Fascinating answers to intriguing questions such as “how much DNA is in my body?”, “what makes certain foods good for your health and others bad?” and "why is slime so slimey?" will be answered tomorrow (Saturday 14 March) as a day of inspiring science takes place in Aberdeen.
Discovery Day will see a host of exciting and inventive scientific activities and events held at the city's Satrosphere Science Centre and Aberdeen Maritime Museum.
Providing an entertaining and energetic finale to National Science and Engineering Week (6 – 15 March), Discovery Day is a free event which aims to bring science and engineering to life with a series of shows, workshops, exhibitions and interactive sessions for all the family.
Bigger and better than ever this year, this is the first time the event has taken place in two locations in the city.
Visitors to Satrosphere will have the unique opportunity to hear from and pose questions to some of the University of Aberdeen's foremost scientists who will showcase their cutting edge research in a special Café Scientifique event. The University of Aberdeen Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health and Live Wire Productions will be uncovering the science behind the food on our dinner plates with lively interactive science experiments throughout the day.
The science circus will roll into town as street performer and science communicator James Soper uses juggling balls and unicycles to explain the mysterious forces of nature. Whilst Aberdeen City Council's Waste Aware campaign will show how our rubbish can be used to save the planet through getting youngsters involved in an interactive "sort out your rubbish" game. Visitors will also have a chance to win prizes by guessing the objects in a special exhibition of imagery from one of the University of Aberdeen's electron-microscopy labs.
Events and activities taking place at the Maritime Museum will include the chance to get to grips with gunk and make your own homemade slime in a BP hosted exhibition. The British Science Association will invite visitors to take on a challenge of massive proportions building the tallest giraffe possible – using only newspaper. Whilst budding engineers can put their skills to the test and design and build a moving toy using K'Nex toy kit in an event hosted by Scottish training consultancy K'NEXT Generation.
The secrets of the deep will be uncovered with video footage of the world's deepest fish captured on camera by the University of Aberdeen's Oceanlab facility, and The Robert Gordon University will provide the chance for would-be pilots to test their talent and operate an underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV).
Dr Ken Skeldon of the University of Aberdeen's Public Engagement with Science Unit and Chair of the British Science Association's Aberdeen Branch said: "The aim of Discovery Day is to provide a diverse range of inspiring, inventive and engaging activities so that everyone will find something they can get involved with. This year's event is bigger and better than ever , thanks to the strong input from key organisations across the city into the event, and we look forward to welcoming visitors of all ages to both venues."
A discovery trail has been created between Satrosphere and the Maritime Museum by Aberdeen City Council's Archaeology department, highlighting the stories behind buildings of historical interest which can be found on the journey between the two locations.
Visitors to either venue will also be able to pick up their Science Discovery Day passport, and achieve eight stamps by visiting different activities over the course of the day to be in with a chance to win an exciting selection of scientific prizes.
Discovery Day takes place from 10am – 4pm at Satrosphere Science Centre, The Tramsheds, 179 Constitution Street, Aberdeen and the Maritime Museum, 52 Shiprow, Aberdeen.
Entry is free for all the family at both venues.
For more information visit http://www.abdn.ac.uk/science/nsew/ or contact Dr Ken Skeldon, University of Aberdeen Public Engagement with Science Unit on 01224 272410 or email href="mailto:k.skeldon@abdn.ac.uk">k.skeldon@abdn.ac.uk</a> .