8 Fun Family Events at Edinburgh’s International Science Festival
The Edinburgh International Science Festival is back and 2018 marks its 30th anniversary! The world’s oldest festival of science runs from the 31 March – 15 April and this year’s programme promises to be as inspiring and challenging as its predecessors! The two-week festival is a great event for all ages from all backgrounds, but we wanted to focus on the little ones in this blog as the festival has a strong focus on education, so we’ve selected 8 fun family-friendly events you won’t want to miss!
The Chemistry Show (All Ages)
Wednesday 4 April and Thursday 5 April (1pm-2pm), Auditorium National Museum of Scotland, From £4.
Be prepared for bangs, colours, flames, foam and even a song! What happens when things get really cold? How can we make cars that don’t harm the environment? And why should a lettuce be very, very afraid of Paul Murray and Robin Andrews? The vibrant show is back, jam-packed with experiments! You might even learn something… We think it sounds like a fantastic show that the whole family will love!
Urban Exploration (Ages 11+)
Wednesday 11 April (11am — 12:30pm), Meet at Jubilee Gardens, Stockbridge, £3.
Make the most of the longer days and warmer weather by taking some time to stop and smell the flowers. Getting out into nature can be of great benefit, but how far do you have to go to find it? Join the Water of Leith Conservation Trust for a stroll along the water and discover just how much nature is hidden in our urban environment!
Robot Lab (All Ages)
Saturday 7 — Monday 9 April (10am-4.30pm), National Museum of Scotland, Free
Bring your little ones along and interact with robots from the Edinburgh Centre for Robotics! From an assembly line robot that wants to learn how to work with you to cute football-playing robots, learn about the many ways in which robots are trying to understand and imitate human beings.
City Art Centre Day Pass
Saturday 31 March–Saturday 14 April (not Sundays), 9.30am-4.30pm , City Art Centre.
During the Edinburgh International Science Festival, the City Art Centre is transformed into a six-floor science playground packed full of workshops, shows, and interactive activities. If you’re looking for a fun all day event to keep the little ones entertained than this might be for you! All you’ll need is a City Art Centre Day-Pass, which will give you access to as many events as you like! There are a whole host of fun events such as the Blood Bar, Dig Up a Dinosaur, Secret Life of Coral, and Carnival of the Mind.
Capture the Sun with a Six-Month Pinhole Camera (Ages 10+)
Monday 9 April, 10am – 5pm (10am, 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3pm), Summerhall (Dissection Room), £15.
Here’s one for any budding photographers in the family! Learn how to make a super-long-exposure pinhole camera from an aluminium can with science-inspired artist Nick Sayers. Using this camera, you can take a six-month ‘solargraph’ photograph of sun tracks passing over a landscape – your house, for example – from winter to summer. Nick will explain the art and science behind the project and show you some of his own photos. Sounds fascinating!
Experimentarium (All Ages)
Monday 9 — Friday 13 April (11am – 4pm), Summerhall
The Experimentarium is back at Summerhall for its second year and is packed full of weird, wonderful, and cutting edge science! It’s a free drop-in event for all ages, and there is a range of different activities to keep the whole family entertained. Alzheimer’s Research UK are running a fun and interactive activity, 21st Century Brain, which explores brain function through virtual reality experiences and challenging brain games. Food Standards Scotland takes you on a journey through their kitchen crime scene to explore the most common ‘kitchen crimes’ in the Food Discovery Zone. Heriot-Watt University demonstrates how robot assistants can help you perform keyhole surgery in Robot-Assisted Surgery, and The University of Edinburgh explores why good quality outdoor spaces are important for health and wellbeing, plus much more!
Make Time Family Workshops (Age 7+)
Thursday 5, Friday 6, Thursday 12 and Friday 13 April (10am and 2pm), Nelson Monument, £3.
Here’s a fun activity in a fantastic location! The Collective has arranged for a professional artist to help you make your own artwork inspired by ideas of time and timepieces! Your family will learn about the science of telescopes and clocks, as well as the history of timekeeping on Calton Hill, and then get busy creating your own work. Workshops will also involve some outdoor exploring so be sure to wear weather appropriate clothing and a pair of sturdy shoes.
Family Day at Heriot-Watt (All Ages)
Saturday 14 April (10am-4pm), Heriot-Wat, Free.
Last but certainty not least is Heriot-Watt’s Family Day Out! As part of Heriot-Watt’s Year of the Sea, they’ve transformed Scotland’s National Performance Centre for Sport (Oriam) into an underwater world, creating a day out packed with workshops and interactive events. Your little ones will get the chance to drive their own underwater robot, take a virtual reality tour as microbes cleaning up oil spills, explore how scientists work with light and sound, and much more! As well as getting messy and creative, you can take part in a series of scientific challenges to unlock our underwater world, winning prizes as you go.
The Edinburgh International Science Festival runs from 31st March -15 April 2018. For tickets and information visit: http://www.sciencefestival.co.uk/
Stay in one of our Family Friendly Holiday Lets: 4a Chester Street
We have a great selection of family-friendly Edinburgh holiday lets in the city centre. Staying in a home will give you and your children a lot more space and a fully equipped kitchen in case you want to cook at home. 4a Chester Street is a stylish and very spacious home, which welcomes both families and dogs! We’re sure you’ll feel very at home here.
Leave a Comment