Ada Lovelace Day

Occurring annually on the second Tuesday of October (i.e. this very day), Ada Lovelace Day is an international celebration of the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). It aims to increase the profile of women in STEM and, in doing so, create new role models who will encourage more girls into STEM careers and support women already working in STEM.

@FindingAda

Biology Week 2019

Running from 5th-13th October, Biology Week showcases the important and amazing world of the biosciences, getting everyone from children to professional biologists involved in fun and interesting life science activities.

@RoyalSocBio

National Boffin Day

Tuesday, 8 October 2019 is National Boffin Day. It is reported that a group of brilliant scientists who performed their wonders in radar development in Malvern during the Second World War referred to themselves as ‘the boffins’. It’s a day when we can all join together to celebrate intelligence, innovation and creativity in all its forms. Which boffin are you? 

#BoffinDay

International Year of the Periodic Table

2019 has been designated by UNESCO as the International Year of the Periodic Table (IYPT), marking the 150th anniversary of the Mendeleev periodic table, which is an iconic image and a vital tool to all who learn and work in science, at all stages of their learning and careers.

#IYPT2019

World Space Week

World Space Week is an international celebration of science and technology, and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition. The United Nations General Assembly declared in 1999 that World Space Week will be held each year from October 4-10. We'll also feature some space-themed activities and exhibits in the Festival programme.

@WorldSpaceWeek, @WSW_UK

WES Centenary

Women's Engineering Society (WES) is a charity and a professional network of women engineers, scientists and technologists offering inspiration, support and professional development. In 2019 WES will be 100 years old: they will be celebrating the present, remembering the past and changing the future. 

@WES1919, @WESCentenary, #WES100

European Cyber Security Month

ECSM is the EU’s annual advocacy campaign that takes place in October and aims to raise awareness of cyber security threats, promote cyber security among citizens and provide up to date security information, through education and sharing of good practices. We'll be featuring some cyber security exhibitors and workshops during the day.

@CyberSecMonth, #CyberSecMonth

Registration & Exhibition Opens

Timetabled talks and workshops begin

@festivalofinnov #InnovateMalvern #STEM #careers #entrepreneurship

Speakers

[Seminar Rooms S1 & S2]

Engineering the World

Yasmin Ali is a chartered chemical engineer, passionate about the future of energy. She has worked in conventional power generation as well as oil and gas exploration and production projects and operations, and now works on energy innovation for the UK Government. She is an avid promoter of engineering, regularly visiting schools, presenting at events, and writing for mainstream media about the achievements of engineers. Yasmin was awarded the Women's Engineering Society Young Woman Engineer 2013, and was shortlisted for the WeAreTheCity Rising Star Science and Engineering and PRECIOUS Outstanding Woman in Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths awards in 2017, and Asian Women of Achievement Award – Science in 2019.

@EngineerYasmin

Universal Harmonies: When Physics Meets Music Meets Maths

What’s the connection between black holes and Black Sabbath? Between a cup of coffee and nanotechnology? And between pizza and Beethoven?

Professor Philip Moriarty of the University of Nottingham’s School of Physics & Astronomy will answer those questions and many more in this demonstration-packed lecture on the physics of sound. There’ll be singing lightning, exploding glasses, invisible drums, and human pianos. And a lot of audience participation. Philip's research focuses on prodding, pushing, and poking single atoms and molecules; in this nanoscopic world, quantum physics is all. He has taught physics for over twenty years and has always been struck by the deep connections between music, mathematics, and quantum mechanics. He’s the author of “When The Uncertainty Principle Goes To 11 (or How To Explain Quantum Physics Using Heavy Metal)” where he explores the deep and fundamental links between heavy metal and quantum physics.

Photo credit: Elle Starkman / Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory Communications.

@UoN_Physics

Advanced Materials to Facilitate Innovation

As researchers and industry sectors explore the fascinating world of materials, there is an ongoing requirement for continuous improvement and innovative solutions in numerous applications. Fascianting examples include metal foams, a machinable ceramic, an innovative polymer, a unique solder, 2D materials and materials for 3D printing.

