SCI-FEST blasts off at university festival

The University of Wolverhampton annual two day festival, Sci Fest 2019, is sparking interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).

SCI-FEST, now in its eighth year, is celebrating 50 years of the moon landing, as well as the Year of the Engineer, playing host to 1,600 school pupils from over 20 schools around the region.

A family day will also be held at the City Campus in Wolverhampton on Saturday 6th July 2019 between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm, offering a range of free workshops, experiments, games and drop-in activities – all designed to bring STEM subjects to life.  All ages are welcome.

Visitors can take part in Lego building, retro computer gaming, rocket launching, making space buggies, face painting, drone flying, coding, extracting iron, changing a wheel on a race car as well as a host of other activities.

Exhibitors include Enginuity Centre, Ironbridge, Black Country Living Museum, RAF Museum, Cosford, The STEM Workshop and Party Box. University academics will be exploring aspects of medicine and pill making, viewing sun spots on the moon, the chemistry of flashes and bangs, microbes and making pompom neurons.

Dr Martin Khechara, Fellow for Public Engagement at the University, said: “The Sci Fest festival is our way of reaching out to schools, colleges and the local community to engage people in STEM activities and get them interested in science, technology, engineering and maths.

“We’ve got a whole host of activities for people to do - a hands on animal experience, an opportunity to see the stars in an explorer dome, the chance to build stomp rockets, watch our science magician build a giant mousetrap on stage as part of his amazing show, explore the Psychology of space with Jon Wood, engage with science stories from the multi award winning Jules Pottle and our headline act for both days is the One Shows very own scientist in residence, Marty Jopson, who will be exploring microscopic worlds.”

Professor Nazira Karodia, Dean of the Faculty of Science & Engineering at the University, said: “The idea behind SCI-FEST is to engage the community and showcase that science and technology is exciting and fun.  We hope that, as well as enjoying what is on offer, people will learn something new as well.

“The University has invested over £100 million in new facilities for its Science and Engineering Faculty and interest in our STEM courses is increasing every year.”

Booking is required for some of the events.  Tickets are available here.

For adults, there will be a FREE SciFest Afterdark event held at the Light House Media Centre on the evening of the 6th July. This will be the finale to our SciFi film season being held at the venue, and will include science comedy from Bright Club, science discussion from Science Republic. There will be ‘science-based’ drinks, a band and DJ Bash.

Anyone interested in studying Science, Technology, Mathematics or Engineering at the University should visit the next Open Day on Saturday 17^th August 2019.

Images: Top - Dr Martin Khechara and below, Mayor of Wolverhampton Claire Darke with Dan Bird, second year student in the School of Engineering.

ENDS