Oxford North, the city’s new £1.2 billion innovation district, recently welcomed hundreds of people for a day of discovery during the IF Oxford Science and Ideas Festival.
The event combined hands-on science, art, and theatre, bringing together families and science enthusiasts from across the region.
Zone ONE, located at the heart of Oxford North, featured interactive activities and thought-provoking demonstrations, including a robotic dog display from the UK Atomic Energy Authority.
Visitors also enjoyed views of Your Planetary Assembly, a striking series of planetary sculptures in Fallaize Park created by Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson.
A major highlight was Creation Theatre’s spellbinding performance of Orbit, which guided guests through a theatrical journey across the Solar System along Oxford North’s new landscaped public park.
The free-to-attend event was hailed a great success by organisers, sparking curiosity about science, technology, and the future.
Dane Comerford, IF Oxford Director, said:
“Zone ONE at Oxford North was fantastic and brought together hundreds of people of all ages from across Oxford and beyond to explore space, astronomy, architecture, physics and robotics.
“The festival is known for making complex topics accessible and helps spark interest in science and innovation by offering a creative glimpse into the future. Oxford North was the perfect location for an ambitious and inspiring day, and I’m thankful to everyone who made it such a great success.”
Simon Ruck, Managing Director of Oxford North, added:
“It was a pleasure to host Zone ONE, hundreds of people from our local community and so many incredible partners as part of IF Oxford.
“It was great to see so many people get excited by the wonder of science. All the partners shared their knowledge with such passion. It created a real atmosphere of curiosity and joy at Oxford North.”
Victoria Collett, Development Director of Thomas White Oxford and Chair of the Public Art Steering Group, said:
“Hosting IF Oxford formed part of our commitment to connecting Oxford North to the cultural heart of the city.
“Congratulations to IF Oxford for creating such an engaging programme of collective exploration for so many people to enjoy; that was a delight to be involved.”
Oxford North partnered with IF Oxford through its Engage programme, which promotes art, culture, and social value in the community.
Once complete, the innovation district will include one million sq ft of laboratory and workspace, 480 new homes, a hotel, café, bar, and public parks.
