Manchester Science Festival

03 Oct 2013

Scientists and engineers from across The University of Manchester will be taking part in Manchester Science Festival which runs from 24 October to 3 November.

The annual Festival, now in its seventh year, is an 11-day celebration of science, which is produced by MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester) in partnership with Siemens.

Visitors are invited to play, create and experiment with science through surprising installations, immersive science experiences and hands-on experiments in over 100 events for all ages at venues throughout Greater Manchester.

The festival’s family programme features hands-on activities, including the University’s Science Spectacular on Saturday, 2 November at the Whitworth Hall and Manchester Museum between 11am and 4pm a free events which gives visitors a chance to learn about research, meet real scientists, and try out simple experiments.

Visitors can go on a whistle-stop tour of research at the University and take part in some great science challenges. Explore the cells in your body, look at medical imaging in action, discover medical advances and heart research, see the insides of a nuclear reactor, learn about personalised medicine at Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC) take a closer look at the moon and snuggle up to some unusual creepy crawlies.

There’s also the chance to meet the scientists and engineers behind amazing research and take part in fun activities throughout the day including face painting, craft making and science busking on the go. There will also be pop-up scientists who will talk about their science in 60 seconds or less.

An Images of Research competition challenges researchers at The University of Manchester to share the wonder and diversity of their work using just a single image and short description. This year’s theme “The Big Picture” looks at how research makes a real difference to you. Members of the public will be able to vote for their favourite entry from 7 October – 4 November 2013.

Cancer scientists from the University based at the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute on Wilmslow Road, Manchester will also take part in the festival with an event entitled: The Enemy Within: Manchester's role in the Fight Against Cancer on Thursday 24 October from 19:00 to 21:30. Places need to be booked in advance for the event organised by University partners Cancer Research UK.

Experts from the University’s Institute of Cancer Sciences and Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC), a partnership between The University, CRUK and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, will also be involved in ‘Behind the Scenes with Cancer Research UK’ hands-on lab tours of the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute based at The University of Manchester’s Paterson Building. Book in advance for the free event.

In addition to the Science Spectacular, researchers from the University are involved in all sorts of Manchester Science Festival events and activities.

A new Citizen Science project, #Hooked, will be launched at the Festival to get thousands of people involved in research to find out the science behind what makes music catchy.

Manchester Science Festival encourages us to look at science differently and demonstrates how it affects our lives.