Imperial College London stages first public festival

30 April 2012

Where can you meet an astronaut, analyse your fingerprints, try your hand at surgery and have a pint with a professor, while listening to music and comedy? The answer is the first public festival held by one of the world's leading science-focused universities, Imperial College London. The Festival features everything from forensics to robots and artwork to enterprise through a programme of hands-on research demonstrations, talks, workshops and street performances.

Free and open to all, the Imperial Festival takes place on May 11 and 12 2012 at the College's South Kensington Campus, in London's museum quarter, a short walk from both South Kensington underground station and Hyde Park. The Festival gives visitors of all ages the chance to chat directly with Imperial researchers and:

- Debate issues of the day with soapbox scientists
- Make your own 'planisphere' for some private star gazing
- Discover how we saved the Leaning Tower of Pisa from leaning too far
- Explore new Paralympic technologies
- Find out what a 'gramophone DJ' is and tap your toe to his tunes

Natasha Martineau, Head of Research Communications at Imperial College London, said: "This is the first time we've thrown open our doors on such a scale, to reveal the wonderful and surprising world of Imperial College London. The Friday evening will be a great night out in central London, and the Saturday promises to be a terrific day of family entertainment and a chance to see what scientific discoveries and innovations are coming next from Imperial."

Members of the public are invited to drop in at any time during the Festival.
Venue: Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington Campus, SW7 2AZ. Dates and opening hours: Friday 11 May (18.00 - 22.00) and Saturday 12 May (12.00 - 18.00).

For more information, click here.