Event Date: March 21, 2026 10:00 am – March 21, 2026 4:00 pm
Venue: Ray Dolby Centre, Cavendish Laboratory
Join us in the Ray Dolby Centre on Saturday 21 March 2026, from 10am to 4pm for a day of discovery as part of the Cambridge Festival. This event offers a unique opportunity to explore the forefront of physics research through engaging talks, hands-on activities, live demonstrations, and interactive exhibits. Don’t miss the chance to experience the camera obscura overlooking the city, alongside a full programme designed to inspire curious minds of all ages.
This event is free and open to the public, offering a glimpse into the world of physics research at the Cavendish Laboratory.
Places for talks are limited, advanced booking is advised to avoid disappointment. Hands-on activities and demonstrations are drop-in sessions and unticketed.
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM | Book your tickets here
In 1848 Michael Faraday gave a famous series of demonstration lectures called the chemical history of a candle. Lighting has moved on a lot in 178 years, so we thought it could do with updating. This demo filled lecture involves fire, sparks, and much more.
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Book your ticket here.
The Cavendish Laboratory in Free School Lane, in the centre of Cambridge, was the site of many of the biggest scientific breakthroughs in history. Within its walls atoms were split, subatomic particles uncovered and the structure of DNA unraveled, discoveries that reshaped both science and the world around us. In this demonstration-packed talk, Cavendish physicist, author and science presenter Dr Harry Cliff will take you on a tour of Cavendish’s biggest discoveries, recreating some of the historic experiments and exploring the dramatic impact they had on science and the course of history.
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM | Book your ticket here
What if you could go head-to-head with the scientists of CERN and beat them to a particle discovery? Step into real experiments, team up with friends or total-strangers, analyse data from cutting-edge detectors and race against real-life CERN scientists to spot the signals that could change what we know about the universe. No lab coat required – just your curiosity, instinct, and a sharp eye for the unexpected. Do bring a smart device though! Expect physical, mental and app based games, explosions, particle collisions, jokes and more!
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Book your ticket here
For the last 50 years, the Whittle Laboratory in Cambridge has helped to develop the efficient, reliable and safe power generation and aircraft propulsion systems we take for granted today. The next great challenge is to deliver zero carbon power and propulsion and we are working hard to deliver the technologies needed to make this step. Dr Sam Grimshaw’s talk will explain the potential and address some of the challenges associated with using zero emission, “Electric Jet Engines”, for flight. The Whittle Lab has a long history of investigating sports aerodynamics. In the second half of the talk, we will see how the science used to design and test jet engines has been used to understand the mysterious art of swing bowling in cricket.
‘The Next 150 Years of Physics at the Cavendish’
As part of this year’s Cambridge festival, we are delighted to host the Cavendish Photography Competition Exhibition at the Ray Dolby Centre from 16 March.
The exhibition will showcase all the winning and commended entries from last year’s competition, which explored the theme: “The Next 150 Years of Physics at the Cavendish.” Through a diverse collection of imaginative and thought-provoking images, visitors can enjoy creative interpretations of the future of physics at the Cavendish Laboratory.
The exhibition will be displayed outside the Ray Dolby Auditorium.
We invite you to explore the exhibition and celebrate the vision, creativity, and scientific curiosity captured in these images.