Bradford Science Festival programme and Lead Partner announced

The National Science and Media Museum is delighted to announce the first details of activities and a Lead Partner for this year’s Bradford Science Festival.

The festival was postponed from its original date in July due to Covid-19 and will now take place this October half term (24 October – 1 November). It has also been announced that PPG, global supplier of paints, coatings, and specialty materials, will be this year’s Lead Partner. Other partners of this year’s festival include The Broadway and Bradford BID.

This year’s festival will have a different format to previous years to take into account the latest safety and social distancing measures. As well as in-museum activities, there will also be a focus on online resources, learning packs and radio shows.

Live highlights of this year’s festival will include a brand-new Scavenger Labs science show, raising awareness of the environmental and human consequences caused by the millions of tonnes of waste from disposable electronic consumer items produced every day. Visitors can also see a special screening of Black Panther with a Q&A and panel discussion in partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Online there will be lots of fun activities for families to do at home, created in partnership with Aires Rivers Trust, University of Bradford, 50 things to do before you are 5, Born in Bradford and many more. The museum’s festival team and partner organisations will also be distributing printed science activity packs to schools around Bradford with an exciting variety of activities to inspire families over half term.

Festival fans can also listen to a series of special radio shows throughout the week on BCB Radio. Shows will include an exploration of women in STEM, with interviews and discussions with women leading in these industries.

Director of the National Science and Media Museum Jo Quinton-Tulloch said: “We have been working throughout this period to adapt the Bradford Science Festival so it can go ahead in a different format in line with the latest Government guidance, and we are delighted to reveal some of the programme for this October half term with a huge variety of inspirational activities in the museum, online and through other channels. We are also thrilled to welcome PPG on board as this year’s Lead Partner and thank them for their generous support for the festival and our wider STEM education goals. I’m very excited that we’re able to produce the event with the support of our partners and collaborators. We were disappointed to cancel the festival in July but can’t wait to deliver an amazing new programme this autumn.”

Ken Armistead, PPG director, corporate communications, Europe, Middle East and Africa, added: “At PPG we share The Science Museum Group’s mission to inspire young people’s curiosity about science and the world around them. We hope this year’s festival will inspire even more children to consider a career in science, engineering and problem-solving, creating a brighter future for generations to come. Furthermore, the themes of the festival mirrors our values around sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion making the partnership a great fit for PPG.”

 More information about Bradford Science Festival will be made available in early October, including further programme announcements and ticket information. Sign up to the museum newsletter for the latest updates.