Tickets are NOW ON SALE for the 10th Manchester Science Festival (MSF) – England’s largest Science Festival. Produced by the Museum of Science and Industry, supported by Siemens and Lead Educational Sponsor, the University of Salford, this year’s Festival runs from Thursday 20 October to Sunday 30 October.
Featuring over 130 unique events for all ages in many eclectic and surprising spaces across Greater Manchester, MSF 2016 will mark the end of Manchester’s year-long reign as European City of Science whilst building on its reputation as the boldest, most creative and most ambitious science festival in the country.
This year’s Festival launches the UK Premiere of The Chronarium Sleep Lab. Located in prime shopping location Manchester Arndale from 20th October, The Chronarium Sleep Lab offers shoppers the chance to recharge their batteries by joining 15 minute restorative sleep sessions.
As our public and private spaces become increasingly controlled by technology, it’s often hard to switch off when everything is always switched on. However, the answer isn’t always leaving technology behind, but sometimes finding new ways to make it work better for you.
Designed by artists Rachel Wingfield and Mathias Gmachi from London-based Loop PH, The Chronarium uses technology to improve one of the most important parts of our daily lives – sleep.
Originally commissioned for and by the FutureEverything Festival Singapore 2015, this stunning and atmospheric creation – part art installation and part public sleep laboratory – offers a fully immersive experience and is aimed at providing an antidote to non-stop city living. On entering, visitors can lie down, rest and relax on hanging swings and hammocks and partake in an audio-visual experience to help bring on sleep before waking them up refreshed for city life.
For the world premiere of Cape Farewell’s annual Lovelock Art Commission at the Museum of Science and Industry, Paris-based artists HeHe – Helen Evans and Heiko Hansen – have taken inspiration from pioneering climate scientist James Lovelock and the ground-breaking science funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) to bring atmospheric science powerfully to life across the MSI site.
These exciting new pieces depict micro-climates, pollution and artificially engineered clouds in provocative new contexts, blurring the boundaries between the natural and the man-made. These three pieces ask us to consider society’s role in environmental destabilisation, and ways forward to a cleaner, healthier future. These artworks complement NERC’s Into The Blue campaign, a series of showcase events in the Northwest throughout October that celebrate the environmental science we live and breathe.
On the Festival’s opening night on Thursday 20th October, internationally-acclaimed electronic outfit Public Service Broadcasting perform their hit album ‘The Race For Space’ in its entirety for the very first time in a very special, one-off performance at Manchester’s historic Albert Hall. Accompanied by an impressive brass section and musicians from the
Royal Northern College of Music, including a string quintet and a 13-piece choir – this special event will begin with the mastermind behind Public Service Broadcasting, J. Willgoose, Esq. in conversation with Professor Tim O’Brien, Associate Director of Jodrell Bank Observatory. The pair will explore the stories of the American and Soviet space race at the heart of the album and discuss the making of the record and the journey it has led them on.
No 10th Birthday would be complete without a party, so Manchester Science Festival is delighted to be organising a big one at the museum on Thursday 27th October as part of this year’s Science After Dark strand. This adults-only night time celebration brings the science behind parties to life, exploring the maths behind cake cutting, the psychology of clowns and even the fluid dynamics of chocolate fountains.
This great excuse to party continues into the next night at the Nobel Prize Disco, also happening at the museum. Here the Festival pays tribute to Nobel Prize-winning Scientists Andre Geim and Konstantin Novosolov’s globally renowned isolation of graphene – through fancy dress. Come dressed as your favourite Nobel Prize winner – or winning discovery – and throw some shapes in the name of science.
Equally inventive and enticing evening events include: The Science of Gambling with Guardian Live at Manchester235 Casino. This cabaret-style show explores the different scientific aspects of gambling, from the probability of winning to body language, bluffing and the reliability of luck. Foody lovers can tuck into a menu of sustainable foods at the Marriot Victoria and Albert as the hotel’s chef explains the health benefits behind reusable menus…
Or head on down to The Runaway Brewery to feast on a range of ingredients that owe their production to microorganisms in an evening hosted by MMU’s microbiologists and Grb MCr, which will showcase dishes made by some of the city’s best street food stalls. If liquid food is more of interest, take part in Ginesis – an evening experiencing the biology of taste, hosted by a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry OR enjoy a tutored tasting of six of Scotland’s finest drams in Whiskyology at Chetham’s Library. Join local whiskey enthusiasts to explore the tradition of whisky making and explain the science behind the distiller’s art.
