With 100 events across Oxford to choose from at IF Oxford in October, it’s hard to know where to start, but the Science and Ideas Festival is inviting visitors of all ages to let their curiosity run wild this year.
The numerous events and activities for adults, children and teenagers are taking place in more than 30 venues from The Museum of Natural History to Oxford Playhouse, The Covered Market, two Oxford colleges, two pubs and a cocktail bar!
With art, theatre, music, magic and comedy, discussions and demonstrations on hand, IF Oxford also includes fresh ideas and cutting-edge thinking from world-leading academics and researchers on topics from sonic alchemy and conversations with whales to sustainable development and assisted suicide.
HERE ARE OUR TOP PICKS:
1) Animal Communication; 6pm, October 21, New Road Baptist Church. Veterinary surgeon and poet Ilse Pedler on how interacting and communicating with animals is a vital human activity. From the March Hare to domesticated animals and Medical Detection Dogs, expect a poetic and practical exploration of how animals and humans really ‘talk’ to each other. https://if-oxford.com/event/animal-communication-an-exploration-through-poetry-and-practical-example/
2) Family Day with Live Lab, 12 October, 10am, Science Oxford, Headington. Hands-on pond dipping is taking place in small groups with Cotswold National Landscape who will demonstrate practical ways to explore habitats, talk about lifecycles, the difference between pond and river habitats and the small actions we can make to have an impact, together, on water quality. Plus lots more family activities. https://if-oxford.com/event/family-day-with-live-lab-2/
3) Optical Illusions: Try out Uchiwa Science and experience optical illusions that pulse, flutter and glow as cutting-edge visual science collides with ancient designs. Oxford Westgate Library, Oxford Centre for Innovation and Grassroots on Woodstock Road, Oct 6 – Nov 2. Plus, on 10 October 10 at 4.30pm at New Road Baptist Church, Bonn Square, science-magician Dr Matt Pritchard, explores optical principles, smart materials and word play to see how the mind can be confused in Designing Deceptions – the science of optical illusions for children. https://if-oxford.com/uchiwa/
8) Dr Monty Lyman, The Immune Mind at Oxford Playhouse on October 11, 8pm. An exploration of the relationship between diet, the gut, mental health and psychosis. Dr Monty, Academic Clinical Fellow in Psychiatry at University of Oxford, discusses the fascinating cases and exciting new research that inspired his new book and Radio 4 series. https://if-oxford.com/event/the-immune-mind-the-curious-new-science-of-mind-body-and-microbe/
4) How to be a Whale’ The Natural History Museum, Nov 1, 6pm – biologist, nature filmmaker and writer Tom Mustill is talking all things whale, including scientists recent 2-way conversation with a humpback whale! Learn how AI helps scientists discover patterns in animals conversations and decode them, prepare for the interspecies age and take a trip through an immersive underwater soundscape. https://if-oxford.com/event/how-to-be-a-whale/
5) Explorazone, Wesley Memorial Church, Sat Oct 12, 11am-5pm, investigate animal homes and habitats with The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour and consider how and why animals behave the way they do. Explorazone topics also include diamonds, artificial intelligence, self-driving cars and the stars. https://if-oxford.com/event/explorazone/
6) MORE SCIENTIFIC ANSWERS TO RIDICULOUS QUESTIONS, Tuesday October 22, 8.30pm, The Bullingdon – Mathematician Dr Tom Crawford finds scientific answers to ridiculous questions and shares some of his favourite improbable research – from postman’s testicles to bored teachers – while delving deeper into the comedic world of ‘award-winning’ research. https://if-oxford.com/event/more-scientific-answers-to-ridiculous-questions/
7) Braintastic! Am I Normal; Oxford Playhouse, 5pm, Friday October 11. In this fun, interactive show for ages 12-16 dive into statistics, genetics, evolution and brain plasticity to discover what makes you you, and why each of us is truly unique. Packed with demos and experiments, including creating our own brain art, this show explores the concept of neurodiversity and the strengths we can all bring to society. https://if-oxford.com/event/braintastic-science-am-i-normal/
9) Techworks; Saturday 19 October 11am-5pm; Oxford Works, ARC Oxford. Actor and science communicator Richard Robinson demonstrates 66 simple magic tricks that are easy to learn and impossible to understand as part of a family event at which you can meet the experts at the heart of science and innovation. https://if-oxford.com/event/techworks/
10) The Pensive Image, The North Wall, Oct 2 – 19 fine art photographer Paul Kilsby‘s images combine natural history and fabrication, questioning whether what we see is real. Drawing on age-old mathematical formulae and delving into concepts of scale, fragility and jeopardy results in impossible encounters between birds and insects. Paul Kilsby will then be In Conversation with James Attlee about The Pensive Image on October 15 The North Wall, 6.30pm. https://if-oxford.com/event/paul-kilsby-the-pensive-image/
11) The Invention of Wonder, 7.30pm, October 30, Holywell Music Room, internationally acclaimed sound artist Ray Lee explores the forces which are normally invisible. Presented by Oxford Contemporary Music and Wadham College, think philosophical lecture, Victorian illusion and electronic music performance, in one. https://if-oxford.com/event/how-to-be-a-whale/
12) UniverSilly Challenged with Jonny Berliner and Simon Watt at the Wig and Pen, Oxford, October 31, 7pm. Science troubadour Jonny Berliner and Ugly Animal wrangler Simon Watt invite you to the only Anarchonerd pub quiz where niche prizes can be won and there is full marks for foolishness. https://if-oxford.com/event/universilly-challenged-with-jonny-berliner-and-simon-watt/
13) Poetry of Science, 12 October, 11.30am, Wesley Memorial Church. (see main pic) Hear the freshest imaginations of our new young poets and meet the 2024 Poetry of Science competition winners aged 6-16.) From sonnets and free verse show ideas in science through the lens of youth, Hosted by Tara Stubbs, Professor in Modern and Contemporary Literature, University of Oxford and Grace Copeland, Researcher and Poet, Somerville College. And then consider creating your own entry for next year! https://if-oxford.com/event/poetry-of-science-2/
Dane Comerford, Director of IF Oxford says: “Oxford is brimming with weird and wonderful ideas right now, and the Festival is a special chance to dive headfirst into this rabbit hole of imagination. IF Oxford’s 100 events and activities mean there’s something for you and your friends! The clock is ticking, so don’t miss out on this city-wide adventure!”
IF Oxford runs from Oct 6-Nov 3. To download the programme, find out more or book events go to: https://if-oxford.com/events/