Nottingham Science Festival - 19th and 20th March

The Nottingham Science Festival will be held on Friday 19th March and Saturday 20th March 2010 in Wollaton Hall, Lime Tree Avenue, Nottingham, NG8 2AE. For more information contact info@nottinghamsciencefestival.co.uk

Friday events

All activities are free and open to the public unless otherwise stated. However, scheduled school groups will take priority in all activities. Last entrance to Wollaton Hall is at 3.30. There is a £2 charge for parking.

Workshops
• Slime chemistry workshop (only for registered school groups): Led by Dr Sam Tang from the University of Nottingham School of Chemistry, this workshop will give students the chance to make their own slime as they learn about polymers and will take place in the Education room.
• Exploring invertebrates: Learn about invertebrate diversity from Dr Kate Durrant, University of Nottingham. Meet a tarantula, giant hissing cockroach, giant land snail and more in the Insect Gallery (Wollaton Hall first floor).
• Pedal Power: Explore renewable energy and test your pedal power on a pedal-powered sound system and pedal-powered bubble machine. Led by Dr Matthew Little from Re-Education in the Yard Gallery.
• Sports Science: Led by ByDesign in the Yard Gallery.

Interactive Stalls
In the Great Hall at Wollaton Hall:
• University of Nottingham Technology Demonstrator – Check out the latest inventions from the University of Nottingham and see how science research translates into useful products.
• University of Nottingham Vet School – Find out if you have what it takes to be a vet. Try your hand at the lambing simulator and check out some other animal activities.
• Centre for Effective Learning in Science, Nottingham Trent University – Explore some of the wonder of our world through an earthquake table, lightning generator and more!
• Wildlife detective activity, Nottingham Trent University (TBC)

Interactive talks and presentations
In the Willoughby Room (Wollaton Hall first floor):
• 12-1 pm: ‘Enterprising Engineering for a Greener Future’ students will present their projects, turning used cooking oil into bio-diesel. Anyone welcome to attend.

Museums
Open to the public all day:
• Natural History Museum in Wollaton Hall
• Industrial Museum in the Yard beside Wollaton Hall

Saturday Events

All events are free and open to the public from 11-4. Last entrance to Wollaton Hall is at 3.30. There is a £2 charge for parking.

Workshops
• Exploring invertebrates: Learn about invertebrate diversity from Dr Kate Durrant, University of Nottingham. Meet a tarantula, giant hissing cockroach, giant land snail and more in the Insect Gallery (Wollaton Hall first floor).
• Sports Science: Led by ByDesign in the Yard Gallery.
• Build a Solar Powered Car. Led by CREST Loughborough, participants will have the chance to learn about solar energy and build a small solar-powered car in the Yard Gallery.
• OPAL lichen survey. Led by OPAL community scientist Amy Rogers, the survey gives participants a chance to learn about lichens and what they can tell us about air pollution while looking for lichens on the trees around the Hall. Outside, weather permitting.

Interactive Stalls
In the Great Hall at Wollaton Hall:
• University of Nottingham Technology Demonstrator – Check out the latest inventions from the University of Nottingham and see how science research translates into useful products.
• University of Nottingham Vet School – Find out if you have what it takes to be a vet. Try your hand at the lambing simulator and check out some other animal activities.
• DNA and Genetics – Learn about DNA and genetic coding using beads and sweets, and make a genetic code bead bracelette to take home.
• Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) – find out what earthworms, lichens and pond dipping can tell us about our environment and how you can get involved in the national surveys.
• Physics busking – discover the science behind tricks like putting a skewer through an inflated balloon without popping it.

Interactive talks and presentations
In the Willoughby Room (Wollaton Hall first floor):
• 1 pm: The Science of Chocolate. Dr Audrey Matthew from De Montfort University discusses the history, making and physical and chemical properties of chocolate.
• 3 pm: Chemistry in Space. Dr June McCombie from the University of Nottingham discusses astrochemistry and gives younger participants a chance to view glass ‘stars’ using spectroscopes.

Museums
Open to the public all day:
• Natural History Museum in Wollaton Hall, guided tours at 12 and 2 pm
• Industrial Museum in the Yard beside Wollaton Hall