Skeleton Science and Pottery Detectives 

Durham University Department of Archaeology

Have you ever wondered what it is like to be an archaeologist? Come and join us to explore how science helps us to uncover clues about the past. Investigate animal skulls and bone casts to discover what they can tell us about people's health, diet, and daily lives. Become an archaeological detective, to discover what pottery fragments can reveal about people’s lives and have a go at solving our broken-pot jigsaw challenge!

Explore Biosciences

Durham University Department of Biosciences

Explore the science of living things through a range of interactive bioscience activities. Use augmented reality to look inside the human body and learn about how organs work, investigate plant and animal tissues under the microscope, and examine animal skulls to discover how different species are adapted to their environments. Suitable for all ages, with opportunities to explore biology from whole organisms down to individual cells.

Biological Nanomachines 

Centre for Programmable Biological Matter

Our bodies are filled with many natural nanomachines who carry out the jobs we need to function, from making energy to healing us when we're sick! At the Centre for Programable Biological Matter we use our existing biological building blocks, like protein and DNA, to build new nanoscale devices to help solve biological problems and treat disease. At our activity you can learn about how protein and DNA can be used to build new machines, have a go at building your own, and have an up close look at some of our constructions through our VR headset!   

The Secret World of Bumblebees

Durham University Department of Biosciences and Artist Charlotte Bassadone

Become a Bee Explorer and uncover the Secret World of Bumblebees! Look inside a bumblebee using a microscope, build a giant bee brain from real scientific images, reveal hidden ultraviolet patterns on flowers, discover how bumblebees use scent to find food, and collect clues as you explore the remarkable sensory world of one of Britain's most important pollinators. Along the way, create your own layered print inspired by bee brains, flower patterns, bee movement and pollinator-friendly plants, taking home a unique artwork based on Durham University bumblebee research.

Green Screen Magic 

Durham University Department of Computer Science

Learn how computers see objects and colours and how we can use this to build green screens and invisibility cloaks.

Achieving Net Zero 

Durham Energy Institute

Poverty, hunger, disease, water, energy, climate - these global challenges, and many more, need solutions to make the world a better place for everyone. Join us to explore effective solutions to some of these challenges. You too can be a problem solver and make a difference.

Engineering in action: wind, heat and structures

Durham University Department of Engineering

Explore engineering through hands-on challenges and colourful thermal imaging. Design and test a mini wind turbine in a wind tunnel, build surprisingly strong structures from paper tubes, and use thermal cameras to watch warm water move through cold water. Visitors can also take a thermal selfie and print a unique photo to take home. This lively activity shows how engineering ideas help us understand power, heat, flow and strong structures in the world around us.

3D Landscape Modelling

Durham University Department of Geography

Dive into a deeper understanding topography and geomorphology: How does the landscape influence the processes that shape it? How do landscapes control water flow and water storage, and how can we manage our rivers?

The History of Medicine

Library and Collections Learning and Engagement Team

Headache? Flu? Bubonic Plague? Come and sample the finest historical remedies that 2,000 years of medical history have to offer. Spin the Wheel of Diagnosis and receive a cure* from one of our certified historical doctors**

*not really a cure
**not really doctors

WARNING: Cure may actually be worse than the disease

How random is random?

Durham University Department of Mathematical Sciences

Can you predict how the balls will fall through our mathematical pinball machine? Where will a roll of the dice bring you if you go out for a random walk?
Find out the answer to these questions and much more with our activities about the mathematics of random movement and connections to famous number patterns.

Light Entertainment

Quantum Light and Matter, Durham University Department of Physics

Light and atoms are all around us, but is there more to them than meets the eye? Make your own colour-changing picture out of Sellotape, see the Northern Lights in miniature and learn how we can use light to identify different atoms.

Seeing into space 

Centre for Advanced Instrumentation, Durham University Department of Physics

Can you fix a giant space telescope? Have you ever wondered why the stars twinkle, and why that matters when we talk to satellites in space? Find out all about optics in space and on the ground!

Universe makers

Institute for Computational Cosmology, Durham University Department of Physics

Find out how cosmologists and astronomers find out how planets and galaxies are made.

Science and the senses

Durham University Department of Psychology

A series of fun games for children designed to highlight how important our senses are, and how they work together to help us understand the world. Children of all ages can take part in a series of fun demonstrations involving reaction time challenges, prism goggles, the rubber hand illusion, and the spinning wheel illusion.

Peak Exercise Performance 

Durham University Department of Sport and Exercise Science

Would you like to see how strong you are? What about how powerful you are or how quickly you can react to a signal? All of these things are important for sport and exercise, and we can help you find out!

Do you have what it takes to be a technician? 

Durham University technical staff

Explore technical skill sets as you visit stands at Celebrate Science and complete your ‘Technical Skills Passport’ to claim a prize!

Experiment

Durham University Science Engagement and Schools Science Ambassadors

Come and meet these inspiring school students with an enthusiasm for science and a talent for getting people involved in experiments. Engage with their wide range of hands-on activities and be amazed by the wonders of science!

Reinventing the wheel

Beamish Museum

Have you ever wondered why wheels are designed the way they are? Come along and learn about the designs of wheels from history and see if you can create and improve one yourself.

Finding water on Mars with Lego rovers 

Boulby Underground Laboratory (STFC)

Code your own LEGO Mars rover! In this activity, you will get the chance to programme a LEGO MINDSTORM Mars rover using a block-based programming language. The mission? Traverse a simulated Martian surface and detect the presence of liquid water using the robot's inbuilt colour sensor. Members of the Boulby Underground Laboratory team will be around to assist in coding and robot handling.

Mimi and friends’ big earth adventure

Institute of Physics - North East Branch

Physics makes the world go round. What's the difference between a volcano and a mountain? Why do earthquakes happen? What kind of weather comes from space? Let's go on a planet-wide adventure and find out!

Kinetic paper plate challenge

Locomotion Learning Team

Spin, experiment and discover with the Learning Team at Locomotion! Dive into a fun, hands-on kinetic paper plate challenge where you’ll explore forces, motion, energy and engineering while creating your very own spinning masterpiece! Can you make it spin faster, travel further or move in a new way? Get creative and see your ideas in action!

Spark and Spin: The Science and Engineering of Renewable Energy

School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University

Discover the science and engineering behind generating electricity. Design and test your own miniature wind turbines and investigate how fruits and vegetables can act as simple batteries. Through design and experimentation participants will explore the principles of renewable energy, electricity generation, and engineering design while learning how innovation can help address future energy challenges.

North Pennines: Past, present and future 

North Pennines National Landscape and UNESCO Global Geopark team

Find out what makes the North Pennines National Landscape and UNESCO Global Geopark special through hands-on activities, from millions of years of landscape formation to making a future for nature.

Conservation in action 

English Heritage

Find out more about how we look after your heritage with our fun hands-on activities for all ages.

Planetarium  

Durham University Department of Physics

Explore the night sky in Durham University's planetarium. Join astronomers on a journey to outer space with stories about the constellations and fascinating facts about stars, planets and what you can see in the sky tonight. Shows last approximately 25 minutes and are suitable for anyone aged four and over. Children should be accompanied by a responsible adult.