Origami Engineering: beginner to expert

Origami Engineering: beginner to expert runs at Oxford Westgate Library on Saturday 31 October, as part of the Oxford Science and Ideas Festival. It's a workshop run by IF Oxford, and the artist leading it is Ayako Ono. The whole thing is pitched at 7-12s, teenagers and adults, so it's one of those sessions you can do with the kids or on your own, though under-16s need to be accompanied by a responsible adult.

It's designed for complete beginners and experienced folders alike, and there are video guides on hand to walk you through each step, so you don't have to worry if you've never touched a piece of origami paper in your life. You'll start with the classics — ninja stars and cranes — before moving on to the Miura fold, a space-engineered technique used to pack solar panels for spaceflight. Along the way, there's a range of folding challenges to work your way through, taking you from the basics up to the more technical stuff.

There are two sessions on the day, one at 10.30am and another at 1pm, and each one runs for an hour and a half. It's Pay What You Decide, with a suggested donation of around £7.50 per person and a free ticket option available, so you can give what you're comfortable with. The venue is Oxford Westgate Library on Queen Street, OX1 1PE, right in the centre of town.