The Big Bounce 2022

10am-4pm at Barrowland Ballroom, 244 Gallowgate, Glasgow, G4 0TT

Science on Stilts: Do you look up to scientists? Well now you really can! Science on Stilts is a walkabout show where real-life scientists – who are also stilt walkers – do simple science experiments with you! They’ll stop on their stilts to have chats with anyone who has high ambitions to learn more about physics. Our scientists on stilts elevate exploration of how atoms are made or why bubbles reflect colours to a new height – and it’s huge fun.

Phenomenal Physics: Physics is changing the world and improving lives with big ideas... come and find out how by getting hands-on with weird fluids, magnets and electric potatoes! Explore the world of condensed matter and quantum materials and learn how you could harness them to tackle big problems.

Cosmic Crafting: Get involved in some great crafting activities using a range of recycled and ‘saved from landfill’ materials! You can make your own moving model of the sun, Earth, and moon, or a self-propelled rocket to take home. Don’t forget to grab a mystery activity bag!

Mind and Draw: Try your hand at drawing imaginary landscapes and explore the physics behind colour!

Dark Side of the Stars: The universe is seriously massive. How can we find out about it when it doesn’t fit in a science lab? Charlotte will show you how to grab light from space and use it to master the universe!

Seeing Rainbows: You don’t have to wait for the sun to come out to see rainbows in this fun workshop! Explore how white light is made up of different colours, and build a special device to see the secret light coming from your smartphone.

Circuits Circus: Build your own electronic game in 15 minutes using simple circuits! You’ll be buzzing all the way home!

Making Magicians: Is physics magic? Is magic really physics? Come along to check out impossible balancing, flotation tricks and much more, and see if you can work out how they do it!

Seeing Beneath Your Skin: Have you ever wondered how doctors use physics to see under your skin? Clare and her team will explain this spooky science and show you what the blood vessels in your hand look like!

Ideal for ages 4 to 400.

Saturday: 10.30am-11.15am at Orchard Park Centre, 10 Gardenside Avenue, Carmyle, G32 8DR

Sunday: 11.30am-12.15pm, 2pm-2.45pm at Barrowland Ballroom Small Hall, 244 Gallowgate, Glasgow, G4 0TT

Small Stories – curious tales for wee ones and their grown-ups.

Come along and sing, make sounds and have fun together as we learn all about the wonderful world around us. Join pirates, birds and bears as they explore why things fall down, what sound is and why things float at these interactive sessions in our cosy story tent.

Ideal for ages 3 to 6 and their families, and all are welcome.

This workshop is free but has limited capacity and must be booked in advance (early booking recommended).

Register now for Orchard Park Centre

Register now for Barrowland Ballroom

11am and 1pm at Glasgow Women’s Library, 23 Landressy Street, Bridgeton, G40 1BP

Bring the whole family to build your own miniature Mars rover! But there’s more – how will it know what to do? Coding for absolute beginners of course. You’ll teach your rover how to explore its surroundings and gather data – all from scratch!

Ideal for ages 10+ and their families.

This workshop is free but has limited capacity and must be booked in advance (early booking recommended).

Register now

12pm and 2pm at Glasgow Women’s Library, 23 Landressy Street, Bridgeton, G40 1BP

Captain Galileo and his loyal scientist shipmate Sally Planck are on a quest for gold and need the audience’s help to find it! These two flamboyant pirates are travelling over the seas in their handcart-ship packed with experimental materials (plus the occasional rat).

Ideal for ages 5 to 10 and their families.

This show is free but has limited capacity and must be booked in advance (early booking recommended).

Register now

10.30am and 1.30pm at Barrowland Ballroom Workshop Room, 244 Gallowgate, Glasgow, G4 0TT

What’s special about a dolphin’s voice? Why can’t we see well underwater? How can we really find Nemo?

Join this family session of games and creative play and help us to answer these questions and more, as we explore the weird and wonderful world of underwater sound!

This special 60-minute workshop lets parents and kids get hands-on and involved with waves and echoes. We’ll find out how dolphins use echo-location, and why we humans use sonar to reveal the hidden secrets of the deep!

(Wetsuits not required!)

Ideal for ages 8 to 11 and their families.

This workshop is free but has limited capacity and must be booked in advance (early booking recommended).

Register now

10.30am, 1pm and 3.30pm at Barrowland Ballroom Small Hall, 244 Gallowgate, Glasgow, G4 0TT

_{Image credit: Vincentiu Solomon}

October is too cold for stargazing... unless you come along to our cosy inflatable planetarium! Join the Royal Observatory Edinburgh team and get familiar with the night sky.

Ideal for ages 7 to 12 and their families.

This workshop is free but has limited capacity and must be booked in advance (early booking recommended).

Register now

12pm and 3pm at Barrowland Ballroom Workshop Room, 244 Gallowgate, Glasgow, G4 0TT

_{Image credit: European Space Agency/Hubble and Nasa, F. Pacaud, D. Coe}

Join space expert Anne-Marie for this out-of-this-world interactive show and chat about anything from tiny satellites to gigantic galaxies. You can have all your space-related questions answered!

Ideal for ages 8 to 12 and their families.

This workshop is free but has limited capacity and must be booked in advance (early booking recommended).

Register now