Cosmic Dust Young People's Workshop
06 Jun 2026 - 06 Jun 2026
Every day, thousands of kilograms of cosmic dust fall to Earth, carrying tiny fragments of asteroids and comets. Most of these particles - known as micrometeorites - are smaller than a millimetre but hold immense scientific value. Come and help us find some as Dr Stephen Grimes’ 'Cosmic Dust in the City' initiative turns The Box into a portal to the cosmos for a day. Find out more below.
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Suitable for participants 12+. Only participants need a ticket. Parents/carers don't require a ticket but are welcome to come along to watch or assist.
'Cosmic Dust in the City' is a University of Plymouth public engagement and citizen science project that invites communities in and around Plymouth to help uncover these cosmic visitors at home, in schools, and in workplaces, transforming rooftops and gutters into interstellar gateways.
In this workshop, you'll be trained as a citizen scientist to identify particles from material collected from The Box's roof. Experts will be on hand to help you image any promising samples using a scanning electron microscope. Any discoveries will later be classified and entered into the UK micrometeorite archive under your name.