Cambridge Science Festival is celebrating its 25th year and runs from 11 – 24 March, this year exploring the theme of “Discovery”. Hosting over 350 events, it will investigate a range of issues that affect our world today, from challenges around climate change policy, improving safety and quality in healthcare and adolescent mental health and will take a look at what the next 25 years holds for us.
There’s a packed schedule with events for all ages, most of which are free and which range from debates, talks, exhibitions, workshops, interactive activities, films, comedy and performances, all held in lecture theatres, museums, cafés and galleries around the city.
An enthusiastic audience clocks up over 60,000 visits to Festival events each year to explore the world of science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine. Run by the University of Cambridge, the Festival draws together independent organisations as well as University departments, centres and museums.
Significant scientific milestones to celebrate in 2019 include the 200th anniversary of Cambridge Philosophical Society (Cambridge’s oldest scientific society) and 150 years since the publication of the modern Periodic Table. This year’s Cambridge Gravity lecture will be presented by Sir Gregory Winter, a molecular biologist and 2018 Nobel Laureate, whose research has led to antibody therapies for cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
Events for children and families include “Hands-On Science” at Cambridge Science Centre with fun workshops that encourage creative thinking and which will lead to some inspiring scientific and engineering memories, “Moonwatch” at the Institute of Astronomy and “Little Explorers: Ice and Anti-Freeze”, a sensory story session at the Polar Museum for the under 5s with storyteller, Marion Leeper. Dr Tom Crawford will bring the history of maths to life, with the aid of live experiments and togas, in “It’s all Greek to me!” while Channel 4 presenter, Dr Hugh Hunt, plays with blocks, balls, bikes and boomerangs in “An engineer plays with toys”.
Events that are going in my diary include a talk from Jesus College Intellectual Forum on “Is technology making us miserable?”, “Gene eating: The truth about diets” with Dr Giles Yeo on how to break the cycle of pseudoscience and misinformation about dieting and “Truffle Hunt” in the Botanic Garden. You can don your dancing shoes to celebrate the Festival opening at a ceilidh and wrap up the festivities with “Sunday Papers Live”, a sociable mix of food, newspapers and science.
Download and browse the full Science Festival programme at www.sciencefestival.cam.ac.uk. You can pre book events through the website or via the Festival booking phone line on 01223 766766.
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