Bath Taps into Science is a science festival which focuses on exciting and enthusing young children and families with science and engineering. The festival has won numerous awards including the British Science Association Award for the best event during Science Week and most recently Professor Chris Budd, one of the founding team, was awarded an OBE for his work organising Bath Taps into Science amongst other public engagement activities. Bath Taps into Science is part of the UK Science Festival Network.
Bath Taps into Science Fair, is a wonderful opportunity to meet researchers and members of the local science and engineering community. Started in 2000 it now forms a firm part of the Bath science scene and, whilst organized and largely funded by the University of Bath, it is a partnership with many other organisations in Bath and beyond, including many schools. The philosophy behind Bath Taps into Science is simple: everyone can enjoy, and engage with science (and by science we always mean science, engineering, technology, maths, medicine and the social sciences) if it is presented in a fun, engaging and hands on manner. There is no question of dumbing down science, instead Bath Taps into Science aims to light science up. Over the years Bath Taps into Science has expanded and in 2016 consisted of 35 events including a family lecture, schools science fair and a family science fair. The success of the events have meant that over 300 people of all ages attended the family lecture, over 1400 students attended the schools fair at the University of Bath from a wide range of local schools and over 5,000 people visited the family science day in Victoria Park in the centre of Bath. For more information see the 2016 festival report.
We have a large programme of exciting activities and events for people of all ages to enjoy. We hope to see you soon!
Aims
The overall aims of Bath Taps into Science are:
- Work in conjunction with schools and colleges to raise attainment and contextualise learning of their students through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths)
- Engage and stimulate the general public with STEM
- Expand the general public’s knowledge and understanding of STEM
- Promote the STEM undertaken across Bath
- Develop links across the wider STEM community
- Provide an opportunity for researchers to show the impact of their research to the wider community
- Develop University of Bath undergraduate postgraduate students’ Science Communication skills
Awards
Bath Taps into Science has one a number of awards:
Prof Chris Budd received an OBE for his work on Bath Taps into Science in 2015.

Bath Taps into science was awarded the Institute of Physics award for the best event during Science Week

Peter Ford received an MBE for his services to Science including his work on Bath Taps into Science

Publications
Papers
Capozucca, A. Lett Mat Int (2016), Communicating mathematics in Europe - Episode 1: Chris Budd (University of Bath). doi:10.1007/s40329-016-0147-z
Reports