the Physics Pavilion returns to WOMAD 2018

WOMAD 2018

Thursday 26th to Sunday 29th July 2018
Charlton Park , Malmesbury, Wiltshire, SN16 9DG, England MAP
£225 for 4 days, £185 for 3 days

Daily capacity: 40,000

Last updated: Mon 23rd Jul 2018

Along with a diverse line-up of music from around the world, WOMAD - World of Music, Arts and Dance - held at Charlton Park, near Malmesbury, in Wiltshire from Thursday 26th to Sunday 29th July 2018, also has its Physics Pavilion with a programme full of science, experiments and workshops for curious and questioning minds, with a programme this year with everything from science comedy to the physics of football and black holes and revelations.

What better education can there be than the Physics of Gin, as Edinburgh Universityphysicist Dr Anne Pawsey proves with her fascinating, hands-on exploration of the science of the nation’s current favourite tipple, looking into the physics of alcohol, the influence of ice, and what actually happens when you shake a Martini – strictly for adult’s only.

The Physics of Food will shed light on how to cook ‘scientifically’, as Professor Peter Barham (The Science Of Cooking), top chef John Watson and chef/scientist Dr Andy Chapman show audiences how to cook meat like a scientist, how to taste wine, whether to add salt or not and how best to cook vegetables, all peppered with delicious samples.

Mexican waves at the ready as The Physics Of Football kicks off with Dr Ken Bray bringing his knowledge of the beautiful game to WOMAD. After a summer of World Cup fever, footie loving festival-goers can learn about everything from the science behind the swerving free kick to why Germany has won 84% of their penalty shoot outs and England only a dismal 14%.

Get an insight into the world of ethical hacking and social engineering with Freaky Clown, who has broken into hundreds of banks, offices and government facilities in the UK and Europe to help them improve their security. A rollercoaster ride of epic fails and grandiose plans, this is an adventure of lock-picking, kidnap, police chases and multi-million pound bank heists.

Science rapper Jon Chase will be spitting beats on everything from astrobiology to the periodic table to Doctor Who and even running a rap science workshop, teaching the next generation how to MC in style, and physicist and special effects expert Matthew Tosh gives his take on lasers, in a way that hasn’t been done in a science tent before!

Matthew Shribman’s incredibly popular online series Science In The Bath sets up camp at WOMAD, taking festival-goers on an adventure of curiosity unravelling the mysteries of life and the universe, as comedian and writer Gemma Arrowsmith performs her one-woman show ‘Earthling’ a character sketch show about the future of mankind and Physicist Jasper Kirkby tells us all about the CLOUD experiment at CERN, the increase in aerosols and clouds and what the experiment could mean for climate change.

The Big Fat Physics Quiz Of Everything hands the knowledge over to the crowd as, armed with interactive voting handsets, they set to answer all manner of questions in order to win some CERN prizes and this year the Physics Pavilion doubles up as an art gallery with Science Art, showcasing some of the work of physicist and photographer Michael Hoch. Learn all there is to know about neutron star mergers with Professor Andrew Levan, Amanda Franklin tells WOMAD-ers all about tractor beams, Claire Lee delves further into black holes and the project co-ordinator at CERN’s MEDICIS facility Thierry Stora will explain how they are developing the use of unique radioisotopes in the hope of finding new ways to treat cancer.

As if all this scientific stardust wasn’t enough, the hands-on workshop The Lab returns for a second year with a stratospheric smorgasbord of activities for the whole family; learn how to program robots to create a story, how to rap about tides, eclipses, stars and seasons, how to play the instrument that doesn’t require any physical contact with thereminist Dorit Chrysler and how liquid nitrogen alters the state of everything it touches.

Music at WOMAD 2018 comes from Amadou & Mariam, Leftfield performing 'Leftism', Camille, Django Django, Thievery Corporation, Sharon Shannon, LA DAME BLANCHE, Ken Boothe, Jazzanova Live featuring Paul Randolph, Macka B, Mr Jukes, and many more. For all of the details so far please see the line-up page.

buy tickets now >

Tickets are on sale, priced as follows:-
adult 3 days: £185
adult 4 days: £225
teenage 3 days: £90*
teenage 4 days: £125*
(*names of teenagers must be registered when purchasing tickets)
Campervan: £80
Park & Camp: £85
Camp WOMAD x 2-man tent £150
Camp WOMAD x 4-man tent £250
spa weekend: £135
La Di Da Loo: £35
Some tickets can be bought by four instalments (please note there is no refund policy).
Children 13 and under FREE (but still need ticket)

discuss this news on the Festival Forums