Take part in hands-on science activities and go behind the scenes in high-tech research facilities at the University of Southampton's annual science festival this month.
The family-friendly Science and Engineering Day, with more than 140 activities, workshops, live shows and talks to explore, is on Saturday 14 March.
The event is taking place in the run-up to British Science Festival being hosted by the university in September, bringing 100 free events, exhibitions, performances and installations to the city, celebrating ideas and stories at the heart of science.
At Science and Engineering Day, visitors will be able to see inside state-of-the-art facilities including the µVIS X-Ray Imaging Centre which is home to two of the country's largest CT scanners; the 138-metre-long towing tank; the anechoic and reverberation chambers; and the R J Michell wind tunnel.
There will be live virtual tours of the UK's deep underground lab, Boulby in North East England, where research is carried out 1.1km underground, free from the interference of natural background radiation.
Activities running throughout the day will include a Teddy Bear Hospital, slime making, code your own robot, fly in a drone simulator, learn basic life support skills, experience falling into a black hole (with a VR headset), a scientist dress-up photobooth, and learn about the science of eczema and asthma.
There will be a series of talks, including on 'phubbing' (snubbing someone in your company in favour of your phone), on black holes, and on electronics in clothing. And live shows featuring science experiments, lasers and the university's mobile planetarium will take place.
Ben Littlefield, Head of Public Engagement at the university, said: "Southampton Science and Engineering Festival is always a moment of genuine joy for us, a time when we welcome thousands of people onto our Highfield and Boldrewood campuses to explore, be curious and connect with the stories and people behind the incredible work happening here and across our region.
"This year carries an extra spark of excitement as we are building towards hosting the British Science Festival in September, which will showcase not only ours but other inspiring research stories and innovations from across the UK, celebrating the best of the country right here in Southampton. We can't wait to welcome you this month for what will be an inspiring day out for all ages, and a glimpse of what to expect in September!"
Science and Engineering Day forms part of the 10-day Southampton Science and Engineering Festival (SOTSEF), part of British Science Week.
Events in the run-up to Science and Engineering Day include:
- Crack the Code, an interactive talk and quiz about digital forensics, on Wednesday 11 March
- Rejected TED Talks, a science-themed stand-up comedy show, on Wednesday 11 March
- Science vs Pseudoscience, a talk on archaeology conspiracy theories such as whether the pyramids were built by aliens, on Thursday 12 March.
Visit the Science and Engineering Day website for the full programme and to book free tickets. And visit the wider SOTSEF website for information and tickets to events throughout the festival.