Dr Aphrodite Tomou is the Technical Manager of Goodfellow Cambridge Ltd, a leading global supplier of materials for research, innovation and development in science and different industry sectors. Goodfellow has an extensive range of products, which are monitored and enriched by Aphrodite and her team. Aphrodite has a diverse background and wide-ranging knowledge of materials, from metal nanomaterials to polymer, ceramics and glass. She holds a PhD and Masters in materials science and engineering, has published papers in peer-reviewed international journals, and presented at international conferences as an invited speaker.

@Goodfellowltd

New kids on the block

Tom Alcott, CEO of BlockMark Technologies will explore what money really is, discuss the problems of making a digital currency and then explain how bitcoins work using blockchain technology. He'll then talk about the new craze of digital collectables and you may even get your hands on a BlockMark Gem!

 @BlockMarkTech

Buskers

Christine Swan, experienced computer science teacher and visiting lecturer at Birmingham City University, will be Ada Lovelace. And she'll be joined by Richard Henson, Senior Lecturer from the University of Worcester, who will be playing Charles Babbage. Call the TARDIS for these time travellers to arrive through space-time and listen to them talk about life as a celebrated mathematicians and logicians.

@chris_swan & @RichardHenson3

Shows

Immersive Theatre: From Dream to Discovery: Inside NASA

Join NASA's engineers as they design, test, and launch today's hottest missions into space. Witness the enormity of the new James Webb Space Telescope, the intensity of Goddard Space Flight Center's testing facilities, and the excitement of the New Horizons mission to Pluto. From blueprint to blastoff, experience how unmanned space flight is pushing the frontiers of human exploration to the very edges of the universe! More details of the film here.  [Stand A21]

@360Theatres

Planetarium Dome: Galaxies - the home of a billion stars

Explore the night sky within the dome and hear about astrophysics and research into gravity from students at the University of Birmingham's School of Physics and Astronomy, in collaboration with the Institute of Physics. [Stand A29]

@unibirmingham, @IOPMidlands

Workshops

Hands-on Raspberry Pi

Students will have the opportunity to work in pairs to programme these mini computer boards to complete a simple hardware control task using Python code. [Stand W03]

@TheIET

How to be a famous entrepreneur in three easy’ish steps!

The School of Business and Entrepreneurship at the Royal Agricultural University will run be running this interactive workshop to brainstorm a new business idea and consider what it takes to be a succesful enterprise. [Stand W04]

@RoyalAgUni

The mindset of an entrepreneur

Marie Jenkins, founder of Advance your Wellbeing, will run interactive workshops for students to explore what it is like to be an entrepreneur and how you can maintain good mental health when facing stresses in the work place. [Stand W01]

@AdvanceWellUK

Creative thinking to tackle Grand Challenges

Enterprising STEM will deliver a short session on branding that is focused on the Gatsby benchmarks, and promotes multidisciplinary job roles in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics). The workshop will be delivered by Dr Carla Brown and Janina Neumann, two business owners working in STEM. The focus will be on developing business ideas that tackle The Grand Challenges outlined in the UK's Industrial Strategy. [Stand W02]

@Sci_Game_Girl & @Janina_Design

AI robots and VR drones

The University of Birmingham's Extreme Robotics Laboratory will be running two hands-on workshops: one to illustrate the application of artificial intelligence in robotic control, and one to build and test mini-drones that can be flown using virtual reality goggles. [Stand A14-15]

@unibirmingham

Crash helmets for eggs

The Univeristy of Birmingham's School of Metallurgy & Materials and the Henry Royce Institute will be hosting a practical workshop on materials science; selecting the right materials for crash helmets for eggs and exploring why cycle helmets work well at protecting your head in an accident. [Stand W05] 

@unibirmingham, @metmat_unibham, @RoyceInstitute

Close

Aston Business School is part of Aston University, and aims to enhance enterprise and enterprises. They develop individuals to perform better within business and to create successful new ventures and enhance their organisation's performance and growth. They'll be here to illustrate how Intellectual Property is an important part of an innovative business and how it can be protected. [Stand B05]

