Manchester Science Festival unveil 2016 programme

The festival kicks off at Manchester's Albert Hall on 20 Oct with Public Service Broadcasting performing their second album Race for Space in full for the first time. The duo will be accompanied by a plethora of Royal Northern College of Music musicians, including a string quintet and a 13-piece choir.

One of Manchester Science Festival's most eye-catching installations is The Chronarium Sleep Lab (20-30 Oct), which will see a sleep station set up in the heart of the city within the Arndale shopping centre. Designed by artists Rachel Wingfield and Mathias Gmachi, the aim is to give shoppers a chance to improve one of the most important parts of our daily lives: sleep. Featuring hanging swings, hammocks and audio-visuals to help induce zzzs, this art installation-meets-sleep lab promises to offer “a fully immersive experience and is aimed at providing an antidote to non-stop city living.”

There’s also a super-sciencey three-part installation taking place at MSI from Paris-based artists HeHe (20-30 Oct), which takes the form of micro-climates, pollution and artificially engineered clouds. Blurring the boundaries between the natural and the man-made, these three pieces “ask us to consider society's role in environmental destabilisation, and ways forward to a cleaner, healthier future.” 

Another highlight looks to be The Science of Gambling with Guardian Live (22 Oct, Manchester 235 Casino), described as a “cabaret-style show exploring the different scientific aspects of gambling, from the probability of winning to body language, bluffing and the reliability of luck."

Food and Drink, Film and Parties at MSF 2016

For foodies, there’s an opportunity to sample a menu of sustainable foods at the Marriot Victoria and Albert as the hotel’s chef explains the health benefits behind Sustainable Eating: A Reusable Menu (23 Oct). Food lovers can also learn about microorganisms in Menus made by microbes: Street food (26 Oct), an evening hosted by MMU’s microbiologists and Grb MCr, which will showcase dishes made by some of the city’s best street food stalls.

If a liquid lunch is more your bag, you can take part in Ginesis (26 Oct), an evening dedicated to gin where you can explore the biology of its taste with members of the Royal Society of Chemistry. And if you prefer a malty booze, there’s a tutored tasting of six of Scotland’s finest drams in Whiskyology at Chetham’s Library (28 Oct) where you can discover the science behind the drink.

For film fans, there’s a night of The Music of Star Wars performed by the mighty Hallé at Bridgewater Hall (29 Oct). Elsewhere, effects whizz Paul Franklin explains the real science behind the special effects he used on Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar following a screening of the film (26 Oct, The Printworks).

There’s plenty for the yungins too. Harry Potter-nuts will be first in line for The Philosopher’s Scone, a Hogwart’s inspired afternoon tea at Harvey Nics; a screening of Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone follows, and cosplay is encouraged (24 Oct).

Youngsters can also explore the mysteries of space in the Big Science Telescope Show at Jodrell Bank (24-28 Oct); go Hunting for Infections at Quarry Bank Mill (24-28 Oct); play with oversized origami, twisted vines and massive paper sculptures at Nightshade at the Gallery Oldham (24-28 Oct); and have a go at 3D modelling at Z-Arts (25-28 Oct) or silver ring soldering at Manchester Craft and Design Centre (30 Oct). These are just a few of the many drop-in and largely free activities taking place throughout the Festival.

As it’s the festival’s tenth birthday, of course there’s also a 10th Birthday Party (27 Oct, MSI). This adults-only nighttime celebration will bring "the science behind parties to life, exploring the maths behind cake-cutting, the psychology of clowns and even the fluid dynamics of chocolate fountains." The party science you learn can be put to good use the following night at the Nobel Prize Disco (28 Oct, MSI), which celebrates Nobel Prize-winning Scientists Andre Geim and Konstantin Novosolov, globally renowned for their isolation of graphene. “How to celebrate these great scientists' achievements?” I hear you ask. The answer is fancy dress: “Come dressed as your favourite Nobel Prize winner – or winning discovery,” says MSF, “and throw some shapes in the name of science.”

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Manchester Science Festival runs 20-30 Oct. For the full lineup of events, workshops and parties, go to manchestersciencefestival.com