New sculpture brings science to life in Liverpool

THE British Science Festival and Culture Liverpool will be showing:- 'Geist' by This is Loop (artists Harriet Lumby and Alan Hayes) in the centre of Liverpool at Liverpool 1 from the:- 10 September to 14 September 2025.

As part of the celebration of the scientific culture and innovation taking place across the Liverpool City Region, they're turning the spotlight on 1 of the most mysterious building blocks of our universe; neutrinos.

Also known as:- 'ghost particles.' neutrinos are the most abundant massive particles in the universe and are extremely hard to detect. 1 of the many mysteries surrounding neutrinos is that the 3 different types of neutrinos can change into each other.

Geist is a large-scale sculpture which offers a window into a figment of reflection and light, created by a mirror illusion and showing a suspended illuminated orb. The illusion is interactive; only by the proximity and movement of the audience, does the suspended particle of light come to life. Individually addressable LED modules start flickering and glimmering in the presence of people.

The public are the cause of the artwork's existence, their interactions creating a response from the artwork; a version of the:- 'hide and seek' played out in a neutrino detector where only an interaction with an atom reveals the neutrino.

Geist includes:- real data from neutrino experiments in collaboration with the UK's Science and Facilities Technology Council (STFC). STFC have major research and innovation campuses across the UK, including:- at Daresbury in the Liverpool City Region.

To delve deeper into the world of particle physics, some of the world's leading particle physicists will discuss how we are starting to understand more about the fundamental building blocks of the universe.

Join, Graziano Venanzoni (University of Liverpool), Saskia Charity (University of Liverpool), Mark Thomson (CERN) and Jocelyn Monroe (University of Oxford) to find out about fascinating particle physics projects including:- the Muon g-2 experiment, the Darkside-20k experiment, and the Large Hadron Collider.

Book free tickets through the British Science Association website.

Researchers from the Department of Physics (University of Liverpool) will also showcase real particle detectors, demonstrate how they work and explain how experiments are designed.

People can also join an interactive virtual tour of Boulby Underground Laboratory in Yorkshire, where scientists are searching for the elusive:- 'dark matter' that makes up most of the mass of the universe.

Find out more on the British Science Festival website.

Claire McColgan CBE, Liverpool's Director of Culture and Associate Director of Culture for Liverpool City Region said:- "We are delighted that Liverpool is hosting this amazing crossover of science and culture in the heart of the City, giving people a rare chance to see a hidden but vital part of our universe. This project is such an innovative and artful way to make science accessible. We are looking forward to seeing how it sparks intrigue among our many visitors and residents and highlights some of the brilliant innovation happening in the City."

James Brown, Director of the British Science Festival said:- "We're so pleased to be able to showcase the world leading science and innovation taking place across the Liverpool City Region, including:- research into the very building blocks of our universe! Geist brings together art and science in a way that lets us experience and explore this incredible phenomenon which is happening all around us; even if we can't detect it!"

Donna Howitt, Place Strategy Director at Liverpool 1 said:- "We are looking forward to welcoming the British Science Festival to Liverpool. Science, just like fashion, sport and music, is part of the City's identity, and it's fantastic to see such an ambitious, diverse programme come to life right across the City. At Liverpool ONE, we're passionate about supporting events that spark curiosity and bring communities together. We are proud to play our part in showcasing the City on a national stage and help to inspire the next generation of scientists, researchers and engineers."

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Community engagement programme launches alongside World Boxing Championships

LIVERPOOL is preparing to welcome the inaugural World Boxing Championships for Elite men and women this September; and a major community engagement programme is set to run alongside the sporting spectacle.

Liverpool City Council's Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle, said:- "Liverpool has a proud history of hosting massive global events such as Eurovision and the World Gymnastics Championships, which not only boost the local economy but also offer an opportunity to inspire and raise the aspirations of young people. It is a huge coup for Liverpool to be hosting the inaugural World Boxing Championships but we want the legacy of the event to last much longer than just 10 days. We are delighted to be working with our communities and boxing clubs to ensure that we can support the future grassroots development of boxing in the City. The engagement programme will support cross-curricular learning, while encouraging our young people to get into habits which improve their physical and mental health, that hopefully continue long after the event."

Running until:- 14 September 2025, the City will play host to the world's best boxers, and Culture Liverpool is working with creative and sporting partners to ensure the event leaves a lasting legacy. The programme features 3 unique artistic residencies in Schools and neighbourhoods, including:- a public exhibition celebrating the unsung heroes of the sport.

Jason Harborow, Chair of the World Boxing Championships 2025 Steering Group, added:- "It is really important when major events like the World Boxing Championships come to the UK that they have a positive impact and celebrate the work of people that do so much good work in the community in delivering the sport at the grassroots and Unsung Heroes is a brilliant example of a project that is doing this. Liverpool is 1 of the most vibrant cities in the UK when it comes to boxing and that is because of the great work that goes in clubs and communities, and it is fantastic to see that this is being acknowledged and celebrated as part of the World Boxing Championships."

Delivered in partnership with Open Eye Gallery and England Boxing, the Unsung Heroes exhibition will be on display, at:- St George's Hall, Stable Gallery, shining a light on 20 grassroots figures nominated by local boxing clubs.

Photographers Emma Case and Katie Richardson, with filmmaker Susannah Fletcher, have captured portraits and stories of these:- Unsung Heroes; the people whose dedication continues to shape the boxing community.

Open Eye Gallery's Head of Social Practice, Sophie Mahon, said:- "This exhibition offers a unique insight into the faces and stories of those creating a lasting impact and legacy within their local clubs and communities, capturing the spirit, resilience, and impact of the sport at its roots. As this project has made clear, at a grassroots level, boxing is about far more than competition. These clubs offer safe spaces, structure, and support, especially for young people, fostering resilience, self belief, and connection. They are places where confidence is built and where champions are measured not only by medals, but by the positive change they inspire."

The free exhibition runs until:- 20 September, open:- Monday to Saturday, from:- 9am to 4.30pm.

Residencies will see artists working closely with local communities... At Rotunda ABC, artist and boxing coach Ciara Lyons is spending 6 weeks exploring stories of belonging, heritage and wellbeing, which will be developed into a film, performance and exhibition.

Wired Aerial Theatre will work with Secondary Schools and take up residency at:- The Florrie; a venue with strong ties to Liverpool's boxing history; delivering workshops and performances of their aerial theatre piece Me Vs Me. The production tackles themes of mental health and resilience, developed in partnership with mental health activists and education experts. Schools have also been offered the opportunity to attend boxing matches at the M&S Bank Arena during the championships.

This programme has been made possible thanks to:- Liverpool City Council, World Boxing Championships, England Boxing, GB Boxing and UKSPF, with support from:- adi.tv.

For more details, visit the Culture Liverpool website.