YORK will become a city of scientific experiments when more than 80 free events take place in one night.

The events are part of YorNight, an evening showcasing cutting-edge research from across Europe, on Friday, September 25. There will be explorations of light, genealogy, stargazing, Richard III and the Flying Scotsman.

YorNight enables the public to get up close with a wide array of research through hands-on demonstrations, workshops, talks, tours and games, held at venues across York.

All events are free and child-friendly, and visitors are being encouraged to experience as many of them as possible over the course of the evening.

2015 is the International Year of Light and several events will explore this theme. Among them, there will be the chance to draw glowing ultraviolet artwork, use infrared cameras, and find out how the sun works by venturing inside a ‘Sundome’ at the Year of Light Hub at King’s Manor.

People will also be able to explore their partner preferences by using face-morphing technology. They can use the technology to create a photo of their ideal match, before seeing how this changes according to age, sex, culture and relationship stage.

There will be talks about subjects as varied as dreams, blood and music, and facial reconstruction will feature again in discussions about how Richard III may have looked. Historian and BBC broadcaster Bettany Hughes will host a Q&A on historical research by women.

Yornight is staged by the University of York in collaboration with a range of organisations including the York Museums Trust, York Explore Library, The Children’s University, National Railway Museum, NYBEP, English Heritage, C2D2 and The Jorvik Group.

Joan Concannon, Director of External Relations at the University of York, said: “We are delighted to work with so many partners and collaborators across the city to showcase such incredibly diverse research.

“The university takes great pride in its role as a public intellectual and to demonstrate why education and research can transform lives. We hope that as many people as possible will experience much of the programme over the course of the evening.”

Rounding the night off will be a showstopping choral music concert and light show finale in the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey in the Museum Gardens.

For more information go to http://yornight.com/2015/