The 2015 Manchester Science Festival, returns to the city for its 9th impressive year from 22 October to 1 November.

 Premiering at this year’s festival is – Kinetic Flux – the winning entry of the first ever joint £5,000 competition created in partnership with Electricity North West and the University of Salford – launched as a platform for emerging artists to create an original piece of work around the theme of electricity. This brand new collaborative installation has been devised by digital film maker Paul Miller and glass artist Griet Beyaert.

 Kinetic Flux is concerned with human kinetic energy recapture and the potential this developing technology has for future power needs. A closed network of glass sculptures will hang in the air, through which electric light energy will pulse and flow gently, until the viewer steps closer and takes control: 

All movements will be monitored by an infra-red camera, so that speed, distance and direction will influence the current. As a result, visitors will witness the effects of the kinetic movements immediately, showing the relationship between human activity and energy output.

 In addition to Kinetic Flux, other highlights of this year’s Manchester Science Festival include an adult only ball pool to inspire creativity through play, which sold out in minutes during its inaugural run in London last December, a two day coding competition for juniors, a drone expo, a run of cinema screenings staged in the stunning historic surrounds of Manchester Cathedral and the premiere of acclaimed artist Tania Kovats’ new work, Evaporation, taking James Lovelock’s Gaia theory as her starting point. 

This new sculptural installation, commissioned by Cape Farewell, which launches at the Museum of Science and Industry, will explore global, interconnected bodies of water. It will comprise three large-scale, metal bowls reflecting the shape of oceans lifted from the globe, familiar but un-recognised in this sculptural representation. Tania’s work will also contribute to another Festival Premiere, featuring a special choral commission by internationally renowned composer Jonathan Dove.’

 The museum is also proud to present the North West premiere of Cravings, a family friendly exhibition exploring how food affects the body, brain and eating habits.

 Based on the work of Chester Zoo’s conservation team, scientists and partners in Sumatra, Borneo and the UK, come together too at this year’s Manchester Science Festival for the first time in ‘Who’s Killing the Orangutans’ – an evening of dramatic entertainment, food, science and topical debate at The Lowry. Audiences will interact with some of the key characters in the Palm Oil debate as they argue over who is responsible for the decline of the orangutans and other rainforest species, until ultimately the visitors decides.

 A live broadcast of the hit Radio 4 science programme, The Infinite Monkey Cage starring Professor Brian Cox and much loved stand-up Robin Ince, will also make its broadcasting debut at the Museum of Science and Industry in front of a live audience on the Festival’s opening night on 22 October.

 The 2015 Manchester Science Festival is part of the European City of Science celebrations which kick start with this year’s Festival and continue throughout 2016. Manchester is the first city in the UK to receive this title and will host the EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF) as part of this. ESOF is Europe’s leading science conference taking place every two years and will feature a week-long celebration of science with 100’s of events taking place across Manchester, starting from 23 July 2016. 

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