As part of our 80th anniversary celebrations, we’re delighted to announce the Light Reel Film Festival, featuring films inspired by the world-class science and technology on campus.

Each film will feature an introduction from a leading scientist and be screened outside in The Quad, complete with a covered tent, giant screen, and comfy seating.

To kick off, we’ve got Oscar-winning epic Oppenheimer – Christopher Nolan’s gripping retelling of the man behind the atomic bomb. Harwell became the UK’s nuclear energy research campus and several scientists who had worked with Oppenheimer on the Manhatten project came to work here.

From the outdoor cinema venue of The Quad, you can see the imposing Hangar 10 building which housed the first large nuclear reactor to be built outside of the USA and USSR. It was called BEPO (which stood for British Experimental Pile Zero) and began operating in 1948. It was used for a range of research and produced radioactive isotopes for medical purposes.

We’re delighted to welcome Frank Close, Science Communicator extraordinare, to give the expert introduction prior to this screening.

Food, drinks and snacks are available on site. Beanbags are provided but don’t forget your favourite blanket to settle in and get comfy.

Car Park: Thomson Avenue Car Park, Harwell Campus (What3Words: ///radio.brain.willpower)

Venue: The Quad, Rutherford Avenue, Harwell Campus (What3Words: ///acrobats.bulbs.rainbow)

Agenda:

• Doors open: 18:00
• Pre-film talk: 18:45
• Film starts: 19:00 (run time 3 hours)
• Film ends: 22:10

Age rating: 15 (over 15s only)

Ticket Cost: £5

Bring your friends, your favourite blanket, and settle in for some serious cinematic magic under the night sky.

TICKETS COMING SOON…