Grand Discoveries, the science exhibition curated by Grand Arcade, made its return across the 2025 summer holidays, in partnership with over 20 leading science and technology organisations, transforming the heart of Cambridge into an interactive, educational space showcasing scientific innovations.
With a mix of displays, activities, and STEM workshops, Grand Discoveries drew the attention of over 2.2 million people over two months. Highlights included Grand Arcade’s 25-metre DNA Helix sculpture and The Quantum Towers – a giant periodic table created by artist Sheefali Asija – both designed to inspire curiousity, with the Quantum Towers now being given to a local state school.
Alongside 15 displays from prestigious partners – showcasing neuroscience, space exploration, genomics research, Antarctic expeditions and more – visitors also had the opportunity to take part in a scientific AR trail designed by the University of Cambridge.
Software company, Orca Scan, created the OrcaCam arcade style game for the occasion, which has now been played 20,000 times. Alongside Orca Scan was Supersense Technologies, which designed a playful display that demonstrated how its technology supports people living with dementia.
As a result, the opening day of the exhibition was a resounding success with a 20% increase in footfall year-on-year, followed by a first weekend attracting more than 90,000 visitors, a record for the summer period.
The exhibition also included 56 interactive STEM workshops, delivered by bit.bio and the Institute of Astronomy inside an empty unit repurposed as the ‘Grand Discoveries hub’, raising funds for charities throughout the summer.
Julie Kervadec, Grand Arcade’s marketing manager, said: “I’m so proud of the events we organise across the year. We constantly seek to combine education and entertainment with retail engagement through unique experiences. The second edition of Grand Discoveries has been a true success, showcasing scientific research and innovations from 20 prestigious partners to inspire minds of all ages. From inviting visitors to become a polar scientist for the day with the British Antarctic Survey to building human cells from LEGO bricks with bio.bio, taking an exciting journey to the stars with the Institute of Astronomy, exploring our giant exhibition, and listening to a panel of experts hosted by Cambridge Applied Research at Everyman, it has truly been a summer celebrating science.”
Grand Discoveries 2025 culminated with a panel discussion held at Grand Arcade’s Everyman Cinema, in association with Cambridge Applied Research. The discussion, hosted by Emil Hewage, founder and CEO of BIOS Health and managing director at Cambridge Applied Research, saw contributions from med-tech experts from AstraZeneca, Legal & General and KVG on their lived experience of AI in healthcare, the investment landscape of AI, and how it gives us a chance to futureproof and change the way we look at diseases.
