Hands-On Half-Term – February 2020
Thursday 13 February
Anatomy night: Matters of the heartValentine’s day is all about the heart. So let’s take a look at a real one, with the experts. Brighton and Sussex Medical School anatomists dissect a heart in Komedia. Click here for more
Komedia, 6.30pm – 7.30pm
Saturday 15 February
Free Day: Change the World – Women in ScienceCelebrate the opening of our new exhibition Anita Corbin: 100 First Women Portraits exhibition with a special Free Day of talks and pop up chats.
Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, 10.00am-5.00pm
Kitchen Cupboard ChemistryMasterchef meets molecules as we throw open the kitchen cupboard and reveal the secret science within. Let’s put chemistry back in the kitchen!
British Airways i360, 10:30am-11:15am, 12:30pm-1:15pm, 2:30pm-3:15pm
Poems and Paradoxes with Kyle D EvansSinging maths entertainer Kyle D Evans brings some brand new mathematical poetry, using his favourite paradoxes as a springboard. Stacks of crowd participation for children and their adults.
The Walrus, 10.30am – 11.30am, 2.00pm – 3.00pm
Bewilder Box: Box of Bewilderment!Bewilder Box escape rooms have created a mini escape room in a box. See if you have what it takes to crack their bewildering Box of Bewilderment!
St Augustine’s Event Centre, 11am-5pm Until Sun 16 Feb
Escape! Mystery at the ManorFollowing a sell-out run in Autumn Escape! Mystery at the Manor returns Join forces with your friends and family in an immersive journey of escape-room style puzzle solving and storytelling in a historic mansion.
Preston Manor, 11.00am-7.00pm Until Sun 16 Feb
Pocket Science FunfairAll the fun of the fair, plus all the buzz of science. With new science fun and special guests, in the amazing St Augustine’s Centre.
St Augustine’s Event Centre, 11am-5pm
Sunday 16 February
Orchestra of Objects Presents an Interactive music workshopCome and meet the ‘Pump-a-Phone’, ‘Grass-Xylo-Hopper’, and ‘Twisty-Bata-Drum’ among other creations in these fun sound and sculpture workshops
British Airways i360, 10.00am – 11.00am
Bewilder Box: Box of Bewilderment!Bewilder Box escape rooms have created a mini escape room in a box. See if you have what it takes to crack their bewildering Box of Bewilderment!
St Augustine’s Event Centre, 11am-5pm
Escape! Mystery at the ManorFollowing a sell-out run in Autumn Escape! Mystery at the Manor returns Join forces with your friends and family in an immersive journey of escape-room style puzzle solving and storytelling in a historic mansion.
Preston Manor, 11.00am-7.00pm
Pocket Science FunfairAll the fun of the fair, plus all the buzz of science. With new science fun and special guests, in the amazing St Augustine’s Centre.
St Augustine’s Event Centre, 11am-5pm
Coding and Hacking for Girls!Calling girls aged 9 and above! Come and learn the skills you’ll need to succeed in the world of work. Learn to hack Minecraft using Python. Coding experience not required.
British Airways i360, 12:00pm – 2:00pm, 2:30pm – 4:30pm
Monday 17 February
An Introduction to Hacking with Minecraft and PythonAged 9 and above? Come and learn the skills you’ll need to succeed in the future world of work. Hack Minecraft using Python. Coding experience not required. Enthusiasm and curiosity absolutely required!
British Airways i360, 9:00am – 11:00am, 11:30am – 1:30pm, 2:00pm – 4:00pm
World of Food – School Holiday Cooking (for 7-12 and 13-16 year-olds)Cookery sessions covering different global cuisines for kids aged 7 to 12 and 13 to 16.
The Community Kitchen, 09.30am – 12.00pm, 2.00pm – 4.00pm Until Thu 20 Feb
Jaws ‘n’ ClawsCome and meet Phil and his amazing menagerie of animals, including snakes, lizards and giant bugs!
Booth Museum, 10.30-11.30am, 12.00-1.00pm, 1.30-2.30pm, 3.00-4.00pm
Electricity & Resistance: Steady Hand Game WorkshopThis workshop includes simple experiments to help you begin exploring and understanding electricity and circuits. Use your discoveries to build your own model Steady Hand Game to take home with you.
The Walrus, 1.00pm – 2.30pm, 3.00pm – 4.30pm
Learn to KnitHow to knit! Using your body as knitting needles! This is SERIOUS hands-on workshop, and great fun as well as very useful. Using recycled materials.
The Fashion School, 3.30pm-5.30pm
Tuesday 18 February
World of Food – School Holiday Cooking (for 7-12 and 13-16 year-olds)Cookery sessions covering different global cuisines for kids aged 7 to 12 and 13 to 16.
The Community Kitchen, 09.30am – 12.00pm, 2.00pm – 4.00pm Until Thu 20 Feb
Orchestra of Objects Presents… 2 interactive music workshopsCome and meet the ‘Pump-a-Phone’, ‘Grass-Xylo-Hopper’, and ‘Twisty-Bata-Drum’ among other creations in these fun sound and sculpture workshops
British Airways i360, 10.00am – 11.00am; 11.15am – 12.15pm; 1.15pm – 2.15pm; 2.30pm – 3.30pm
Bubble Brain WorkshopA must-do half-term workshop for big and small kids featuring smoke bubbles, bubble carousels, bubbles that defy the laws of maths!
