The first wave of headline events are now on sale for Norwich Science Festival 2017. This is your chance to meet an astronaut, test your dinosaur knowledge, discover Spaceship Earth, and find out how we tamed wild animals.

Norwich Science Festival returns this autumn, from 21-29 October. There’s nine days of celebrity talks, inspirational shows and exhibitions, hands-on family fun, cutting-edge research, and science activities for all ages and all levels of knowledge.

Tickets are now on sale, via norwichsciencefestival.co.uk, for the following headline talks:

Helen Sharman – Britain’s First Astronaut – Join Helen Sharman OBE, Britain’s first Astronaut, for an inspiring talk about her time in space! She’ll talk about her meticulous training, the launch and landing, how weightlessness feels, her science experiments, the team spirit, and adjusting to life back on Earth. Plus a limited number of early-bird tickets are available for a special meet-and-greet event after the show – book now!

So you Think you Know about Dinosaurs?!– Come and test your knowledge against Ben Garrod (the TV scientist in the BBC’s ‘Attenborough and the Giant Dinosaur’). Did dinosaurs eat their own families? Was every Tyrannosaur a fearsome carnivore? Why did Allosaurus head-butt its prey to death? With the help of TV film footage and photos of his own palaeontological dinosaur digs, Ben will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about dinosaurs – and more.

TAMED: with Professor Alice Roberts – How do you tame wildness? Alice Roberts delves into archaeology, history and genetics to reveal the amazing stories of the species, such as dogs, cattle and horses, which became our allies.

Spectacular Science Show – Mark Thompson, patron of this year’s Norwich Science Festival, returns with a jam-packed explosive science show that will enthral and delight all.

Spaceship Earth – People’s Astronomer, Mark Thompson, looks at the uniqueness of our planet, what sets it apart from others in the solar system, and how it interacts with the universe.

Robin Ince: Pragmatic Insanity – a stand-up show about the clash of art and science, why we believe we see what we see and why we believe what we believe.

Festival of the Spoken Nerd: You Can’t Polish a Nerd – Join the Nerds for a unique comedy science show with a veritable Periodic Table of new science, songs, and spreadsheets that will tickle your ribs and light your Bunsen burner.

As well as these headline events, there will be plenty more shows as well as free, hands-on family activities during the Festival, and inspiring talks on world-leading research and discoveries from partners across Norwich and Norfolk.The Forum’s Atrium will transform into The Explorium – a place for all to explore the world through science, with special days dedicated to astronomy, physics, engineering and maths, chemistry, biology, nature and the environment, the work of the Norwich Research Park, and food and agriculture.

Natalie Bailey, Norwich Science Festival Producer, said: “These shows give a flavour of the huge array of events happening as part of the Festival. We’re particularly pleased to be hosting a rare event with Britain’s first astronaut, Helen Sharman, in the atmospheric setting of Norwich Cathedral.”

Norwich Science Festival is co-ordinated by The Forum, with headline sponsorship from Anglian Water, and takes place in multiple venues across Norwich.

The first wave of events are now bookable via norwichsciencefestival.co.uk. The brochure and rest of the Festival events will be available on 21 August.You can also keep up-to-date by following Norwich Science Festival on Twitter @NorwichSciFest, Facebook Norwich Science Festival or Instagram norwichsciencefestival.

About the Norwich Science Festival:

Celebrate the wonderful world of experiments, discoveries, exploration and innovation at the second Norwich Science Festival this autumn. Enjoy nine days of inspirational exhibitions, hands-on family activities, inspiring celebrity talks and sensational shows at The Forum, and at other venues around the city. This is a festival for all age groups and all levels of knowledge. The Festival patron for 2017 is Mark Thompson, astronomer, broadcaster and author. A Learning Programme for schools, colleges, home-educated learners and youth groups runs 19-20 October.

Explore the Norwich Science Festival website for the full programme from 21 August – www.norwichsciencefestival.co.uk – and follow Norwich Science Festival on Twitter and Facebook.

Norwich Science Festival partners:

The Norwich Science Festival is made possible by a unique cross-city partnership led by The Forum in collaboration with;

Many institutions and labs on the Norwich Research Park including the University of East Anglia, John Innes Centre, The Earlham Institute, The Sainsbury Laboratory, Quadram Institute, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, and partners including The SAW Trust, Teacher Scientist Network, Norfolk Festival of Nature, Norfolk & Norwich Millennium Library, University Technical College Norfolk, Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form, Cinema City, Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich Playhouse, The Institute of Physics, The Royal Society of Chemistry, Pint of Science, British Science Association, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Kinetic, Youth STEMM Award, Norwich Cathedral, Norwich City Council, Norfolk County Council and many others.

Thanks to EDP, Evening News and Mustard TV media partners, and Maids Head Hotel accommodation partners.

Norwich Science Festival funders and sponsors:

The Festival is possible due to funding from Foyle Foundation and Royal Society of Chemistry, as well as our many sponsors, including headline sponsor Anglian Water. Other Festival sponsors include; Norse Group, Briar Chemicals, KLM Engineering UK, University Technical College Norfolk, Bespak and BBC Focus Magazine.

About The Forum, co-ordinators and main venue of Norwich Science Festival:

The Forum, in the centre of Norwich, is one of the UK’s most successful Millennium projects.

It’s a public building, open seven days a week, all year round (except Christmas Day and Boxing Day).

Everyone is welcome. Many of the public events, exhibitions and activities which take place at TheForum are free.

The Forum Trust is the independent, self-financing, charitable organisation which manages The Forumbuilding.

It is responsible for The Forum’s continued development, growth and innovation.

The Trust works with many partners to ensure The Forum plays a valuable role in the community.

Details about the charitable ‘project purpose’ which under-pins The Forum are on the website www.theforumnorwich.co.uk