Situated on the city centre campus, Discover Festival will showcase the next generation of robotic engineering, bringing research alive through experiments in chemistry as well as live musical performances with a blend of soul, rock, and pop.

The festival seeks to open the realm of learning and will offer visitors an exciting hands-on experience of the world-leading research being carried out by the academics at Newcastle University.

It will take place on Saturday, June 8, from 10am until 4pm.

'Interactive day full of learning and fun'

Professor Jane Robinson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Engagement and Place at Newcastle University, said: “Discover Festival is all about bringing communities together, showcasing the pioneering work that takes place right here in our city, which is making a difference to lives both regionally and internationally.

"It will be an interactive day full of learning and fun, which we hope will inspire curiosity and spark new ideas for everybody in attendance.”

More than 50 activities will be available on the day, with plenty of experiments conducted by academics at the forefront of their fields. You can even experience tooth decay by immersing yourself in an interactive musical live on the city centre campus.

Have you got what it takes to be an Athlete? Newcastle Sports teams and experts from the Faculty of Medical Science will give you the opportunity to partake in several different tests to see how you compare to the world’s top stars. Not only this, but you can also work out how you compare to the average member of the public with tests including hand grip strength and reaction walls designed to measure your movement and coordination.

Maddy Wood, Research Lead, What does it take to be an Athlete?, said: “We will be welcoming you to test your all-round fitness against the general public, and against those at the elite end of sports, like running and football.

“You might not be as fit as Mo Farah, but our team will be on hand to talk you through the simpler exercises you can do at home to improve your fitness. Most importantly, though, we just want you to come along and have fun.”

'Free to attend family event'

Among the scientific activities on offer at Discover Festival includes the opportunity to race and beat a robotic car. Robo Rally sees you take the controls against AI as you compete with vehicles designed to imitate the driverless experience, the task is based on research that demonstrates the safety and efficiency of the new technology.

While seemingly far removed from your day-to-day life, the technology being developed may soon be a part of everyday reality, and the team at Newcastle University will showcase how at Discover Festival.

Dr Chris Holder, research lead for Robo Rally, said: “Robo Rally is a great opportunity to inform the community of the vast changes AI is bringing to transportation globally. We hope that by experiencing the technology firsthand, we will help address any fears about the safety of self-driving vehicles. This is our research, and at Discover Festival we are giving you the chance to test your racing skills against a robotic race car. Come and compete against artificial intelligence with its sensors and algorithms and see if you have what it takes.”

You can take a moment away from the excitement to explore the Food Festival on campus, where you can sample a diverse offering from local businesses, including Fire and Dough Pizza, Spud Gun Loaded Fries, and Dosa Kitchen.

The event is free to attend on Saturday, 8th June 2024, from 10am until 4pm, with all activities situated around Newcastle University’s city centre campus.

To explore the festival programme in full and register your interest in some of the free activities, please visit the Discover Festival website.