Discover Materials at the Festival of Tomorrow 2026

The Discover Materials team returned to the Deanery CE Academy, Swindon for the Festival of Tomorrow on 21^st February, 2026. We shared our passion for materials science and engineering with nearly 1500 guests over two days. Our chocolate impact tester proved once again why it is so popular, as did our newly-introduced table-top LCD microscopes. The younger audiences examined everything from the tablecloths on our display table to starfish, butterfly wings and cuttlefish samples through the microscopes.

Our new giveaways of colouring sheets that feature materials scientists in a variety of roles were a big hit. Additionally, we also introduced polarised sheets from our busking box collection this time. Conversing with our guests about how these blocked light at certain angles and how this concept finds subsequent application in everyday life was very engaging.

A big thank you to Tushar Bhudia, Ireoluwa Morakinyo, Henry Hoddinott, Sophia Carpio, Chris Hamlett, and Durga Tilak for volunteering their time at the Festival, as well as to Roderick Hebden and the entire team of the Festival of Tomorrow for a fantastic event.