The Glasgow Science Festival has launched its biggest-ever programme of events as part of the city’s ongoing celebrations of its 850th anniversary.
The 19th annual Festival will stage events for science enthusiasts of all ages across the city between Thursday 5th June and Sunday 15th June.
This year’s events are united by the theme ‘Glasgow Celebrates’, which recognises the 850 years which have passed since the city received the status of Burgh in 1175.
Researchers from the city’s universities and beyond are set to join artists and musicians, and representatives from leading charities to welcome audiences to iconic locations including the Botanic Gardens, the Riverside Museum, and Kelvingrove Museum. Glasgow Caledonian University, the University of the West of Scotland, and the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde will also host events on their campuses.
Glasgow’s 33 libraries will play a part in this year’s programme, with displays of STEM-related books planned for the duration of the festival. The Smart Play Network’s PlayTalkRead bus will also bring science-focused fun aimed at children up to four years old to five libraries across the city.
The University’s Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre (ARC) will host three special themed evenings exploring ‘The Art of Science’, ‘The Sound of Science’ and ‘A Body of Science.’ Each evening will bring science to life with live music, virtual reality displays, hands-on demonstrations, and more.
The Festival’s online Science on the Sofa programme, established during covid lockdowns when in-person events were not possible, also returns with a collection of videos and activities which can be enjoyed from home.
Dr Deborah McNeill, of the University of Glasgow, is director of the Glasgow Science Festival. She said: “This year’s programme is our most jam-packed ever, expanding to new venues and bringing in a widened range of events, shows and presentations.
“We have more than 75 events in the programme, including film screenings, stand-up comedy, music shows and tours of the city. Our ever-popular activity days are returning to the Glasgow Botanic Gardens and the Riverside and Kelvingrove Museums, featuring hundreds of hands-on activities and demos from researchers, who will be on hand to chat about their work. We’ll also be going on the road to bring science to more people, with appearances at the Govan Fair and activities with local schools.
