For Science Week (11-20 March) World Museum in Liverpool will be making memories for families, with fun scientific events and experiments to inspire and amaze.
Blast your way through a giant inflatable intestine, learn about poo at the poo station and test whether your hands are stronger than an alligator bite! There’ll be loads more, and it’s free, so add 19 March’s Meet the Scientist event with scientists from the University of Liverpool to your diary and drop in any time between 10am and 6pm.
How about experiencing the vastness and wonder of the Universe in one of our Planetarium shows? Their recently refurbished planetarium has new shows for all ages and there are plenty to see throughout Science Week, including Big Astronomy, newly introduced last month and exploring the cutting-edge work of astrophysicists in Chile.
And they’ll be taking a close look at endangered species. Let their team talk you through scientific specimens in Up Close with…Animals. Keep your eyes peeled for their trolley full of incredible stories and handling collections, for you to explore and enjoy.
This year’s Science Week activities come as World Museum ramps up to host the world premiere of Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder – a thrilling new interactive exhibition exploring the world of science within the universe of Doctor Who.
A classic Doctor Who foe, the fearsome Dalek, is currently on display in World Museum’s atrium for visitors to snap a selfie on their next visit.
Leila Gwynne, Participation Programme Manager (Museums), National Museums Liverpool, said: “This is going to be a great week and I can’t wait for families to come and see what we’ve got on. Meet the Scientist on 19 March is going to be amazing fun but parents, rest assured, there’s loads of Science too, sneakily added to brilliant, interactive activities. We’re a year-round science and natural history museum, with a family focus at World Museum.
So Science Week is also great to remind everyone about their regular Planetarium shows for stargazing and Up Close with… sessions that use handling objects to bring visitors closer to our collections, which include everything from dinosaurs to Space”.
Science Week, 11-20 March:
Meet the Scientist (19 March, drop-in any time from 10am-4pm, unticketed. FREE)
Head along and meet scientists from the University of Liverpool at our interactive, hands-on science day for all the family. Follow our treasure map around the Museum and discover more about the human body and the amazing world around us! There’ll be lots of fun activities for children of all ages, and adults too! This event will also be returning for Worlds of Wonder on 18 June.
Up Close With…Animals (4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19 and 25 March, 1-3pm, unticketed. FREE)
Explore Animals in the Endangered World Gallery on Floor Four. Take a look at scientific specimens with a focus on endangered species. Each month the Participation team will be set loose on Gallery, bringing handling collections out for you to explore and enjoy. Keep your eyes peeled for our team and their trolley full of incredible stories and specimens.
Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder (tickets available now, open to public from 27 May 2022)
A thrilling new interactive exhibition exploring the world of science within the universe of Doctor Who. From epic monsters to costumes and props, our Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition will see visitors engage with original artefacts, sets and much more – discovering the science that weaves its way through the history of the world’s longest running action-adventure TV show.
Planetarium Shows, for show listings see here (tickets £3 Adults, £2 Children)
We Are Aliens (suitable age 6+, weekends and holidays, 11am)
Earth. It’s now a small world. The human race is connected better and faster than ever before but what about elsewhere? Could we one day be part of a galactic community sharing our knowledge and ideas? Or is Earth the only planet with life? We Are Aliens! takes you on an epic ride in the hunt for the evidence of alien life.
Two Small Pieces of Glass (suitable age 8+, weekends and holidays, 11.45am)
Two Small Pieces of Glass – The Amazing Telescope” show follows two students as they interact with a female astronomer at a local star party. Along the way, the students learn the history of the telescope from Galileo’s modifications to a child’s spyglass — using two small pieces of glass — to the launch of the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and the future of astronomy. Aiming to engage and appeal to audiences of all ages, the show explores the wonder and discovery made by astronomers throughout the last 400 years.
Little Star That Could (suitable age 3+, multiple dates)
A cartoon telling the story of a newly formed star and how he finds out about other types of stars and his own family of planets. All of the Solar System planets introduce themselves and you can learn about where they live and some of their differences. Suitable for all the family.
Earth to the Universe (suitable age 8+, multiple dates)
Starting with the history of astronomy join us on a journey through the Solar System and out into our local galaxy, the Milky Way and beyond. Find out about the planets, the stars and other wonders of the universe. The show gives a good introduction to the night sky and all that it contains.
Earth Moon and Sun (suitable age 8+, multiple dates)
The Earth Moon and Sun interact with each other in a variety of ways. The Moon causes regular tides on Earth and provides the occasional Eclipse. The tilt of the Earth’s axis causes different amounts of sunlight to reach parts of the Earth resulting in the seasons, while the Sun drives the Earth’s weather systems and supplies the energy for life. Learn more about these effects in this family show.
Edge of Darkness (suitable age 8+, multiple dates)
Edge of Darkness is the latest full dome movie produced by Evans & Sutherland. The film features amazing scenes of places never before seen gathered by key space missions that culminated with ground-breaking discoveries in 2015. It features a spectacular flight though the great cliffs on comet 67P, a close look at the fascinating bright “lights” on Ceres, and the first ever close ups of dwarf binary planet Pluto/Charon and its moons. Narrated by Hayley Atwell, Agent Carter, from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the ABC television series.
Big Astronomy (suitable age 8+, multiple dates)
National Science Foundation. It includes the award-winning planetarium show Big Astronomy: People, Places, Discoveries which highlight the diverse people who enable discoveries at world-class observatories in Chile.