Bringing chemistry to the community
We believe science should be accessible and enjoyable for all. Our public engagement activities include:
• Southampton Science and Engineering Festival (SOTSEF): An award-winning annual event featuring interactive exhibits, live demonstrations, and family-friendly activities.
• Community Collaborations: From art galleries to local centres, we take chemistry beyond the lab to unexpected places.
• Public Lectures: Past talks include the Royal Society of Chemistry Family Lecture series, covering topics like ‘The Secret World of Gases’ and ‘Chemistry in Your Shopping Basket’.
SOTSEF runs every year around March. Find more details about Southampton Science and Engineering Festival.
The RSC Family lectures run every year. Find more details about Family Lecture 2026: 'How to see, hear and smell the structure of molecules’.
We have had a fantastic response from the pupils and teachers and lots of interesting questions. They seemed to really enjoy the hands-on elements and the workshop groups were really buzzing with enthusiasm.