When you’re asked ‘how did you spend your half term?’ there can surely be no cooler answer than ‘surviving the zombie apocalypse’.

Part sci-fi, part horror and post-apocalypse, a brand new free festival in Deptford will be teaching five to nineteen-year-olds and beyond what to do if an asteroid is heading for London in a mash-up of science, technology, maths and the arts.

SMASHfestUK will give young people the chance to plan for Armageddon – whether it involves planning for the end of the world, creating a time capsule, going on a trip to the Intergalactic Travel Agency or singing for their lives at the End of the World Cabaret.

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The half term event is the first of its kind and designed to widen participation and diversity in science, technology, engineering and maths – an area heading for a shortfall of 50,000 workers in the UK in the next day but with only 15 per cent of students aspiring to work in it.

There is also a perception that careers in science are overwhelmingly dominated by people who are white, male and middle class and SMASHfestUK is hoping to inspire a wider range of young people.

Dr Lindsay Keith said: “You won’t find lectures or debates at SMASHfestUK – we’re about mass entertainment, bums on seats and science by stealth! If it’s not fun, it’s not in the schedule – simple as that.”

Go to smashfestuk.com/events