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Events

National Labs Public Engagement Events

The National Labs Public Engagement team delivers an exciting range of events that connect people across the UK with STFC’s science, technology, and staff. We offer hands-on workshops, talks and tours, both online and in person, to school groups, community groups and the general public. We are especially focused on reaching areas that don’t often get the chance to take part in science engagement, helping to make sure everyone has the opportunity to get involved, wherever they live.

Many of our events are delivered in partnership with local groups and are not available for general public to book. However, we do offer a range of online events as well as some in person events at our three main National Lab sites, which are available for booking.

To hear more about upcoming online events, please register for our ‘Science up close’ mailing list.

Search our events

Please use the filter boxes or search bar below to explore all of our upcoming in-person and online events.

Mon 03 Aug 2026

Online talk

Solar Observing Online Talk event poster without text

Solar Eclipse: Viewing the Sun Safely

Join us online as we kick off our solar eclipse talk series. Find out how to view the upcoming solar eclipse safely with Simon Blackshaw from RAL Space. In this family-focussed talk (suitable for ages 5+), Simon will be sharing…
Thu 06 Aug 2026

Online talk

Solar Science and Space Weather event poster without words

Solar Eclipse: Solar Science and Space Weather

Join us online for our solar event talk series. Find out about RAL Space's involvement in pioneering solar missions, including SOHO, STEREO and the Solar Dynamics Observatory for ages 12+. Our Sun is far more than a distant light in…
Mon 10 Aug 2026

Online talk

Solar Orbiter event poster without text

Solar Eclipse: Solar Orbiter

Join us online for our solar event talk series. In this talk, Martin Caldwell will discuss the Solar Orbiter mission, which flies close to the Sun, learning about our closest star for viewers aged 12+. The Solar Orbiter is the…
Wed 12 Aug 2026

Online talk

Summer Stargazing online event poster without text

Summer Stargazing Online: Solar Eclipse

Join us online to celebrate the solar eclipse with a talk by Prof Richard Harrison followed by a live link to the RRS Sir David Attenborough to experience totality in the Artic! This is an exciting opportunity to be part…
Wed 12 Aug 2026

Family talks and workshops

Summer Stargazing event poster without text

Summer Stargazing: Solar Eclipse

Join us for a special Summer Stargazing event to witness the partial solar eclipse in the UK. At the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, in Oxfordshire, we will experience a solar eclipse with over 90% totality. However, we are incredibly excited…
Thu 24 Sep 2026

Teacher training

Physical Computing Teacher CPD session poster

Physical Computing Workshop: Coding with Crumbles Teacher CPD

Bring computing to life in your classroom with our hands‑on physical computing workshops. Using Crumble Controllers, students will build and learn how to programme simple electronic circuits that emulate real-world digital sensors. Designed to support the computing curriculum across primary…
Wed 07 Oct 2026

School workshop

Students using computers during Space Explorers Day

Space Explorers Day at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

In celebration of World Space Week, we will be running our Space Explorers Day for Years 5 and 6 (age 9-11) at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. The day will include a fascinating live link up to our underground Mars Yard, 1.1 km beneath…
Thu 08 Oct 2026

Online talk

World Space Week: Celebration with Boulby

In celebration of World Space Week, join us for this special live link deep underground to the Boulby Underground Laboratory - one of the most unusual and fascinating places to do science in the world! You'll hear about the amazing…
Tue 13 Oct 2026

Online talk

Ada Lovelace Day online virtual talks and tours banner

Ada Lovelace Day Online- Talks and tours

Ada Lovelace Day is an international celebration of the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering and maths. To celebrate, RAL will be hosting a hybrid (online and in-person) computing challenge day for classes of students from Year 8 or…
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