A jam-packed family programme is always very much at the heart of the Manchester Science Festival – and this year’s 10th is no exception – featuring lots of events for all ages right across the city. Family highlights at the Museum of Science and Industry include: the Virtual Reality Playground for gaming fans and tech loving tots and teens featuring the very latest in VR devices, offering a unique and hands-on insight into what the future holds
The Manchester Megapixel which offers visitors the chance to see themselves as pixels and to take part in a giant megapixel installation to be revealed in full on the Festival’s closing day; and Robot Orchestra Live, where Manchester’s exclusive robot orchestra – formed entirely from recycled instruments, electronics and junk – perform alongside human musicians for the first time. This unique musical experience will be conducted by Graphene, a life-sized robot built by Festival Headline Sponsors Siemens.
Elsewhere in the city, family highlights include the annual Science Jam at the Media City campus of Lead Educational Sponsor, the University of Salford. Pop in over the Festival’s opening weekend for a chance to experience life among living machines and venture into a “forest of curiosity” where writers, poets and actors team up with scientists, naturalists, geographers and environmentalists to embark on an interactive journey of discovery.
And Harry Potter Fans are in for a rare treat with The Philospher’s Scone, with the chance to sit down to an afternoon tea with a difference at Harvey Nichols Manchester. Enjoy miniature cakes and pastries inspired by the world of Hogwart’s most famous student as author and journalist Roger Highfield explains how magic really works. There will also be a screening of Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone. Fancy dress is a must!
Knee-high explorers and crafty kids can partake in Artist Sundays and the Big Draw at the Whitworth, and create take home colourful art works inspired by the gallery’s collection; uncover the mysteries of space in the Big Science Telescope Show at Jodrell Bank; go Hunting for Infections at Quarry Bank Mill; play with oversized origami, twisted vines and massive paper sculptures at Nightshade at the Gallery Oldham; join in Messy Science at the University of Bolton and in the Science Spectacular at Manchester Museum; have a go at 3D modelling at Z-Arts or silver ring soldering at Manchester Craft and Design Centre – a mere handful of the many drop-in and largely free activities taking place throughout the Festival.
And if that is not enough, add in coding with HackManchester, Science Busking with Festival Sponsors, theatre, comedy, debates, walking tours, In-conversation events, the music of Star Wars, the scientific realities of popular films including a chance to meet Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor Paul Franklin – as he reveals how his pioneering team used real scientific data on Christopher Nolan’s spectacular 2014 science fiction blockbuster, Interstellar, – and you may just about come close to understanding the variety, size, choice and creativity behind this year’s 10th Manchester Science Festival.
Manchester Science Festival Director, Antonio Benitzez comments: “We could not be prouder of and more excited about this year’s Festival. With this being our 10th, we really did want to pull out all the stops to offer new and exciting events for our visitors to experience science in ground-breaking and imaginative ways. We think this year’s Festival is the best yet, with unique content such as the sleep lab in a shopping centre to performances by a part-robot part-human orchestra and our Nobel Prize-winner Disco. There really is something here for all ages and levels of interest and we cannot wait until October 20th to get the party started.”
Juergen Maier, Chief Executive, Siemens plc comments: “Siemens is proud to have played an integral role in the Manchester Science Festival which has successfully boosted the profile of engineering, skills and innovation whilst helping to enhance tourism for Manchester. As a global pioneer in innovative and environmental technologies, Siemens needs bright young people who are fascinated by science. The Manchester Science Festival gives us an ideal platform to inspire young people deciding on their careers to consider working for global engineering companies such as Siemens and to become the next generation of engineers.”
Andy Miah, Professor of Science Communication at The University of Salford, said: “We are extremely proud to be lead educational sponsor of England’s most popular science festival. In keeping with the Salford-Manchester tradition of breaking new ground and being innovative, these 130 events add up to the boldest, most creative window into the amazing world of science you will encounter.”
The festival runs from the 20th -30th October 2016
