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The University of Southampton
Biological Sciences

Southampton’s Science and Engineering Festival an opportunity to explore and discover

Published: 6 March 2017
Science and Engineering Festival

The University of Southampton will host the fifteenth anniversary edition of its ever-popular Science and Engineering Day on Saturday, 18 March, 2017.

The award-winning Day is the culmination of the University’s annual Southampton Science and Engineering Festival (SOTSEF) – the largest event of its kind in the South of the UK - which runs this year from 10-19 March as part of British Science Week.

The festival will allow everyone to discover and explore the world of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) through a diverse programme of free activities run by the Public Engagement with Research unit at the University Of Southampton (www.southampton.ac.uk/per).

The week sees a variety of free events for all ages occurring across Southampton. The week includes an evening of science comedy with Ian B Dunne with his ‘The Wrong Stuff (The Science that seemed a good idea at the time)’ show and an exploration of the science behind the Jurassic Park franchise in our ‘Jurassic World: Fact from Fiction?’ event with Dr Neil Gostling.

This free Science and Engineering Day then gives visitors of all ages a unique opportunity to explore the whole spectrum of research and education activities across the University’s Highfield and Boldrewood Campuses.

Southampton researchers, students and partner organisations will offer over 120 hands-on activities including experiments, exhibits and tours from experts in chemistry, medicine, maths, engineering and archaeology.

The Day includes behind the scenes tours of Southampton’s world-leading research facilities including the RJ Mitchell Wind Tunnel where Britain’s Olympic athletes conducted testing ahead of their Gold medal success. Visitors can also explore the University’s internationally-renowned fibre-drawing towers and clean rooms, which produce the optical fibres that power the Internet and global communication networks. 

This year’s event will also feature 85 brand-new activities including the Archaeology Village with site-excavation, the Biodiversity Hub with nature trails, the Science Soundwalk, Mini-Professors sessions for the under 5’s, and new zones for Alumni and Teachers.

“This year’s Festival and Science and Engineering Day promises to be bigger and better giving our visitors to interact with many of the renowned research and other activities offered through the University of Southampton,” said Dr Steve Dorney, Director of the Public Engagement with Research unit. “SOTSEF is entirely unique in the range of subjects our visitors can also explore and go behind the scenes to see where many of our world-leading discoveries are made to see firsthand how the University is truly changing the world for the better.”

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