Cambridge Festival is coming to the Campus
With over 300 events across Cambridge, Cambridge Festival – one of the largest of its kind in the country – is back for 2024. CamFest runs from 13-28 March with events happening all over the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
Tackling some of the big questions of our time – and exploring the University’s work on three of the world’s greatest challenges: Climate, Cancer, and AI – events for all ages range from talks, debates, tours, exhibitions, workshops, music, comedy, theatre, walks, films, hands-on demonstrations, and much more.
Throughout March, there is something for everyone. Whatever your age or interest you can learn something new on the Campus as you’ll get an inside look at our partners and what they do. Book today to avoid missing out!
Read the full programme
No simple choices: Privacy and consent in health data research
5:30pm-7:00pm on Thursday 14 March
School of Clinical Medicine, William Harvey Lecture Theatre, Addenbrooke’s Hospital Box 111 Hills Road, CB22 5BX
Research using data from patient records has the potential to increase our understanding of health conditions and support the development of better treatments and medicines.
Most of the health data that is used in research has identifying information removed from it to increase privacy and security, and a variety of opt-in or opt-out options are available to support patient choice – but what impact do these measures have on the quality, equity and possibilities of the research?
Join our expert panel as they discuss how different choices around data influence outcomes for the research, for patients and for the NHS.
Book your place here.
Learn more
The colourful world of microbiology
11:00am-4:00pm on Saturday 16 March
Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology, Robinson Way (Close to the Junction of Robinson Way and Long Road), CB2 0SZ
Our microbiology laboratory team work every day of the year testing patient samples sent in from doctors and hospitals across the East of England to help diagnose and treat illnesses.
Join us for the opportunity to look at germs and see how they are spread easily by humans – food bugs, hand bugs, mouth bugs – it will be bug-tastic, interactive and fun!
More information here.
Learn more
What rest break or INTERVAL is right for you? Racing like a blood donor
11:00am-4:00pm on Saturday 16 March
Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology, Robinson Way (Close to the Junction of Robinson Way and Long Road), CB2 0SZ
How do we find a balance for having enough blood available in hospitals without causing blood donors to have anaemia? Researchers at Cambridge’s Blood and Transplant Research Unit study how to make enough blood available to health services while keeping the wonderful people who donate that blood safe.
- If everyone gives blood too often, they are at risk of anaemia.
- If everyone gives blood too infrequently, supplies and patients will suffer.
- How do we find a balance that makes sense for everyone? All decisions involve weighing pros and cons.
In this activity, you’ll step into the (running) shoes of blood donors in a randomised experiment called INTERVAL. You’ll compete against others on the same length (x)-meter short course, with different amounts of resting time.
- Can you beat your fellow runners by sprinting non-stop?
- Would more pauses make you the winner?
Course is on tarmac and suitable for manual wheelchair users, please contact donorhealth@medschl.cam.ac.uk if you have other access needs that may impact this activity to discuss alternative options.
More information available here.
Learn more
Get hands-on with cancer research in Cambridge
11:00am-4:00pm on Saturday 16 March
Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology, Robinson Way (Close to the Junction of Robinson Way and Long Road), CB2 0SZ
Join the programmes and institutes of the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre in the CAST Building to get hands-on with our ground-breaking science as we tell the full story of the cancer research being undertaken by scientists and clinicians across Cambridge!
Together with our fundamental researchers, you’ll find out how to design your own experiments and will pop on detective hats to crack the CRISPR code. Will you be triumphant in pipetting Battleships and who will build the best edible DNA model?!
Learn more
Mind and Body Connection: Let’s get creative for Cambridge Children’s Hospital!
11:00am-4:00pm on Saturday 16 March
Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology, Robinson Way (Close to the Junction of Robinson Way and Long Road), CB2 0SZ
Did you know that the East of England is the only region in the country without a specialist children’s hospital? We are going to change that!
Cambridge Children’s Hospital will not only be this region’s first specialist children’s hospital, but also the first in the world to treat children’s mental and physical health under one roof, alongside world-leading research into childhood disease, diagnosis and treatment.
Join us at the Cambridge Festival to find out more about this exciting project, while enjoying some fun, family activities that will bring our unique vision to life!
Learn more
Big Biomedical Campus day at the Cambridge Academy for Science & Technology
11:00am-4:00pm on Saturday 16 March
Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology
Family-day sharing interactive activities about the latest research across the University’s cutting edge Biomedical Campus. Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology is a state-of-the-art Academy School dedicated to educating the next generation of Britain’s scientists, technicians, engineers and programmers. Join us for a fun-day full of interactive family activities and workshops.
If you are travelling by public transport, the site can be reached via the Universal bus service run by Whippet. For 2024, the Festival is offering free travel on the service from the Biomedical Campus to our West Cambridge family day taking place on the same day. Pick up your ticket from a member of our staff at the welcome desk.
Learn more
Discovering research with NIHR Cambridge BR
11:00am-4:00pm on Saturday 16 March
Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology, Robinson Way (Close to the Junction of Robinson Way and Long Road), CB2 0SZ
Did you know that medical research is happening all over the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, though you probably won’t ever see it going on?!
But behind the scenes, researchers, scientists, doctors and nurses are working on important research to help sick people get better.
To help you visualise the stages involved, visit us during the Cambridge Festival and take part in our giant board puzzle with places to visit and clues to solve. Prizes for all puzzle-solvers!
Learn more
Royal Papworth Hospital open day
10:00am-2:00pm on Sunday 24 March
Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Papworth Road Cambridge Biomedical Campus, CB2 0AY
Join us for an open day at the UK’s leading heart and lung hospital, and discover all about what goes into providing world-class heart, lung and sleep care to patients.
The day is currently sold out, but tickets may become available.
Join the waiting list
Functional genomics and AI: super sleuths in the search for new therapies
3:30pm-4:30pm on Tuesday 26 March
Department of Biochemistry, Thomas Lecture Theatre, 80 Tennis Court Road, CB2 1GA
What is functional genomics and why is AI (artificial intelligence/machine learning) key to its interpretation? To find out this and more, join the Milner Therapeutics Institute as we take you on a tour through these new areas of medical research. Be ready to encounter big data, big ideas, big models and big collaborations!
Book your place now.
Come on a journey of DISCovery – hosted public tours of the AstraZeneca Discovery Centre on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus
Multiple time slots on 21 March 2024
The DISC – AstraZeneca Discovery Centre, Discovery Centre reception (entrance via Robinson Way), 1 Francis Crick Avenue Cambs, CB2 0AA
We will be opening the doors of our Global R&D research facility, The Discovery Centre on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, to members of the public for the first time as part of the Cambridge Festival.
Pre-booked visitors, over-18s only, will be taken on a 45-minute guided tour in groups of 10, through The DISC where you can see cutting-edge research on display.
The meeting point: Discovery Centre reception (entrance via Robinson Way)
Times:
- 10am – 5 tours of 10 people
- 12noon – 5 tours of 10 people
- 2pm – 5 tours of 10 people
- 4pm – 5 tours of 10 people
Duration: 1hour (45 mins walking)
Book your place
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