Get set for festival of science and curiosity in Mansfield

The sixth Nottingham Festival of Science and Curiosity is on from February 8 to February 17 and would normally be at various locations around the city.This year, due to the lockdown restrictions, the festival will be held virtually and beamed via social media and local TV across the city and county, supported by a free festival magazine.Coun Andy Abrahams, mayor of Mansfield, said: "This festival is a brilliant initiative and the council is proud to be supporting it to bring science to life in a way that we hope will fire the imaginations of local children in living rooms, kitchens and backyards around the district.

The festival is organised by Ignite!, a Nottingham-based charity, which works with schools, youth groups and communities, to develop children's curiosity in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects in a creative and fun way.

It will be collaborating with the Mansfield and Sutton Astronomical Society to run a virtual open dome event and local schools, too.

Pupils in Mansfield will be able to link up with scientists to do their own investigations, and there will be careers Q& A sessions with scientists live on YouTube.

Among the highlights is an hour-long programme about nature and wildlife going out on NottsTV every afternoon at 4pm from February 8.

Wollaton Watch will see young people and volunteers sharing nature in their neighbourhood across Nottinghamshire, including well-known green spaces in Mansfield, and will feature hedgehogs, deer and even an item on ‘left-handed’ snails.

Megan Shore, festival producer, said: "It’s been so important to us to still be able to run the festival this year, although of course we’ve needed to adapt in lots of ways."We want to help everyone in Nottinghamshire to celebrate their curiosity, continue to ask questions about the world around us, and take part in the world of STEM at our fingertips."

See the festival website here for full details and follow the festival on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok @NottsFOSAC #CuriousNotts and on the council’s Facebook page, @mymansfielduk.