Aberdeen will become a hub of discovery, debate and entertainment when the University of Aberdeen hosts EXPLORATHON 2018 in September.
The University leads the fifth annual EXPLORATHON event in Scotland from Thursday September 27 to Saturday September 29, which will also see the Universities of Glasgow, Strathclyde, St Andrews and the Beltane Network of Universities in Edinburgh bring events to their respective cities.
EXPLORATHON is the Scottish celebration of European Researchers’ Night, the largest public engagement with research event in Europe with celebrations taking place in over 340 cities in 2018. One of only four UK Researchers’ Night initiatives awarded funding from the European Commission, EXPLORATHON showcases the cutting-edge research being conducted in universities using a range of exciting and interactive formats for people of all ages and interests. Other events around the UK will be organised by the Natural History Museum in London, the Wellcome Sanger Institute in Cambridge and the University of Bristol.
In Aberdeen, the fun has been extended over several days and kicks off at the Breakneck Comedy Club on Thursday September 27 at 8.30pm for Bright Club where laughs, music and new ideas meet.
On Friday three separate events will run across the city starting in the Aberdeen Maritime Museum at 12.30pm where Professor John Morrison will discuss the city’s role in the dramatic change to Scottish painting through the introduction of European influences in the mid-19th century, as part of celebration to mark 2018 as the European Year of Cultural Heritage.
At 6pm Professor Steve Heys will take a look at recent developments in cancer research, cutting-edge treatments and plans for a world-class cancer research centre based at the University of Aberdeen at a Café Med Special in the Townhouse at 6pm.
Friday will conclude with a series of fast-paced, visual talks about fresh ideas and creative projects happening in Aberdeen at Pechakucha to be held in the Belmont Filmhouse at 7.30pm.
Saturday will see researchers take their work to the city centre with a host of family friendly, hands on and fun activities in St Nicholas Street.
Project lead Dr Jen Scott, from the University of Aberdeen, said: “EXPLORATHON is a fantastic opportunity to showcase to the public the many different areas of research in which the University of Aberdeen excels – particularly at a time when the University has been awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize, in recognition of world leading research, and has been named as Scottish University of the Year by the Sunday Times.
“We are delighted to be teaming up with so many partners across Europe to ensure events for all ages and interests run in cities across the continent.
“Here in Aberdeen we are teaming up with Robert Gordon University for the first time to take this important research to people at the heart of our city centre providing people of all ages with the chance to learn something new while they go about their usual Saturday activities.”
For more information and to book for events taking place as part of EXPLORATHON in Aberdeen visit www.explorathon.co.uk/aberdeen or follow the event @ernscot on Twitter and www.facebook.com/ernscot.