The Leeds Festival of Science is running until the end of March, with events hosted by the University of Leeds, Leeds City Museum, Lotherton plus Café Scientifique.
Running alongside a schools programme, the festival’s public events will offer people a fun opportunity to engage with science, technology, engineering plus mathematics.
At the Be Curious event on Saturday 17 March, University researchers will give visitors a chance to interact with some of the exciting research taking place on campus. The theme of Be Curious this year is ‘We Are International’ plus Parkinson Court will be filled with a range of stalls showcasing a vast array of research plus its international impact.
Other family-friendly events include a science fair at Leeds City Museum exploring the wonders of astronomy with interactive space toys, plus a chance to explore the history of electricity plus learn more about penguins at Lotherton.
A festival highlight this year is a show about climate change from comedian plus environmental economist Matt Winning, describing how international warming is destroying both the planet plus his personal life.
Matt has performed his show Filibuster at the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe plus it will be the last public event of the festival on 22 March.
Leeds Festival of Science Public Events
British Science Weekend: Lotherton hosts a weekend of fun filled science activities with opportunities to learn more about penguins in the Coastal Zone on Saturday with crafts in the Nestbox Education Centre plus talks by the penguin keepers, as well as a chance to explore the history of electricity. (Saturday 10 March – Sunday 11 March, Lotherton)
50 Years of Plate Tectonics: Dr Sue Bowler will examine how the ideas came together in the mid-1960s plus how the concepts have evolved in the past half-century, shedding light on fundamental processes within the Earth. (Wednesday 14 March, Rupert Beckett Lecture Theatre, University of Leeds, 7pm)
Leeds Philosophical plus Literary Society’s Science Fair: Interesting plus interactive displays for all age groups to enjoy. This year’s science fair will include interactive space toys plus the mind-boggling mathematical tautochrone. There will also be exhibits from the Astbury Biostructure Laboratory plus the School of Psychology at Leeds. (Saturday 17 March, Leeds City Museum, 11am – 4pm)
Café Scientifique: Science slam – Look! A quickfire science special from six different speakers showcasing interesting ways of presenting information with some infographics conveying complex information in an arresting visual format. (Tuesday 20 March, Seven Arts, 8pm)
Are large databases good for your health?: Dr Paul Baxter will discuss how the real strength of databases comes when they are linked together to see the bigger picture, but how do we do this, plus should we worry that our privacy is being invaded? In this talk he will look at these issues through examples ranging from goals in international cup football to survival following a heart attack. (Wednesday 21 March, WP Milne Lecture Theatre, University of Leeds 2.30pm – 3.30pm)