggested the commemoration which was endorsed by the UN and UNESCO and then sparked a global celebration of chemistry.
With approximately 100 activities taking place on campus — many of them inspired by elements from the Periodic Table — the public are invited to explore how the University’s world-leading research and exceptional teaching changes lives.
This year’s Wonder will be particularly exciting as we are celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Periodic Table of the Elements
Shona Powell, Director of Nottingham Lakeside Arts, said:
We are delighted to welcome individuals and families from across Nottinghamshire for this fantastic free day of events and activities at the University."
“This year’s Wonder will be particularly exciting as we are celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Periodic Table of the Elements, providing a brilliant way to showcase some of the awe-inspiring work that takes place at the University through our biggest outreach event of the year in more than 100 activities, talks, and events”
The event offers a huge variety of exciting family-friendly activities and hands-on fun, and aims to engage local families in university life, skills and research to inspire more local children towards higher education.
Try experiments, activities, workshops, games and puzzles or sit in the audience and be prepared to be amazed by live demonstrations and magic!
Wonder 2019 will showcase the best of what the University does, and with an exciting schedule of free activities for all ages, it is not to be missed.
The lighter side of chemistry with Professor Sir Martyn Poliakoff
Nottingham’s world-renowned science and media sensation, Sir Martyn Poliakoff will be performing live science experiments which demonstrate reactions that produce or use light. See how his research can harness light energy to carry out chemistry in more sustainable ways.
Professor Poliakoff’s demonstration, which will contain loud bangs and smoke, takes place in Lecture Theatre X1 of the Chemistry Building from 11:30am-12:30pm, and is suitable for ages 7+.
Defying the elements: Academic magic and the Periodic Table
Or why not pay a visit to Professor Todd Landman, the world’s only Academic Magician. Professor Landman will explore the many and intriguing facets of the Periodic Table through the medium of magic.
He will examine atomic structures, shell theory, gravity and mass, and the noble gases among other features of the table.
The event will take place in Lakeside’s Djanogly Theatre from 12:40-1:25pm and again at 2:30-3:15pm, and is suitable for ages 7+.
Elemental installation with Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva
Help artist Elpida create an art installation to fill the Djanogly Gallery with gold, silver and copper threads.
The event will run from 11am-4:30pm and visitors are invited to drop in to the Djanogly Gallery at anytime. Suitable for ages 5+.
Plenty to entertain all ages
Here’s a taster of just some of the other events and activities throughout the day:
- See a real cloud created indoors using liquid nitrogen.
- Test your skills with LED light sabre training.
- Hunt for elements in the Periodic Table treasure trail.
- Meet space-travelling worms and find out how they used oxygen to stay alive.
- Hear how helium and iodine helped the allies win WWI.
- Solve puzzles and turn your knowledge into gold.
- Become a scientist and see your own DNA.
- Build a volcano and your own lava flow using augmented reality.
This year’s Wonder will focus near the south entrance of University Park, with activities based around Nottingham Lakeside Arts, and the Science and Engineering buildings.
A detailed programme of events will be available on our website soon. But to get a flavour of the event you can take a look at our video from Wonder 2017.
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
More news…