Get ready, curious minds and adventure-loving families… Explorathon 2025 is here to take you on an incredible journey of discovery this September.

It’s the fantastic, Scotland-wide festival that brings research to life, showing you all the amazing things happening right on your doorstep. From cutting-edge engineering to fascinating arts and humanities, there’s a world of fun waiting for you.

The official European Researchers’ Night weekend is from September 26-28, but our Scottish adventure starts much earlier – right at the beginning of next month.

Thanks to an amazing collaboration of universities from Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow, and the Highlands & Islands, we have a whole month packed with captivating experiences in our 12th year.

Ever wondered what it takes to build a rocket? Or wanted to learn the secret language of whales? Maybe you’d like to see the world from a completely new perspective? We’ve got all that and more!

Discovery Day is taking over Aberdeen campus, Scrap Antics is returning to Dundee with a bang, and Glasgow’s Doors Open Day will be buzzing with brilliant engineering.

To see everything on offer, head over to the full events programme and mark your calendars.

What’s on in Aberdeen

Aberdeen is bursting with brilliant events this September. On 6 September, the Institute of Medical Science is opening its doors for a day of free, family-friendly fun. You can take a guided tour, peek inside the labs and get hands-on with research activities in the main atrium.

Then, on 14 September get ready for an amazing Discovery Day at Elphinstone Hall. You can travel back in time to 12,000BC Scotland to learn about fearsome beasts and Stone Age adventures. Or get ready for liftoff with our “How to Build a Rocket” science show – just remember not to try this one at home…

You can also “Light Up Your World” with fun activities about light and its role in everything from weather to quantum physics, or even meet a living statue of the incredible Marie Curie.

From the Highlands & Islands

Calling all future marine biologists: on 1 September 1st, join UHI SAMS “for the love of whales”. You’ll be able to get up close and personal with Hope the Humpback, a huge inflatable whale, to learn about these amazing marine giants. You’ll also learn how to spot whales from the shore, listen in on their secret conversations with a special hydrophone and meet real-life Marine Mammal Medics who help stranded animals. This is a perfect way to learn about the incredible sea creatures right off Scotland’s west coast.

In Glasgow

And get ready for some truly heroic science in Glasgow.  On the weekend of 20 & 21 September, the Advanced Research Centre (ARC) is hosting “Researchers at Work” as part of Glasgow Doors Open Days. You can take a tour of the centre and dive into the fascinating research happening there.

Also on 21 September, you can take part in some Superhero Science. Perfect for ages 10 and up, this interactive event will reveal the real-life physics, chemistry and biology behind superpowers like super-strength and invisibility. Watch as expert scientists perform amazing demonstrations and discover how you can unleash your own inner hero.

Dundee

Dundee is getting creative and clever this Explorathon. Get ready for the much-loved Scrap Antics event where you can turn everyday materials into something spectacular. Plus, there will be a special event at the Dundee Science Centre to coincide with Maths Week, where you can dive into the wonderful world of numbers and discover how much fun maths can be.

Ready to explore? Head over to our events programme  to mark your calendars and get ready for a month packed with inspiration and discovery!