BLAST!

See some of the most exciting science and meet the best and friendliest inventors in town. Try out dozens of interactive activities and demonstrations.

BLAST! brings together scientists and engineers tackling the biggest challenges on Earth and beyond, with hands-on activities for the whole family to explore the science shaping our future.

Please help IF Oxford keep track of venue capacity by booking your approximate arrival time. You can arrive at any time during your hour-long arrival slot, then stay for as long as you like.

Event format: HANDS-ON INTERACTIVE ZONE
Age: 7–12 yrs, Teenage, Adult
Typical visit time: 1.5–2 hours
Event duration: 6 hours
Event start: 11am, last entry 4pm
Ticketing: Pay What You Decide (PWYD)

Parking: limited parking available

Activities include:

Seeing the Invisible: reveal the universe with James Webb Space Telescope images from deep space. Discover how the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source reveals details in dinosaur eggs, aeroplane wings and spider silk.

Hands on with quantum computing: discover why quantum computing draws on physics, engineering and computer science all at once, through a short accessible film that unpacks the fundamentals in under four minutes.

The Tamarind Galaxy: explore stories of the stars with Natty Mark Samuels, hearing tall tales and trying out space puzzles from the African School.

The Future is Fusion: explore the future of energy from plasma to robots, magnets and materials, and meet the scientists and engineers building stars on Earth to get excited about fusion energy.

AstroFun with Time-Traveling Star Explorers!: zoom through the stars with 17th-century sky-watchers Johannes and Elisabeth Hevelius from Gdańsk! Spot planets, solve cosmic puzzles and try out historic stargazing tools.

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IF Oxford uses Pay What You Decide (PWYD) ticketing, which means you can choose to pay whatever you want — or can afford. You can make your donation during booking, at the event, or afterwards. Please note that there is a free ticket option for this event.

We suggest a donation of £7.50. If even half of IF Oxford’s visitors gave that, the charity could plan next year’s community science and ideas Festival with confidence. If you decide another amount works better for you, please give that instead — every contribution helps keep the Festival free at the point of entry for everyone who needs it to be — the most important thing is that we can all enjoy a good Festival together, thank you.

All ticket options offer the same access. The contribution associated with this ticket is considered a donation in support of the Festival. Please choose the amount that feels right for you.

Ages are a guide only, under-16s to be accompanied by a responsible adult.

The Festival reserves the right to modify event formats and manage the audience in accordance with the Festival’s Attendance Policy:
if-oxford.com/attendance-policy

IF Oxford is run by The Oxfordshire Science Festival (charity #1151361). Any voluntary donation you make may be eligible for Gift Aid, where a charity can claim back an extra 25% of your donation at no cost to you:
if-oxford.com/donate