Local artist Richard Box, well-known for his 1,000 fluorescent light tube sculpture Field powered from overhead power lines, will reveal for the first time his latest artwork at Bristol University’s Science Alive! being held at The Mall Galleries [March 17 and 18].
Broadmead will come alive with dinosaurs, earthquakes and slime when the University moves out of the laboratory for the event. Science Alive! is the University's contribution to National Science Week - an annual event arranged by the British Association for the Advancement of Science to increase public engagement with science.
People of all ages will be able to try their hand at glass blowing; find out how dinosaurs walked; learn how insulin is made or discuss climate change and watch Bristol flood. There will be 18 interactive displays, providing fun for the public, helping to illuminate aspects of science, medicine, engineering and technology and the opportunity to chat with scientists about their work. This year we will also be including some popular exhibits from Explore@Bristol, including The Bernoulli Blower and Mind Bending Mirrors together with an exhibit from United Bristol Healthcare Trust, which runs hospitals including the Bristol Royal Infirmary and Children’s Hospital.
Richard Box’s new sculpture will emerge over the two days. He will be winding giant coils of glass, which will be made into neon tubes to eventually make a neon sculpture. Alongside this creation, he hopes to display another sculpture that has not been seen in public before, powered by a microwave oven called ‘Microclimate’. He will also showcase two other sculptures, a glass neon rope and a rotating, pulsating, elevating, sound and movement activated, life-size neon brain.
The event will show the public some of the world-class research that’s taking place on their doorstep. It’s a chance for the local community to share the discoveries and give their views.
The displays will include:
Advanced rocket engines. Models and graphics of the Skylon reusable launch system with real experiment and test models.
Exploring plate tectonics. Find out about plate tectonics and convection in Earth, earthquakes and seismology. A ‘shake table’ layered sand tank will demonstrate rifting and faulting.
Dinosaurs and the Bristol Dinosaur. Build casts of replica dinosaur bones to take home that demonstrates aspects of dinosaur biomechanics.
Where do drugs come from? Drug development, including drugs from natural sources and the use of medicinal chemistry to create new drugs.
Look at the inside of your eye. Learn how the retina can tell you about your health. Take home a picture of your retina.
Kathy Sykes, Professor of Public Engagement in Science and Engineering at Bristol University and Director of Science Alive!, said: "Science Alive! is a great opportunity for people in Bristol to find out about some of the astonishing research that's happening on their doorstep.
“It's also a great opportunity for our scientists to talk with local people and hear what they think about issues around science.”
For more information contact Professor Kathy Sykes on 07903 932 866 or Joanne Fryer, Press Officer on 0117 331 7276.