​Parallel Session 4​: Unconventional Outreach - ​STEM on the Road​
Tuesday 9 April 14:45 - 16:30​​​

Big science can be very successful in capturing the public's imagination; when asked 'what is a particle accelerator?', the response of 'the Large Hadron Collider' has become commonplace even for the youngest of audiences. However, to many, it may seem that big science is something that takes place far away from home by scientists who work beyond the public's gaze and understanding.

The Tale of Two Tunnels is a public engagement project that will culminate in the production of a citywide science trail, which uses Liverpool's underground railway as a prop in the immersive story telling of a particle accelerator built beneath the city.

A primary aim of the project is to welcome people of Liverpool (and beyond) into a global scientific community through the work that is taking place on their doorsteps (specifically at the University of Liverpool, Daresbury Laboratory and The Cockcroft Institute). ​

The first stages of the project have seen the city's general public and researchers connecting through STEAM based workshops. This talk will describe some of the methods used and the early outcomes from the project, as well as some of the challenges faced along the way.