Your starship is travelling through galaxies, gaining points by recovering and recycling old satellites. Meanwhile enemy starships try to collide with you.

In this workshop, the team will show you how to create a fun space game using the programming language BBC Basic on a 30-year old BBC Micro.

You must gather as many satellites as you can to gain maximum points before enemy starships steal all your health and destroy you!

This workshop is ideal for those aged 11 and older, ideal for those at upper KS2 and KS3 level.

In this workshop you will be building your own wearable computer! This will be battery-powered using a Raspberry Pi Pico. Learn how to design and create your own pixel creature to ‘live’ on your wrist. The coding will be done using MicroPython. The team will also show you how the project can be expanded to add additional sensors that can interact with your pixel creature.

This is a foundation project, to give you a starting point to continue at home.

This workshop is ideal for those aged 11 and older.

During the session you will explore aspects of the cube that make it such a challenging and popular puzzle. Learn insights that may help you to discover your own method to solve Rubik's Cube if you have not already mastered it.

In addition, you will see some of the robots, created by David, built from LEGO MINDSTORMS and Technic elements and smartphones that solve Rubik's Cubes of different sizes.

No need to book. There is no additional charge for the activity but standard museum entry fees apply.

During the session you will explore aspects of the cube that make it such a challenging and popular puzzle. Learn insights that may help you to discover your own method to solve Rubik's Cube if you have not already mastered it.

In addition, you will see some of the robots, created by David, built from LEGO MINDSTORMS and Technic elements and smartphones that solve Rubik's Cubes of different sizes.

No need to book. There is no additional charge for the activity but standard museum entry fees apply.
 

Summer's here and Bee-Bot is planning a trip to the beach. But, there are so many things to take - bucket and spade, parasol, beach hat, beach umbrella, and don't forget the swimsuit and suncream! Bee-Bot would love some help planning this trip. Would you like to be Bee-Bot's helper?

The only catch is that Bee-Bot is a robot and needs instructions to find all the things that need to be packed. A set of instructions is called an algorithm. Find out about algorithms and how you can use these to code in this fun activity!

The Centre will be using the MicroPython library in this activity. You will start by controlling an LED using the Pico and then continue to add a buzzer and a tripwire to create a basic intruder alarm!
 

James Newman, builder of the Megaprocessor, is coming to the Centre to answer questions about his remarkable creation.

The Megaprocessor, a 10m-long and 2m high computer, takes pride of place in the foyer. This machine shows the inner workings of a microprocessor, the ubiquitous chip at the heart of billions of electronic devices. Microprocessors are so small that they're incredibly hard to understand, even though they are vitally important to modern society.

James Newman, builder of the Megaprocessor, is coming to the Centre to answer questions about his remarkable creation.

The Megaprocessor, a 10m-long and 2m high computer, takes pride of place in the foyer. This machine shows the inner workings of a microprocessor, the ubiquitous chip at the heart of billions of electronic devices. Microprocessors are so small that they're incredibly hard to understand, even though they are vitally important to modern society.

Video games have progressed from simple black and white pixelated play to immersive epics that rival any blockbuster movie. But how did this happen? What did Nintendo make before Mario, and who was their real competitor in Japan? 

This tour of the collection of retro gaming consoles lasts around 45 minutes, and provides an opportunity to discuss and even argue the merits and weaknesses of your favourite consoles and games! Museum staff will be on hand after the tour to locate specific games that you want to play from the museum's archive of nearly 14,000 games.
 

Video games have progressed from simple black and white pixelated play to immersive epics that rival any blockbuster movie. But how did this happen? What did Nintendo make before Mario, and who was their real competitor in Japan?

This tour of the collection of retro gaming consoles lasts around 45 minutes, and provides an opportunity to discuss and even argue the merits and weaknesses of your favourite consoles and games!  Museum staff will be on hand after the tour to locate specific games that you want to play from the museum's archive of nearly 14,000 games.
 

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