2024 – our second festival.

The second Somerscience Festival, held on May 6th across Haynes Motor Museum, Castle Cary, and Bruton, was a vibrant celebration of STEM for all ages.

Over 5,400 visitors attended, with 42% aged 4–18, demonstrating strong engagement with young learners.

The festival featured 93 hands-on activities from 67 STEM organisations, offering opportunities to meet professionals, watch live demonstrations, and explore inspiring projects across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Importantly, over 63% of visitors came from rural Somerset postcodes, reaching an underserved population, with additional visitors traveling from Bristol, Wiltshire, Dorset, Devon, and as far as London, Derby, and Kent.

Visitor feedback was overwhelmingly positive: 99% rated the festival ‘good’ or ‘very good’, and 92% would recommend it.

The festival also helped improve STEM understanding, with 85% reporting a better understanding of STEM, 73% gaining insight into STEM careers, and 86% feeling that STEM is relevant to their daily life.

Somerscience 2024 successfully inspired curiosity, fostered learning, and highlighted diverse STEM opportunities in Somerset, paving the way for even bigger experiences in the years ahead.

You can read the evaluation report here