St Augustine’s Event Centre, 10.30 – 11.30, 12.00 – 13.00, 14.00 – 15.00, 15.30 – 16.30
Firecraft: The Secrets of the SparkA highly interactive and experimental 1 hour outdoor workshop where we shall explore Chris’s Six Scientific Ignition Tricks – all the different methods for getting a blaze going.
Stanmer Park, next to Proud Country House, 10.30am – 11.30am, 11.45am – 12.45pm, 1.00pm – 2.00pm, 2.15pm – 3.15pm, 3.30pm – 4.30pm
Wild Food WalkJoin educator, forager and wild food experimentalist Fergus Drennan to explore one of the earliest aspects of science: the science of wild food. And learn Fergus’s Big Six essential wild food plants.
Stanmer Park, next to Proud Country House,
Wednesday 19 February
World of Food – School Holiday Cooking (for 7-12 and 13-16 year-olds)Cookery sessions covering different global cuisines for kids aged 7 to 12 and 13 to 16.
The Community Kitchen, 09.30am – 12.00pm, 2.00pm – 4.00pm Until Thu 20 Feb
Orchestra of Objects Presents… 2 interactive music workshopsCome and meet the ‘Pump-a-Phone’, ‘Grass-Xylo-Hopper’, and ‘Twisty-Bata-Drum’ among other creations in these fun sound and sculpture workshops
Wagner Hall, 10.00am – 11.00am; 11.15am – 12.15pm
Robogals: Creating Tomorrow’s Engineers Today (fully booked!)Navigate our LEGO EV3 Mindstorms through a challenging maze, compete in a robot obstacle course and Robot Wars!
British Airways i360, 10am – 12.00, 1pm – 3pm
Stunning Snowflakes and Ice EngineeringExamine the unique and beautiful qualities of snowflakes. investigate how these winter wonders are formed, then craft your own versions ready for experimentation.
St Augustine’s Event Centre, 10.00am – 11.00am
Zoolab’s Biomimicry Animal Handling ShowJoin Zoolab to get up close and hands on with exotic animals, such as snakes, lizards and more in this fascinating talk all about Biomimicry!
The Walrus, 10:00am – 10:40am, 11:00am – 11:40am, 12:00pm – 12:40pm, 13:20pm – 14:00pm, 14:20pm – 15:00pm, 15:20pm – 16:00pm, 16:20pm – 17:00pm
Bubble Brain WorkshopA must-do half-term workshop for big and small kids featuring smoke bubbles, bubble carousels, bubbles that defy the laws of maths!
St Augustine’s Event Centre, 10.30 – 11.30, 12.00 – 13.00, 14.00 – 15.00, 15.30 – 16.30
Achoo!! The science of a sneezeDiscover the fascinating story of what goes on up our noses when we sneeze. What could be more fun than artificial mucus and fake noses?
St Augustine’s Event Centre, 11.30am – 12.30pm
Ian B Dunne: Spring into ScienceAfter the excellent audiences last year, Ian B Dunne is back with more demonstrations, more surprises, more science and more fun.
The Brighthelm Centre, 11.30am – 12.45pm, 2pm – 3.15pm
Fidget and Squidge It – Sensory Science FunLove getting hands-on with science, but hate the mess at home? Join us for slime making, kinetic sand creation and fidget spinner designing. Discover the science behind the fun.
St Augustine’s Event Centre, 2.00pm – 3.00pm, 3.30pm – 4.30pm
Kids’ Brush Lettering WorkshopA perfect class for beginners! All tools are included. We practise strokes and letters, moving on to phrases and quotes – creating your very own set of prints and cards to take home with you.
The George Payne, 2pm – 3:30pm
Thursday 20 February
World of Food – School Holiday Cooking (for 7-12 and 13-16 year-olds)Cookery sessions covering different global cuisines for kids aged 7 to 12 and 13 to 16.
The Community Kitchen, 09.30am – 12.00pm, 2.00pm – 4.00pm
Orchestra of Objects Presents… 2 interactive music workshopsCome and meet the ‘Pump-a-Phone’, ‘Grass-Xylo-Hopper’, and ‘Twisty-Bata-Drum’ among other creations in these fun sound and sculpture workshops
Wagner Hall, 10.00am – 11.00am; 11.15am – 12.15pm
Rocket FactoryThis is your chance to design, build and fly your very own rocket on Brighton beach!
British Airways i360, 11am-12:30pm, 1pm-2:30pm, 3pm-4:30pm
The Big GUse gravity to defy gravity! Learn about what keeps satellites in orbit, what keeps us stuck to the planet, and importantly, what keeps an audience on the edge of their seats. Then learn the magic.
