A special Family Learning Festival on Saturday 8 June is being organised by the University of Essex at firstsite in Colchester.

• Download the Family Learning Festival leaflet

Visitors will be able enjoy a whole host of activities from meeting lecturers to going back in history with the student-led time travelling team, having fun with the sciences and getting creative with the arts.

The free Festival is part of the Children’s University Junior Lecture Series and aimed at igniting the imaginations of seven to 14-year-olds, but younger or older brothers and sisters are also welcome to join in.

Academics and students from the University will be offering lectures, activities and workshops including a market place showcasing subjects offered at Essex.

Representatives from the Children’s University will be on hand to stamp any learning passports throughout the day.

The Festival is open from 11am to 4pm and there is no need to book.

There will be lecture sessions taking place all day alongside the market place with Dr Chris Saker from the Department of Mathematical Sciences, Dr Nicolas Geeraert from the Department of Psychology plus the firstsite Resident Artist.

The marketplace will include:

• Eye tracking and brainwaves with Dr Tom Foulsham, Dr Mary-Jane Budd and Dr Nick Cooper from the Department of Psychology.
• Renewable energy with Dr John Woods from the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering.
• Speech and Language Therapy with Gemma Biles from the School of Health and Human Sciences.
• Dragons Den style activities with Carolina Bailey from Essex Business School.
• The Fascination of Plants with Dr Nicola Slee from the School of Biological Sciences.
• Bio-imaging with Dr Philippe Laissue.

Student Ambassadors and V-team volunteers will be running educational stalls including the Time Travellers from the Department of History plus interactive activities covering law, the philosophy of art, languages, sociology and drama plus storytelling and puppetry.

Representatives from the University will also be available to answer any questions visitors may have about going to university and higher education from courses to finance and admissions.

For further information call 01206 872720.