@AstonUniversity

Batfast have developed a new generation of innovative cricket simulators. Thanks to adaptive technology and algorithms developed exclusively by a leading expert in technology and a former professional cricketer, BatFast tests, thrills and captures the imagination to the limit. The ultimate training aid, a limitless source of entertainment, a compelling and innovative way to experience the thrill of the hit. Students will be able to have a go and help their school climb the leaderboard.  [Stand A28]

@BatfastCC

The BCS (British Computer Society) is the Chartered Institute for IT, an organisation committed to making IT good for society. The Institute fosters links between experts from industry, academia and business to promote new thinking, education and knowledge sharing. [Stand A34]

@bcs

business mix is a collaboration network and consultancy. They work with both large corporates seeking to innovate and start-up and scale-up companies, helping them to grow operationally. business mix are our fantastic platinum sponsor this year and they will be hosting a business & innovation quiz at this event with prizes drawn regulalry to win tickets to Saturday's Family Show!  [Stand A16] 

Cheltenham Science Group are a community interest company seeking to inspire a new generation to love science, technology, engineering and maths. They will be bringing along a number of hands-on science experiments and demonstrations for students to investigate. [Stand B01]

@cheltscigrp 

The creators of The Collate Loop are bringing you a virtual reality experience using the Oculus Rift. The experience will focus to the virtual reality version of Google Maps helping participants experience the Malvern Hills and other areas in an entirely new and unique way. [Stand A37]

@collateloop

Want to protect yourself and your country from cyber attacks? Cyber Discovery is HM Government’s free, online, extracurricular programme turning teenagers across the country into cyber security experts. For students aged 13-18, we’re seeking problem solvers, code crackers and, most importantly, those who never give up.  [Stand A24]

@CyberDiscUK

@MHELECTRAA

Goodfellow is well known as a specialist supplier of metals, alloys, ceramics, polymers and other materials, with no minimum order quantity, to meet the research, development and specialist production requirements of science and industry worldwide. [Stand A19]

@Goodfellowltd

Herefordshire & Ludlow College has a long and proud history of providing quality education to the Herefordshire community and surrounding areas for over 60 years. It welcomes over 7,000 learners each year and offers over 70 full-time courses across two campuses, including a specialist land-based campus, as well as a range of apprenticeships, part-time, HE, recreational, legislative and specialist courses for businesses. [Stand B04]

Herefordshire & Worcestershire Earth Heritage Trust will be demonstrating their geology app. The great variety of rocks in the two counties yields outstanding fossils and minerals and gives rise to wonderful scenery. The Trust is committed to promoting and safeguarding these assets for all the residents of, and visitors to, Herefordshire and Worcestershire. [StandA36]

@BuildingStones

The Imagineering Foundation introduces 8-16 year olds to the fascinating world of engineering and technology through fun, hands-on activities. [Stand A23]

@ImagineeringUK

Indra Renewable Technologies is a UK based supplier of electric vehicle components and services, and a custom electric vehicle specialist. They specialise in the supply of parts and conversion from combustion engine to 100% electric as well as advanced integrated systems to manage smart grid charging solutions. [Stand A08]

Institute of Physics is a leading scientific society; a charitable organisation with a worldwide membership of more than 50,000, working together to advance physics education, research and application. The IOP will be showcasing the Michelson-Morley Interferometer, some virtual reality effects that will demonstrate space-time, and the effects of gravity waves. [Stand A30-32]

@IOPMidlands, PhysicsNews

Institution of Engineering & Technology. For over 140 years the IET has been inspiring, informing and influencing the global engineering community; supporting technology innovation to meet the needs of society. [Stand A33]

@TheIET

Institution of Mechanical Engineers works with leading companies, universities, and think tanks to create and share knowledge, fresh thinking and authoritative guidance on all aspects of mechanical engineering. [Stand A22]

@IMechE, @IMechE_Worcs

Legrand is the global specialist in electrical and digital building infrastructures. In the UK, the company is organised into the following specialist business units: cable management, power distribution, wiring devices, assisted living and healthcare, and data communications. [Stand A01]

