Science festival to bring live planetarium shows, stargazing and robot building to Wrexham this month!

A brand new festival filled with lectures, performances, demonstrations and hands-on activities celebrating the wonders of science is coming to Wrexham later this month.

DARGANFOD//DISCOVER will take place at venues across Wrexham town centre from Friday 26th to Sunday 28th October.

Featuring a mixture of day-time and evening events, the new festival aims to offer something for everyone, from children and families to amateurs and experts with interests in all aspects of the sciences.

Festivities kick off at Bank Street Social on Friday evening, with an exploration of physics, music and the relationship between the two with Dr John J Williamson (musician and soft matter physicist at the Francis Crick Institute).

Saturday will see the arrival of ‘Digital Discoveries’ at the Wrexham Enterprise Hub (on Queens Square), with demonstrations of virtual reality with CEMET, computer coding and robot building with TQG’s TechZone team taking place between 9am and midday.

There will also be the chance to design your own computer games characters with the Game Art Staff and Students of Wrexham Glyndwr University.

Elsewhere in town, ‘Big Ideas’ will be at Tŷ Pawb featuring four short lectures from leaders in their fields sharing insights from the cutting edge of the sciences, accompanied by the NEW Sinfonia Quartet with music inspired by the heavens (5.30pm – 9.30pm, Saturday 27th).

The CancerQuest Roadshow will be across the way at the Techniquest Glyndwr Pop Up Shop on Henblas Street between 11.00am – 4.30pm on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th. This will feature exhibits, activities and live demonstrations exploring the secrets behind cancer research, in partnership with the Wales Cancer Partnership.

Saturday will close with a party at Undegun, where its resident artists will create a surreal world of scientifically inspired music, art and performance (8.00pm until late).

A ‘Big Universe’ will be arriving at Tŷ Pawb on Sunday 28th October, with live planetarium shows, an introduction to the Celtic myths of the night sky with Astronomer and Author of Dark Land, Dark Skies, Martin Griffiths, closing with live star gazing from the roof of Tŷ Pawb (4.00pm – 7.00pm, Sunday 28th).

The event, sponsored by Wockhardt UK, is being organised by the volunteers of the North Wales Branch of the British Science Association alongside delivery partners Techniquest Glyndwr, Tŷ Pawb, Undegun, Wrexham Glyndwr University and the Wrexham Enterprise Hub.

Mike Corcoran, a member of the organising team, said: “We can’t wait to welcome visitors to DARGANFOD//DISCOVER in Wrexham.

“We’re all passionate about the sciences, and about the impact expanding your mind, questioning your beliefs and finding out about your world has both for people and for whole communities.

“We know many feel the same way, and we’re thrilled to be welcoming some fantastic speakers, presenters and performers to Wrexham, for what should be a great weekend!”

All event and ticket information is now available on the DARGANDOD//DISCOVER website and enquiries can be directed to [email protected].