The Walrus, 11.30am – 1.00pm
Spaghetti Towers!Building towers out of spaghetti and marshmallows is a great way to encourage children to think like engineers. Test different designs to see who can build the tallest, strongest structure!
Brighton Toy and Model Museum, 2pm – 4pm
The Science of SpraypaintingWhat is a hydro-dip? How can you create tie-dye in seconds? These questions and much more will be answered. AND You get to make a piece of street-art to take home with you too!
Conclave Brighton, 2.30pm-3.45pm, 4.15pm-5.30pm
Are We Nearly Here Yet?The story of everything from the Big Bang to now. Watch your journey over the past 14 billion years, from a mere atom, through catastrophe and chaos, exploding stars and dinosaurs, to the marvel that is YOU.
The Walrus, 3.00pm – 4.30pm
Friday 21 February
Animal AdaptationsChildren learn best when they’re having fun and our science workshop is packed with engaging experiments to help them understand how penguins brave blizzards and wintry waters.
St Augustine’s Event Centre, 10.00am – 11.00am
The Creative Space Pop-up PlanetariumSpacetastic astronomy shows in an immersive 360-degree space.
St Augustine’s Event Centre, 10am – 10.25am, 10.30am – 10.55am, 11am – 11.25am, 11.45am – 12.10pm, 12.15pm – 12.40pm, 12.45pm – 1.10pm, 2.15pm – 2.40pm, 2.45pm – 3.10pm, 3.15pm – 3.40pm, 4pm – 4.25pm, 4.30pm – 4.55pm, 5pm – 5.25pm, 5.30pm – 5.55pm
Discovery Day: Nature’s Grand DesignsDiscover the most extraordinary designs in nature.
Booth Museum, 10.30am-4.00pm
PLANET ‘B’The climate crisis has concentrated our minds wonderfully, and there are many things that can be done. Our mission is to make all science entertaining, including climate change
St Augustine’s Event Centre, 11.00am – 4.00pm
Rocket FactoryThis is your chance to design, build and fly your very own rocket on Brighton beach!
British Airways i360, 11.30am-1.00pm, 1.00pm-2.30pm, 3.00pm-4.30pm
Sink or Swim? Float and Bloat!Enjoy an otterly wonderful workshop about the endangered sea otter and its vital role in the ecosystem. Children are the future guardians of our planet and through education, we can play our part.
St Augustine’s Event Centre, 11.30am – 12.30pm
Textile ScienceA hands on discovery workshop exploring textile material properties with the assistance of fire, water and our senses
Brighton Youth Centre, 1.30pm – 3.30pm
Motion in the OceanJoin us for a workshop that’s packed with fun experiments. Get hands-on as we discover sensational squid, escaping octopuses and what goes on in the dark depths of the ocean.
St Augustine’s Event Centre, 2.00pm – 3.00pm
The Science of SpraypaintingWhat is a hydro-dip? How can you create tie-dye in seconds? These questions and much more will be answered. AND You get to make a piece of street-art to take home with you too!
Conclave Brighton, 2.30pm-3.45pm, 4.15pm-5.30pm
Saturday 22 February
Coding and Hacking for Girls!Calling girls aged 9 and above! Come and learn the skills you’ll need to succeed in the future world of work. Learn to hack Minecraft using Python. Coding experience not required.
British Airways i360, 9:00am – 11:00am, 11:30am – 1:30pm, 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Bewilder Box: Box of Bewilderment!Bewilder Box escape rooms have created a mini escape room in a box. See if you have what it takes to crack their bewildering Box of Bewilderment!
St Augustine’s Event Centre, 11am-5pm Until Sun 23 Feb
Pocket Science FunfairAll the fun of the fair, plus all the buzz of science. With new science fun and special guests, in the amazing St Augustine’s Centre.
St Augustine’s Event Centre, 11am-5pm
Sunday 23 February
FIZZ POP SCIENCE: CRAZY HAIR RAISING WORKSHOPSGet ready for some hair-raising action! Explore circuits, conductors and insulators and create lightning with this fun Fizz Pop Science workshop
British Airways i360, 10am-11am, 11.30am–12.30pm, 2.30pm–3.30pm, 4pm-5pm
Bewilder Box: Box of Bewilderment!Bewilder Box escape rooms have created a mini escape room in a box. See if you have what it takes to crack their bewildering Box of Bewilderment!
St Augustine’s Event Centre, 11am-5pm
Pocket Science FunfairAll the fun of the fair, plus all the buzz of science. With new science fun and special guests, in the amazing St Augustine’s Centre.
St Augustine’s Event Centre, 11am-5pm
The Ensemble Workshop: Help Build the World’s Longest AutomatonExercise your creative and making skills by building a machine to join a snaking line of linked-up automata. Over 60 machines will form an amazing temporary collaborative moving sculpture.
St Augustine’s Event Centre, 11.00am – 5pm Free
Close Up Photography – Playing with Shapes, Colours and LightDemonstrate a basic understanding of how light transforms objects in specific situations. Demonstrate a practical engagement with photography by taking your own photographs
Studio From The Sky, 12.00pm – 2.30pm, 3.00pm-5.30pm