Explorathon

children at the zoo
Explorathon 2015 at Edinburgh Zoo

The Explorathon is a series of events taking place in the autumn of each year across Scotland to celebrate European Researchers Night. Research comes up with solutions to society’s biggest problems and challenges. The Explorathon is an extravaganza of online shows, talks, family activities, comedy, debates and much more besides.

From Oban to Glasgow, St Andrews to Edinburgh, Aberdeen to Inverness, researchers showcase the diversity of research in Scotland and highlight the impact of research on our daily lives through a large number of exciting, interactive events. Events in Edinburgh and the Lothians were run in collaboration with a number of partners, including West Lothian Council, Edinburgh Zoo, Dynamic Earth, Scottish Seabird Centre, the Botanic Gardens Edinburgh and many more. We are grateful to all our partners for their support over the years

The Beltane Public Engagement Network coordinates the events in Edinburgh, and the Scottish event as a whole is led by the University of Aberdeen. In 2020 and 2021, most events moved online due to Covid-19 restrictions.  For further information, check out the Explorathon website, and you can see our highlights in the videos below. 

Key information