Trailblazing across August

We've had a busy month making monsters and lava lamps, and knitting microbes. We're also very excited to announce that the programme is almost ready to be released into the wild. To be the first to hear when it's out, sign up to our newsletter.

Our monster-making activity at the Night at the Victoria Baths was enjoyed by dozens of families. Kids learnt about how animals have evolved and adapter to their environments, and then imagined their own environments and created a monster that was perfectly adapted to this world. Here's a selection of some of their creations.

The Mad Scientists' Tea Party was also tons of fun - a whole day of radioactive cupcakes, giant bubbles and herbal tea. We had a team of STEM Ambassadors on hand to deliver kitchen science activities and about 300 people dropped by during the day. Smashing. Photos by Kinopablo.

We also joined the hundreds that made it on Jamaica Day for microbe knitting and science busking. Photos on left by JayDay.

Science busking and microbe knitting at Jamaica Day

On Saturday 21 August Manchester Science Festival is heading to Jamaica Day at Longford Park and Stadium. Jamaica Day is a community Festival with loads of activities for the whole family. We'll be there science busking to the masses and knitting microorganisms! So come along and try a fizzy rocket, hear the secret sounds of the oven shelf, learn about the germs on your body and knit your very own virus.

11am - 3pm Saturday 21 August, Jamaica Day, Longford Park and Stadium

This event is free and there’s no need to book – just turn up!

Mad Scientists' Tea Party - this Saturday!

Manchester Science Festival are gearing up for the Mad Scientists' Tea Party. Here's a sneak preview of some of the activities we'll be running this weekend...

Make a monster!
Last week at the Family Friendly Film Festival's Night at Victoria Baths we ran an exciting monster-making activity and loads of kids learnt about amazing animal adaptations. Everone had so much fun that we want to run it again on Saturday! Photos from this event are now on our Flickr page.

High Peak Community Arts are bringing their Camera Obscura! This exciting installation, which is housed in a yurt, will enable you to see the world outside from inside the tent. Have a look at their website for more information.

Marbella Cupcakes, of Manchester Creative Collective, will also be there on Saturday. Come along to sample their new range of herbal teas, made from herbs from local allotments (the peppermint infusion is being made as I write this!).

Flissycakes are providing us with hundreds of delicious science-themed cupcakes, with flavours ranging from 'exploding' (containing compressed carbon dioxide for an explosive sensation!) to 'radioactive' (with brazil nuts, which contain low levels of radium). If you like the sound of these, have a look at their website.

Mad Scientists Summer Tea Party flyer!