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Festivals

Every year, scientists from the University of Liverpool take part in festivals around the UK. There are some we revisit year after year, and others we have yet to tap into.

We have listed some of the excellent festivals that go on around the UK every year below. If you would like to take part in a festival or have an activity idea, please contact the FHLS public engagement team on HLSEngagement@liverpool.ac.uk.

Best practices for a memorable experience:

Engage your audience

  1. Use clear and simple language to explain complex concepts
  2. Encourage participation through interactive elements and demonstrations
  3. Check out our information on Table-top Activities.

Visual appeal

  1. Incorporate eye-catching visuals, posters, and multimedia to enhance understanding
  2. Create a visually appealing booth to attract festival-goers.

Friendly atmosphere

  1. Foster a welcoming environment for visitors to ask questions and share their thoughts
  2. Encourage a friendly and open dialogue about science.

Takeaways

  1. Provide informative brochures, handouts, or digital materials for visitors to take home
  2. Include contact information for those interested in learning more.

You also need to consider the limitations of the setting. Many festivals are set up in the middle of a field with limited, if any, access to power and water.

Edinburgh Science Festival

Runs in April. Edinburgh’s annual Science Festival – the world’s first public celebration of science and technology as a festival and still one of Europe’s largest.

Glasgow Science Festival

First two weeks of June.

Launched in 2007, Glasgow Science Festival (GSF) has grown to be one of the largest science festivals in the UK. GSF takes memorable events to non-traditional venues across the city where we engage with around 100,000 people, from all ages and backgrounds, through the June festival and tens of thousands more through our community projects.

The principal aim is to showcase the outstanding contribution Glasgow and Glasgow based researchers make - not sure if non-Glaswegians can take part?

Lambeth Country Show

Early June. All the attractions of a traditional country show are on offer such as sheep shearing and owl displays, home grown vegetable and flower competitions, horse jousting and stunt shows, an on-site farm and a diggerland for all to enjoy. Visitors can also learn about the latest research and technologies in science, space travel and virtual reality, as well as getting involved in activities based around the environment and sustainability.

Cheltenham Science Festival

Early June. Every year we are joined by the world’s greatest scientists, futurologists and thought-leaders to help make sense of the world around us.

Camp Bestival

Takes place late July / early August. Large family festival hosting a wide range of family-orientated creative activities. Find out more about how to volunteer.

Green Man Festival - Einstein's Garden

Runs in August. We’re always on the lookout for organisations, research groups, and any other science/nature/technology-minded folk that would like to bring a stall to Einstein’s Garden with the aim of engaging festival audiences with their work. Your stall can explore any aspect of science or tech research, nature, curiosity or questions about the world around us, which you’ll bring to life in a unique way to amaze and engage our audience of thousands.

Orkney International Science Festival

This year's festival runs from 4 - 10 September with a mix of rich and varied events and people Check out the highlights from previous years via the link  and on the YouTube channel.

Midlothian Science Festival

This year's Midlothian Science Festival is bringing science to you with a digital programme of hands on activities, talks, shows and more between 17th and 25th October that appeals to a large, diverse audience of all ages and backgrounds, from professionals to novices, from science enthusiasts to the merely curious.

There are even scientific experiments that can be done from the comfort of a visitors' own home with more activities to check  on the website.