Smart and Green

From under the ground to 10km in the sky, researchers are busy finding solutions to improve the natural world. Help us make a living map of York by telling us where your favourite green place is and which areas can be improved. Play pollution games, hold animals, get your face painted and find out how earthworms have become the superheroes of the soil.

Events

	Discover the CAPACITIE research project Activities and exhibition, 4pm - 10pm, King's Manor Marquee Combining rapid industrialisation, cars and coal fires of our past, the harmful effects of today’s industrial chemicals, and veterinary and human pharmaceuticals, pollution has never been a bigger problem. Come along and find out more about pollution through the use of interactive games and scientific demonstrations.
	My places, my nature, my York Activities and exhibition, 4pm - 10pm, King's Manor Marquee Take a look at our map of York and add to it the nature location that you value most and why. This might be a single tree that blossoms every Spring or a whole meadow where you walk the dog. You can also add the location you value least and you would most like to be improved. Together we will build a living map of our connections with York’s green and blue spaces and consider how they might change in the future.
	Science in the skies Activities and exhibition, 4pm - 10pm, King's Manor Marquee Climb aboard our replica aircraft and experience audio and video footage from an actual flight. Experts will be on hand to answer any questions and talk about work onboard the research aircraft and careers in environmental science.
	Let's go Green! (STEMS)! Activities and exhibition, 4pm - 10pm, King's Manor Marquee At YorNight, GreenSTEMS members will be presenting their exciting green projects on various fields through an interactive exhibition and hands-on-science activities, asking the important question “Waste: refuse or resource?”
	Explore the universe in the Cosmodome Activities, 5pm - 8.30pm, Yorkshire Museum Fairfax Room Join University of York researchers inside the Cosmodome to explore the universe in an exciting new way.
	In the Museum Night Garden Activities and exhibition, 5pm - 8.30pm, Yorkshire Museum Garden Learn more about the history beneath our feet; from sea monsters and dinosaurs to Romans and Vikings. With nocturnal stories in our enchanted, fairy lit glade, historic arts and craft activities, children’s trails, an archaeological forensic mystery to solve and a chance to meet the experts.
	CIRCLE: Exhibition and talks Exhibition and talks, 5pm - 9pm, Hospitium The aim of CIRCLE is to carry out ground-breaking research on the conservation of wild animals and places, and to use this to further animal welfare and public understanding of the natural world. Four of CIRCLE’s incredible interns will talk about their exciting research with talks and exhibits.
	IGEM Science Café Science Café, 5pm - 9pm, Treasurer's House Come and chat to some of the researchers from iGEM York and discover what work they’re doing with genetically modified organisms and how they hope to help people in the future.
	Light-trapping for Photovoltaic Cells Activities and exhibition, 5pm - 9pm, Treasurer's House At YorNight Christian will demonstrate the power of sunlight through exciting experiments and each visitor has the chance to win their own solar lamp to take home! You can discover intriguing facts about the next generation of solar cells, and find out more about Christian’s lab work.
	Smart and Green at the Treasurer’s House Activities and exhibition, 5pm - 9pm, Treasurer's House Learn about current research into solar panels and have a go at building your own solar-powered creations. Discover how nuclear power works and how radioactive a banana is! Enter the Sundome to discover how the Sun works and why researchers are trying to make ‘mini suns’ here on Earth. Find out what plasma balls have to do with making electricity and watch some amazing high voltage demonstrations! Meet Astronomer John Goodricke and learn about the discoveries he made within this very building back in 1783, aged only 19!
	DNA extraction stall: Get your own DNA Activities and exhibition, 5pm - 10pm, King's Manor Marquee Ever wanted to see your own DNA? Well now you can! Come and have a go at extracting your own DNA led by researchers from the University of York’s iGEM team. You can even take it home as a souvenir!
	Explore nature Activities and exhibition, 5pm - 10pm, King's Manor Marquee Have a go at exploring the types of citizen science projects you can get involved in, from surveys of lichens to exploring levels of air pollution, and helping to map the distribution of earthworms across the UK!
	Palm Protect Exhibition, 5pm - 10pm, King's Manor Marquee Discover what’s happening to palm trees and how the research of the Palm Protect project is helping to develop methods to combat the pests that are destroying them.
	Time travelling to climates of the past Talk, 5.30pm - 5.45pm, King's Manor KG/07 Join environmental scientist Mark Hodson as he shows how we can use stalagmites from caves, corals, shellfish and even earthworm poo as time machines to take the temperature of the planet long ago.
	GMO: Friend or foe Talk, 6.20pm - 6.35pm, King's Manor KG/07 Two researchers from the University of York’s IGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) team will lead a talk about the uses of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), the perception of GMOs, and finally what they are working on currently.
	In space, no one can hear you scream (includes Gravity film screening) Film, activities and talk, 6.30pm - 9.10pm, King's Manor K/133 Enjoy a showing of the award-winning film Gravity after finding out a bit of the science behind it. How did we develop the first spacesuits? What does it feel like to move around in one? With exploding marshmallow men and a genuine spacesuit used in the Russian space programme, this is a fascinating insight into space exploration.
	An exotic vet’s life: The work of a 21st century James Herriot in the zoo and wild animal world Talk, 7.30pm - 8.30pm, Yorkshire Museum Hospitium This talk is a funny romp through the trials and tribulations of a modern 21st century James Herriot - from dealing with angry Polar bears, to how to spey your own lion on the kitchen table, the talk covers tales of success and woe when working with the fiercer creatures around.