Olympic gold medallists head to Oxford Road for Manchester Science Festival

For the next 10 days, Mancunians are invited to unleash their inner scientist at the Manchester Science Festival. Organised by the Science and Industry Museum, the festival aims to create innovative and meaningful experiences for people of all ages to explore their curiosity of the science industry.

Over 130,000 visitors are expected to descend upon the various events around the city for the festival.

Amongst the events taking place is Electricycle Avenue. This free-to-attend event will bring over 30 energy-generating bikes to Hatch, the city’s award-winning pop-up venue, where guests are invited to hop on and help create a human-powered power station.

It’s tipped to be a big hit at the science fest, with not one but two gold medallists in town for the occasion.

Dame Sarah Storey is Britain’s most successful female Paralympian in history having won 14 gold, 8 silver and 3 bronze medals across an impressive 7 Paralympic Games. She is also one of the world’s most versatile athletes having won World and Paralympic gold medals for her country across swimming and cycling. She has broken 75 world records and has a unique story, not least because she has also won some of her golds as an able-bodied athlete.

She will be joined by Welsh road and track cyclist Danielle Rowe MBE. The three times world champion also boasts an Olympic gold medal, is a professional on the road for trade team Waow Deals Pro Cycling, and also runs Rowe & King, her own cycle coaching company helping people get more out of cycling.

You can compete against the cycling champions and find out how much energy it takes to carry out everyday tasks from sticking the kettle on to powering a house.

The family event takes place from 11am-3pm, with live music, a treasure hunt, arts and crafts and much more. The Mad Science shows will take place at 11am and 12pm and there will be chance to challenge Olympic cyclist Dani King on the bikes at 11.30am. 

At 1pm Dr Emily Grossman will host a weird and wonderful science quiz and on the main stage there will be music from XmenBTeam 12pm –1pm, Easy Feet 1pm-2pm and the String Beans Party Band 2pm–3pm.

The adults only event takes place from 5pm. As it starts to get darker outside, guests will bring the event to life by producing energy themselves using their pedalling power. From 5.30pm – 7pm you can challenge Paralympic cyclist, Dame Sarah Storey on the bikes and help generate a spectacular light show underneath Mancunian Way and Dr Emily Grossman will be holding her weird and wonderful science facts quiz for adults at 7pm.

Expect lots of live music acts on the main stage. If you’d prefer to avoid mounting a bike on the evening, Hatch’s fully licensed bars will be serving drinks throughout the night and there’ll even be the chance to become mixologists for the evening and create your own energy-inspired cocktails.

“Most of us don’t associate pedal power with generating power for the home,” said Dani Rowe, “but that’s exactly what we are going to draw awareness to at MSP’s Electricycle Avenue. I just hope I can generate enough energy to make a make a few cups of coffee!”

The event is free, but you must register in advance as places are limited.

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