Five days of science workshops, talks and activities kick off on Wednesday [16 September] when the British Science Festival lands in Southampton.
A church-going robot, Japanese competitive litter picking, crystal maze-style challenges, fashion shows, comedy workshops and live performances will feature during the British Science Association event, hosted by the University of Southampton.
There will also be live cooking shows, skateboarding performances and escape room-style activities.
Making the most of being in Southampton, the programme includes ocean-related events on deep-sea sharks, the history of ocean exploration, plankton portrait painting, marine-themed cocktail making, and the performance of a new piece of electronic music based on research from the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute.
There will be a debate on truth in social media, and a discussion on the future of AI with Dame Wendy Hall, from the University of Southampton, and BBC Technology correspondent Zoe Kleinman.
Ben Littlefield, Head of Public Engagement at the University of Southampton, said: “The British Science Festival is an incredible opportunity for people from all walks of life to unleash their curiosity.
“I’m particularly excited by the creative and unexpected ways the festival explores science and research, and even if you’ve never thought of science as being for you, I’m confident you’ll find something fun and inspiring to explore.”
James Brown, Director of the British Science Festival, said: “The British Science Festival travels to a different city every year which gives us the opportunity to shine a spotlight on the people, stories and ideas at the heart of the region’s science and technology environment. This year in Southampton, we’re delving into the ocean’s depths, exploring the rapidly changing world of AI, and imagining the Southampton of the future, and so much more.”
The British Science Festival is the UK’s longest-standing science festival and is hosted at a different location every year.
This year is the first return of the festival to Southampton since 1992 and builds on the University of Southampton’s strength in engaging people with science.
The festival runs from Wednesday 16 to Sunday 20 September at venues across the city. Explore the full programme here: British Science Festival | homepage
