Windermere Science Festival partners with Lakeland Arts for its second year, 13-14 May 2023. With themes of flight, ecology, adventure and engineering, the festival invites science enthusiasts and families of all shapes and sizes to celebrate innovative scientists, dynamic discoveries and inspiring ideas in a weekend of explosive fun!
The festival, now in its second year, attracted hundreds of visitors over two days when it launched at Windermere Jetty Museum in March 2022. Set over two days, Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 May, the programme will include a variety of talks, demonstrations, events, family-friendly activities, boat trips and workshops set across the museum’s spectacular lakeshore site.
This year’s line-up boasts some of the UK’s leading scientists and science entertainers alongside top designers, engineers and some famous faces from the big screen.
BBC science journalist Greg Foot, drawing on his work with the BBC Blue Planet II team, will explain what happens as you dive further and further into the dark ocean. Alice Clement and Jerry Gillham from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) will lift the lid on life at some of our planet’s most remote Antarctic outposts, and Captain Andy Brown will explain the remarkable role pollinators perform for us.
Visitors will be able to join freshwater ecologist Dr Ellie Mackay on a canoe safari, ornithologist Jamie Norrington on a heritage boat trip and experience Dan Fox’s sound sculptures in the Windermere Jetty Museum meadow.
The Big Float will see teams build and paddle full sized cardboard boats on Windermere, while The Little Float returns for the festival’s famous paper boat race. Boat enthusiasts will also be able to see a full-size replica of the UK’s first ever seaplane, Waterbird.
Younger science enthusiasts will get the chance to see festival favourite Professor Pumpernickel and his eye-popping science shows, plus former West End star Kerry Jay who will explain basic engineering through the captivating medium of balloons. Festival goers will also get a chance to meet two surprise stars over the weekend – a treat for Star Wars fans, especially!
Those who are feeling adventurous are invited to join chemist and international best-selling author Dr Kathryn Hark up for a three course Poisoner’s Dinner and hear how some food ingredients are linked to deadly poisons!
Exhibitors will host interactive demonstrations, including the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Institute of Physics.
Windermere Science Festival is the brainchild of Nick Greenall and marks the culmination of year-round science outreach activities in South Lakeland. The festival weekend has been commissioned in partnership with Lakeland Arts with funding from Arts Council England and Westmorland & Furness Council and additional support from Old Laundry Theatre.
Nick Greenall, Founder of Windermere Science Festival, says, “In the run up to the festival we will continue our work with schools in Kendal and Windermere to bring science education to the classroom. The festival allows us to show local children and their grown-ups how fun, innovative and impactful science can be in a community setting. We had a great turn out last year and are looking forward to another fantastic festival weekend in May!”
The festival is presented in partnership with Lakeland Arts, the arts and heritage charity that runs Windermere Jetty Museum, Blackwell – the Arts & Crafts house in Bowness and Abbot Hall in Kendal which reopens on 20 May 2023.
Nick commented, “The partnership with Lakeland Arts and Windermere Jetty Museum is at the heart of what makes this festival unique – being able to make the most of the museum’s stunning lakeside location enables us to host a weekend that stands apart from all other science festivals on offer.”
Windermere Jetty Museum is an award-winning family friendly attraction offering a full day out on the shores of Windermere. The museum boasts a permanent collection of rare and curious objects including Dolly, Guinness Book of Records holder and the world’s earliest example of a mechanically powered boat! Visitors can explore Windermere on a heritage boat, wander the museum galleries and lakeshore trail, check out the programme of events, shop a range of STEAM*-inspired gifts or simply take in the views from inside the lakeshore café or from the sheltered outdoor seating. *STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics
Anyone interested in attending Windermere Science Festival can book tickets in advance online and see the full programme on the festival website windermeresciencefestival.org.
The museum offers an annual pass ticket so you can pay once and visit as many times as you like all year. An adult general admission ticket £9 with discounts for children, students, families and Art Fund national pass holders. Lakeland Arts members, Annual Pass holders and children under 5 are free.
Rhian Harris, Chief Executive Lakeland Arts says, “We are thrilled to be partnering with Windermere Science Festival again this year, Windermere Jetty Museum is the perfect location to welcome families to a fantastic weekend of STEAM-powered fun for all ages! The festival team have an exciting programme of events, demonstrations and workshops planned. It’s a wonderful opportunity to see the community come together to celebrate and inspire the next generation of scientists and innovators!”
