The celebration of all things science returns this February half term, and events are now on sale. With more than 180 events taking place over eight days, there’s plenty for everybody to enjoy. Norwich Science Festival is back 11–18 February 2023 around the city and beyond – expect intriguing discoveries, inspiring talks, engaging exhibitions, deep dives and debates, cutting-edge research, and lots of hands-on family fun! You can now pick up a brochure from The Forum, Norwich or download a virtual brochure on norwichsciencefestival.co.uk, where you can also book talks, shows and workshops. Every day there’s free hands-on fun and activities for all in ‘The Explorium’ at The Forum, with themed days from bugs, birds and beasts through to health and wellbeing. The Explorium takes over The Forum’s Atrium, as well as outside the building including a heated marquee, kindly sponsored by Vattenfall. The Explorium is open between 10.30am-4pm, with a pre-book Quiet Hour open between 9.30am-10.30am. Plus this year, there’s two mini pop-up festivals, taking the science fun further afield, to Holt and Gorleston-on-Sea. These Science Satellite events are perfect for families, with bookable talks and workshops at East Norfolk Sixth Form College in Gorleston on Monday 13 February and Gresham’s in Holt on Wednesday 15 February. Highlights include Teddy Bear Clinic with Dr Jess French at Gresham’s; Extinct, about dinosaur super-predators, with Prof Ben Garrod, plus lots of fun workshops including stomp rockets, coding and robotics, kitchen science, chemical reactions and more! The brochure was launched at East Norfolk Sixth Form College, with the help of principal Dr Catherine Richards, college staff and students, the Norwich Science Festival team, and sponsor Howes Percival. Claire Mutimer, Norwich Science Festival producer, said: “We are so excited to have our brochures packed with inspiring events and really hope you enjoy planning your trip to the festival, with so many talks, shows and workshops on offer for adults and children. We have really focused on ensuring Norwich Science Festival is affordable – so lots of the events are free or subsidised – just make sure you book them on our website. You can be sure of a very warm welcome at the festival and don’t forget The Explorium is open every day of half term in The Forum and is totally free.” Highlights of the festival for families include the return of BBC Gastronaut Stefan Gates, with a brand-new show Rude Science (18 Feb); and Big and Small (16 Feb) – an interactive game show where you help astronomer Affelia and biochemist Alex settle a very important scientific argument: which is superior – big things like planets, or small things like proteins! Or why not try The biggest science quiz show EVER (12 Feb) with Prof Ben Garrod and Mark Thompson? Grab your friends and family and head along to this fun-packed show packed to the brim with explosive chemical reactions, answers to some of life’s biggest questions, live experiments, audience participation and tonnes of fun science! For adults, there are panels and talks on the science of heartbreak; the menopause; Long Covid; and a masterclass with a Wim Hof Method instructor. Boogie on the Brain (14 Feb) is a quirky evening of psychology, science and dancing where you’ll need your dancing shoes! The Cosmic Shambles Network bring their Nine Lessons (17 Feb) to Norwich Science Festival – a special science cabaret show, hosted by Dr Helen Czerski with special guests including Dr Adam Rutherford, comedian Bec Hill, geoscientist Chris Jackson and music from Soft Lad (from Self Esteem). Expect weird science, quirky facts, lots of laughter and a great night out! Plus, there’s a special headline event with Bonnie Garmus (17 Feb) – her bestselling novel Lessons in Chemistry tells the story of genius chemist Elizabeth Zott and her struggle against sexism in the science world of the 1960s. Norwich Science Festival is presented by The Forum, Norwich, in partnership with many organisations across the region, including University of East Anglia and Norwich Research Park. Sponsors include Vattenfall, Gresham’s, Norwich School, Chantry Place, Pensthorpe, Breakwater IT, Briar Chemicals, Veolia, Chapelfield Veterinary Practice and Howes Percival. To see all Norwich Science Festival events and book tickets, visit www.norwichsciencefestival.co.uk.
