First tickets go live for the Festival of Tomorrow

The festival of science and innovation, is a collaboration between New Elements and STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway and is supported by Swindon-based UK Research and Innovation.

The spectacular event, held for the first time last year, is back with a two-day virtual festival on the 19 and 20 of February, along with online activities and special events for schools. After the runaway success of last year’s event, organisers expect tickets to be snapped up quickly.

This free festival will showcase the latest research which will help us all to shape the future, from cutting edge technology to advances in our understanding of everything from medicine to climate science and the creative industries.

As well as exploring a wide range of activities to try at home, visitors to the festival can join an exciting agenda of talks and shows, covering everything from the future of food and medicine to the latest on space exploration and the fight to tackle climate change.

Director of New Elements, Rod Hebden said: “The lockdown presented us with a huge challenge, but we’ve been amazed by the response from our partners and exhibitors, who have created some fantastic events. And whilst they all have real science and technology research at their core, there really is something for everyone, whether they have an interest in science or not.

“Whilst the STEAM Museum is delivering the latest science in practice, by stepping up to the challenge of facilitating vaccines, the Festival of Tomorrow is still coming from the museum in spirit, building on the world leading engineering Swindon was built upon!”

Families will also be able to visit a virtual discovery zone and can meet and chat with scientists and engineers from a wide range of institutes, universities, and businesses. The Science Museum Group will be premiering their new digital activities, and the UK Space Agency will be teaming up with Auroch Digital and gamer eirawave to chat to the public whilst streaming footage of their Mars Horizon game, made with the European Space Agency.

Intel are back this year, to reveal the latest in computing and 5G, and visitors can even book onto virtual planetarium shows.  Visitors will be able to drop in to live demonstrations, learn how to make your own space blankets, take a behind-the-scenes tour of a lab, or create some science-inspired art – among many other family-friendly activities.

Councillor Dale Heenan, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for the Town Centre, Culture and Heritage, said: “The Festival of Tomorrow is back with two days of fun, talks and interactive activities that will showcase the very best of UK science.

 “Science has such an important part to play in our lives and we are incredibly lucky to have the support of such significant Swindon-based organisations who will bring that to life during the two-day festival. I would encourage as many families as possible to sign up as it will bring something a little different during lockdown.”

For the first time, this year, the festival organisers are also laying events aimed at adults on the Friday and Saturday evenings, with an online ‘pub quiz’ presented by a Virtual Reality quizmaster and even a Science Comedy Panel Show.

The festival is made possible by the support of principal partner, UK Research and Innovation, and Major Partners Business West and Bravedog.