Norwich Science Festival 2025

01 February 2025 - 22 February 2025

Norwich City Centre

Come along and learn about the our latest gut microbiome, food and health research and how you can take part in research

We’re excited to be taking part in Norwich Science Festival 2025. The annual event celebrates science and technology and showcases the ground-breaking research and innovation happening in the fine city of Norwich.

Marvellous Microbes Trail – Saturday 1 February to Saturday 22 February

Head on an unique adventure through the city to discover the hidden world of microbes! Join in the fun and seek out the microbes hidden on posters in venues across Norwich, learning fascinating facts about the tiny marvels that shape our world as you go. Can you find all nine?

Pick up a trail map from The Forum to start your adventure.

This trail is hosted by the Centre for Microbial Interactions, whose Project Manager Dr Sam Rowe is based at the Quadram Institute, and the trail was developed by Quadram Institute PhD student Raphael Hans Lwesya.

The Explorium – Saturday 15 February

Raspberry Pi Jamwich

Head over to the Experiment zone for hands-on coding challenges with a Raspberry Pi flavour. Join visiting scientist Dr Lisa Crossman to code adventures with Minecraft and more for kids and beginners. You can also build your own Lego microbes and vanish them with Pi AI!

The Auditorum – Tuesday 18 February

Life at Norwich Research Park

Norwich Research Park is one of Europe’s largest science parks, with a community of 30,000 people! Join representatives from the campus to learn about the broad range of careers on the campus – from science and research to marketing, construction, landscaping, architecture, finance, IP management, administration, catering and much more!

The research taking place on the Park focuses on food and health – from tiny organisms that live in our guts, to editing the DNA of crops to make them resistant to disease. Whether its ensuring that there is enough food to feed populations, or helping to find cures for diseases, this work is crucial for our future.

Featuring short talks from 2pm-3pm, followed by the chance to meet and network with Norwich Research Park staff – along with some cake and refreshments!

The Explorium – Wednesday 19 February

Take part in research

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital research team will be at the Forum to inspire the next generation of healthcare researchers.

After the success of putting taste buds to the test and running a sense of smell trial at previous events, the research team will be running Herd Immunity Jenga this year.

The Explorium – Friday 21 February

My microbes and me!

Come and explore the world of microbiomes with our researchers in the Narbad group and get ready to meet six different friendly bacteria who have made themselves at home in and on your body as well as six troublemaking microorganisms who may have you feeling a little bit green around the gills.

Learn fun facts and test your knowledge with our activity of the day, a scientific take on pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey, pin the bacteria on the body or test your vision with our spot the difference game with insight on what it’s like to work in a microbiology laboratory. Leave with a fun factsheet to help you remember all of your favourite bacteria facts and choose your favourite bacterium to take home with you in the form of a sticker. We can’t wait to discover the diversity of the human microbiome with you!

Fantastic Phages: Nature’s Tiny Superheroes against Superbugs!

Join our researchers from Dr Evelien Adriaenssen’s group for fun activities to learn more about bacteriophages, viruses that kill bacteria.

Have a go at the hook a duck game to use a superhero phage to successfully target bacteria. Discover where bacteriophages are found in the world through our interactive poster . Plus colour your own bacteriophage keyring to take home along with our activity pack you can do at home.

Marvellous Microbes

Meet researchers from the Centre for Microbial Interactions to explore the fascinating microbial communities found in the soil, the gut and in extreme environments like volcanoes!

You’ll have the chance to discover microbes from each environment and learn how their DNA code can be used to identify them in a laboratory. There’ll also be the chance to learn how different microbes can be useful or harmful to us, and how some can even be both depending on where they are and what they’re doing!

The Gallery – Friday 21 February

Future Medicine Showdown (18+)

Join award-winning comedian Pravanya Pillay as an exciting panel of doctors, scientists, and A.I. specialists compete for the title of Best Future Medicine!

Pravanya will be grilling some of Norfolk’s most forward-thinking medics and scientists, and challenging her guests to make a case for what they think will be the prescription of the future.

Whether it’s the medicinal benefits of AI companions, knowing more about our gut microbiome and that of our pets, or the future of sleep research – this will be a funny and lively celebration of what will make us better in tomorrow’s world!