First Ever Manchester Science Festival 20th to 28th October

In Museums

Archived: This event was in 2007.

Hosted by the Museum of Science and Industry, the first ever Manchester Science Festival presents debates, performances, activities and events to make you see science in a new light...

At a time when less and less people are choosing to study science at college or university, the Manchester Science Festival looks set to make us think differently about the world of science. The festival programme is made up of six different strands:

Manchesticity' - the city's endeavours, achievements, people, places and ideas
Mind & Body - activities and topics about our brains and brawn
Planet - exploring our impact on and use of the earth, and looking into space
Extra-Ordinary - the science, technology and engineering of the everyday
Past, Present, Future - looking forward and back in time
Lifestyle - the science of all things fun - food, shopping, sport, music, and more!

Highlights of the festival include:

Faces of Manchester Exhibition, which uses hundreds of photos of Mancunians to discover what the 'average Mancunian looks like (throughout the festival, MoSI)
Fingerprint by The Shout an innovative group which pushes the boundaries of what a choir can be (20th October, Royal College of Music)

MCFC - Bend it like Bianchi! The Science of Free Kicks , which sees coaches from Manchester United Football Club and scientists explain the science behind bending your own free kick (throughout the festival, MoSI)

How Molecules Become Magnetic... and the Resulting Wonderland, an exploration of how magnetic forces could affect our future (Monday 22nd, Chemistry Building, University of Manchester)

Facing Up To Addiction: Exploring the Role of Genes, Society and Psychology in Addiction, a debate led by Quentin Cooper, the presenter of Radio 4's Material World on the nature of addiction (Tuesday 23rd, MoSI)
Genesis Machines - the New Science of Biocomputing which reveals how living cells are being used in the computers of the future (Thurs 25th, MoSI)
An Audience with Sir Bernard Lovell, a rare opportunity to hear one of Manchester's most celebrated scientists talk about his career, including the founding of Jodrell Bank (Thurs 25th, MoSI)
Serendipitous Science, a talk on how some of the most fundamental truths of the universe and most important inventions of our time were discovered by accident (Sat 27th, MoSI)
Restoring 'The Sirens and Ulysees': The Science and Art of Conservation, exploring how the science of conservation has allowed William Etty's largest painting to be seen in public for the first time in 100 years (Sat 27th, Manchester Art Gallery)