Special events as city’s science festival returns
THIS week sees the return of the Swansea Science Festival, hosted by Swansea University in partnership with the National Waterfront Museum.
Between today and Saturday, October 30 there will be a host of special events, including in-person shows, workshops, online activities and a brand-new school programme, allowing people to access the festival wherever they are in the world.
Featuring more than 30 events, adults and children will be able to explore the magic of oxygen, the science and art of dreams, the wonders of ancient Egypt, coffee cups made from coffee and more. There will be big bangs from Brainiac Live and the Royal Institution, and ridiculous and shocking demonstrations, hacks and myth-busting from Stefan Gates.
As a brand-new offering, Swansea University, in partnership with Technocamps and S4, will also present the Schools Science Takeover on the opening day of the festival. With a variety of nationwide virtual workshops, pupils of all ages will have the opportunity to explore the world of innovation.
For primary schools, Technocamps will be joined by special guest Grace Webb from BBC Bitesize and Grace’s Amazing Machines, helping to nurture pupils’ curiosity and engagement with science. For secondary schools, Swansea University’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) outreach programme, S4, will invite schools to participate in a virtual workshop, with fun and informative classroom experiments.
The festival will continue tomorrow and on Sunday with live events at the National Waterfront Museum and Oriel Science’s new city-based exhibition space. At Oriel Science, guests will explore artificial intelligence, learn the secrets of mummification and see dreams brought to life with Professor Mark Blagrove from Swansea University’s psychology department and artist Dr Julia Lockheart. At the National Waterfront Museum, there will be opportunities to explore the strange science in everyday things, as BBC Gastronaut Stefan Gates tackles questions.
The Royal Institution will deliver lively fire-based demonstrations, Simon Webb will present some of the world’s ugliest animals, and guests will be blown away by bubbles with the Bubble Superstars.
Professor Helen Griffiths, Pro-vicechancellor at Swansea University, said: “Since its first year as part of the British Science Festival in 2016, the Swansea Science Festival has been a key event for the city, one that brings the community together through a shared love of science.”
For information and to book, visit www.swansea.ac.uk/research/civicmission/swansea-science-festival.