The British Science Association (BSA) has today (25 June) unveiled the and opened bookings for the . This year’s line-up is notable for its diverse and entertaining programme of events.
Held in partnership with the , the Festival will transform Coventry and Warwickshire into a celebration of science and culture from Tuesday 10 – Friday 13 September. Events have been curated to highlight the region’s strength in digital technologies, smart cities and the future of energy and healthcare.
Highlights of this year’s programme include:
Events to challenge and provoke
Hear from the Chief Investigator of the Russian doping scandal in Chasing elite cheats, see celebrity chef Jack Monroe about how they’re Tackling food poverty, explore the future of cancer’s diagnosis, treatment and ultimately patient survival in AI for Cancer, cross cultural and political divides in Love your enemy, and delve into Louis Theroux’s most recent documentary topic in Childbirth broke my brain.
Immersive and interactive experiences
Experience Holotronica, a live 3D show with a retro-futuristic synesthetic trip that merges sound and colour frequencies, hop into the automatically-driven Festival carpool, don a blindfold and take A dark tour of the Universe, and create your own perfect tea blend with real and “virtual” flavours in Time for tea.
Showcasing local places, spaces and people
Listen to a unique music performance from the talented Coull Quartet in Immersed in sound waves, share the joy of food with the Cook together, Eat together over 55s cooking club, hear from a pool of talented LGBT+ researchers from the University of Warwick in Out Thinkers, and grab your friends for a drink at the end-of-the-Festival FarGo Village takeover, filled with comedy, workshops and even an escape room.
And for something a bit different…
Comprehend the politics of an alien invasion with Close encounters of a political kind, listen to Roger Highfield In conversation with Konnie Huq – Blue Peter’s longest-serving female presenter, laugh along at the part stand-up comedy, part science show Dark Matter, discuss mortality at pop-up installation The Departure Lounge, and get dirty in our Mud kitchen.
These great events are among 100 free others from top scientists, artists, performers, academics and local community groups.
The BSA’s Ivvet Modinou, Director of the British Science Festival, said: “This year’s programme has shaped up wonderfully and we’re really proud of the great selection of events on offer. Local stories are at the heart of the Festival, showcasing the world-class research that’s impacting on a national and international level.
“It also draws out the breadth and diversity of science by touching on all corners of culture and society, providing something for everybody to enjoy. We look forward to bringing the Festival to Coventry and Warwickshire later this year and welcoming all our Festival-goers with experiences that will surprise, delight, and challenge.”
The programme covers topics one may not usually associate with science, demonstrating the breadth of science and the impact it has on everyone’s life. The organisers have put special emphasis on the fun, thought-provoking, and societal aspects of science, to show that it’s not just confined to laboratories, but something that’s all around us.
Partnerships
The British Science Festival this year is being well-supported by leading businesses and industry groups from Coventry and Warwickshire and the wider West Midlands region. Jaguar Land Rover have today been announced as sponsors, joining Cadent and Lubrizol as the Principal Partners of the Festival.
Professor Stuart Croft, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Warwick, said: “We are delighted that industry leaders Jaguar Land Rover, Cadent, Lubrizol, and Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership are supporting us in putting on a must-see event in our city and region. We look forward to welcoming members of the public, businesses and researchers from across the region, the UK and further afield to our campus to learn more about our research, the breadth of the Midlands’ technological skills and to build a legacy for public engagement with science and engineering across the region.”
Family Day
Immediately following the Festival, on Saturday 14 September, the University of Warwick will be hosting an extra special Family Day. Aimed at families from Coventry and Warwickshire, especially children up to the age of 11, the event will be a jam-packed day of discovery and exploration. The university’s campus will be overtaken with dozens of stalls, workshops, talks, performances and much more.
Highlights include YouTube filmmaker and BAFTA-winning children’s presenter, Maddie Moate, who will be taking audiences on a journey through the solar system; alongside dinosaur discovery, mosaic making, pottery, and interactive maths.
The Family Day is delivered by the University of Warwick in association with Jaguar Land Rover.
