• British Science Festival will host a selection of free evening events in popular city venues
• Held in partnership with the University of Warwick, the British Science Festival will transform Coventry and Warwickshire into a celebration of science and culture from Tuesday 10 – Friday 13 September

This year’s British Science Festival won’t just be confined to the University of Warwick, as researchers take their cutting edge science into the heart of Coventry with a selection of evening events in some of the city’s most popular venues.

From Coventry Cathedral to FarGo Village, the British Science Association will showcase the wonders of science right on your doorstep in partnership with the University of Warwick from 10 – 13 September.

All tickets are completely free, although space for some events is limited, so booking is recommended. More information about each event and ticket bookings can be found at: www.britishsciencefestival.org

Are you ready to put down roots in Coventry city centre as you join us at The Botanist: late night garden for the first night of the British Science Festival? Experience the natural world as you explore an exciting range of drop-ins, whilst enjoying live music and delicious refreshments in the spectacular surroundings of a secret garden on Tuesday 10 September 10 from 6pm – 10pm.

In her award-winning book Inferior, and the latest Superior, journalist Angela Saini tackles the issues surrounding bias in research and the misuse of science for political ends, both in history and today. Join her on Tuesday 10 September 10 from 7pm – 8pm at St Mary's Guildhall as she reflects on some of the conversations the books have kickstarted across the country and on social media in A journey from Inferior to Superior.

Celebrity chef Jack Monroe has become a champion for cooking on a budget. Self-taught out of necessity, Jack has raised awareness of the challenge of healthy eating whilst living on a low income. Join Jack and guests at Coventry Cathedral on Wednesday 11 September from 7-8pm to discuss how social stigma doesn’t help the situation and how cities like Coventry are Tackling Food Poverty.

In Staging the Future, sci-fi playwrights Thomas Eccleshare, Ella Road and Jon Spooner discuss the role theatre can have in sparking important conversations about the future of science, technology and their impacts on society. Taking place at The Albany Theatre on Thursday 12 September from 5–6pm and followed by the comedic sci-fi play, Signals.

The Festival will come to a close with a takeover of FarGo Village on Friday 13 September with a host of free activities from 5pm to 10pm. From holograms, to comedy, mind-reading technology to a mud kitchen for adults (plus so much more), grab a drink and all your friends to help us see the Festival out with a bang.

Among the highlights are:

• In Where there’s dirt, there’s danger?, Sophie Greenway from the University of Warwick takes you on a journey through history to discover why we need to reconsider our own ideas about dirt if we are to make the changes necessary to care for our planet.
• The Holotronica Live 3D show is a retro-futuristic synesthetic trip, merging sound and colour frequencies that feel as if they are jumping off screen, close enough to touch. Developed by Stuart Warren-Hill, the show comes to the British Science Festival for the first time.
• In an image obsessed world, where photos can be edited at the touch of a button, it is increasingly difficult to tell what is real and fake. Being able to distinguish between truth and lies in photography is important, but why? Find out more in Doctored memories featuring University of Warwick psychologist Kim Wade. Find out more in the video below:

Jane Furze, Director of Public Engagement at the University of Warwick, said: “Not only will our campus be buzzing with talks, demonstrations and activities all week during the British Science Festival, Coventry city centre will also play host at a range of fantastic venues and locations and we hope that our friends and neighbours in the city will find plenty to enjoy amongst these evening events that are taking place right on their doorstep.”

The BSA’s Ivvet Modinou, Director of the British Science Festival, said: “As well as things happening on campus, we’re also taking the Festival to Coventry city centre, bringing theatre performances, debates, art workshops, street food and even a science-themed escape room!

“Science touches all of society and we’re really proud to show this off in our programme of city-based events, which visitors will be able to enjoy completely free of charge. I can’t wait to see you all there”

Each year, the British Science Festival brings a diverse programme of over a hundred talks, debates, performances and activities to a different host city and region. Between Tuesday 10 and Friday 13 September 2019, the public will be able to attend events across the city of Coventry and on the University of Warwick campus, all for free. It will be immediately followed by a Family Day on the University of Warwick campus on Saturday 14 September.

The British Science Festival’s visit to the region is being strongly supported by industry leaders including Cadent, Jaguar Land Rover, Lubrizol, CityFibre, Vodafone Gigafast Broadband and the regional Local Enterprise Partnerships, Coventry & Warwickshire LEP and Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP.

Immediately following the Festival, on Saturday 14 September, the University of Warwick will be hosting an extra special Family Day. Aimed at families from Coventry and Warwickshire, especially children up to the age of 11, the event will be a jam-packed day of discovery and exploration. For more information, visit: www.warwick.ac.uk/familydays 

Ends

Notes to editors:

A video on Dr Kim Wade’s research for Doctored Memories is online here: https://youtu.be/x75rQTRMiiA 

About the British Science Festival  

The British Science Festival is one of Europe’s largest science festivals and regularly attracts hundreds of the UK’s top scientists and speakers to discuss the latest developments in science with the public.

