First Nottingham Science Festival to kick off with a bang!

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17/03/2010

A slime workshop, the science behind chocolate and a chance to come face-to-face with creepy crawlies will all feature at Nottingham's first ever science festival on 19 and 20 March at Wollaton Hall.

Taking place during the East Midlands Innovation Festival (iFestival), the Nottingham Science Festival aims to encourage budding scientists to discover the wonders of science and how it is applied to everyday life. The two-day event has been organised by the Nottinghamshire branch of the British Science Association, and is supported by Nottingham Science City and Nottingham City Council.

Students from local primary schools will take part in a series of three workshops on the Friday 19 March, including slime chemistry, exploring invertebrates and pedal power, where students can learn about renewable energy and try out a pedal-powered sound system and bubble machine.

On Saturday 20 March, the science festival is open to anyone between 11am to 4pm. Highlights include interactive talks with Dr Audrey Matthew from De Montfort University, where delegates will learn about the history of chocolate and the science behind the chocolate making process. There will also be a discussion on astrochemistry entitled Chemistry in Space, led by Dr June McCombie from the University of Nottingham.

Visitors can also get involved with a number of exciting science projects, which include a vet school lambing simulator, making a genetic code bracelet and building a solar powered car.
 
Sarah Pierce, festival coordinator and British Science Association Nottinghamshire Branch Committee Member, said: "Science is not all lab coats and bench-work and I hope the activities on offer at the Nottingham Science Festival will really excite people and show the diversity of work that falls under the banner of 'science'. Hopefully this mini festival is only the start of what will become a big annual event for our region."

For more information on the event, and how to register please contactinfo@nottinghamsciencefestival.co.uk.

Further information on the event and the participating support services is also available athttp://www.eminnovation.org.uk/ifestival.  

-ENDS-

Issued on behalf of the iFestival by Lava. For further information contact Matt, Louise or Steph at Lava on 01522 842 800 /matt@lavapr.co.uk/louise@lavapr.co.uk/steph@lavapr.co.uk

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Notes to Editors:

The Nottingham Science Festival is supported by the University of Nottingham, Nottingham City Council, Nottingham Science City and the East Midlands Innovation Festival (iFestival).

About the iFestival

• The iFestival is region-wide and takes place between 12th March and 23rd April 2010. Building on the success of 2009, the fourth annual iFestival will encompass an inspiring, inclusive programme of events, designed to help foster a culture of innovation in the region with activity targeted at young people, businesses, communities and organisations supporting or involved within an innovation environment. Innovation is regarded as a key driver in creating a dynamic, knowledge focused East Midlands' economy and it is identified as a strategic priority in the Regional Economic Strategy.

• Improved productivity in an increasingly competitive global market means that businesses and organisations in the East Midlands must put innovation at the heart of their core activities, if they are to flourish and stay ahead of the game.  The iFestival is being co-ordinated by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and East Midlands Innovation - The Regional Science and Industry Council. For further information including the latest programme of events and innovation updates please visit:www.eminnovation.org.uk

About East Midlands Development Agency

· East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England, set up in 1999 to bring a regional focus to economic development.

Ten years on, independent evaluation showsemdahas:

Had a significant impact on the region's economy

Generated economic benefits that substantially outweigh its overall costs

Put back over £9 of economic output (or GVA) into the regional economy for every £1 it spends

Produced more than £1 billion in economic benefits per year 

 A wider impact on people, places and businesses in the East Midlands that cannot be captured by figures alone.

• emdais committed to supporting the region through the current downturn and has put in place a range of measures to provide real help during these challenging times.

· Over the long term,emda's aim is to deliver the 2006 Regional Economic Strategy (RES) by working in partnership with public, private and voluntary organisations. The RES highlights the themes of productivity, sustainability and equality and sets out key priorities until 2020 to ensure the vision for 'a flourishing region' can be achieved.

• For more details visitwww.emda.org.uk

About East Midlands Innovation

• East Midlands Innovation is the region's innovation council, which was established in 2005 by emda. East Midlands Innovation's principle responsibility is to guide emda's investment in innovation support to help achieve the objectives of the RES. Its members are drawn from and represent business, research and the public sector.

• For more details visitwww.eminnovaton.org.uk

Nottingham Science Festival event programme

Events on Friday will include:

Workshops

· In the Insect Gallery, the Exploring Invertebrates workshop will allow students to learn about invertebrate diversity as they get the chance to meet a tarantula and a giant hissing cockroach. The workshop will be led by Dr Kate Durrant, University of Nottingham School of Biology

· The Slime Chemistry workshop, led by Dr Sam Tang from the University of Nottingham School of Chemistry, will give students the chance to make their own slime as they learn about polymers and will take place in the Education room.

• Run by Dr Matthew Little from Re-Education, Nottingham, the Pedal Power workshop in the Yard Gallery will teach students about renewable energy and event allow them to road test a pedal-powered sound system and a pedal-powered bubble machine.   By Design will also have some sports science equipment for people to try in this room.

The Great Hall exhibits will include:

· University of Nottingham Technology Demonstrator - check out the newest inventions from the University of Nottingham

· University of Nottingham vet school lambing simulator

· 'The wonders of our world' (earthquake table, lightning generator and more!), Centre for Effective Learning in Science, Nottingham Trent University

• Wildlife detective activity, Nottingham Trent University

Natural History Museum - Open to the public

Industrial Museum - Open to the public

There will also be presentation in the Willoughby Room from 12pm-1pm, where students will showcase their 'Enterprising Engineering for a Greener Future' project, turning used cooking oil into bio-diesel.

Events on Saturday will include:

Willoughby Room (interactive talks):

· The Science of Chocolate, 1pm, Dr Audrey Matthew

• Chemistry in Space, 3pm, Dr June McCombie

The Great Hall exhibits will include:

· University of Nottingham Technology Demonstrator

· Vet school lambing simulator

· DNA/making a genetic code bracelet

· Open Air Laboratories (OPAL)

• Physics busking

Insect Gallery:
• Exploring Invertebrates exhibit

Yard Gallery:
• Building solar powered cars

Outside:
• OPAL lichen survey

Industrial Museum - Open to public

Natural History Museum

· Open to public

• Tours at 12 and 2 (includes Willoughby Room)

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