@legranduk

A group of brilliant scientists who performed their wonders in radar development in Malvern during the Second World War referred to themselves as ‘the boffins’. Malvern Hills District Council and the cardboard cast of The Big Bang Theory will be on hand to help you discover which boffin you are. [Stand A04]

#BoffinDay

Malvern Panalytical is a leading provider of scientific instrumentation for the measurement of elemental concentrations, crystallographic structure, molecular structure, remote sensing, rheology, particle size, particle shape, particle concentration and more. [Stand A20]

@newsfrom_MP

Malvern Radar and Technology History Society (MRATHS) exists to preserve the heritage of the Government Research at Malvern which conducted research and development in support of the armed forces. With photographic archive material and physical artefacts on display at the Festival, the Society will highlight some of past breakthroughs in infra-red and radar technology credited to Malvern's boffins. [Stand A05]

Yamazaki Mazak Corporation are leaders in the manufacture of advanced technology solutions including Multi-Tasking, 5-axis, milling, turning, CNC controls and automation systems. Their advanced machine tools are used to manufacture many of today's complex and critical engineering components. [Stand A03]

@MazakEurope

The Neoperl Group helps to protect the environment by saving water and energy. They offer innovative solutions regarding drinking water for the plumbing industry with products that shape the water stream, regulate the flow rate and protect drinking water from contamination. Millions of people use Neoperl products every day – whether or not they are aware of it!  [Stand A41]

@neoperlEN

NMiTE – New Model in Technology & Engineering – is an initiative backed by government, educators and industry, to transform engineering education in Britain. Located in Hereford, NMiTE aims to become the first wholly new UK university in 40 years. [Stand A35]

@nmite_ac

ROCU - The West Midlands Regional Organised Crime Unit is a collaboration between the police forces of Staffordshire, West Midlands, West Mercia and Warwickshire to fight organised crime across the region. They will be covering a range of topics including opportunities to become a Digital Defender, what Cyber Crime is and what the penalties of Cyber Crime are, and how to protect yourself from Cyber Crime. [Stand A25-27]

@ROCUWM

The Royal Institution is an independent charity dedicated to connecting people with the world of science. They offer science in school resources and shows to support children’s science education, meet CPD requirements for teachers, and raise funds for your school. [Stand A11]

@Ri_Science

STEM Ambassadors use their enthusiasm and commitment to encourage young people to enjoy STEM subjects. They open the doors to a world of opportunities and possibilities which come from pursuing STEM subjects and careers. STEM Ambassadors not only inspire young people, they also support teachers in the classroom by explaining current applications of STEM in industry or research. [Stand A02]

@STEMLearningUK, @STEMWorcsUni, @STEMAmbassadors

The University of Birmingham's Extreme Robotics Laboratory undertake research into controlling robots in difficult environments, such as for handling nuclear waste. For example, they work on the software algorithms to improve visual recognition of objects and reliability of automated tasks. In addition to their workshop, they'll have a display of some industrial and research robots. [Stand A13-15]

@unibirmingham

The University of Birmingham's Human Interface Technologies Team undertake research into how best to optimise displays, controls and graphical user interfaces so that people can control equipment safely, reliably and efficiently. They work closely with the Extreme Robotics Group and will have some virtual reality headsets and industril drones on display. [Stand A12]

@unibirmingham

The School of Physics at the University of Bristol has research strengths in newly emerging areas of nanotechnology, optoelectronics, high temperature superconductors, smart materials, quantum information, e-science and revolutionary instrumentation for probing biological systems at the molecular scale. They aim to provide an excellent learning experience which trains both undergraduates and postgraduates across applied and theoretical physics. [Stand A10]

@bristoluni, @UniBrisPhysics

University of Gloucestershire is a student-centred, learning-led university, that believes that the creation and application of new knowledge is fundamental to their mission. Staff and students will be bringing their River in a Box interactive exhibit to illustrate how water moves in rivers, what happens during a flood and the impact that human changes can have on river systems. [Stand A39]

@uniofglos