It’s that time of year again – get ready for a fun, whacky and mind blowing week of all things science. Beakerhead is charging the generator and is ready to ignite Calgary September 19-23 with a number of events, installations and activities. The annual event brings together art, science and engineering in a five day event throughout the whole city.
Science and engineering might not be the first thing you think of when you think of fun, but the way Beakerhead does it you won’t be able to get enough of it. Beakerhead is a registered charity whose mandate is to advance education at the crossroads of art, science and engineering. You won’t look at science the same way again. There are so many activities that you need to check out, but here are 10 that you can’t miss:
Saturday, September 22, 6-11pm
Fort Calgary and East Village River Walk, 750 9 Ave SE
Things are going to get lit at Calgary’s largest science garden party. Literally lit with fires and lasers, light and music. There will be installations, hands-on experiences and stage performances spread out across Fort Calgary and the RiverWalk. Tickets are $8 in advance online, $10 at the gate, ages 14 and under free.
Wednesday-Sunday, September 13-23
Science of Deliciousness
Experience a different kind of culinary when chef and bartender become a scientist. This year’s theme ingredient is canola – come see for yourself how creative Calgary chefs, mixologists and brewmasters are when they experiment with it.
Friday, September 20 9-11pm, Tickets $10
Fort Calgary, 750 9 Ave SE
In this art experiment, some of Calgary’s favourite local indie-bands, talented emerging musicians, and artists, will come together for a jam session. You’ll have the chance to see how talented Calgary is when it comes to the music scene.
Wednesday, September 19, 12-1:30pm
Dark Table, 731 6 Avenue SW
Dine in the dark with a special Beakerhead seating where the serving staff are joined by science writer and broadcaster Jay Ingram and Jaideep Bains from the Hotchkiss Brain Institute at the University of Calgary. When you lose one sense, you’ll be amazed at how your other ones take over.
5. Seven Wonderers
Thursday, September 20, 7:30-9pm
Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, 850 4 Street SE
Listen to seven stories with music to match – all brought to life by famous and not-yet-famous scientists, artists and brilliant minds. Through their words you’ll be taken to the front lines of human ingenuity.
Wednesday-Saturday, 8-9:30pm
Special Saturday late night: 11:59pm-1:30am
West Village Theatre, 2007 10 Avenue SW
The Intuition Project allows you to observe, participate, and analyze the evidence of intuition for yourselves. This hands on immersive experiment into our most elusive and mysterious sense is the newest installment of Ghost River Theatre’s Six Senses Series.
Friday, September 21, 7-10pm
Central Library, 616 Macleod Trail SE
This might be your biggest escape yet. You’ll have three hours to puzzle through all six storeys of the old Central Library, and win your escape in this science fiction themed escape room experience. Proceeds support the Calgary Public Library Foundation.
8. A Matter of Mettle
Wednesday, September 19
Doors open 4:30pm, talk starts 5:30pm
EEEL Building, University of Calgary, 750 Campus Drive NW
Meet Jocelyn Bell, the person behind one of the most significant scientific achievements of the 20th Century. Tickets are free, register HERE.
Friday-Sunday, September 21-23
Hours: Friday: 3:00 – 7:00 pm
Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Alexandria Park, near 2681 Hochwald Court SW
Try your skills at controlling a zorb, one of those big plastic balls that people fit inside. There will be rolling races to bump-a-thons to obstacle courses as well as food trucks on site.
10. Beakerhead
September 19 – 23
Various locations, Calgary
Beakerhead converts Calgary into one big hands-on experiment. Explore more than ten larger than life jaw-dropping art and engineering installations. Discover three full blocks of open-air experimentation on 4th Street.
Last year 145,000 people attended, and they’re expecting to beat that number this year. Done your lab coat and take part in a Beakerhead once in a lifetime experience, visit the WEBSITE to learn more and purchase tickets.
