Skip to main content

Festivals

Every year, scientists from the University of Liverpool take part in festivals. 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.

Bluedot

Late July. An extremely popular festival, scientists from the University of Liverpool often attend Bluedot and run a stand in their Science zone. Bluedot is taking a fallow year in 2024 and will be back in 2025.

Camp Bestival

Late July.

Edinburgh Fringe

Runs in August. Take top academics, contentious research, add a comedian and it’s the force of nature that is the Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas (CoDI). Now in its 11th year, CoDI drags academics out of their ivory towers to debate today’s burning issues and cutting edge research with audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and monthly at the Stand Comedy Club.

Green Man Festival

Runs in August. We’re 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 will 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

Runs in September

Midlothian Science Festival

Over two weeks each October, the Midlothian Science Festival runs enjoyable science activities across the region appealing to a large, diverse audience of all ages and backgrounds, from professionals to novices, from science enthusiasts to the merely curious.

Swansea Science Festival

The largest festival of its kind in Wales - the Swansea Science Festival returns with the Family Festival on 28th and 29th October 10am - 4pm (2023), live and in person at the National Waterfront Museum, with other events delivered by the 'Science Festival Extras' programme before and after the main event at the weekend.