THE North-east’s much loved TechFest festival of STEM is back for digital audiences in 2021 with a virtual public programme which promises to capture the imagination and interest of all the family from Saturday, November 6 until Wednesday, December 1.
The festival opens this weekend with live animal demonstrations in The Critter Keeper from 10.30am on Saturday, November 6. Perfect for animal lovers of all ages, the show will share stories and facts about amazing animals from around the world.
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Audiences can also immerse themselves in an online family workshop with Amazelab at 4pm on Sunday, November 7. Before the festival, attendees can vote on TechFest’s social media for experiments to take part in, choosing from exploding rainbows, lava lamps, universe in a jar, make your own ocean, chromatography butterflies and make your own fossils.
TechFest’s festival of STEM is supported by joint principal sponsors, bp and Shell, with the public programme also being sponsored by Equinor.
This is the second time TechFest has gone completely digital, having adapted to an online programme in 2020 in line with UK Government Coronavirus guidelines. The celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) usually runs for three weeks in September, with events taking place in venues across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
Sarah Chew, managing director of TechFest said: “We’re thrilled to be kicking off yet another jam-packed TechFest digital festival with a programme which is bursting at the seams with activities, events and unique opportunities for our virtual audience.
“While we are excited to get back to doing in-person experiences, for large audiences this is less practical at the moment and the digital festival allows us to reach a global audience in the meantime.
“We’re already seen huge demand for our amazing opening weekend events, The Critter Keeper and Amazelabs, and both shows can both be accessed by large online audiences with families and friends able to participate at home without us having to place any restrictions on numbers.
“We hope STEM enthusiasts across the North-east, and indeed the UK and beyond, enjoy this year’s festival and take the opportunity to immerse themselves in as many different experiences as possible.”
With an exciting and eclectic mix of more than 20 events taking place over a three-week period, the festival programme will include both live and on demand events delivered via Zoom, Facebook and through interactive activities.
Live events in the public programme of afternoon, evening and weekend sessions include talks on the use of Thalidomide sixty years after it was withdrawn from the world market, sleep in teenagers and younger adults, healthy and sustainable food in Scotland, how technology is redefining banking and the natural history of Christmas.
The festival will also celebrate Scottish Careers Week in partnership with Skills Development Scotland from November 15 – 19 with the opportunity for young people, students, employers, teachers and parents to discover more about Scotland’s career service and the support available to get on the career ladder.
The highly popular family days will also return on demand, jam packed with fun and STEM-inspired activities which the whole family can enjoy at home at a time that suits them. Booking is now open for all festival events. Admission to all events is free. For more information and to book, visit the TechFest website at www.techfestsetpoint.org.uk/