Families will be able to explore the science of the solar system, experiment with robotics and discover how science connects with everyday life when Zone ONE returns to Oxford during October half-term.
The flagship event of the IF Oxford Science and Ideas Festival takes place on Thursday 29 October, from 2.00pm to 7.30pm, at Oxford North. Designed for visitors of all ages, it brings together interactive demonstrations, creative activities and opportunities to meet the people working across science and technology.
Among the attractions is What on Earth?, which gives visitors the chance to handle real fragments of asteroids, comets and the Moon, while discovering what these objects can reveal about the solar system. Other activities will include planet spotting, cosmic puzzles, poetry, explorations of how food affects the body, drone football and robotic engineering.
The programme is intended to encourage visitors to engage with scientific ideas through direct experience, rather than simply watching demonstrations. With activities spanning astronomy, engineering and the natural world, the event offers different ways for children, teenagers and adults to explore their interests.
Art and science will also come together in a special experience from Creation Theatre. Its performance of Orbit takes visitors on a guided outdoor digital journey around Olafur Eliasson’s planetary sculptures, Your planetary assembly, in Fallaize Park.
The illuminated glass polyhedrons represent the planets, turning the park into a walkable map of the solar system. Visitors will be able to scan QR codes to access video clips on their phones, bringing stories about the eight planets to life as they move around the installation.
Zone ONE forms part of the wider IF Oxford festival, which brings more than 100 events and activities to Oxford and beyond. The programme spans science, technology and culture, with events exploring subjects ranging from robotics and medicine to sustainable energy, alongside talks, performances and creative activities.
The festival is delivered by the Oxfordshire Science and Ideas Festival charity, which has a 35-year history of promoting science and ideas in the region.
Refreshments will be available throughout the event from Taylors Oxford North, based in The Red Hall, serving sandwiches, salads, freshly made pasta, sweet treats and speciality coffees.
Zone ONE takes place on Thursday 29 October, from 2.00pm to 7.30pm, at Oxford North. Admission is free, although visitors must reserve a ticket in advance. Bookings also offer the option of making a charitable donation to the festival.
Tickets and further information are available through the IF Oxford website.
