Manchester Day’s Brain Box will make you shout "EUREKA!"
08 Jun 2016
Town Hall will become the city’s largest laboratory on Sunday, 19 June as scientists from across the city join forces for Manchester Day’s Brain Box attraction
During the Town Hall takeover, collaborators from the city’s universities, museums and other societies and associations, will take Manchester Day visitors on a fascinating journey through the brain.
The Brain Box has been curated by Professor Andreas Prokop and Professor Stuart Allan from The University of Manchester.
Professor Prokop said: “Seeing so many scientists, clinicians, creative practitioners and artists joining forces to explore the fascination and wonders of the brain in such an iconic location on Manchester Day is a dream come true - a real once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for everybody!"
Councillor Pat Karney, Chair of Manchester Day, said: “Not content with taking over the whole of the city centre and transforming it into the UK’s biggest open air theatre, we’ve now taken over the Town Hall as well."
This year’s Manchester Day theme – EUREKA! – celebrates the city’s history of scientific discovery in a year when Manchester is named European City of Science 2016.
The Brain Box scientists will perform lively experiments throughout Manchester Day on Sunday, 19 June, in a hands-on, participatory journey of discovery that will create countless EUREKA! moments.
The exhibitions, which will spread throughout the first floor of the historic Town Hall building, will cover eight themes from the basics of the brain, vision, pain and disease to brain imaging, how we learn, the history of brain research and the fascinating links between the arts and the brain.
Try your hand at brain surgery – on an egg! Observe how flies get tipsy, travel through the mind with modern brain mapping and see the gruesome history of brain medicine, amongst many other fascinating activities for young and old alike.
Brain Box will run alongside the Manchester Day celebration from 10am until 6pm (Manchester Day itself begins at midday) – and look out for Albot², time travelling robot, who will be making regular visits throughout the day.
Be sure to follow her twitter page @manc_day as she travels to meet scientists throughout time and follow the conversation using #MCRday and #mcrbrainbox
“There will be something for all the family, so make sure to pop in. It will be a fascinating part of Manchester Day with some of the city’s best minds explaining how the minds work.”
The Brain Box is a unique collaboration between Manchester City Council, The University of Manchester, Salford University, Manchester Metropolitan University, Museum of Science and Industry, Stroke Association, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Alzheimer’s Society, Parkinson’s UK, MND Association, National Autistic Society, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, The University of Liverpool, The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, University of York, Seal Medical, Seal Medical Supplies, b-neuro, Medtronic, Access Dance and Dance Company Combination.
Manchester Day will take place on Sunday, 19 June from midday until 6pm.
The parade begins from Liverpool Road at 1pm.
Manchester Day is created by Manchester People, commissioned by Manchester City Council and produced by Walk the Plank.
Further information