Family-friendly science bazaar aims to inspire the next generation of young researchers

A giant Lego butterfly, real-life baby crocodiles, cutting-edge artificial intelligence and much more will feature at a Science Bazaar at Oxford Brookes University.

The free family-friendly event on Saturday 18 February will have interactive stands and aims to help children learn about science in a fun way.

The BRICK People, who provide Lego and Lego-based activities for education, parties and corporate events will be coming along. They will bring Lego for butterfly making, mosaics, learning about nectar cafes and swamp trains. Oxford Brookes students will bring their electric racing car and youngsters can learn about amazing parasites, volcanoes, vaccines and edible streets throughout the day. 

The event follows the British Science Week (11-19 March) theme of ‘connections’. It will explore topics including how all living things are connected through evolution, how the internet connects people globally, how we are connected to our planet’s health and much more.

Visitors will be able to learn about the ground-breaking research of scientists from Oxford Brookes University, University of Oxford, the Open University, the UK Atomic Energy Authority and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.  

The activities are aimed at children aged five to 12, but everyone is welcome. For the first time there will be an autism-friendly early opening from 9.30am to 11.30am. The bazaar will be open to the public from 11.30am to 4.00pm.

Dr Ellie Beaman, the event organiser, said: “The early opening will offer a safe, friendly and quieter environment with fewer people than later in the day. It will be calm and help make sure everyone has the opportunity to experience the science activities we are offering.”

“We value our relationship with the local community and this is about opening our doors to people and letting them see what we do here at Oxford Brookes,” says Ellie. “We also want to raise awareness of the work we do here and inspire the next generation of scientists and researchers.

“We hope families will be excited to come along to explore, listen, watch, get messy and most of all have fun.”

Science Bazaar Beyond is free and all are welcome to turn up and enjoy the activities on Saturday from 11.30am. Anyone who wants to attend the autism-friendly early opening should book for free via Eventbrite.