YORKSHIRE hyaenas, the secrets of Roman burials, the mysteries of ancient jewels and the colour of sea monsters will all feature at a special event at the Yorkshire Museum and Gardens later this month.

York is one of the four British cities taking part in European Researchers’ Night, and the city will host 80 events across 20 venues on Friday, September 26 - including a family-friendly and free event at the museum which will boast more than 40 different hands-on activities, talks by experts and the chance to see objects and artefacts close up.

York Museums Trust's Amy Baggeley said: “This is a very rare chance to come and meet leading experts on everything from dinosaurs to Romans, medieval jewels to moths, all in the same place for one night only.

“All around the museum there will also be hands-on activities, crafts and characters from history to meet, like the King who once owned the York Helmet, Oshere.

“Outside in the York Museum Gardens there will be further activities such as watching fire artists, storytelling and the chance to look at the night sky in our observatory.”

Elsewhere in the city there will be dozens of free events including interactive demonstrations and workshops, ‘mini-taster’ accessible talks, tours, games, and demonstrations.

The University of York's Professor Matthew Collins, who led the YorNight bid, said: "York has a remarkable density of researchers and YorNight will be a great opportunity to meet many of them, and find out how their research is changing our lives for the better."


What you can see...

YorNight runs from 4pm-10pm on Friday, September 26. Events are free, but some may need to be booked.

A full programme is at yornight.com, but some highlights are:

• Try on a spacesuit, handle a meteorite, and watch the film Gravity: King’s Manor, 6.30pm-9pm

• The Colour Of Dinosaurs: talk by Johan Gren, Tempest Anderson Hall, 5.30pm

• The Giant Hyenas That Once Stalked Yorkshire: talk by Patrick Boylan, Tempest Anderson Hall, 6.30pm

• Handle a lizard: Hospitium, Museum Gardens

• The Vet’s Life: talk by zoo vet Matt Brash, Hospitium, Museum Gardens, 7.30pm

• How Fruit Flies Could Help Parkinson’s Disease: talk by Ryan West, York Medical Society, Stonegate, 7pm to 7.15pm

• Try Bronze Age ‘nettle stew’ or medieval-style bread: DIG!

• Chat to a scientist over a cup of coffee: ‘research cafés’ at Treasurer’s House and York Cocoa House.