Zpannend Zernike: a science festival for young and old

On Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 October, Groningen will be the stage for Zpannend Zernike, the science festival for young and old. Saturday’s activities are based in the city centre. On Sunday, Zernike Campus is where it’s all happening. Stories from the world of science, lectures for grandparents, parents, children and grandchildren, demonstrations, workshops, the chance to chat with scientists, to take a look inside the Academy Building, BuildinG and KVI-CART, and even the chance to do your own experiments. Ask some questions, get some answers. Everyone is welcome on both days between 12 noon and 5 p.m. Admission is free.

Saturday 14 October: Zpannend Zernike in the centre of Groningen
For one Saturday only, Zpannend Zernike will take over the centre of Groningen. All kinds of activities are planned in five different locations. In the Academy Building, of course, where it is Open House and you’ll be able to look round the entire building. There will be lectures for people of all ages, from grandparents to grandchildren, in the Aula. In the Science Café, young researchers will present remarkable results of their research, such as the new app that helps Frisian speakers to work out where they come from. The workshops for children are a new element: learn to write Chinese characters, compose a real Groningen rap and do jigsaws with snippets of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Presenter Bram Douwes will be there to welcome the children and the scientists, and to discuss subjects that concern them. Children can send their questions in advance to: kinderuniversiteit@rug.nl

The nearby University Museum is presenting ‘From top to bottom’. This is a chance for children to do experiments and find out what happens inside their body when they eat or drink something. And of course we haven’t forgotten the traditional exciting treasure hunt.

The people working at ERIBA on Antonius Deusinglaan know all there is to know about staying healthy as you grow old. Try out the Ageing Machine and see what you’ll look like when you’re 72, complete with wrinkles and grey hair! The Jonge Onderzoekers (Young Researchers) has always been a great place to explore technology and science: discover and learn by having a go yourself. And on Ossenmarkt, you’ll find the ‘Your future energy truck’, where you can build a lamp without a battery!

Sunday 15 October: Zpannend Zernike on the Zernike Campus
Today is the turn of Zernike Campus to host Zpannend Zernike: the fascinating world of natural science, technology and energy. The main idea is to learn and discover by doing things yourself. Build your own robot, make your own shampoo or gel, drift off in the mobile planetarium, step into a flight simulator, take your pulse and measure your jumping ability, build a galaxy, invent a game in the ‘Game Design’ room or learn how an aeroplane works. Who will be the fastest to put a nanomotor together and use light to steer a solar-powered car to the right place?

BuildinG is the knowledge centre for earthquake-proof and innovative construction, recently opened by King Willem-Alexander. What's the strongest way to build? What does the ideal house look like? Visit the new testing hall to find out. You’ll also find the ‘House of the Future’: how can the elderly stay in their homes safely and comfortably for as long as possible? The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) is taking part in Zpannend Zernike for the first time this year: How do smart computer systems work? How difficult is hacking? And what can you do with 5G?

Who is taking part in Zpannend Zernike?
The participants are the Academy Building, the University Museum, Jonge Onderzoekers, ERIBA, KVI-Center for Advanced Radiation Technology, SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Kapteyn Institute for Astronomy, Hanze UAS Groningen, the Faculty of Science and Engineering (Bernoulliborg/Science LinX), EnTranCe (energy testing ground of Hanze UAS Groningen and Energy Academy Europe), BuildinG, TNO, EnergyBarn and ‘ Your future energy truck’.

You can earn a stamp on your card at every Zpannend Zernike location. Hand in your card (with at least two stamps) and have a go at the ‘Cosmic Spiral’ game, an exciting board game that takes you on a journey through the history of the universe.

Note for the press:
Programme Saturday 14 October
Martin Althof, +31 (0)50 363 9008/+31 (0)619 177 811, Cato van der Vlugt, +31 (0)50 363 5892/+31 (0)640 161 335

Programme Sunday 15 October
Theo Jurriens, +31 (0)653 816 959, Harry Kiewiet, +31 (0)50 363 3529, Tanja van der Woude, +31 (0)50 363 9172

Hanze UAS Groningen, EnTranCe, EnergyBarn, BuildinG: pers org.hanze.nl or +31 (0)50 595 5656