Find out why heartbreak hurts at Norwich Science Festival

On Tuesday, February 14, the events and activities are inspired by Psychology and The Mind: perfect for the keen people-watcher, arm-chair psychologist, or those just interested in human nature and what makes someone tick.

Looking for an extra-special way to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Get that serotonin flowing and learn some new moves with ‘Boogie on the brain: the psychology of dancing with Dr Peter Lovatt’ (February 14, 8pm, The Halls).

This interactive evening gives you the chance to strut your stuff – whether you’re a beginner or a pro – and learn exactly why dancing is so much fun! You’ll pick up a few new routines and make amazing memories, so bring along a friend, partner or pop along and make some new pals. Tickets cost £15.

If you’re looking for an alternative Valentine’s Night, attend the ‘Heartbreak’ night (February 14, 7pm, Norwich Arts Centre) – a life-affirming evening where a neuroscientist, psychologist and comedian will explore just why break-ups can be so tough – and how you can get through them. Tickets cost £10.

Dr Gwen Adshead talks about the minds of some of the notorious criminals she has met (Image: Philip Vanoutrive)

There are also two fantastic events for true crime fans: ‘The Devil You Know’ and ‘Criminal Minds’. In ‘The Devil You Know’ (February 14, 1pm, Blake Studio), leading forensic psychiatrist Dr Gwen Adshead will share fascinating insights from her experience working with some of Britain’s most notorious criminals; and why she advocates for rehabilitation over revenge. Tickets cost £10.

For those who wonder what makes a serial killer, former Scotland Yard detective Steve Gaskin will explore real life cases in ‘Criminal Minds’ on  February 14 in Norwich and February 13 at East Norfolk College. Tickets cost £9.

Would you rather start at the beginning? Anthropologist Brenna Hasset will examine how evolution has influenced how humans grow up in ‘Is childhood our species’ secret weapon?’ (February 14, 3pm, The Forum). Unlike other species, homo sapiens spend a remarkably long time as children – but this enables our weird babies to grow into the most successful primates on the planet. Tickets cost £7.

From nature to nurturing happiness, spending time outdoors can have tangible benefits on our mental health. Join author Joe Harkness for ‘Bird Therapy’ (February 14, 3pm, Blake Studio) as he discusses how birdwatching can be therapeutic and how nature can improve people’s mental health. Tickets cost £7.

If you have a keen birdwatcher in the family, Norfolk Wildlife Trust is putting on two events at NWT Hickling Broad, suitable for all ages. ‘Bones and body bits’ (February 14, 12.30pm, NWT Hickling Broad) showcases the natural history collection and teaches you how to identify skulls and dissect an owl’s pellet. ‘Family Raptor Roost’ (3.30pm, NWT Hickling Broad) will teach you all about raptor behaviours, their life cycle and how to identify them. Tickets cost £3 for NWT Members, £3.50 for non-members.

There is plenty for children to enjoy during Norwich Science Festival this half term, such as building electrical circuits (Image: Lucy Catto)

There are plenty of activities for children throughout the week, so you can keep them busy this half-term. For the little ones, ‘Exciting Electricity!’ (multiple times, Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form) will spark their imagination as they learn how to launch flying saucers and make simple circuits. 

And that’s just a taste of what you can enjoy at Norwich Science Festival – there are also plenty of free and low-cost events, and The Explorium is open from 10am-4pm in The Forum throughout the festival.

For all event and ticket information, please visit www.norwichsciencefestival.co.uk