Working in partnership with the University of Warwick and other organisations in the Coventry and Warwickshire region, the Festival will entertain an audience of non-specialist adults with a broad interest in science, delivering 100 specially curated events. Over 15,000 visitors attend the talks, workshops, performances and activities.

The Festival has been the stage for many iconic moments in history – such as the famous debate on Darwin’s controversial theory of evolution between Thomas Huxley and the Bishop of Oxford in 1860. It also saw the first use of the word ‘scientist,’ in 1834. The origins of the Festival, previously known as the annual meeting, can be traced back to York, in 1831.

The Festival takes place at a different location each year. The 2019 Festival will take place from 10 – 13 September, hosted by the University of Warwick.

Registration is free for journalists and gets you access to all the events. For further information, visit www.britishsciencefestival.org @BritishSciFest #BSF19   

About the British Science Association 

The British Science Association (BSA) believes that science should be part of – rather than set apart from – society and culture and is owned by the wider community. Our programmes encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to engage with science, become ambassadors for science, and ultimately to be empowered to challenge and influence British science - whether they work in science or not.  Established in 1831, the BSA is a registered charity that organises major initiatives across the UK, including British Science Week, the annual British Science Festival, regional and local events, the CREST Awards and other programmes for young people in schools and colleges. The BSA also organises specific activities for professional science communicators, including a specialist conference and training. For more information, please visit www.britishscienceassociation.org 

About the University of Warwick

The University of Warwick is one of the world’s leading research institutions, ranked in the UK’s top 10 and world top 60 universities. Since its foundation in 1965 Warwick has established a reputation of scientific excellence, through the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine (which includes WMG and the Warwick Medical School). A global university, Warwick was named in the top 20 of the Times Higher Education’s Most International University rankings and 10 subjects in the QS World University Rankings by subject.

About our Principal Partners

Cadent is the UK’s largest gas distribution network with a 200-year legacy. We are in a unique position to build on strong foundations whilst encouraging the curiosity to think differently and the courage to embrace change. Day to day we continue to operate, maintain and innovate the UK’s largest gas network, transporting gas safely and protecting people in an emergency. Our skilled engineers and specialists remain committed to the communities we serve, working day and night to ensure gas reaches 11 million homes from Cumbria to North London and the welsh borders to East Anglia, to keep your energy flowing.

Cadent manages the national gas emergency service free phone line on behalf of the gas industry - 0800 111 999*

Cadent Gas Ltd is majority owned by a consortium of global investors.

Jaguar Land Rover is the UK’s largest automotive manufacturer, built around two iconic British car brands: Land Rover, the world’s leading manufacturer of premium all-wheel-drive vehicles; and Jaguar, one of the world’s premier luxury sports saloon and sports car marques.

At Jaguar Land Rover, we are driven by a desire to deliver class-leading vehicles, which will provide experiences our customers will love, for life. Our products are in demand around the globe. In 2018 Jaguar Land Rover sold 592,708 vehicles in 128 countries.

We support around 260,000 people through our retailer network, suppliers and local businesses. At heart we are a British company, with two major design and engineering sites, three vehicle manufacturing facilities, an Engine Manufacturing Centre and soon to be opened Battery Assembly Centre. We also have vehicle plants in China, Brazil, India, Austria and Slovakia. We have seven technology hubs, in the UK these are based in Manchester, Warwick (NAIC) and London. Globally these are located in Shannon, Ireland, Portland, USA, Budapest, Hungary and Changshu, China.

We have a portfolio of electrified products across our model range, embracing fully electric, plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid vehicles as well as continuing to offer the latest diesel and petrol engines. From 2020 all new Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles will offer the option of electrification, giving our customers even more choice.

The Lubrizol Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is a market-driven global company that combines complex, specialty chemicals to optimize the quality, performance and value of customers’ products while reducing their environmental impact. It is a leader at combining market insights with chemistry and application capabilities to deliver valuable solutions to customers in the global transportation, industrial and consumer markets. Lubrizol improves lives by acting as an essential partner in our customers’ success, delivering efficiency, reliability or wellness to their end users. Technologies include lubricant additives for engine oils, driveline and other transportation-related fluids, industrial lubricants, as well as additives for gasoline and diesel fuel. In addition, Lubrizol makes ingredients and additives for home care, personal care and skin care products and specialty materials encompassing polymer and coatings technologies, along with polymer-based pharmaceutical and medical device solutions.

With headquarters in Wickliffe, Ohio, Lubrizol owns and operates manufacturing facilities in 17 countries, as well as sales and technical offices around the world. Founded in 1928, Lubrizol has approximately 8,700 employees worldwide. Revenues for 2018 were $6.8 billion. For more information, visit Lubrizol.com.

2 September 2019

For interviews or more information contact:

Peter Thorley
Media Relations Manager (Warwick Medical School and Department of Physics)

Email: peter.thorley@warwick.ac.uk

Tel: +44 (0)24 761 50868

Mob: +44 (0) 7824 540863