Free engineering events for all ages will be held at Cambridge West in March as part of the Cambridge Festival.

Whether you’re curious about the latest advances in engineering or looking for a family-friendly activity, the Cambridge Festival opens the doors on research in ways that are accessible, engaging and thought-provoking. 

Some events need to be booked ahead, but many are drop in, with no booking needed. 

The Time Travellers’ Party will welcome visitors of all ages to 2126 at Future City:Build, play and power tomorrow.  In a hands-on adventure, visitors become the engineers behind a thriving, sustainable ‘future city’, building trains and windmills. This free, family-friendly activity, is organised by our Civil Engineering Division’s Centre for Doctoral Training. It will run on Saturday 21 March, from 10am to 4pm, in the Roger Needham Building. 

The Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) is also part of the Department of Engineering and has a range of events for all ages during its Open Day on Saturday 21 March. These include advice on getting the most out of going to university, a VR tour about how chocolate is made and a showcase of locally engineered products.  Research fellow Dr Maharshi Dhada, will be helping potential aeronautical engineers with his session “Paper airplanes and how to make them fly (better)”. Visitors can also watch a modular surgical robot in action and find out more about how plastic waste is being repurposed in Nepal. 

Wednesday 18 March

Talk: Cambridge in Singapore – Who CARES?
This panel discussion on decarbonisation from Cambridge Centre for Advanced Research and Education (CARES) looks at the work of engineers at the University of Cambridge’s first overseas research centre. 
​Adults
10 to 11.30am GMT, via an online link.
Booking required.

Thursday 19 March

Talk and film: Pioneering Circular Plastic in Himalaya
Nepal’s circular economy pioneers, the Plastic to Ghar (P2G) initiative, will show the impact of four years of research and innovation involving the IfM. Himalayan plastic waste, which would otherwise have been burned, is now being turned into opportunities for local communities.
The event will include a documentary screening and panel discussion with Nepali start-ups. Upcycled products will be showcased, with an auction of furniture crafted in the Himalaya. (There will also be a drop in event about the project on March 21.)
All ages 
2-5pm, Ray Dolby Auditorium, Ray Dolby Centre
Booking required

Saturday 21 March 

Hands on activity: Future City:Build, play and power tomorrow
Welcome to the year 2126 – a time when cities think, move and breathe sustainably! In this hands-on adventure, you become the engineer behind a thriving ‘future city’. You will design and power a future city using renewable energy and transport systems – building trains that glide and windmills that spin to keep their smart city sustainable. The event will open with a demonstration from the Dancefit Crew, grooving to hits from the 80s to today.
Children under 12
10am-4pm, Roger Needham Building
Drop in

Hands-on activity: Paper airplanes and how to make them fly (better) 
Learn about the aerodynamics of airplanes, as well as take part in a fun competition where participants must make paper airplanes, competing in categories such as longest flight, maximum flight time, accuracy, and payload capacity.
Age group:All ages 
1-5 pm, Seminar Room 2, IfM
Drop in

Hands-on activity: What would you use THAT for? 
See some of the latest science-based products from local companies and win a prize for thinking of the most original ways to use them!
All ages
Meeting Rooms 1-5 IfM
Drop in.

Hands-on activity: Meet Versius – a surgical robot.
Introducing Versius, a next-generation surgical robot by CMR Surgical, which challenges the perception of surgical robotics through its innovative design. You can meet Versius for a hands-on experience at the controls and try out some of our VR powered training modules.
All ages
1-5 pm, Atrium, IfM
Drop in.

Showcase/Film: Plastic to Ghar (P2G):
This showcase will look at the Himalayan plastic waste project, with upcycled products on display including a bench, coffee table, Himalayan photos, plush keyrings, flowerpots and phone stands. A P2G documentary will be shown on loop.
All ages
1-5 pm, IfM
Drop in

Interactive experiments: Fluids, droplets and surfaces - the science of manufacturing 
The Fluids in Advanced Manufacturing Research Group will demonstrate experiments and invite you to join in to explore fluids and microdroplets. Find out how they flow, fly, react and interact with surfaces, and why this incredible behaviour is used in manufacturing.
Age group: All ages
1-5 pm Seminar Room 3 and common room, IfM
Drop in.

Talk: Making Tomorrow: How the future will be manufactured – Tim Minshall
Everything that you can see - unless it is a plant, a rock, a person, or some other animal - has been manufactured. There is a whole, largely invisible system spanning the globe that makes and delivers all the products we need or want. We will look at some of the amazing ways in which things we need for our future lives will be made - locally, globally … and even off-planet!
Age group: 8+
1:30-2:30pm, Lecture Theatres IfM
Booking required.

Workshop: How is chocolate made? Exploring production in metaverse
Ever wondered who made your chocolate bar—and how? Put on a VR headset and travel through a real cocoa supply chain—from farms in Cameroon to the factory floor! This fun and interactive workshop lets you explore how products are made.
Age group: 12+
2-3.30pm, Seminar Room 1, IfM
Drop in.

Talk: University Unpacked: What You Don’t Learn in the Prospectus – Florian Urmetzer
The press and big tech firms often argue that University is a waste of time and a significant financial commitment. Both of these can be true; however, how do we manage the risk of this and think not about how to reject the idea, but how do we get back to the basics and make the most out of the time and the experience?
Age group: 14+
3-4pm, Lecture Theatres, IfM
Booking required.