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‘State of Mind’, an immersive installation about how the human brain experiences smartphones, apps and media technologies, opened the Manchester Science Festival 2024 at the Science and Industry Museum, Manchester on Thursday 17 October 2024. The festival was opened by Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester; Sir Tim Laurence, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Science Museum Group; Professor Simone Buitendijk, Deputy Vice Chancellor and Provost of the University of Salford with Nile Henry as the MC for the evening.

The biennial festival returns from Friday 18 – Sunday 27 October 2024 exploring the theme of ‘Extremes’. Manchester Science Festival goers will have the opportunity to get hands-on with some of science’s most cutting-edge developments through multi-sensory experiences, immersive events and hands-on family fun. Interactive events will take place throughout the 10 days of the festival across two activity zones, adult-only evenings, a headline artistic installation and a free major exhibition. There will also be science-inspired spectacles beyond the museum as part of a city-wide festival programme.

State of Mind

Dive inside the human brain with a new large-scale artistic installation, State of Mind, designed and developed by pioneering light, sound and technology artists, Squidsoup. In a voyage to uncover the impact smartphones, apps and media technologies have on our lives, the experience will immerse audiences in a changing visual and audio landscape that has been created to represent the extreme effect a world saturated with sensory stimuli has on our brains.

Participants are invited to sit, stand, walk and explore while the installation of three-dimensional LED lights and speakers transitions from an orderly show of light and sound into a more chaotic scattering of colour. Inspired by the work of abstract artist Piet Mondrian, State of Mind will ask audiences to reflect on the effect daily use of technology has on their mood and behaviour as they travel through a visual representation of how our brains are constantly working to bring order and understanding to the millions of sensory inputs we receive daily.

Other activities and installations include:

Arachnobot , the incredible giant spider, created by Artistic Director Tim Davies. Composed of a complex cable skeleton with eight legs and a giant inflatable skin, this dynamic work of art puts the extremes of large-scale, kinetic creations on full display

Vollebak graphene jacket acquired by the museum and on display for the first time to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the discovery in Manchester of wonder material, graphene. 2024 marks twenty years since the discovery of graphene at the University of Manchester, one of the key partners of the festival alongside the National Graphene Institute, the Natural History Museum, the Royal Society, the Office for National Statistics, the University of Salford and Manchester Metropolitan University.

Co-produced with Community Partners , City Sparks, the museum’s programme of activities co-produced by community partners, will be delivering inspiring experiences at the museum and across Greater Manchester.

A creative residency from North Manchester-based arts duo Malandra Jacks, in collaboration with Harpurhey peer-to-peer support group, Mindful Mums, will create a pop-up immersive experience exploring the science behind pregnancy and motherhood. Back at the museum, this year’s Young People’s Project is being delivered in partnership with Pinc College (which focuses on creative education for neurodivergent young people) to create an interactive installation exploring the link between colour and emotion.

Community showcases from Beswick Chatty Crafters, Mandem Meetup, Reclaim Young Policy Makers and artist Linda Wachaga will be revealed soon.

TheManchester Science Festival ends with an evening finale by Venture Arts.

Major exhibition – Injecting Hope: The race for a COVID-19 vaccine

Alongside the Festival, the Science and Industry Museum opened a free major exhibition, Injecting Hope: The race for a COVID-19 vaccine. The experience delves into extreme challenges faced during pandemics by examining the worldwide effort to develop vaccines at speed and uncovering the inspiring stories of scientists and innovators around the globe who collaborated to tackle the world-wide COVID-19 challenge. The exhibition also examines the unique experiences and responses of communities in Manchester to the pandemic through objects and stories on display for the first time.

Manchester Science Festival 2024
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About the Science and Industry Museum

The Science and Industry Museum tells the story of where science met industry and the modern world began. Manchester was one of the first global industrial cities, and its epic rise, decline and resurrection has been echoed in countless other cities around the world.  The museum’s mission is to inspire all its visitors, including future scientists and inventors, with the story of how ideas can change the world, from the industrial revolution to today and beyond.

The Science and Industry Museum site is on the site of the Liverpool Road Station terminus of the Liverpool Manchester Railway, the world’s first purpose-built passenger railway. Among its internationally significant buildings are the world’s first passenger railway station and the oldest existing railway goods warehouse. In total there are two Grade I listed buildings and four Grade II listed buildings on the site.

The museum is currently undergoing a multi-million-pound regeneration project that will see brand new spaces opened and significant improvements made to some of its best-loved galleries.

The Science and Industry Museum is part of the Science Museum Group, a family of museums which also includes the Science Museum in London; the National Railway Museum in York and Shildon; and the Science and Media Museum in Bradford. The Science Museum Group is devoted to the history and contemporary practice of science, medicine, technology, industry and media. With five million visitors each year and an unrivalled collection, it is the most significant group of museums of science and innovation worldwide.

About Manchester Science Festival

Manchester Science Festival immerses visitors in the fascinating world of contemporary innovations and shines a light on future developments that have the potential to change our world. It attracts visitors from across the country, welcoming over 1 million people over the last decade.

This year, the theme is ‘Extremes’. Manchester Science Festival will offer the people of Greater Manchester and beyond opportunities to take part in live, interactive events and world premieres, get hands-on with some of science’s most cutting-edge developments while exploring some of the biggest questions facing humanity.

Manchester Science Festival is produced by the Science and Industry Museum, part of the Science Museum Group. It shares a vision to inspire audiences through innovation with Bradford Science Festival, which is produced by fellow Science Museum Group site the National Science and Media Museum.

For further details visit https://www.scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk/manchester-science-festival

About The University of Salford

The University of Salford is located in the heart of Greater Manchester. We have almost 30,000 students, 2,000 staff and a global community of over 170,000 alumni.

We pioneer exceptional industry partnerships leading the way in real-world experiences by preparing students for life.

We work with industry to co-create the curriculum producing job-ready graduates primarily in health and wellbeing, engineering, digital and the creative sectors.

We are continuing to invest in our campus and facilities with a £300 million development plan that will make us fit for the future.

For further information: https://www.salford.ac.uk