Families flock to Mini Science Festival
5 October 2009
Around 500 children and adults flocked to STFC Daresbury Laboratory on Sunday (4 October 2009)to enjoy a day of fun, free talks, exhibitions and hands-on activities at its annual Mini Science Festival.
The Mini Science Festival, held in association with the NW branch of the British Science Association, showcased many fascinating areas of science and aimed to inspire and inform people of all ages about how science shapes their world and the universe.
Throughout the day visitors had the opportunity to listen to inspirational talks - including one by the BBC's Meet the Ancestor archaeologist Julian Richards; take part in interactive hands-on science
experiments; handle snakes and reptiles and see birds of prey; view dramatic demonstrations; and even go on a tour of Daresbury Laboratory's ALICE (Accelerators and Lasers in Combined Experiments) prototype accelerator.
One visitor to the festival, Julian Lee, said: "What a fascinating place! I had a really great day and found out a lot about what happens at Daresbury and why science is so important. It was great to be able to ask scientists questions about the different things on display. The day really brought science to life for me - I even got to hold a huge albino Boa Constrictor! This was my first visit to the Lab's festival, but it won't be my last."
Tony Buckley, STFC Daresbury Laboratory's Head of Communications and Outreach said: "The Mini Science Festival brings together people from universities and science centres across the region and provides an opportunity to 'show off' science. It's wonderful to see people, especially those still at school, inspired by hands-on science they can really interact with, by wonderful talks from excellent speakers and by the work that goes on at Daresbury Laboratory."
Organisations and groups that took in throughout the event included: the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the North West branch of the British Science Association, The Cockcroft Institute for Accelerator Science and Technology, Catalyst Science Centre, Space Connections' 'Wow Space Bus', Corio Raptors, Snakes and Reptiles, Knutsford SciBar and students from Liverpool Hope University.
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The Science and Technology Facilities Council
The Science and Technology Facilities Council ensures the UK retains its leading place on the world stage by delivering world-class science; accessing and hosting international facilities; developing innovative technologies; and increasing the socio-economic impact of its research through effective knowledge exchange partnerships.
The Council has a broad science portfolio including Astronomy, Particle Physics, Particle Astrophysics, Nuclear Physics, Space Science, Synchrotron Radiation, Neutron Sources and High Power Lasers. In addition the Council manages and operates three internationally renowned
laboratories:
- The Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxfordshire
- The Daresbury Laboratory, Cheshire
- The UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Edinburgh
The Council gives researchers access to world-class facilities and funds the UK membership of international bodies such as the European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN), the Institute Laue Langevin (ILL), European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), the European organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO) and the European Space Agency (ESA). It also contributes money for the UK telescopes overseas on La Palma, Hawaii, Australia and in Chile, and the MERLIN/VLBI National Facility, which includes the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank Observatory.