Magic was in the air as the second Bradford Science Festival got under way in venues across the city yesterday.

The festival, with this year’s ‘magic’ theme, runs until Saturday and aims to encourage people of all ages to develop an interest in science, engineering and technology by giving demonstrations of how science works in everyday life.

More than 500 schoolchildren from across the district attended Bradford College as part of the first day, attending workshops illustrating tricks of science and the magic of light.

Steve Allman, a professional science communicator, showed school groups a series of stunts based on the principles of chemistry and physics, such as using salt to create a friction that allowed three ten-pin bowling balls to be stacked on top of one another.

“I try to show science in a way that looks visually spectacular,” he said. “A lot of children think that it is all theory, but what they don’t see is how it can applied to things that happen every day.

“I try to introduce children to the different types of science and explain that the reason I can do this type of magic is because of physics. I want them to go away knowing that science is all around us, all the time.” Father and son team Gary and Scott Poleykett perform in the guise of magical clowns to demonstrate how light and colour shape the way children see the world around them.

Gary said: “We actually cover the primary school science curriculum, highlighting things like the speed of light, and how the seven colours of the rainbow can be produced from light that appears to be white.

“By making it as fun and interactive as possible, we can really enthuse children about science and put a spark there for the future.”

The festival is run by Bradford-based science education body Space Connections, in conjunction with chief sponsor British Gas. Other shows for children are taking place at the University of Bradford, the Alhambra Studio, City Hall and the National Media Museum, and the festival also incorporates a series of adult-orientated shows based around body modification. For details of the full programme or booking enquiries, visit bradfordsciencefestival.co.uk.