Giant Insect World

Giant Insect World is a drop-in style event designed to spark curiosity and wonder through immersive digital storytelling and playful exploration. Visitors can explore the experience at their own pace, with the following elements available throughout the session:

Virtual Bug Explorer (10–15 minutes per session)
Step into a 3D digital world where ants, moths, and beetles are magnified to a giant scale. Using interactive screens and immersive visuals, you’ll get up close to the intricate details of insect life.

Creative Play (15–30 minutes)
Engage in hands-on activities that invite you to imagine future worlds inspired by insect behaviour and design. Perfect for children and adults alike, these activities encourage speculative thinking and storytelling.

Live Talk with Dr Jessica Symons (30 minutes)
At scheduled times during the day, anthropologist Dr Symons will share insights into her research and creative process, exploring how insects can help us rethink value, existence, and possibility.
(Talk times will be posted at the venue and online closer to the event.)

Drop-in Q&A and Discussion Zone (ongoing)
Chat with VisioningLab and other curious minds about the ethics of existence across species, the role of digital storytelling, and the magic of the unseen.

The event will take place in person in Room 3 at Manchester Central Library. Families, individuals, and groups are all warmly welcomed. No prior knowledge required—bring your curiosity!

Giant Insect World invites you to explore the hidden lives of insects. These tiny creatures are all around us, and yet we so often overlook their complexity, beauty, and importance to our world. Through immersive digital storytelling and interactive play, this event magnifies the tiny into the extraordinary, offering a fresh perspective on the unseen world.

Led by anthropologist Dr Jessica Symons of VisioningLab, the workshop blends science, art, and speculative thinking to ask: 

• What can insects teach us about existence, value, and survival?
• How can digital tools help us perceive the world in a new light?
• What happens when we shift our focus to the small, the strange, and the unseen?

Key Themes & Questions will include: 

• Ethics across species: How do we relate to non-human life? 
• The power of curiosity: What happens when we look closer? 
• Creative Futures: How can play and imagination shape new ideas?

Whether you're a curious child, a thoughtful adult, or a family looking for something inspiring to do together, this event offers: 

• Immersive exploration of insects in extraordinary 3D
• Hands-on creative activities for all ages
• Live insights from a leading anthropologist
• A chance to reconnect with wonder, rethink assumptions, and discover new ways of seeing the world

Expect a welcoming, playful atmosphere where questions are encouraged and imagination is celebrated.

This event is led by anthropologist Dr Jessica Symons of VisioningLab in collaboration with Professor Ursula Hurley at the University of Salford.

The event is open to anyone who wants to explore the activities. Children and families are very welcome.

This event is open to all, but may be of particular interest to: 

Families with Children: 

• The interactive and visual nature of the event makes it ideal for children and families.
• Activities are designed to be hands-on, playful, and educational.
• It’s a great outing for curious young minds.

STEM & STEAM Educators and Students:

• Combines science (entomology, ethics, anthropology) with creative design and digital storytelling.
• Offers inspiration for cross-disciplinary learning and teaching. 
• Could appeal to schools, science clubs, and students in biology, anthropology, or digital media.

Artists, Designers & Creatives: 

• Explores how digital tools and immersive design can reframe our understanding of nature. 
• Encourages speculative thinking and imaginative responses to real-world themes.

Environmentalists & Nature Enthusiasts:

• Focuses on the overlooked beauty and complexity of insect life. 
• Raises ethical questions about how we value non-human species.

Philosophy, Ethics & Anthropology Communities: 

• Engages with deep questions about existence, value, and interspecies ethics. 
• Offers a unique lens on human-nonhuman relationships through digital media.

Anyone with a Curious Mind: 

• No prior knowledge required—just an interest in exploring something new.
• Welcoming and accessible format encourages drop-in participation and open conversation.

No need to book. Just drop in!