Bradford Science Festival to finish with a bang (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford Science Festival to finish with a bang

7:00am Friday 28th September 2012 in News By Hannah Postles, T&A Reporter

Bradford City Park will host its first firework display next month as it brings Bradford Science Festival to a close with a bang.

Themed pyrotechnics, presented by Skyburst, will end the inaugural five-day event on Sunday, October 21 – and Bradford businesses are being urged to sponsor the spectacle.

The interactive festival, which begins on Wednesday, October 17, has been organised by Space Connections, a Bradford-based education team, which encourages young people to study engineering, science, technology or maths with a view to pursuing a career using related knowledge and skills.

It will see about 5,000 young people at Yorkshire schools and colleges attend science workshops and demonstrations given by experts from Bradford Council, Bradford College, BASF , Fabric, Participate Projects, the National Media Museum and the University of Bradford, as well as science-promoting organisations from around the country.

Helen Barraclough, who leads the Space Connections team, based at the new Inspire Bradford business park in Eccleshill , said: “City Park will be a great location for the display, with spectacular fireworks reflected in the Mirror Pool against the impressive backdrop of City Hall.”

During the festival, Matthew Tosh, a science presenter and senior display supervisor at the Skyburst, will deliver workshops on the science of fireworks, telling young people and their families how science, technology and maths are brought together with precision engineering to create dramatic displays.

He said: “Fireworks bring together science, engineering and the performing arts to thrill and entertain audiences.”

The Bradford Science Festival follows the success of the British Science Festival , which visited Bradford last September. Activities planned include a primary school challenge to develop a machine run by solar, wind or water power, a science writing challenge run through local libraries and a science journalism competition in colleges and schools.

Businesses and other organisations which want to sponsor the fireworks finale should call 0845 652 2406 for further details and costs.