The Physics and Chemistry Departments at Lancaster University came together for another annual Science Community Day at Ashton Memorial in Williamson’s Park, welcoming over 600 visitors to come and explore the wonders of the scientific world. The free event has been running for several years now (hosted by the Physics Department), but this was the first year that the Chemistry Department joined in the fun with their own take on this years’ theme of renewable energy technologies.

With a fantastic turnout and high energy from start to finish, the event successfully bridged the gap between complex physics and everyday sustainable technology. Over 420 visitors explored the ground floor and over 230 visited the top of the memorial for the planetarium experience. The ground floor - dedicated to the lifecycle of renewable energies – saw staff and students from across the two departments guide visitors though the process of power generation and sustainability.

On this floor, families were invited to take part in interactive demonstrations of how wind turbines and dynamo batteries converted movement into energy (with the opportunity to have a go at charging their own phone batteries with a bike dynamo), get competitive by building solar-powered Lego buggies and racing them along a track, or be creative and innovative by upcycling yoghurt pots into their very plant pot and having a go at making a penny-based battery to power a small lightbulb. Additionally, visitors were also welcomed to explore how Lancaster Physicists are attempting to unravel the mysteries of dark matter through an interactive “dark matter detection” games and have some “hair-raising” fun with the ever-popular Van de Graaff generator.

Meanwhile upstairs, guests had the opportunity to experience the ever-popular planetarium, which provides a guided tour of our solar system and the wider cosmos. The planetarium was a sell-out success, with a steady stream of visitors turning up to the fully booked sessions all day.

On the success of the event, organiser Dr Agnieszka Nowak commented: "There is a unique magic in watching a child’s face light up as they discover how a hydrogen cell works or how a simple dynamo can generate power. With hundreds of visitors exploring the science of sustainability and over 200 people touring in our planetarium, the energy in the building was electric. This event wasn't just about showing off technology; it was about empowering the next generation of scientists and engineers."