MARKET SQUARE 10 am - 4 pm

The Festival of Ingenuity - Exploring Sustainability


Visit the exhibition marquee, home of the ingenious exhibitors, full of engaging activities for the whole family provided by the incredible businesses of Darlington. Build a foot bridge with Cleveland Bridge, control a mini submarine with Modus, try tech used in the day-to-day life of police officers, have a go at flying a drone and much more fun!

 

Children looking at the stalls

Children looking at the stalls

School children at a demonstration

School children at a demonstration

School children on laptops

School children on laptops

School children at the festival

School children at the festival

Children using a VR headset

Children using a VR headset

INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES

The marquee hosts plenty of interactive activities. In addition to the great activities our companies put on, we have Mighty Futures supporting us with nine interactive activities based on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Read more below.

Learn more about UN's Sustainability Goals.

Mighty Futures

Might futures logo

School children at a demonstration

School children at a demonstration

School children at a demonstration

School children at a demonstration

School children using a VR Headset

School children using a VR Headset

School children looking at the College stand

School children looking at the College stand


 

Good health and well being logo

Good health and well being logo


Good Health and Well-Being

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

The Good Health and Well-Being goal addresses all major health priorities, including reproductive, maternal and child health; communicable, non-communicable and environmental diseases; universal health coverage; and access for all to safe, effective, quality and affordable medicines and vaccines. It also calls for more research and development, increased health financing, and strengthened capacity of all countries in health risk reduction and management.

Activity: Exploring how technology can help us to keep track of our health.


 

Affordable clean energy logo

Affordable clean energy logo


Affordable and Clean Energy

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

Energy is crucial for achieving almost all of the Sustainable Development Goals, from its role in the eradication of poverty through advancements in health, education, water supply and industrialization, to combating climate change.

By 2030 there will be more clean and renewable energy to help fight climate change and provide energy to the whole of the world. What can we invent, innovate or change?

Activity: Turbine Towers - Exploring clean energy and building turbines


 

Industry, innovation and infrastructure logo

Industry, innovation and infrastructure logo


Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

Goal 9 encompasses three important aspects of sustainable development: infrastructure, industrialization and innovation. Infrastructure provides the basic physical systems and structures essential to the operation of a society or enterprise. Industrialization drives economic growth, creates job opportunities and thereby reduces income poverty. Innovation advances the technological capabilities of industrial sectors and prompts the development of new skills.

Activity: Have a go at flying a drone and inspecting structures using our drone simulator


 

Sustainable cities and communities logo

Sustainable cities and communities logo


Sustainable Cities and Communities

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

By 2030 cities and villages will have access to clean, safe communities with good housing, water, electricity, clean transport and green spaces to make life, happier and healthier and more prosperous.

Being isolated in rural areas is one of the main factors to poverty. Bridges to prosperity build bridges to help connect people to food, water, work and schools.

Activity: Put your engineering skills to the test to create wonderful bridge structures with Cleveland Bridge.


 

Life on land logo

Life on land logo


Life on Land

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

Climate change presents the single biggest threat to development, and its widespread, unprecedented impacts disproportionately burden the poorest and most vulnerable. Urgent action to combat climate change and minimize its disruptions is integral to the successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Our park wardens and others like zoologist look after, understand and protect our wildlife. There are lots of ways you can help too!

Activity: The Importance of bees: Why are bees are so important to our environment and what can we do to save them?


 

Peace, justice and strong institutions logo

Peace, justice and strong institutions logo


Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

Peace, justice and effective, accountable and inclusive institutions are at the core of sustainable development. Several regions have enjoyed increased and sustained levels of peace and security in recent decades. But many countries still face protracted armed conflict and violence, and far too many people struggle as a result of weak institutions and the lack of access to justice, information and other fundamental freedoms.

Having a police force that protects and supports communities is hugely important. Science can help to achieve this.

Activity: Learn more about how science and tech is used in the day-to-day life of police officers.


 

Partnerships for the goals logo

Partnerships for the goals logo


Partnerships for the Goals

Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

Achieving the ambitious targets of the 2030 Agenda requires a revitalized and enhanced global partnership that brings together Governments, civil society, the private sector, the United Nations system and other actors and mobilizes all available resources. 

Activity: Explore green screen technology and make a short video about the Sustainable Development Goals