Science and Technology

All aboard for a day of high-speed discovery at the National Railway Museum! From the magic of the Victorian era to the tech of tomorrow, we’re bringing the rails to life.

Immerse yourself in the wonderful world of 3D animation, motion capture and storytelling in a series of interactive family-friendly demonstrations and workshops with XR Stories.

From humble paper baubles to high-fashion runways and soft robotics, paper engineer Darryl Bedford reveals that a simple sheet of paper is a gateway to infinite possibilities.

Unlock the structural magic of the humble pleat. Join Kirigami artist and educator Darryl Bedford for an immersive, hands-on workshop dedicated to the art of pleated paper.

Immerse yourself in the wonderful world of 3D animation, motion capture and storytelling in a series of interactive family-friendly demonstrations and workshops with XR Stories.

What exactly happens in the therapy room between client and therapist? Retired psychotherapist Michael Guilding lifts the lid on the process of counselling and psychotherapy.

Immerse yourself in the wonderful world of 3D animation, motion capture and storytelling in a series of interactive family-friendly demonstrations and workshops with XR Stories.

Follow in the pioneering footsteps of volcanologist Tempest Anderson (1846-1913) as Tempest's Volcano Trail brings urban volcanology to the historic streets of York on this guided walk.

Join theoretical physicist Patricia Ribes Metidieri of the University of York as she reveals the fascinating links between the origins of our cosmos and the frontiers of quantum technology.

Discover more about the life and legacy of pioneering volcanologist Tempest Anderson and learn about the latest research into volcanoes with Rebecca Williams of the University of Hull.

Enjoy a visual celebration of our perception of the cosmos across centuries and cultures with broadcaster and collector Dallas Campbell.

What is sound heritage and why does it matter? Join Mariana J López of the University of York as she introduces methods for studying the sounds of the past and explains its role in creating immersive museum and online experiences.

Join James Ratcliffe of Bootham School for a journey through the renaissance to modern mathematics, including the works of Riemann, Turing and Fry Richardson. Where will maths go next?

Come learn about and see a demo of the BEYOND training tool, a serious game supporting individuals and organisations who work to address harm and need in war.

From the shifting face of the Moon to constellations that return with the seasons, astronomer Emily Brunsden and science communicator Chris Stewart invite you to look up and explore with your eyes, curiosity and a sense of awe.

As artificial intelligence tools become embedded in scientific research, AI specialist Claire Malone asks: is AI extending the power of human curiosity - or reshaping it?

In our increasingly digital world, what even is real life? Siobhan Dunlop of the University of York and Susan Halfpenny of the University of Strathclyde explore the ever-changing (even disappearing) distinction between digital and physical worlds.

Friends. Lovers. Therapists. ‘Deathbots’. Sociologist James Muldoon explores what happens to our relationships with each other as AI enters our personal lives.

In a world of ‘brain rot’ and digital noise from ads, Chrysopigi Vardikou of the University of York Europe Campus examines how we protect our free will.

With Astronomer Royal for Scotland Catherine Heymans and cosmologist Carlos Frenk, our panel asks where our knowledge, gleaned from our own small blue planet, fits in the vastness of an ever-expanding universe.

Join our expert panel as they debate if it’s possible to imagine new spaces and places into existence in ways that are sympathetic to the needs of future generations while respecting our heritage and environment.

Generative AI is throwing recruitment into chaos. Our expert panel asks: are we witnessing a recruitment revolution or descending into a stalemate of AI assessing AI?

BBC cyber correspondent Joe Tidy presents an exposé of the global rise of teen hackers, drawing on his exclusive interviews with gang members and the police officers trying to stop them.

What exactly happens in the therapy room between client and therapist? Retired psychotherapist Michael Guilding lifts the lid on the process of counselling and psychotherapy.

Life’s endings can be just as fascinating and varied as life itself. Ricard Solé of Pompeu Fabra University, Spain, offers a scientific exploration of the varied forms, origins and meanings of death.

Join us for a challenge against the clock as competing finalists each have just three minutes to outline the power of their research in the annual York Three Minute Thesis competition.

Join us at the Creative Technologies Showcase and enjoy the phenomenal work and ideas created by University of York students. Projects range from games and mobile applications to virtual reality experiences and web designs.

