Countdown to the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition

10 June 2019

The Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of sciences, is just over three weeks away from opening its doors to the public to celebrate cutting edge research. The 2019 Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition will be held in London 1-7 July 2019, with 22 exhibits expecting to draw more than 13,000 visitors over the course of the week.

Things to do

Immerse yourself in mind-blowing science and technology

From wooden skyscrapers and dancing robots to virtual tumours and superbug-resistant surfaces, the Royal Society has carefully curated a selection of 22 exhibits from around the UK for visitors to interact with.

Take a look into the future at the 'Timber towers of tomorrow' exhibit and explore a mock-up apartment in one of the world’s first wooden skyscrapers, which developers plan to build in London’s Barbican. After learning how wooden skyscrapers absorb and store tonnes of carbon in their timber, visit the ‘Taking a bite out of climate change’ exhibit to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions from your summer barbecue.

Talk to scientists at the forefront of technological innovations that are transforming food production and discover how you could reduce your carbon footprint with a few simple changes. And visit the ‘Robots in the danger zone’ exhibit to fly a drone around an interactive oil rig and take control of a Cozmo robot to solve a series of puzzles in an industrial maze.

Exhibits at the forefront of medical research include the ‘Lighting the brain after birth’ stand, designed as an intensive care neonatal ward. Talk to researchers who have developed a portable and cost-effective near-infrared device which detects signs of brain injury in babies minutes after birth. The machine delivers real-time data at the cotside and will enable doctors to deliver treatment earlier and therefore reduce the likelihood of conditions such as cerebral palsy, other cognitive and behavioural disorders and even death.

Travel through a virtual tumour at the ‘Mathematics of cancer’ exhibit using VR technology, where you will discover how scientists are combining medical imaging with mathematical modelling to deliver effective, targeted cancer treatments. And talk to the team behind the ‘Super biomaterials to fight super bugs’ exhibit about their specially developed ‘slippery’ materials that stop bacteria sticking - one way to combat the growing pandemic of resistant superbugs without using antibiotics.

Space enthusiasts can explore the consequences, opportunities and risks of making contact with an alien at the ‘A message from afar’ exhibit. Talk to researchers, astrobiologists, anthropologists, philosophers and astronomers searching for extra-terrestrial intelligence and compose your own message for outer space. At the ‘Living on the moon’ exhibit, experience walking on the Moon by way of virtual reality and meet the team conducting laboratory analyses of lunar samples to mark the 50th anniversary of the first Apollo Moon landing.

Events throughout the week

Reclaim your lunchbreak and join us for a ‘come as you are’ yoga session and learn how to breathe with your brain. Or take a journey to Saturn with space physicist Professor Michele Dougherty and explore key discoveries from the Cassini-Huygens mission. To mark the International Year of the Periodic Table, explore how Professor Martyn Poliakoff’s videos have engaged hundreds of millions of people in the science of the elements. Or dig into the technology that allows us to see deeper underground than ever before with Professor Kai Bongs.

Family-friendly activities

Ever wondered how the universe started? Or what makes us different from animals? Visit the Little House of Science team in the Kids’ zone where inquisitive young minds can find the answers to life’s biggest questions. Why not drop in to our pop-up makerspace where little people can construct laser cut cars and put them to the test in a high octane battle on the race track. Or make and take away your very own creation from recycled trash in a drop-in workshop run by Rubbish Science.

Discover the science behind beatboxing and 3D food printing at our evening event

For one evening only – Tuesday 2 July – join us after hours to explore the Summer Science Exhibition Lates and enjoy an evening of science, music and cocktails for over 18s only. Whether it is beatboxing, 3D printed food tasting and synaesthetic music or taking part in hands-on activities in the Discovery Hub, there is something for everyone. This is also an evening not to be missed for those interested in tales of science past as our expert library team delves into a mind boggling collection of artefacts and records from the Royal Society archives.