The MRC Centre for Outbreak Analysis and Modelling hosted a 'Bacterial Games' stand at the Big Bang Fair.

To kick off the MRC Centenary celebrations, the MRC Centre for Outbreak Analysis and Modelling hosted a ‘Bacterial Games’ stand at the Big Bang Fair.

Public engagement at the Big Bang Fair

Over twenty staff and students headed to London ExCel to start an epidemic, “infecting” and “vaccinating” children with fun stickers to teach the basics of epidemiology. The department’s exhibit, led by Dr Tara Mangal of the Vaccine Epidemiology research group, also featured a zombie outbreak game created by Dr Wes Hinsley where visitors could seed their own outbreak throughout the UK using zombies, witches, werewolves or vampires.

Over a thousand people visited the stand over the two days to take part in the outbreak and be inspired by the Centre’s scientists.

Big Bang Fair

The Big Bang is the largest science, technology, engineering and maths exhibit in the UK and is aimed at showing young people how many exciting opportunities are out there for them.