Identifying avenues for engaging non-academic audiences with your research can be challenging, particularly when you are new to public engagement, or worry about finding ways to make complicated research topics more accessible. Science festivals are a popular way of introducing STEM research to new communities, and there are a range of festivals taking place throughout the year, supported by our own Exeter academics.
Science festivals can provide a one-off introduction to public engagement, drawing in crowds of any age with an interest in science and discovery. The south west is host to numerous festivals throughout the year, and we regularly share both local and national opportunities in our monthly Public Engagement with Research newsletter.
If you are participating in a research festival, please do let us know at per@Exeter.ac.uk, and we’d be happy to offer support. We can also loan equipment to researchers involved in festival activities, such as a gazebo, folding table, bunting, and signage – book yours now via our Microsoft Form.
Hatherleigh Science – Spring
Each Spring, Hatherleigh Science Fair brings science engagement to audiences in West Devon. Following on from a series of evening lectures, their Saturday science fair encourages accessibility of and engagement with STEM across the region. This event is managed by Hatherleigh Science Group, co-founded by Professor Craig Beall, from the University of Exeter’s own Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences. Hatherleigh Science Fair brings a particular focus on building audiences’ confidence in science – regardless of age! – and showcases expertise from a range of organisations to new and rural audiences. Read about this year’s fair via our blog post, or find out more on the Hatherleigh Science website: Hatherleighscience.org.
Somerscience – Spring
STEM researchers and enthusiasts can also head north, to the annual Somerscience Festival! Somerscience invites experts from across local industry and education to share their work, and celebrate the value of STEM in the south west. Through interactive stalls, workshops and talks, the festival encourages curious minds of all ages, motivated by the mission of its organisers, the Somerscience Trust, to promote stronger engagement with STEM. For the 2026 festival, participating researchers from Exeter’s Department of Biosciences and Living Systems Institute reached an audience of more than 4000 attendees, and you can read more about their experience on our blog post. The festival is already gearing up for 2027, which will be its fifth anniversary, and you can follow any updates on their Facebook page.
Cheltenham Science Festival – Summer
Later in the year, Cheltenham welcomes experts and enthusiasts for a week-long showcase of cutting-edge science, as part of the town’s festival portfolio. As part of the 2026 festival, talks, interactive activities and after hours events invited attendees to explore everything from the science of cocktails, to the ways we use AI, to the history of whales! More about this festival, and their vast programme of both adult talks, and family events, can be found on their website: Science Festival | Cheltenham Festivals.
Sidmouth Science Festival – Autumn
Sidmouth Science Festival welcomes in the new academic year with a 10-day long series of events that brings scientific research to communities across Sidmouth and East Devon. With speciality events like Super Science Saturday, and an opportunity to explore the Norman Lockyear Observatory, the festival has been inspiring visitors for more than a decade. If you are interested in learning more, this year’s festival is set to take place from the 9th to the 18th October, and will feature a suite of interactive activities from local charities, groups, and Higher Education Institutions. Read about past festivals on our blog, check out their website for a full programme, or drop by for a visit!
New Scientist Live – Autumn
For researchers looking to take their work further afield, New Scientist Live offers an exhibition of national industry and academic expertise, with guest speakers, a Schools Day, and stands from organisations across the UK. In past iterations of this festival, representatives from the University’s MRC Centre for Medical Mycology have brought interactive activities to the site, reaching more than 20,000 people, and this year’s event will also welcome Professor Nathan Mayne, from the Department of Physics and Astronomy as a prestigious guest speaker! Taking place at Excel London on the 10th-12th October, preparations for the 2026 festival are already well underway, and more details can be found on their website: New Scientist Live 2026: Science talks and experiences.
For more information about upcoming festivals, opportunities, and details of how you can get involved, look out for our monthly Public Engagement with Research newsletter.
Photography credit – Theo Moye