What to expect from this year’s Festival of Science and Curiosity

The Festival of Science and Curiosity (FOSAC) is a two-week event, over half term, featuring a packed programme of Science Fun Days and hands-on activities. This year’s festival promises to spark curiosity and inspire curious young minds.

The first week is based at local schools, bringing academics into classrooms and community areas. The second week is public activities spread across Nottingham. The full list of public events can be found on the Nottinghamshire festival of Science and Curiosity website here. Make sure to check if you need to book onto some of the sessions.

Some key events our academics are involved with in both in Nottingham city centre and the wider county are listed below.

City Centre activities

On Saturday 15 February, 10am – 12pm Nottingham Central library is hosting a Science Fun Day, a day of hands-on interactive activities and drop into sessions.

There will be several University of Nottingham researchers at the Science Fun Day including:

• Dr Josh Khoo with activities on psychology funfair games
• Chris Bright with activities on signalling with electricity
• Lisa Yon with activities on their elephant welfare project

On Friday 21 February, 10am – 3pm Nottingham Cathedral is hosting the second Science Fun Day, again with hands-on interactive activities for families. Academics from the University of Nottingham in attendance include Max Wilson, a member of our Institute Academy Programme cohort, developing his policy skills.

Nottinghamshire activities

University of Nottingham’s academics will be hosting a drop-in session to experience interactive activities from University of Nottingham scientists using quantum centres to detect electrical activity in the brain, ‘Sensing the Brain’. This drop-in session is for all ages and hosted at Beeston Youth & Community Centre on Wednesday 19 February, 10am – 2pm.

On Wednesday 19 February, University of Nottingham’s Cobot Lab is hosting a build your own robot workshop at Mansfield Museum. Places are bookable for either 10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm slots.