Activities for all ages taking place during July that even the rain can’t spoil. As always, check in advance with the organiser’s website for current details about start time, and whether there’s any charge or need to register.
Farnborough International Airshow
Farnborough, 16-17 July
There’s plenty to stimulate the senses at this year’s Farnborough International Airshow, from static aircraft displays that let visitors get up close and personal with the best of modern and historic aviation to a host of interactive activities, exhibits and entertainment features. Visit the Space Zone and Innovation Zone for a look into the future of aerospace, with live demonstrations and guest talks from astronauts, or take the opportunity to meet the heroes of the flying display in the ‘Meet the Pilot’ area. If that’s not enough, the five-hour flying display will get your hair standing on end. From the roar of the military jets to the iconic red, white and blue vapour trails from the Red Arrows, it’s an exhilarating afternoon of flying.
Science Museum, London, from 7 July
A new exhibition at the Science Museum explores how members of the public are playing a greater role in scientific research than ever before. Beyond the Lab, which forms part of the EU-supported initiative Sparks, tells the stories of nine different innovators who are using crowd-sourced data, community lab projects and DIY apparatus to revolutionise front-line scientific research. The projects are explored through objects, video interviews and photographs that illustrate the breadth and strength of contemporary scientific practice across Europe today. Case studies range from The Mosquito Atlas Project’s Doreen Walther, who crowd-sources mosquitoes from across Germany to provide a vital monitoring service allowing prediction and planning for outbreaks, to Sara Riggare, who has Parkinson’s disease and uses wearable technology to track her symptoms and customise her treatments. Rebecca Mileham previews the exhibition in an article in the July 2016 issue of E&T
National Railway Museum, York, from 7 July
The National Railway Museum’s new First World War exhibition explores the little-known story of the trains that evacuated injured soldiers away from conflict zones to receive medical help during the First World War. Inspired by years of painstaking research by experts at the York-based museum, the centrepiece of the ground-breaking exhibition is an historic railway carriage of the type that would have been converted for use in a First World War ambulance train, transformed inside and out to recreate the intense atmosphere on board these hospitals on wheels. The Ambulance Trains programme will also include a series of free talks by curators, experts and descendants of ambulance train staff that will delve even deeper into this fascinating subject, and a special trail will be available for families to explore the exhibition together.
Runway East, Lower Ground, Finsbury Square, London, 6 July
Music TechPitch 4.5 is a platform to enable startups within the music-tech industry from all across Europe to showcase their business proposition to a relevant wider audience, including VCs, music industry professionals and experts, journalists, as well as other aspiring and successful music and tech entrepreneurs. This pitching event is a unique opportunity to build more awareness, receive productive feedback from an expert panel, and network with key music and tech industry players.
IET London: Savoy Place, 29 July
Are you a teacher and wondering what you can do with the BBC micro:bit in your lessons? Perhaps you’re a Year 7 student who has just received a BBC micro:bit via your school and want to know how it works? Maybe you’re a parent and want to know more or just an interested member of the public? The IET is running a series of events around the whole of the UK to inspire and inform the general public about the BBC micro:bit, and how you can learn to code with it. This is a drop-in style event as part of the IET’s Engineering Open House Day where you can work your way around our BBC micro:bit zones to not only have fun but also challenge your perceptions about careers in engineering and digital technology. Registration is required.
IET London: Savoy Place, 16 July
Open days aimed at members, staff and their families, are designed to allow visitors to explore the great range of facilities and event spaces that are now available in the IET’s London building, including the brand new Johnson Roof Terrace, the purpose-built Faraday Centre, which features the Faraday Kitchen, Faraday Lounge, meeting pods and Knowledge Centre, and the Kelvin and Turing Lecture theatres, which, between them, can seat more than 600 delegates. Inside the building, visitors will also have the opportunity to see the ‘100 engineering ideas that changed the world’ display, which celebrates some of the ideas and engineers who have helped shape the world in which we live today. The IET Venues team are keen for members who haven’t yet had the opportunity to visit the new-look building to come along and find out more about what’s available to them. Registration is required.
Digital Health and Care Congress 2016
The King’s Fund, London W1G 0AN, 5-6 July
This annual event provides a key opportunity for delegates to explore how the better use of technology and data can support and enable the developments needed to transform outcomes for patients and citizens. The congress will feature presentations and case studies from: NHS trusts; clinical commissioning groups; local authorities; voluntary sector organisations; universities and private sector providers, who will present innovative projects that are using technology and data to deliver high-quality sustainable health and care services.
Engineering & Technology magazine 