Ocean simulation showing turbulence above rough seafloor topography

Outreach

With colleagues in the School of Maths, we’ve developed a set of hands-on experiments using DIYnamics — affordable, rotating-tank kits that let anyone see the fluid dynamics of the ocean and atmosphere in action.

Edinburgh Science Festival

At Edinburgh Science Festival 2026, we spent two busy days in Dynamic Earth demonstrating the unexpected ways that fluids behave at very large and very small scales!

Our stand at Dynamic Earth

Giant Earth globe inside Dynamic Earth

Setting up a rotating tank experiment

Eddies forming in a rotating tank

Demonstrating the experiments at our stand

The Maths Outreach Team stand

University of Edinburgh Doors Open Days 2026

We showed these experiments again in the beautiful McEwan Hall as part of the University contribution to Doors Open Days

Visitors trying the rotating tank experiments

Explaining the rotating tank experiment to visitors

The outreach team in McEwan Hall