City to Be Laboratory for an Explosion of Science

By BEN SCHOFIELD

ONE OF the largest science festivals in Europe begins in Liverpool today at World Museum Liverpool.

Broadcaster and writer Adam Hart-Davies will start a series of demonstrations, lectures and experiments with a family oriented Science Explosion.

And, next week, some of the world’s leading scientists will present the findings of their latest research in a series of public lectures.

The events are part of the annual British Academy for the Advancement of Science (BA) Festival of Science.

Among the research being discussed are the latest advances in invisibility theories, how forensic linguists are solving crimes by understanding text speak, what The Beatles can tell us about our memories, and how space scientists could help in the fight against climate change.

The BA – which exists to advance the public understanding, accessibility and accountability of the sciences and engineering – have chosen the Liverpool Daily Post as its media partner. We will be running stories on all the big scientific announcements made during the week.

Mr Hart-Davies said his Science Explosion will attempt to capture the imaginations of the children and encourage them to study science. Tonight, he is also due to give a light-hearted presentation called Much Ado About Nothing, at the Everyman Theatre.

He added: "It’s about the history of the vacuum. Nothing about nothing.

"We’ll get in vacuum cleaners, a thermos flask.

"It’ll be for kids of all ages, from nine to 95."

At the Science Explosion – which will run today and tomorrow from 10am to 4pm – families are being invited to walk with robots, turn detective in a hands-on crime scene investigation and search for dinosaur fossils on a beach.

Other events today include:

The Science Butlers – street artists wheeling around the city with trolleys full of surprises;

Ponds and Climate – a tour of the Ness Botanic Gardens, Wirral, exploring the science they support, starting at 11am;

The physics of sport – Bend it like Beckham; explaining what part science plays in sport.

Lecture Theatre B, ULRB, University of Liverpool from 11am until 1pm;

The Science of Superheroes – taking a trip into the world of superheroes to put comic-book characters under the microscope.

At The Arts Centre, Liverpool Community College, Myrtle Street, from 2pm.

On Wednesday, fertility expert Professor Lord Robert Winston will join culture supremo Phil Redmond and anthropologist Robin Dunbar in a debate about the role science plays in culture.

Speaking about the University of Liverpool’s involvement, Vice- Chancellor Professor Sir Howard Newby said: "It is a fitting venue, given the number of scientific discoveries underpinning modern life that the University of Liverpool can lay claim to.

"We look forward to an exciting Festival that will further confirm Liverpool as a global player in the advancement of science."

FOR more details and a full list of the week’s events, click on www.theba.net/festivalofscience

(c) 2008 Daily Post; Liverpool. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.