For the 18–20 October, Techniquest partnered with the National Oceanography Centre and UKRI’s Natural Environment Research Council to deliver Explore Our Planet, a free weekend featuring expert-led talks, workshops and hands-on activities.
As well as having the run of our site, those in attendance got to find out more about the secret life of seals, try on genuine Antarctic explorer gear, and take a tour of the Royal Research Ship, the James Cook.
So, why was it important to organise a weekend like this?
NOC CEO Dr John Siddorn said: “Engaging with schools, the public, policy makers and businesses is incredibly important to us.
“Events like this provide an opportunity to demonstrate how ocean science and technological innovation has an impact on all of our daily lives, whether it’s showing how the ocean currents influence our weather, or highlighting the importance of plankton on the entire global ecosystem — the ocean affects us all!”
NERC Executive Chair Professor Louise Heathwaite said: “It is a wonderful opportunity to bring to life and make accessible the science NERC funds — sharing the benefits of research and innovation and inspiring the next generation.
“By bringing together scientist, policymakers, and the public, we aim to spark curiosity and help everyone understand the critical role of environmental science in solving our world’s environmental challenges. This event demonstrates how working together and involving a wide range of diverse communities is key in our journey towards a sustainable future.”
Primary school students across Wales were hosted on Friday 18 October as the weekend’s first guests, with around 450 making the trip from 11 different schools.
And on Friday evening, NERC and NOC hosted a VIP celebration event here at Techniquest that saw representatives from the Welsh environmental science community come together to celebrate their impact in Wales.
Addressing the attendees on the night, Techniquest CEO Sue Wardle said: “It is an honour to welcome you all to our beautiful science and discovery centre to kick off this wonderful weekend of activities celebrating all forms of environmental science.
“Techniquest’s mission is to inspire curiosity about life and the world around us by presenting STEAM topics — science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics — in a fun, engaging way that invites everyone, no matter their age, to discover and learn. That’s why we were so excited by this partnership. It encapsulates everything we stand for at Techniquest: it’s interactive, it’s inclusive, it brings science and STEAM to life, and, most importantly — it’s fun.
“Today, 450 young people have had the opportunity visit the showcase, and 51 teenagers have had a tour of the RRS James Cook.
“These students are from schools that don’t normally engage with Techniquest, often because it’s difficult to afford to travel here, so it’s been extra special to welcome them here today too and I know they really enjoyed their experience.
“Our role, and the role of science centres everywhere, is an important one. We bring science to life, spark imaginations and encourage discovery. To maintain the momentum needed to make science interesting and accessible to as many people as possible takes support and collaboration.
“This event is a wonderful example of a collaboration that will connect with new audiences and inspire visitors to learn more about how research can support our environment.”
We welcomed more than 2,500 visitors over the weekend, and opened the floor to exhibitors from NERC, NOC, the British Antarctic Survey, CO₂RE, and more, with talks from field experts being held in the Science Theatre.
There were also some special guests in attendance — legendary folk band Fairport Convention took a tour of the RRS James Cook, while Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies visited Techniquest twice across the weekend.
Dr Beatrix Schlarb-Ridley, Director of Innovation and Impact at BAS, said: “Events like this are so important to put on because the work everyone does here affects everyone every day.
“Being able to show young boys and girls what we do in an interactive way is really important, too.
“My favourite part of the weekend has probably been having the schools in [on Friday], and getting them to engage with the equipment we’ve brought.”
Finally, those lucky enough to secure their limited-capacity tickets got a special treat on their visit — a tour of the fully-functional research vessel, the RRS James Cook.
The ship arrived at NOC in 2006, and has since undertaken crucial oceanographic research across the globe, from the tropics to the Arctic Circle.
It spends upwards of 10 months at sea, picking up crews of researchers around the world for 6–8 weeks at a time. Cardiff Bay is the newest docking destination on a list that includes Greenland, Guadeloupe, Barbados and Panama.
Visitors lucky enough to step aboard heard from Captain James Gwinnell and the crew, took selfies with Boaty McBoatface, and learned all about the valuable research conducted by leading oceanographers.
Phil Jones, who visited with his family on Saturday, said: “We did a tour of the ship and the kids absolutely loved it. We didn’t think it’d be that big!
“We’ve spent the rest of the day [at Techniquest] just trying all the new stalls — it’s been a really good experience.”
We would like to thank NERC and NOC, all the exhibitors on the Techniquest floor, all the experts delivering talks in the Theatre, and all our visitors for making Explore Our Planet such an unforgettable weekend — we hope you had as much fun as we did.