Manchester’s massively-popular Science Festival has confirmed it will be making a grand return for 2024 later this year.
Fancy playing some games in the name of science, and helping to discover the key to maintaining healthy brains and bodies while you’re at it? Well, thankfully, Manchester Science Festival is back once again for 2024 – and it’s giving you the chance to do just that.
Not only is it one of the UK’s most popular science festivals, but this year, Manchester Science Festival – which is produced and staged at Manchester‘s legendary Science and Industry Museum in the heart of the city centre every other year – is offering visitors the unique opportunity to become a genuine part of history.
You’ll do this by participating in what will be the world’s largest online study into “the elusive relationship” between the brain and body.
Returning from Friday 18 – Sunday 27 October, the 2024 festival’s programme of events will “explore extremes” and give festivalgoers a shot at getting hands-on with some of science’s most cutting-edge developments, as well as delving into some of the biggest questions facing our planet.
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Think multi-sensory experiences, immersive performances, and so much more.
As mentioned, ahead of this year’s event, the festival has collaborated with researchers at Western University over in Canada to launch a pioneering series of online brain gamesthat will help a team of world-renowned neuroscientists to discover more about the links between physical and cognitive health.
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Manchester Science Festival is making a highly-anticipated return later this year / Credit: Science Museum Group
As well as being fun to take part in, each completed survey will give participants instant results and support them in learning about how their own brain functions, all while helping the neuroscientists identify activities and lifestyle habits that could improve or maintain the functioning of our brains for longer.
Anyone who signs up to the survey will have a chance to to win some Amazon vouchers, and the findings of the experiment will be explored at this year’s Manchester Science Festival.
Speaking ahead of the return of Manchester Science Festival for 2024 later this year, Sally MacDonald, who is the Director of the Science and Industry Museum, said: “We can’t wait for Manchester Science Festival’s return this October.
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“It’s a brilliant opportunity to bring together visitors of all ages and interest to be inspired by science in action, and a wonderful way to showcase Manchester’s long-standing position as a leader in progress and innovation.
Manchester Science Festival is held every other year down at the Science and Industry Museum / Credit: Science Museum Group
“We are delighted to be launching the festival with the pioneering Brain and Body study, and giving more people the unique opportunity to be part of contemporary developments in science and play a role in furthering scientific knowledge to benefit our collective future.”
The ‘Brain and Body study’ is being spearheaded by celebrated neuroscientist, Professor Adrian Owen of Western University.
If you fancy taking part in history, the survey can be completed online here using a desktop, laptop, or tablet, and takes around 75 minutes to fill in – with fun brain games and cognitive challenges all part of the process, and the results shared with you at the end.
Find out more about what to expect at this year’s Manchester Science Festival 2024 here.
Featured Image – Science Museum Group
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Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum announces FREE programme of space-themed activities
Emily Sergeant
National Space Day is coming up, and you can celebrate with a bunch of free space-inspired activities in Manchester this bank holiday.
Ever wondered what astronauts eat in orbit? How they use the loo in zero gravity? Or why crumbs are bad news on the International Space Station? Well, to celebrate National Space Day – which is taking place this year on Friday 1 May – you’ll now get to discover the answers to those questions and so much more down at the Science and Industry Museum early next month.
The popular Manchester city centre-based museum has unveiled a programme of free ‘out-of-this-world’ events and activities this upcoming May bank holiday weekend.
The programme of free events are set to accompany the museum’s latest special exhibition, Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos – which you do have to pay for – and will give visitors more ways to explore the ‘wonders and weirdness’ of space.
The Science and Industry Museum has announced a free programme of space-themed activities / Credit: Drew Forsyth / Science Museum Group
Launching on National Space Day (Friday 1 May) and running through to Monday 4 May, the special bank holiday weekend programme is especially timely following the recent return of Artemis II astronauts from their history-making mission around the moon.
Families can get a taste of space during new live shows by sampling real foods used to feed astronauts, and discover more about how humans live and work beyond Earth, while budding space explorers put their skills to the test in interactive activities designed to ‘spark curiosity’ and ‘stretch imaginations’ to the moon and back.
Stargazers can enjoy the night sky as its projected across super-sized screens, or get creative by crafting their very own constellations and designing a mission patch for an astronaut’s spacesuit.
The events accompany the museum’s latest special exhibition, Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos / Credit: Drew Forsyth / Science Museum Group
“2026 has already been a stellar year for space,” commented Tash Camberwell, who is the Interpretation and Content Developer at the Science and Industry Museum, as the programme of free events was announced this week.
“We’ve been so inspired by the amazing Artemis II astronauts, so I’m especially excited to bring space back down to Earth with an action-packed programme for the May bank holiday.
“Just like the exhibition, our holiday activities have been created for young people and their grown-ups to enjoy together by blending humour, hands-on science and spectacular experiences to spark curiosity in space and inspire the next generation of space explorers.”
More information on the bank holiday weekend activities can be found on the Science and Industry Museum’s website here, and free general admission tickets, as well as £10 tickets to Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos, can also be booked online too – with under threes going free.
Following what was a popular spring school holidays, museum staff say early booking is ‘advised’.
Featured Image – Drew Forsyth / Science Museum Group
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adidas and JD are giving away FREE Nell’s pizza with a Manchester Marathon medal
Daisy Jackson
Manchester Marathon finishers will be able to reward themselves with free Nell’s pizza this weekend, thanks to a collaboration with adidas and JD.
The sportswear giants will be teaming up with one of the city’s top pizza spots to hand out the ultimate post-race reward at Kampus this Sunday.
It’s all to celebrate the launch of the new adidas EVO SL ATRs, a shoe that’s built with running miles in mind.
And there’ll be a chance to grab an exclusive t-shirt too, and have your official marathon finish time branded on-site.
adidas and JD are giving away FREE Nell’s pizza with a Manchester Marathon medal / Credit: Supplied
As well as a free slice of Nell’s famous New York-style pizza and a drink, Manchester Marathon finishers will be able to enter into a range of giveaways, with prizes including the EVO SL ART, adidas merch, and range of other prizes.
And you’ll be recovering with a slice in hand and a live DJ keeping the post-race energy high
All you need to do is show your Manchester Marathon medal at Nell’s at Kampus, to grab your free slice, and check out adidas and JD’s latest drop.
Friends and family are encouraged to join too – after all, all runners know a marathon isn’t possible without that support crew.
There are also a bunch of giveaways and more to look forward to / Credit: Supplied
Pizza slices will be handed out on a first-come, first-serve basis, so make sure your sprint to Nell’s is your fastest yet.
Thankfully, the adidas EVO SL’s are built for speed…
adidas x JD x Nell’s – Manchester Marathon event
Taking place on Sunday 19 April, from 12pm to 8pm
Free pizza slice and a drink when you show your Manchester Marathon medal (while stocks last)
Exclusive merch and great prize giveaways from adidas and JD
Plus photo moments, live DJs, and more
Find it at The Bungalow, Kampus, M1 3GL (next to Nell’s)
Emily Sergeant -
15th January 2024 
