Following the science: Social distancing sees Norwich Science Festival cancelled

Robot at Norwich Science Festival 2019
The Norwich Science Festival in October 2020 has been cancelled. Credit: ITV News Anglia

The annual Norwich Science Festival has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic but the event will be back in 2021.

The week-long event was due to take place during the October school half-term holiday.

Natalie Bailey, Norwich Science Festival Producer, said: “It’s with a heavy heart that we’ve taken the decision to cancel Norwich Science Festival 2020. "

In 2019 the Norwich Science Festival had more than 180 events and attracted 137,000 visits over nine days. Credit: ITV News Anglia

Although the main Festival will not go ahead, organisers have announced a small series of online events to maintain momentum and enthusiasm for science in the city.Natalie explained: “We’ll be bringing you a mini #NorwichSciFestAtHome online programme in October with our patrons Mark Thompson, Lizzie Daly and Professor Ben Garrod, plus partners UEA and Norwich Research Park.”

In 2019 the Norwich Science Festival, which is held at The Forum in Norwich, had more than 180 events and attracted 137,000 visits over nine days.

The programme covered food, health and medicine; zoology, nature and the environment; chemistry; technology and engineering; astronomy, space and physics, and the cutting-edge work by scientists at Norwich Research Park.

Thousands of schoolchildren attend the Norwich Science Festival every year. Credit: ITV News Anglia