Cheltenham Science Festival brings fun and learning

Once again, Cheltenham Science Festival brought together an eclectic group of scientists and science communicators with the public in an explosion (quite often literally) of fun and learning.

Celebrity scientists including Robert Winston, Jim Al-Khalili and Alice Roberts could be seen browsing the exhibits. With Carol Vorderman as guest director, Richard Hammond and Science Minister Lord Drayson the weekend was a-buzz with excitement.

This year’s controversial festival theme was ‘heresy’ with some of the talks celebrating the scientists throughout history who risked the stake to advance scientific knowledge. In another events you could learn how curry can slow Alzheimer’s, why superstitious beliefs are part of human nature (Tony Blair always wore the same shoes for Prime Minister’s questions!) or the chemistry that makes a perfect beer. Current hot topics including pandemics, flood defence and climate change were also discussion themes. 

Serbian molecular biologist, Mirko Djordjevic won the International FameLab, the X-Factor of science, by using his three minute slot to shock the audience with the realities of sexual selection including an excerpt from the Bloodhound Gang’s song “You and me baby ain’t nothin’ but mammals, so let’s do it like they do on the Discovery Channel.”

Thrilling talks combined with the chance to get your hands dirty with real science in the exhibition hall is a great opportunity to inspire the next generation of scientists. Local schools visit the festival throughout the week and many more with families over the weekend.

Secretary of state for schools, Ed Balls, said: “Science is one of our country’s great strengths and the jobs of the future are increasingly going to be hi-tech and science based. Exciting experiments can help learning “come alive” and children can learn practical methods and skills and also how to test hypotheses.”

By Leila Sattary