Calendar of Events
Listed below are a selection of public engagement events and opportunities throughout the year. If you are interested in getting involved in any of these opportunities and want to discuss your ideas further please speak to k dot doncom at warwick dot ac dot uk.
For regular ongoing events throughout the year, or events you can hold at any point, please see here.
February
Nottingham Festival of Science and Curiosity
When: 10-17 Feb 2021
Where: Across Nottingham
Who: Schools, families and communities
What: Science festival going out into the communities/schools and delivering activities. Also has a late session aimed at adults.
Cost: Unknown
Things to consider: Cost of accommodation, cost of transport there and back.
Warwick Science Gala
When: End Jan/Beginning Feb, on a Wednesday evening 17.00 – 20.30
Where: The science concourse
Who: Mainly schoolchildren, aged 12 and over, and their parents. Originally it was aimed at a-level students but age range has crept down.
What: One evening science gala with talks, lab tours and interactive stands and exhibits to encourage schoolchildren to study science
Cost: Free apart from materials
Contact: Natacha Borrel
Previous WMS/SLS activities (2020):
- Rob Cross and team took EduWOSM microscopes to demonstrate the inner workings of the cell and to show what their new open hardware microscope was capable of.
- Corinne Hanlon with WISB exhibiting virtual reality for genome editing
- Life Sciences were exhibiting images of the brain through microscopes and had neuroscientists to talk about the human brain
March
Big Bang Fair
When: A week in March
Where: NEC, Birmingham
Who: Mainly schoolchildren, over 80,000 across the week
What: Hands on activities and demonstrations showcasing science, technology, engineering and maths.
Cost: Unknown
Warwick no longer have a stand at the fair but your department may wish to consider it.
British Science Week
When: 10 days in March
Where: UK wide
Who: Anyone and everyone
What: A ten-day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths, featuring entertaining and engaging events and activities across the UK for people of all ages. British Science Week provides a platform to stimulate and support teachers, STEM professionals, science communicators and the general public to produce and participate in STEM events and activities.
Anyone can organise an event or activity, and the British Science Association helps organisers plan by providing free activity and support resources.
Cost: Variable, depending on activity
The website provides inspiration for activities and events, guides on planning an event, free resources to use at events, help with promoting your event and help with funding queries.
In 2020 Warwick held a slice of science to celebrate british science week and international women’s day. This free event saw female researchers from Warwick host a range of activities and talks to showcase their research and inspire the next generation of female scientists. Meera Unnikrishnan from WMS held a stand with a “Build a Biofilm” acitivity using slime, beads and waterguns.
May
Pint of Science
When: Usually in May but postponed to 7-9 September for 2020
Where: Across Coventry and surrounding areas
Who: Adult members of the public, most events are held in pubs
What: Short, fun and informative talks from researchers at Warwick and Coventry universities
Cost: Free, apart from props needed etc
See Warwick’s webpage for more details or for inspiration from previous years.
June
Cheltenham Science Fair
When: 8 – 13 June 2021
Where: Imperial Square, Cheltenham
Who: Schools, members of the public with late night events aimed at adults
What: Science festival that combines talks from leading scientists, interactive stands and exhibits, workshops, late night events for adults.
Cost: Variable depending on stand size/activity planned etc.
Things to consider: Cost of accommodation, cost of transport there and back. All zones have a late-night event aimed at adults. Stands should be really hands-on.
July
Royal Society Summer Exhibit
When: week in July (postponed for 2020)
Where: Imperial Square, Cheltenham
Who: Schools, members of the public with late night events aimed at adults
What: Science festival that combines talks from leading scientists, interactive stands and exhibits, workshops, late night events for adults,
Cost: Variable depending on stand size/activity planned etc.
Things to consider: Cost of accommodation, cost of transport there and back. Exhibits take a lot of organisation and planning. See a blog post from a previous exhibitor, Cinzia Imberti, for tips on applying and exhibiting.
Blue dot festival, Science Fields
When: 23- 26 July
Where: Jodrell Bank, Cheshire
Who: Family friendly music festival, so audiences of all ages
What: Music festival that also has a science field with stands for the public to get hands on and try out science experiments. There are also talks and science shows.
Cost: Unknown
Things to consider: Accommodation is camping on site, cost of transport there and back, volunteer numbers to ensure stand is manned but people have breaks. Stands need to be really hands on and interactive.
Deer Shed Festival
When: 24- 26 July
Where: Baldersby Park, North Yorkshire
Who: Family friendly festival, so audiences of all ages
What: A festival that combines music, comedy, science, the arts, theatre, shows and hands on activities
Cost: Unknown
Things to consider: Accommodation is camping on site or local accommodation, cost of transport there and back, volunteer numbers to ensure stand is manned but people have breaks. Stands need to be really hands on and interactive.
August
Art in the Park
When: Usually first weekend in August
Where: Jephsons Gardens, Leamington Spa
Who: Family friendly, so audiences of all ages
What: Live demonstrations and stalls from local artists and craftspeople with live music, dance, theatre and food and drink stalls.
Cost: Cost for a stall
Einsteins Garden at Green Man Festival
When: 20-23 August
Where: Breacon Beacons, Wales
Who: Family friendly festival, so audiences of all ages
What: An independent music and arts festival, split into various areas, including Einstein’s garden – the science area. Einstein’s garden is a combination of talks and stands with hands on activities.
Cost: Unknown
Things to consider: Accommodation is camping on site or local accommodation, cost of transport there and back, volunteer numbers to ensure stand is manned but people have breaks. Stands need to be really hands on and interactive.
September
DEADLINE: Royal Society Summer Exhibition Deadline
British Science Festival
When: 15 -18 October
Where: Anglia Ruskin, Chelmsford
Who: Science festival aimed at adults (16+), not aimed at children or families.
What: Science festival involving lectures, late events, workshops and drop in events.
Cost: ?
Things to consider: Cost of accommodation, cost of transport there and back. Daytime events are aimed at non-specialist adults 16+ and lates may have more science interested adults. Do not gear your talk/event towards children or schools.
October
New Scientist Live Science Fair
When: 8 – 12 September
Where: ExCel, London
Who: Science festival aimed at young people, schools and their families
What: A big science festival with stands involving hands on activities. There are also talks on the main stage.
Cost: 3 x 3 m stand approx. £3000 in 2018, cost vary depending on stand size
Things to consider: Cost of accommodation, cost of transport there and back, volunteer numbers to ensure stand is manned but people have breaks. Stands need to be really hands on and interactive but something that people can engage with easily as they walk past. People won’t spend a long time at each.
Malvern Festival of Innovation
When: 5 – 10 October
Where: Various venues around Great Malvern
Who: All ages, professionals, students and general public
What: Science festival that has sections aimed at start-up companies and entrepreneurs, businesses, families and school children, and university students.
Cost:
Things to consider: Cost of transport there and back or accommodation. See previous programmes here.
Calendar of Events
January
February
Nottingham Festival of Science and Curiosity
Warwick Science Gala
March
Big Bang Fair
British Science Week
April
May
Pint of Science
June
Cheltenham Science Fair
July
Royal Society Summer Exhibit
Blue dot festival
Deer Shed Festival
August
Art in the Park
Einsteins Garden at Green Man Festival
September
DEADLINE: RSSE
British Science Festival
October
Malvern Festival of Innovation
New Scientist Live Science Fair
November
December