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Gadgeteers enjoy inventive library tour this summer

Monday 26th September 2022

We were delighted to visit seven libraries across Oxfordshire this summer with our free Incredible Inventions family show. We entertained and inspired over 200 children and their adults with interactive demos and experiments at libraries in Goring, Henley, Stonesfield, Faringdon, Bicester, Woodgreen and Oxfordshire County Library in Oxford. What a buzz! The tour was in partnership with the Gadgeteers Summer Reading Challenge 2022, with the Science Museum Group, The Reading Agency and Oxfordshire County Council. With investigations such as: Does chocolate burn? Can you make an anchor out of polystyrene? Which material makes the best bouncy ball? there was lots of audience participation and kids put their inventor hats on to help answer some important questions.

Our Education Outreach Manager, Sian Stratton, said “We were reminded this year how good it is it to be back out in the community with this year’s library tour! The families really enjoyed it and got stuck in with the help of Ian and Alice. They become Gadgeteers and tested lots of theories and suggested some incredible ideas for future inventions. What a great way to spend the summer holiday!”

Gadgeteers! Illustration ©Julian Beresford

Kirsty Gannaway, Project Coordinator and Jane Mason, Operations Manager at Oxfordshire County Libraries, told us: “Exciting events during the summer and especially during the Summer Reading Challenge, encourage children to visit the library and continue with their reading throughout the summer and be primed ready for the next school year. This year’s theme around science and technology lent itself very well to Science Oxford’s events which are always popular and well-received. Our smaller libraries were particularly grateful and effusive to be included in the tour!”

Woodgreen Library enjoyed the session:

Alice really held the children’s attention throughout the hour …the parents also looked like they were enjoying themselves too.

Parents also shared some feedback…

Really enjoyed it - we’ve already been to Science Oxford… and came again because my child had enjoyed our visit so much. Fantastic - thank you!

We’re looking forward to next year already!

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