Metro Mayor joins the robot revolution

Robot football players met newly elected Metro Mayor Dan Norris as they took part in a futuristic football tournament at We The Curious, the science centre on Bristol’s harbourside.

Ahead of the bank holiday weekend and half term the Metro Mayor visited the educational tourism attraction and personalised his own robot ahead of the high-tech football match and encourage residents to support our local attractions.

This half term is the first school holidays in 14 months that We The Curious will be open to the public.

As well as being fun, ‘Robot Revolution’ allows you to be part of real-life scientific research. 'We The Curious' is working with University of Bath researchers to find out how young people interact with robots, so scientists can build even better ones in the future.

Life-long Bristol City supporter Dan Norris said: “If it is Robins versus Robots at football, I know who I am backing, but what is important this half term is that we all get behind our brilliant local visitor attractions that have had a tough time over the pandemic. Let’s help them back on their feet by experiencing an enjoyable and educational day out for all the family.

“With a fun packed day guaranteed, parents will be assured there won’t be any Robot Wars among their kids.”

The Metro Mayor chatted with Donna Speed, Chief Executive of ‘We the Curious’ about the challenges they have faced during the pandemic and plans for using the business growth grant recently awarded to them by the West of England Combined Authority to move their shop online.

Donna Speed said: “After 14 months of closure, we’re absolutely thrilled to be open again and it was great to show Dan around our new exhibition space, ‘Project What If’ and the Robot Revolution activity. We aim to be a place where all generations can come together to explore, play and learn, so it’s been such a joy to welcome our visitors back and see them exploring our venue and enjoying our new programme of activities.

“As an educational charity, we need to be here now, and in the future, for all of our audiences, so we’re very grateful for the support of the West of England Combined Authority with the business growth grant that will help us towards moving to creating an online shop, which will support our reopening and ongoing financial resilience.”