Join sustainability expert David Trousdale for a practical look at the journey of installing EV charge points, from initial planning to full operation, highlighting the key stakeholders at each stage.

Join us at the Creative Technologies Showcase and enjoy the phenomenal work and ideas created by University of York students. Projects range from games and mobile applications to virtual reality experiences and web designs.

Step aboard and explore how rail is enabling a cleaner, greener way to travel across the UK at our special Festival Focus event presented in partnership with train operator LNER.

Did you know that the world’s most expensive coffee is produced through the digestive tract of an animal? Now imagine that animal is human. Join us for a mind-bending exploration of consumption, ethics and embodiment.

Join postgraduate researchers Zulekha Samiullah and Hugh Barrett to discover how much ‘quantum’ is around you and how these wonders weave into everyday life, from supercomputers to the tech that will reshape our cities.

Listen to inspirational women and nonbinary scientists as they take science to the streets of York - while standing on a soapbox.

From smart clothing and climate resilience to lunar living, the scholars from the US-UK Fulbright Commission’s awards invite you to hear about their groundbreaking research in the UK on adapting to changing world(s).

Join digital artist and researcher Guy Schofield of the University of York to discover how videogame technologies are revolutionising the world of heritage.

Explore how virtual tech reconstructs historic sites like Egypt’s Hawara Pyramid and Nottingham Castle. Join our talk and demo to tour hidden chambers and underground caves that are otherwise invisible to the eye.

Discover how data-driven decisions are revolutionising every facet of football - from player performance evaluation to scouting and strategy development.

What might extraterrestrial life be like and how are we trying to find it? What could it mean if we did? Mike Shaw of Bootham School presents an exploration of the search for life beyond the Earth.

Join our panel of experts as they decode the chemical cocktail in our waterways and share actionable steps we can all take to restore the health of our rivers.

Join us at the Creative Technologies Showcase and enjoy the phenomenal work and ideas created by University of York students. Projects range from games and mobile applications to virtual reality experiences and web designs.

Discover the wilder side of the University of York’s stunning Campus East with a multi-sensory workshop designed to reconnect you with the outdoors.

As AI increasingly becomes a fixture of social care and our daily lives, our expert panel discusses how we ensure it’s safe for older adults.

Join Benito Aubry of the University of York for a cosmic odyssey as he explores what we understand – and don’t understand – about space and time today.

Join the Royal Observatory Greenwich’s Senior Curator Louise Devoy as she charts the development of Britain’s first state-funded scientific institution, from its founding by royal warrant to the present day.

Discover how science fiction is becoming reality as astronomers uncover thousands of incredible worlds in our galaxy with astrophysicist Emily Brunsden and science communicator Chris Stewart.

You used to see a doctor. Now you go online. Journalist Deborah Cohen reveals the truth behind Ozempic influencers, AI-powered diagnoses, ‘preventative’ screening and Instagram’s favourite wearable tech.

Join us for an informal session in the ancient and medieval arithmetical gymnasium.

Is Artificial Intelligence (AI) a Hollywood-style threat or a tool we can trust? Join experts from the University of York’s CDT in Safe AI (SAINTS) to explore how chatbots have changed the conversation.

Experience how new perspectives on a changing planet emerge from the fusion of old and new technologies - aerial kites and artificial intelligence – through a multimedia exhibition.

Want to help tackle climate change but don’t have the time to become a climate scientist? Our Climate Fresk workshop will teach you the fundamental science behind climate change and empower you to take action.

In the run up to the Space Summit in Paris this year, our panel of experts from France and the UK explores the scientific, geopolitical, security, environmental, and societal issues and challenges related to space exploration.

Enjoy watching a concert-style musical and learn more about the innovative bioscience research being carried out at the University of York, followed by a ‘meet the researchers’ session.

Join York Community Energy (YCE) on a short guided walk around some of the key sites in York’s energy story, followed by a discussion about the priorities for the energy future of the city’s most important spaces.

Discover the portraits of early modern astronomers, anatomists and natural historians, and explore how images shape scientific identity with Irina Tautschnig of the University of York.

From Victorian jet to modern lab-grown diamonds, Sarah Steele, Curator of Jet at Whitby Museum, discusses why some ‘forever’ gems are measured in catastrophe, not carats.