With events covering all aspects of science from astronomy to zoology, the Festival invites everyone to explore and discuss science through talks, interactive activities, performances, tours and films. This year, the Festival focuses on the vast amount of data we collect and generate to increase understanding of our world.
During the coming weekend, events take place in the centre of Cambridge with family-friendly drop-in sessions all day at the Guildhall and the David Attenborough Building. On Saturday, the Downing site welcomes everyone to events throughout the site, including Shifting sands, which shows coastal erosion in England through the work of Toby Smith, Artist in Residence at the University of Cambridge Conservation Institute. Meanwhile, the Polar Museum highlights polar survival skills and the latest discoveries in Antarctic science.
The Festival sees the return of Cambridge Hands-On Science (CHaOS) to the New Museums Site with their popular Crash, Bang, Squelch! demos and CHaOS talks. Robogals are also back to help develop computer programming skills through interactive experimentation and discovery.
For the adventurous, attendees can head to the Guildhall for events such as IN.D.N.A Jones and the Big Genetic Data Hunt and Babraham Institute Molecular Explorers, at which visitors can learn about their genetics and discover how DNA analysis sheds light on ageing and health.
To learn how to Train your Robot, about the impact of Big data projects, the future of Our Nuclear World, or to build a model aircraft head to the Mill Lane Lecture Rooms and the University Centre on Saturday. The venues are packed with events and science lectures throughout the day.
On Saturday evening, adults can attend a hands-on session to discover more about science in Cambridge or participate in an experiment that reveals how their eyes move when trying to choose a beer at the Guildhall. While at the Centre for Computing History families can compete in video games, learn about how technology and gaming has changed over the years, and have a go at retro video games. There are a number of performances during the evening too. Comedian Robin Ince asks, why can't I be less wrong? at the Cambridge Union. While over at the Cambridge Junction, there is interactive storytelling and wearable technology in celebration of Ada Lovelace, the world’s first computer programmer.
On Sunday, Rising Stars features presentations from Cambridge’s aspiring young scientists at the Cambridge Science Centre, which also presents a range of hands-on sessions. A series of lectures are held in Lady Mitchell Hall over the course of the day, including A History of Rocketry, which sets off a rocket engine on stage and discusses the history of rockets over the last 2,500 years. The Guildhall and the Plant and Life Sciences Marquee on the Downing site are both reopened for another packed day of demonstrations, stalls and exhibitions.
This year’s Festival promises to ignite curiosity and inspire participants through exciting scientific discoveries. Dr Lucinda Spokes, Science Festival Coordinator, said: “For the 22nd year, the Science Festival has organised a spectacular programme of events that will be of interest to people of all ages and backgrounds. The Festival highlights Cambridge’s innovative scientific work, alongside the interactive and fun favourites that make the Festival so popular each year.
“We are so thankful to the city and community for their support, and to the scientists for their hard work and creativity. This year, the Festival is looking forward to having events throughout the city centre so that as many residents and visitors can get involved as possible. Last year, more than 45,000 visitors participated in all the events, and this year we are hoping to see even more people!”
A number of top events in the second week of the Festival (14- 18 March) include:
14 March – The Ratchet of Science or Curiosity Killed the Cat with Professor Roy Calne explores how science has improved our lives, while also revealing unanticipated consequences of those advancements. In the talk, What is Conservation, a panel examines how we value nature, and how we can best protect it.
15 March – In Curious computing: what's in your loft? Visitors have the chance to come see, share, and show-off the interesting bits of tech that people have worked on, collected or saved from skips – from prototypes to finished products, rare games consoles to old phones running Linux, anything goes! Ewan Birney FRS FMedSci, Director of the European Bioinformatics Institute, explores how genomics and big data – from DNA sequence to high-resolution imaging – present both opportunities and challenges for healthcare in How big data analysis is changing how we understand the living world.
16 March – Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald investigates cancer and diagnosis in Does a Pill on a String Hold the Answer for Earlier Diagnosis of oesophageal Cancer? and Professor Tim Crane and Dr Srivas Chennu ask what it is to be conscious in Brain, Body and Mind: New Directions in The Neuroscience and Philosophy of Consciousness.
17 March – Professor Meg Urry discusses her career in science, astrophysics and galaxies in Do you Have to be a Genius to be an Astrophysicist? Professor Giovanna Mallucci explores the new directions and development of therapies for Alzheimer’s disease in the Treatment of Dementia. And in Knowledge for nature, an expert panel discusses whether the key to effective conservation is collective knowledge.
18 March – In Oceans, the Engine of Our Planet, Dr Helen Czerski looks at the dynamic ocean and its future. While Professor Grant Bigg tells A Tale of Two Icebergs and discusses the changing state of world’s polar ice.
Further information can be found at: www.sciencefestival.cam.ac.uk
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