Embark on a festival of discovery this weekend!

FUTURES, a Festival of Discovery, returns to Bath today for a weekend of free events that will lift the lid on fascinating research in our region.

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Published on Friday 27 September 2019
Last updated on Friday 27 September 2019
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Visitors at the Holburne — Visitors enjoy the 2018 FUTURES Up Late event at the Holburne Museum

Explore the Sound of Space with an interactive sound demonstration at a Pop Up Science Party; take a scavenger hunt at the Holburne Museum to learn the untold the stories of women who have contributed to the Museum; walk with scientists to find out what black holes and neutron stars have to do with the history of Bath; put questions to the Head of our Centre for Death and Society online; or take a train trip to Westbury to experience some interactive science busking.

The festival promises the chance to explore the past, create the present and imagine the future alongside researchers from the region’s Universities as they lead hands on, interactive activities and demonstrations across the city.

FUTURES is part of European Researchers’ Night, an annual event that takes place in cities across Europe. This year Bath will be one of more than 300 cities in 30 countries taking part in the event.

It’s an opportunity for people, of all ages, to meet the researchers whose work is helping to shape the world we live in.

Researchers from University of Bath, Bath Spa University, University of Bristol and Cardiff University will be taking part in FUTURES 2019. There are also a number of events taking place in Bristol throughout the weekend including free pop up events at We the Curious and Brunel’s SS Great Britain.

Here’s what’s happening in Bath:

Friday 27 September:

FUTURES The Cubicle, Southgate Centre

Developed in collaboration with our body image researchers, The Cubicle seeks to build resilience to marketed ideals of ‘the perfect body’. It doesn’t matter if you’re tall, short, bulging, skinny, hairy, bald, fresh-faced or wrinkly – come and enjoy all your body has to offer!

FUTURES Up Late @ Holburne Museum 5pm-9pm

Come along to a very special Up Late at the Holburne Museum as researchers from University of Bath and Bath Spa University explore what happens when art and science meets. What untold stories are hidden in Museums and who has been left behind by modern narratives? Join Sandra Daroczi to explore the untold stories of the Holburne Museum through a scavenger hunt exploring the women who contributed to the Museum.

Please register for a free ticket.

FUTURES Science Pop up party @ BRLSI 6pm-10pm

Science and stand-up – it’s the perfect night out. At BRLSI you can join us for a drink and meet some of the funniest academics around as they perform their brilliant sci-stand up; as well as taking part in some fascinating science experiments, hearing PhD researchers present their research in just three minutes and a science themed pub quiz.

Dr Alex Narduzzo will be exploring the Sound of Space with his interactive sound demonstrations. Experiment with sound and discover how the physics of sound and waves kept the colosseum standing for over 2000 years!

Please register for a free ticket.

Saturday 28 September

FUTURES: Walking with Scientists:

Take a walk with scientists and see the city come to life with new perspectives on Bath’s rich science history. Join us for a guided walk with a difference. Led by Olly Langdon from Kilter Theatre walkers will be joined by researchers at different stops along the route to talk about their work, and answer questions.

David Tsang and Eliot Ayache will explore how the legacy of the Caroline and William Herschel paved the way for our modern understanding of space and explore their research into black holes, neutron stars and gamma ray bursts.

Meet at Bath Abbey at 1.30pm or 5:30pm. Each walk will take approximately 2 hours. This is a drop in event and places will be allocated on a first come first serve basis. Please register for more information and any changes to the schedule.

FUTURES: Researchers on a train: Saturday 28th September, 15:00 – 17:00 Bath Spa to Westbury

Dr Richard Fairchild will be exploring the assumptions we make about economics and behaviour. Do we always look out for our own self-interest or are we more likely to behave altruistically or cooperatively? Find out in his interactive science busking performance.

Reddit AMA, Friday 27th September, 5-6pm, Reddit

John Troyer, Head of our Centre for Death and Society will be answering any and all questions on the popular website Reddit on r/askscience. John will be talking about death, dying, dead bodies, grief and bereavement, and the future of human mortality.