University news

Glasgow will join 280 cities across Europe to celebrate European Researchers’ Night on Friday (September 25) – bringing together some of the most inspiring researchers in the city with an extravaganza of shows, talks, family activities, comedy and discovery.

The City’s museums will come to life with research throughout the day at the Hunterian museum, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the Riverside Museum and the Glasgow Science Centre.

The Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde are working in partnership to run a number of hands-on activities with the Science Centre opening its doors in the evening to showcase research through workshops, talks, live music and planetarium shows.

Explorathon is a Scotland-wide programme showcasing the most innovative research in Scottish universities. More than 6000 people are expected to engage with around 200 researchers from seven universities in three cities – Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen, with satellite events in Dundee and St Andrews.

Jamie Gallagher, Public Engagement Officer at the University of Glasgow, said: “We’re really pleased to be involved again in European Researcher’s Night, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year.
 
“The city will come to life with curiosity and discovery. It offers real insight into the wide range of fascinating research going on at the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde.”

Dr Carol Trager-Cowan, of the University of Strathclyde’s Department of Physics, said: “Last year’s event proved to be a huge success and I am looking forward to us building upon that with another day of fun-filled activities.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for us to celebrate the innovative research taking place in Glasgow, across Scotland and throughout Europe – it will be a wonderful night.”

Science at Soar, at intu Braehead, will give people the opportunity to build their own scientific instrument, makes messy things from really tiny nano-stuff and learn all about the wonders of 3D printing. A Coffee House Lecture will be hosted in Tinderbox on Ingram Street in partnership with the Scottish Association for Mental Health followed by a ‘Café Scientifique’ offering an insight into high blood pressure.

Gilmorehill Cinema will present a sold-out screening of ‘Ghost in the Shell’, the anime film about a future where humanity can shift between flesh and machine, while Glasgow Women’s Library will explore the impact of World War I on women’s lives, freedom and welfare. Before the evening’s activities draw to a close, live band Teannaich will be providing the entertainment at the Explorathon SciArt Ceilidh.

Media enquiries: ross.barker@glasgow.ac.uk / 0141 330 8593

First published: 24 September 2015