Nottinghamshire Festival of Science and Curiosity brings free science workshops and activities to Newark and Southwell

e.gilmore@newarkadvertiser.co.uk

Published: 08:57, 18 February 2025

A festival full of free, hands-on science activities has seen a range of interactive activities take place in a historic cathedral.

Southwell Minster hosted a Science Fun Day on Monday, as part of the Nottinghamshire Festival of Science and Curiosity.

The fun day was open to all ages and saw attendees get involved with everything from games, to crafts, and experiments, run by Nottingham Trent University, the Society for Experimental Biology, and Minster volunteers.

Jess Johnson of NTU, with Fred Stevens, 8, and Leo Ward, 5, looking at animal skulls.

There was also a ‘Microscopic Minster’ trail to explore.

There’s even more chance to learn and explore, with the Unlock Your Memory workshop at Newark Library on Wednesday.

Participants can get stuck in to hands-on activities led by neuroscience students from the University of Nottingham, as they learnt about the brain.

Millie Cunningham, 6, and Evie Cunningham, 9, of Southwell, looking at materials with a phone-scope

Meredith Swales, 3, of Calverton with materials of the Minster feely bags

Aimee Prior with Eva Crisp, 5, and Erin Crisp, 8, at the Sound Buskers station

Megan Shore, programme manager at Ignite! the education charity behind the festival, said: “Our mission is to spark curiosity and give families — especially those with limited access to STEM activities — a chance to enjoy hands-on experiences that make science fun and engaging.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate ten wonderful years of inspiring children and young people across our region.”

Dr Louise Gentle of NTU Brackenhurst, Nicola Marriott, Josh Marriott, 8, and Izzy Marriott, 6, of Farnsfield, with Corrine Cook, 9, of Lowdham, dissecting owl pellets

Ethan Yuen, 8, and Sru Lee of Wollaton, at the plant cell spot the difference

John Vilasboa of University of Nottingham, Tony O'Connor with his granddaughter Frankie Beastall, 9, and Woody Ryack, 6, planting cuttings.

Emily Kirkham and James Kirkham, 3, of Farnsfield looking at invertebrates using a microscope

Further events set to take place as part of the festival, and during the half-term, include the Entangled Enigmas workshop — involving escapology and slime making — at Ollerton Library and the Let’s Talk Vaccines workshop — with a range of activities by University of Leeds scientists including storyboarding, clay modelling, LEGO activities, VR, and an interactive quiz — at Bilsthorpe Library, both on February 21.

Booking is essential via the festival’s website.

Human Interest Newark Science Southwell Eloise Gilmore