Get hands-on with experiments and demonstrations, meeting friendly experts and inventors at this IF Oxford zone.

The Festival returns to Oxford's knowledge quarter in Cowley. Discover cutting-edge science and meet friendly experts, with hands-on activities and the latest in technology and research.

Please help IF Oxford keep track of venue capacity by booking your approximate arrival time. You can arrive at any time during your hour-long arrival slot, then stay for as long as you like.

Event format: HANDS-ON INTERACTIVE ZONE

Age: 7–12 yrs, Teenage, Adult

Typical visit time: 1.5–2 hours

Event duration: 6 hours

Event start: 11am, last entry 4pm

Ticketing: Pay What You Decide (PWYD)

Parking: on-site parking available

Activities include:

Finding Diamonds Everywhere: discover diamonds in everyday life, from mobile phones and car parts to advanced sensors and quantum computing. Slice through ice and glass while talking to scientists developing diamond technology.

The Potential of Potentials: discover how heat, chemistry and motion can all be turned into electricity, and get hands-on with experimental devices that reveal the hidden physics of energy conversion.

Air Pollution and Brain Health: see amazing images, and piece together puzzles to see how tiny particles in the air may reach and affect the brain. Meet researchers uncovering potential links to dementia.

Cutting Edge Science: try your hand at the skills behind knee surgery and discover how medical trials really work, as you explore cutting-edge research into joints, muscles, bones and the immune system.

A Journey of Aromas Through Time: discover how natural and artificial aromas have shaped food and culture through history, from ancient traditions to modern sweets, and explore the chemistry behind fragrances such as vanilla, bergamot, violet and fruity esters and the memories they evoke.

Robotic Racing (11am-4pm): watch robotic dogs go head to head in live races as they compete for the chequered flag. Meet the robotics engineers behind these incredible machines and explore the latest in robotics technology.

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IF Oxford uses Pay What You Decide (PWYD) ticketing, which means you can choose to pay whatever you want – or can afford. You can make your donation during booking, at the event, or afterwards. Please note, there is a free ticket option with this event.

We suggest a donation of £7.50. If even half of IF Oxford's visitors gave that, the charity could plan next year's community science and ideas Festival with confidence. If you decide another amount works better for you, give that instead — every contribution helps keep the Festival free at the point of entry for everyone who needs it to be.

All ticket options offer the same access. The contribution associated with this ticket is considered a donation in support of the Festival. Please choose the amount that feels right for you.

Ages are a guide only, under-16s to be accompanied by a responsible adult.

The Festival reserves the right to modify event formats and manage the audience in accordance with the Festival's Attendance Policy:

if-oxford.com/attendance-policy

IF Oxford is run by The Oxfordshire Science Festival (charity #1151361) and your donation may be eligible for Gift Aid, where a charity can claim back an extra 25% of your donation at no cost to you.

Description supplied by the event organiser.