Bringing Science to Wrexham: Reflections on Our First Pint of Science Festival

By Amy Rattenbury, Senior Lecturer in Forensic Science - June 2025

This May, Wrexham proudly hosted its inaugural Pint of Science festival, joining a global initiative that brings researchers into pubs, cafes, and public spaces to share their work with local communities in an open, informal way. Over two evenings, the festival offered a diverse mix of scientific stories, hands-on ideas, and enthusiastic audiences. I was delighted to be asked to get involved as a speaker, alongside my colleague Dr Paige Tynan from the Applied Science team here at the University. It was an exciting opportunity to connect with people outside of academia and highlight just how relevant and fascinating science is to everyday life.

The first night, held on the 19th of May at the Magic Dragon Brewery Tap, was a sell-out event with standing room only. Dr Tim Astrop, paleobiologist, and Dr Tom Hughes, geologist,both from Stori Brymbo kicked things off with a lively and interactive evening focused on the prehistoric past. Drawing from their work on the Brymbo Fossil Forest, one of the UK’s most important fossil sites, and other local heritage sites, they gave the audience a look into a 300-million-year-old world hidden just beneath our feet.
 
Tim explored the conditions needed for fossil preservation and challenged attendees to design their own ideal fossilisation scenario with the winner walking away with a coveted Pint of Science glass. Tom’s talk followed, guiding us through the geological history of Britain. He helped the audience interpret geological maps and identify the time periods behind the rocks in their hometowns. The atmosphere was informal but packed with insight, and the audience were fully engaged throughout.

The second evening, hosted at Tŷ Pawb, focused on a very different side of science. Paige and I delivered a joint session exploring what happens to the body after death and how we use that information in forensic investigations. We covered the chemical and biological processes involved in decomposition and the information bones can give us about someone’s life and identity. Our aim was to lift the lid on the science behind real forensic cases, going beyond the TV dramas to show what really happens when scientists are tasked with speaking for the dead. The audience asked thoughtful, challenging questions and were clearly fascinated by the realities of our subject. It was fantastic to see so much interest in the science behind human biology and crime scene investigation.

Wrexham University’s involvement in Pint of Science reflects our commitment to sharing research in open, engaging ways. We’re always looking for opportunities to bring our work into the wider community, and this event proved just how valuable that can be. From fossils and ancient environments to forensic science and decomposition, the festival covered a huge range of topics, all with an audience that was curious, enthusiastic, and ready to learn.

Huge thanks go to Dr Tim Astrop for bringing the event to Wrexham and to the team at Stori Brymbo for their support in making it happen. We hope this marks the start of something long-term for the region. There’s clearly an appetite for science in our town, and we’d love to see Pint of Science become a regular fixture, bringing together researchers, students, and the wider community for more nights of learning, laughter, and lively conversation.