Spotlight events

Throughout the year, we get involved in a diverse range of public and community events and activities.

These include participating in science, history, literature and music festivals, engaging local communities in our research activities, delivering lifelong learning programmes, volunteering, and more.

We’ve picked out a few highlights here to get you started.

Community Festival

Each year, we throw open our doors for our local friends and neighbours to discover the variety of work we do here at the University.

This free day is jam-packed with fun activities for all the family, including interactive demonstrations, musical and drama performances, and behind the scenes tours.

Our Community Festival provides an inviting, informal space for visitors to meet our staff and students and for us to take part in conversations that connect and inspire.

The festival returns on 10 June 2023, with an on-campus, free, fun-filled event open to everyone.

For more information, visit the Community Festival web page.

bluedot

Each year, Jodrell Bank plays host to the award-winning bluedot festival of discovery, inviting visitors to explore a stellar programme of music, science and cosmic culture beneath the iconic Lovell Telescope.

Running over four days and combining music, live science experiments, expert talks and immersive artworks, the event inspires and entertains over 15,000 festival-goers each day.

bluedot provides a unique place to highlight the fragility of planet Earth, to celebrate science and the exploration of the universe, and to explore the frontiers of human advancement through science, culture, art and technology.

Bluedot returns 21-24 July 2022, with Björk performing orchestral arrangements of her works so far with The Hallé orchestra, featuring visuals projected on the 250-foot Lovell Telescope.

For more information, visit the bluedot website.

ESRC Festival of Social Science

Each year, we take part in the ESRC Festival of Social Science, a UK-wide, free celebration of the social sciences.

The Festival returns 22 October – 13 November 2022 with the theme of ‘Exploring society together’, with a special focus on climate change and the environment, with many our events exploring the various ways social science can help our planet to survive and thrive and the vital roles we all play.

For more information about festival events in Manchester, take a look at our Festival website.

For more general information about the festival, visit the ESRC Festival of Social Science website.

Science X

This free, interactive festival of exploration and experiments is a great chance to discover the fun behind science and engineering.  From public libraries to shopping centres, the annual event aims to reach out to groups not traditionally engaged with science.  From robots, and racing cars, to flight simulators and future materials, this hands-on event has something for everyone – from the very young to the young at heart. Science X returns on 28 and 29 October 2022.

The more information, visit the Science X website.

Great Science Share for Schools

The Great Science Share for Schools brings together school pupils aged 5-14 from across the world on a day all about sharing science.

It aims to engage students in a child-focused, inclusive, non-competitive, and collaborative learning experience, enable pupils to share their own scientific questions and investigations, and raise the profile of science in schools and communities.

The Great Science Share for Schools returns on 14 June 2022, and schools can register now to access exclusive resources and receive all the latest news and updates.

For more information, visit the Great Science Share for Schools website.

Manchester Literature Festival

The Manchester Literature Festival is a celebration of imagination, ideas, stories, and voices from around the world.

It is part of Manchester’s rich cultural tapestry and is committed to bringing together the most exciting storytellers, poets, and thinkers for everyone to enjoy.

Headline names in 2021 included Bernadine Evaristo, Elif Shafak, and University Chancellor and poet Lemn Sissay. The fantastic programme featured intimate conversations, talks from authors, poets and activists, new commissions and family-friendly activities.

For more information, visit the Manchester Literature Festival website.

British Science Week

Each March, British Science Week shines the spotlight on how science, technology, engineering and maths relate to our everyday lives and helps to inspire the next generation of scientists with fun and participative activities. Each year, the University runs a number of events to celebrate.

British Science Week returns on 11-20 March 2022. These took science straight to schools and homes by offering a range of online opportunities to engage with STEM activities for learners.

For more general information, visit the British Science Week website.

Podcasts

A number of our cultural institutions and research groups at the University have created podcasts to help share their work with wider communities. Here are just some of the available podcasts.