Science gets in the festival spirit

For all those that didn’t make this years Cheltenham Science Festival, our girl on the ground Leila Sattary gives us the catch-up.

The 2008 Cheltenham Science Festival has enjoyed its most successful year to date. With an interesting mix of hands on events and talks that stretched the full breadth of science the festival boasted something to interest everyone.

This year the festival was noted for braving some taboo topics from whether brain scanners could be used to predict our choices to the history of the vibrator. The event which ran from the 4-8th of June in Cheltenham Town Hall was bursting with hands-on exhibits from universities and industry as well as famous names like Richard Dawkins, Tony Robinson and Richard Hammond presenting talks.

Lord Robert Winston, the famous presenter of the successful TV documentary ‘Child of Our Time’ could be found perusing the exhibits and eagerly listening from the front row at talks. He said Cheltenham Science festival was “undeniably and undoubtedly the best science festival in this country, and one that only gets better.” With a 20% rise in ticket sales to 19,000 the festival is going from strength to strength.

By addressing societal issues like health, environment, crime and nanotechnology the festival effectively engaged the public with the challenges that scientists face while also conveying the basic science through fun and interactive shows.
With giant molecular models decorating the ceiling of the hall and enthusiastic scientists sparking fascination the hope is that the festival will go some small way to getting the public, and particularly young people, more interested in science.
By Leila Sattary