As part of Manchester’s year as the European City of Science, a free week-long festival Science in the City will celebrate the wonders of research and innovation from 22-29 July. Timed perfectly to kick-off the summer break, there’s plenty of family-friendly events to dive into at the start of the summer holidays.
At the Science in the City festival base, located at Manchester Metropolitan University’s Number 70 Oxford Street, there will be free informal talks, discussions, debates and workshops with scientists and technologists from different disciplines. Running alongside the EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF), the Science in the City festival is designed to engage everyone and inspire the next generation of scientists.
Over 40 events will take place in unusual places all around the city, including Manchester Arndale, Museum of Science and Industry, John Rylands Library, Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester Museum, Royal Exchange, Portico Library, Manchester Cathedral, HOME and Central Library.
Some of the events to look out for include:
Allotment of the Future
The Allotment of the future will explore how we could make the most of our urban spaces to grow food in the future and what kind of menus we might be choosing from in years to come. The event will consider the ideas of bugs for breakfast, algae for lunch, or growing crops from used coffee grounds. Attendees will also find out how technology might change domestic growing and discover what’s so important about soil.
Image: David Grantham, Horticultural Technician from the University of Manchester. Credit: Enna Bartlett
Tiny Science: Platform for Investigation (PI)
Discover ‘really small science’ alongside expert engineers and scientists who will help individuals explore the world of tiny particles. There will be the opportunity to try nanojelly, move around like nanoparticles in gases, liquids and solids, and a number of other hands-on, interactive experiments alongside other curious minds. Attendees will also get a chance to explore how Manchester scientists produced graphene, the world’s first 2D material, and have a try for themselves!
Human Sensor
This ground-breaking art commission by media artist, Kasia Molga, who has focusses on a highly specialised piece of wearable technology that lights up dramatically in response to the wearers breathing and air pollution data. There will also be an opportunity for Manchester students to take part in this innovative project.
Image: Model wears the wearable technology that lights up based on the pollution in the air. Credit: Nick Harrison
Other elements of the programme include the Manchester Robot Orchestra, The Mars Society’s first UK University Rover Challenge taking place in Cathedral Gardens, and Science Lates which includes Women in Science and after hour’s events at the Museum of Science and Industry and Manchester Museum. Together they reflect the diversity of the programme which aims to make science accessible to all.
For more information, visit manchestersciencecity.com or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
