See behind the scenes at our Community Open Day

20 Apr 2016

Want to get to grips with slime mould, use a petri dishes or peer at weird microscopic objects?

Whether you’re youngster or an oldster, if you fancy having a go at being a scientist for a day, then come along to the University’s Community Open Day on Saturday, 7 May.

The doors will be opening to the public for a rare opportunity to glimpse behind the scenes and check out the world class laboratories in which our scientists work. It’s well worth a visit: you’ll be able to see where our researchers are taking on some of biggest questions in biology from gene editing to zoology to inflammatory disease. And there’ll be our robots in action, science buskers and ‘Mad Science Workshops’.

There will be loads to do: gross out at our creepy crawlies and microbes, marvel at our animaleating plants, and get up close and personal with our insects and amphibians. Discover your inner artist … by painting with maggots! Dipped in non-toxic paint, they’ll create the weirdest picture you’ve ever seen!

And don’t miss our Fly Facility tour. Think the humble fruit fly just buzzes about? Think again: this brilliant little insect played a huge part in the work of seven Nobel laureates. And about 75% of human disease genes have a recognisable match in fruit flies – which means that it does a great job in helping us to understand many illnesses, conditions and diseases.

Organiser, Natalie Liddle said: “Each year, we really look forward to opening our doors to the public so they can see of what we do and learn about the research we carry out. And if it results in sparking the interest of our younger visitors in science, and maybe even a career in science, then it’s a job well done!”

The Open Day takes place on Saturday, 7 May (10am – 2pm) in the Michael Smith Building, off Dover Street, at the heart of the University campus.

Everyone is welcome to this free event and there is no need to book. Free parking is available on site.

This video from last year's Community Open Day gives you a flavour of what to expect: