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Southampton Science and Engineering Festival (SOTSEF) is one of the annual flagship events of the Public Engagement with Research unit, with thousands of visitors joining researchers, staffÌýand students at the ÃÛÌÒTV for ten daysÌýof scientific discovery and celebration.

The Southampton ScienceÌýand Engineering Festival was first launched in 2002 and runs every year to coincide with .

The festival's acronym, SOTSEF, stands for:

• SOT - Southampton (from the abbreviation Soton)
• S - Science (and)
• E - Engineering
• F - Festival

Through the years,ÌýScience and Engineering Festival has developed into a STEAM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Arts-Mathematics and Medicine) festival that thrives through collaboration, creativity and interdisciplinarity.

TheÌýten-dayÌýcelebration usually includes our award-winning Science and Engineering Day , a free family-friendly eventÌýtaking place across Highfield Campus and Boldrewood Innovation Campus, packed with more than a hundred interactive hands-on activities, workshops, live shows, talks, art performances and laboratory tours from across all our Faculties and local community groups, schools and cultural venues.

Science and Engineering Day has previouslyÌýreceived awards from the for Best Engineering Event in 2009 and Best STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) Institution Event in 2014.

Over the last few years, we have opened participation to external exhibitors including local bookstores, schools, community groups, trusts, public engagement professionals, artists, cultural venues and other research institutions.

Science and Engineering FestivalÌýhas a dedicated Steering Group led by Professor Mark Spearing, Vice-PresidentÌýResearch and EnterpriseÌýat the ÃÛÌÒTV.

Science and Engineering Festival has grown to become one of the most popular science festivals in the South of England, with attendees coming as far asÌýDevon, Kent, Yorkshire and Greater Manchester for Science and Engineering Day.

Since 2020, we have also developed a digital presence online that allows us to engage with new national and international audiences.

We are full member of the .

Southampton Science and Engineering Festival 2025

Southampton Science and Engineering Festival will be taking place from Friday 7th to Sunday 16th March 2025.

Science and Engineering Day will be takingÌýplace on Saturday 15th March 2025, 10:30 - 16:30, at Highfield Campus and Boldrewood Innovation Campus.

Southampton Science and Engineering Festival 2024

Southampton Science and Engineering Festival took place from Friday 8th to Sunday 17th March 2024.

Science and Engineering Day took place on Saturday 16th March 2024, 10:30 - 16:30, at Highfield Campus and Boldrewood Innovation Campus.

Southampton Science and Engineering Festival 2023

Southampton Science and Engineering Festival took place from Friday 10th to Sunday 19th March 2023 .

Science and Engineering Day took place on Saturday 18th March 2023 , 10:30 - 16:30, at Highfield Campus and Boldrewood Innovation Campus.

Southampton Science and Engineering Festival 2022

Southampton Science and Engineering FestivalÌýran fromÌýFriday 11th to Sunday 20th March 2022.

​The wider festival programme includedÌýa selection of online activities and events taking place across ten days, with the return of some in-person events too.

All digital contentÌýwas madeÌýavailable on the official website at .ÌýResources and recordings of some of the Festival events are still available for you to enjoy from the safety from your home, wherever you are in the world, on the festival website and on the .

Science and Engineering Day | Saturday 7th May 2022

After a break in the previous two years, Science and Engineering DayÌýreturned on Saturday 7th May alongside the last Offer Holder Visit Day at the ÃÛÌÒTV.

Highfield Campus and Boldrewood Innovation Campus hosted 570 exhibitors that delivered a total of 93 activities, across 9 thematic areas, including interactive exhibits, workshops, laboratory tours, live shows, exhibitions and talks. Approx. 2,000 visitors joined us on the day from the centre and south of England.ÌýVisit the toÌýre-discover the programme of this nationally renown, family-friendly, fun-filled event.

If you have never exhibited or attended Science and Engineering Day, you can also watch the following video fromÌýSouthampton Science and Engineering Festival 2019 to find out whatÌýthe day is all about - the 2022 video is also on its way and will be release later in summer.

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For queries, please contact festival@southampton.ac.uk

Follow #SOTSEF and the UoS Engagement accounts on , and .

Watch videos and recordings of previous events on the UoS Festival .