Manchester Science Festival celebrates incredible ‘extremes’ at the Science and Industry Museum this October

This October, the biennial Manchester Science Festival returns to the Science and Industry Museum, bringing ten days of hands-on experiments, immersive installations and incredible innovations to the city with a programme dedicated to exploring ‘extremes’.

Running from Fri 18 – Sun 27 Oct, the festival invites visitors of all ages to get involved with an endless array of interactive events, unmissable adventures and captivating discoveries across a fun-filled schedule taking place across two activity zones, adult-only evenings, a headline artistic installation and a free major exhibition, as well as a selection of science-inspired spectacles located around Manchester.

Created by trailblazing light, sound and technology artists Squidsoup, the brand new large-scale art installation State of Mind seeks to uncover the profound impact of smartphones, apps and media technologies on our day-to-day lives with a breathtaking audiovisual landscape, designed to replicate the all-consuming psychologcial effects of a modern world saturated with sensory stimuli.

Visitors can sit, stand, walk and explore the maze of 3D LED lights and speakers, which grows from a structured light and sound display into a strange, chaotic maelstrom of wild colour. Inspired by the work of abstract artist Piet Mondrian, the exhibition invites audiences to examine the ways in which daily technologies affect mood and behaviour, as they venture through a mesmerising representation of our brains as they work to make sense of our non-stop sensory input.

On the opening weekend of Manchester Science Festival, STEM Champion, social entrepreneur and computer scientist Dr. Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE and the UK Space Agency’s Head of Space Exploration Libby Jackson OBE host a unique programme of interactive entertainment curated to help adults discover the wonders of AI and space.

Festival participants can also head over to the Arndale to get close up with the Arachnobot, a giant artwork made from an intricate cable skeleton and giant inflatable skin created by Artistic Director Tim Davies and controlled by a single puppeteer, showcasing the extremes of kinetic invention.

Throughout the festival, guests can see the pioneering Vollebak jacket, on display for the first time to celebrate the 20th anniversary of graphene, a miraculous material first discovered in Manchester.

Open to explore throughout the programme, the free major exhibition Injecting Hope: The Race for a COVID-19 Vaccine recounts the daunting challenges faced by scientists, volunteers and local citizens during the world-changing pandemic through inspirational stories and objects on display for the first time, as the museum charts the Herculean efforts to find an antidote to the virus and halt its worldwide spread with bold, brilliant technological innovations.

Across the Science and Industry Museum, guests are invited to explore more ‘extremes’ through our own bodies, from the upper limits of our physical capabilities to the challenging environments of deep space and our own planet’s changing environment.

City Sparks, the museum’s programme of activities developed in collaboration with community partners, hosts a selection of spellbinding experiences both at the museum and across the region, while North Manchester-based arts duo Malandra Jacks alongside Harpurhey peer-to-peer support group Mindful Mums will stage an immersive pop-up experience exploring the science of pregnancy and motherhood. Further community programmes curated by Beswick Chatty Crafters, Mandem Meetup, Reclaim Young Policy Makers and artist Linga Wachaga will be revealed soon.

For the festival’s show-stopping finale, the museum presents an exclusive after-dark evening event with Venture Arts, with further details to follow.

More events will be announced this September, including an exhibition exploring the mystifying relationship between our brains and bodies based on the finds of a major international online study conducted with researchers at Canada’s Western University.

Ella Wild, Head of Festivals and Events as the Science and Industry Museum, said: “We are delighted that Manchester Science Festival is back this year with an unmissable programme packed full of fun, playful experiences designed to ignite curiosity about our world.

“The festival is a brilliant opportunity to bring together visitors of all ages and interests to be inspired by science in action, and a wonderful way to showcase Manchester’s long-standing position as a leader in innovation. We can’t wait to welcome everyone in October.”

Vice Chancellor of the University of Salford, Professor Nic Beech, said: “Manchester Science Festival is always an exciting event in the year, showcasing the best and latest innovations. It is an event for all that embraces the spirit of national and international collaboration and learning that is at the heart of our city region and the spirit of the Festival aligns well with our own values around curiosity and investigation as well as our commitment to life-long learning.

“I am always delighted to see people from all walks of life getting hands on with science in a way that is fun, exciting and that inspires the next generation.”

Find out more below.