With just a few weeks to go until Explorathon 2017 – Scotland’s European Researchers’ Night (29-30 September), we are highlighting Glasgow’s exciting programme of events and the researchers involved! Read on to find out about two more brilliant components of a packed few days of discovery!

 

Explorathon Extravaganza!

This year, our sell out event, Explorathon Extravaganza, is back and bigger than ever! For one night only you can explore the multi-award winning Riverside Museum as never before. Fill your night with curiosity as you wander along the old street. Find researchers in shops and explore interactive activities amongst the exhibits.

You can find out how researchers are transforming the way medicines are made by building your own (edible) crystal structures using marshmallows and toothpicks!

You can find out how researchers are transforming the way medicines are made by building your own (edible) crystal structures using marshmallows and toothpicks!

Try your hand at detecting invisible bacteria found in food; discover how we’re making skin to give robots the sense of touch or put your brain to the test with our mind-bending illusions in our Perception Corner.

A man and woman look at an interactive diagram on the wall

Find out if you are a super-face-recogniser in our ‘passport control’ area. Learn about face recognition science; take part in real psychological experiments using eye tracking technology with researchers from the Universities of Strathclyde and Stirling.

Facial recognition software in action

 

Schools Engagement

With around 40 schools in Glasgow taking part in Explorathon this year, researchers from Strathclyde and Glasgow Universities will be taking their research to the classroom, delivering hands-on activities, discussions, debates and interactive workshops. We hope that by taking part in the event, pupils will consider research as a career in years to come. Pupils from preschool, primary and secondary schools will get a taster for research topics such as solar cells, cupcake chemistry and science murder mysteries!

Pupils from Eastbank Primary School enjoying the ‘Chemistry of a Cupcake’ workshop during Explorathon16.

Pupils will have the opportunity to enter our ‘If I was researcher, I would research…” competition by sending us their pictures and ideas. Last year, prize winners from Glasgow Gaelic School and St Maria Goretti Primary School received tickets to visit Glasgow Science Centre.

 

Visit the Explorathon website for the full programme of events and discover how you can get involved in events in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and St. Andrews. All events are free however booking may be required. Follow us on social media for the latest updates: @ernscot #explorathon17

Look-out for more posts, each week on the run up to Explorathon 2017, as we reveal more of the exciting programme!

 

*EXPLORATHON (European Researchers’ Night Scotland) is funded by the European Commission under the Marie Sklowdowska-Curie Actions programme. Grant agreement No 722967