Discovering the Science of Harry Potter

‘HARRY POTTER® and the Order of the Physicist' is a family fun day with a difference, revealing the science behind the Hogwarts' Curriculum

Hands-on demonstrations will show how physics can create effects to rival HARRY POTTER®'s skills.

Acclaimed author and Science Editor from the Daily Telegraph Roger Highfield will present ‘The Science of Wizardry', an entertaining talk discussing the themes of the day and building on two of his popular books The Science of Harry Potter and Can Reindeer Fly?.

There will be quizzes, things to make and take away, and a Call My Magical Bluff panel game. Visitors are encouraged to dress up for the event, and give their Halloween costumes a second outing!

The Institute of Physics (East Anglia Branch) is staging the event in conjunction with Cambridge Science Festival.

The Institute of Physics is an organisation that represents the interests of professional physicists. Each year the East Anglia Branch holds a family fun day to help promote an interest in the wonders of science and nature. These events are free to the general public and there are no commercial objectives.

Cambridge Science Festival is the largest free Science Festival in the UK, which each year hosts a range of hands on activities and lectures to 20,000 individuals of all ages. The Festival aims to promote science, engineering and technology to all, and inspire the next generation of scientists by showing that science is both relevant and fun.

The Cavendish Laboratory on the West Cambridge site is part of the University of Cambridge. It is one of the foremost physics laboratories in the world. It was founded in 1871, along with the appointment of James Clerk Maxwell as the first Cavendish Professor. It has a distinguished intellectual history, with 29 Nobel prizewinners who worked for considerable periods within its facilities, and is associated with many notable discoveries, including the electron and the structure of DNA.

Roger Highfield is Science editor for the Telegraph newspaper, and has written several books including, "The Science of Harry Potter" and "Can Reindeer Fly?" Highfield studied physics at Oxford University and has completed research into neutrons. Additionally, Highfield is a regular contributor to BBC radio and has won various awards including the British Press Awards; Medical Journalists Association; Association of British Science Writers.

This free event is takes place on the Sunday 9th December at the Cavendish Laboratory, JJ Thompson Avenue, off Madingley Rd, Cambridge, CB3 0HE. It is open to all, between 2 and 5pm.

There is some parking on site and the Madingley Road Park and Ride Site is just across the road. The Citi 4 bus service will connect the West Cambridge site with Cambridge city centre and the Park and Ride.

For more information please visit the links above right.