The 194th British Science Festival has drawn to a close after four days of inspiring talks, interactive experiences, and city-wide celebrations of science and innovation.

Brought to the city by the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University, in partnership with the British Science Association, this was the first time since 2008 that the flagship event has been held in Liverpool.

Running from 10–14 September, the Festival engaged audiences of all ages at venues across the city including university campuses, the docks and cultural venues including the Bluecoat and the Black-E.

The University of Liverpool played a central role in shaping this year’s programme, with research from across all three Faculties showcased through talks, workshops and interactive sessions.  Events also took place in collaboration with local community groups including Asylum Link Merseyside.

From particle physics to therapeutic innovation, University experts offered festivalgoers a unique chance to engage directly with world-leading scientists and cutting-edge ideas.

Our Deputy Managing Director, Marga Perez-Casal had the privilege of attending the opening session of this year’s British Science Festival.

The event was a celebration of all that Liverpool has to offer in research and innovation, showcasing some of the “firsts in Liverpool” such as the railway between Liverpool and Manchester back in the 19^th century, the fact that football goal nets were first created and used in Liverpool and the fantastic work that scientists in Liverpool delivered through the COVID pandemic, among many others.

Marga Perez-Casal said: “I personally enjoyed the ‘In conversation with Julia King, Baroness Brown of Cambridge’. A formidable and very engaging woman who started her passion for science at an early age living with her mother in London. She is a great example of what a life in science is, and a very apt new president of the British Science Association. Her passion is still as strong as ever, with the emphasis on the importance of good science education in schools as a must for the UK.

It was also a great opportunity to meet new scientists and innovators in our city and explore new opportunities for LHP to support. A truly inspiring event.”

The British Science Festival is the longest standing of its kind in Europe. Organised by the British Science Association, it grew out of the tradition of the annual meetings of the association, first held in York in 1831 and annually since then at cities across the UK and further afield.

The British Science Festival will return in 2026, hosted by the University of Southampton in partnership with the British Science Association.