Glasgow Science Festival set to celebrate city's 850th anniversary
This year's events are united by the theme 'Glasgow Celebrates', which recognises the 850 years which have passed since the city received the status of Burgh in 1175.
Researchers from the city's universities and beyond are set to join artists and musicians, and representatives from leading charities to welcome audiences to iconic locations including the Botanic Gardens, the Riverside Museum, and Kelvingrove Museum. Glasgow Caledonian University, the University of the West of Scotland, and the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde will also host events on their campuses.
Glasgow's 33 libraries will play a part in this year's programme, with displays of STEM-related books planned for the duration of the festival. The Smart Play Network's PlayTalkRead bus will also bring science-focused fun aimed at children up to four years old to five libraries across the city, and Glasgow University's Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre (ARC) will host three special themed evenings exploring 'The Art of Science', 'The Sound of Science' and 'A Body of Science.' Each evening will bring science to life with live music, virtual reality displays, hands-on demonstrations, and more.
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The Festival's online Science on the Sofa programme, established during covid lockdowns when in-person events were not possible, also returns with a collection of videos and activities which can be enjoyed from home.
Dr Deborah McNeill, of the University of Glasgow, is director of the Glasgow Science Festival. She said: 'This year's programme is our most jam-packed ever, expanding to new venues and bringing in a widened range of events, shows and presentations.
'We have more than 75 events in the programme, including film screenings, stand-up comedy, music shows and tours of the city. Our ever-popular activity days are returning to the Glasgow Botanic Gardens and the Riverside and Kelvingrove Museums, featuring hundreds of hands-on activities and demos from researchers, who will be on hand to chat about their work. We'll also be going on the road to being science to more people, with appearances at the Govan Fair and activities with local schools.
'We're excited to be joining people across the city to celebrate both our scientific present and the city's historic past during this 850th anniversary year."
The festival's theme is reflected in a series of events which take inspiration from the city's historic coat of arms.
The festival's popular activity days are set to return to city locations with dozens of family-focused events, many linked to the festival theme. At the Riverside Museum, from June 5-15, visitors can see sound waves with slinkies, control robots, and even witness sound waves being used to levitate objects, courtesy of scientists from the University of Strathclyde.
At the Glasgow Botanic Gardens from June 6-15, visitors can enjoy an introduction to planting with the Friends of the Glasgow Botanic Gardens, listen to their blood flow with scientists from Glasgow Caledonian University, discover fish personalities with 'Fishing for Answers' and see how birds fly with 'Let Science Flourish', both with University of Glasgow researchers.
On June 7 and 8, the Kelvingrove Museum will host 'Tree of Life' and 'Music in Parks' from researchers at the Open University.
The Glasgow Science Festival is supported by funding from the University of Glasgow and the Scottish Government.
Minister for Business Richard Lochhead said: 'Scotland's science festivals help to inspire the next generation of scientists and entrepreneurs by bringing STEM subjects to life, making them accessible and entertaining for all ages.
'Glasgow University's programme for 2025 is an impressive celebration of science in a special year for the city as it looks back on its history. The Scottish Government's ongoing support for Glasgow Science Festival is a testament to the creative ways it supports learning and our ambitions for Scotland to be a home of innovation well into the future.'
For more information on this year's events, visit glasgowsciencefestival.org to see the full programme.
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