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Science in the Park returns with family friendly fun and learning

Finding out the secrets of the amazing colour changing octopus, getting up close to an electric racing car, checking out the natural history museum in Wollaton Hall and making a sweet cannon are just some of the interactive activities on offer for budding scientists at this year’s Science in the Park event.

    Science in the Park
    Science in the Park takes place on March 5 (Image: University of Nottingham)

    Scientists from the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University are joining forces to provide a range of exciting family friendly activities at Wollaton Park on Saturday 5th March for the return of Science in the Park and visitors can also visit the Titus exhibition.

    The popular one-day event is now in its 14th year and provides a free, family friendly day packed full of activities to celebrate science, technology, engineering and maths.

    Visitors can get hands on with a wide range of scientific experiments and activities including; exploring the world of Fungi, investigating plant fossils and what they can tell us about climate change, finding out what Barn Owls eat and building a sweet cannon to see how far a jelly baby can fly!....plus much more.

    Dr Sam Tang, public awareness scientist at the University of Nottingham said: “It’s so exciting to be bringing Science in the Park back to Wollaton after being paused due to Covid. Family events like this are a fantastic way to showcase some of the amazing research that happens at the city’s two universities, but more importantly inspire children to take an interest in science and realise how science and technology are vital in so many elements of everyday life.”

    Dr Michael Loughlin, scientist and event lead at Nottingham Trent University, said: “It is great that the return of Science in the Park coincides with the visit to Wollaton Hall of Titus the T-rex, giving both colleagues and students the opportunity to tailor their activities to a more prehistoric theme than normal.

    “It is events like this that exemplify the close relationship the two universities have, and their common goal encouraging current and future scientists in engaging the public and promoting science within their communities.”

    Other local groups are also taking part with Girlguiding Nottinghamshire planting seeds, a guided walk with members of the local RSPB group spotting birds and the British Geological Society creating earthquakes with lego.

    Tickets are free but need to be booked in advance, for more information and bookings visit: https://wollatonhall.org.uk/science-in-the-park-2022.

    • Notes for editors

      Press enquiries please contact Dave Rogers, Public Relations Manager, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8782, or via email.

      More information is available from Sam Tang at the University of Nottingham on Samantha.tang@nottingham.ac.uk or Jane Icke, Media Relations Manager for the Faculty of Science at the University of Nottingham, on jane.icke@nottingham.ac.uk

      The University of Nottingham is a research-intensive university with a proud heritage, consistently ranked among the world's top 100. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement. The University’s state-of-the-art facilities and inclusive and disability sport provision is reflected in its status as The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021 Sports University of the Year. We are ranked eighth for research power in the UK according to REF 2014. We have six beacons of research excellence helping to transform lives and change the world; we are also a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, a pioneering collaboration which brings together the combined strength and civic missions of Nottingham’s two world-class universities and is working with local communities and partners to aid recovery and renewal following the COVID-19 pandemic.

      Nottingham Trent University (NTU) received the Queens Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education in 2021 for cultural heritage science research. It is the second time that NTU has been bestowed the honour of receiving a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for its research, the first being in 2015 for leading-edge research on the safety and security of global citizens.

      NTU was awarded Outstanding Support for Students 2020 (Times Higher Education Awards). It was the University of the Year 2019 (Guardian University Awards, UK Social Mobility Awards), Modern University of the Year 2018 (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide) and University of the Year 2017 (Times Higher Education Awards).

      NTU is one of the UK’s largest universities, with over 33,000 students and more than 4,000 staff located across five campuses. It has an international student population of 4,000 and an NTU community representing around 160 countries.

      In the past 15 years, NTU has invested £450 million in tools, technology and facilities.

      NTU is in the UK’s top 10 for number of applications and ranked first for accepted offers (2019 UCAS UG acceptance data) It is also among the UK’s top five recruiters of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

      75% of NTU students go on to graduate-level employment or graduate-entry education / training within fifteen months of graduating (Guardian University Guide 2021).

      NTU is 4th globally (and 3rd in the UK) for sustainability in the 2021 UI Green Metric University World Rankings (out of more than 900 participating universities).

      Festival Producer Megan Shore can be available for interview.

    Published on 22 February 2022
    • Subject area: Sciences including sport sciences
    • Category: Press office; Research; School of Science and Technology