The British Science Association and University of Warwick announce new partnership for 2019

The British Science Association and University of Warwick are pleased to announce that the British Science Festival in 2019 will take place in Coventry and Warwickshire, from 10–13 September. Working in partnership with the University of Warwick, one of the UK’s leading research universities, the British Science Association will bring the four-day event to the region for the first time in its 188-year history. The British Science Festival is one of Europe’s longest-established science festivals, which each year travels to a new part of the UK, bringing a vast array of events, performances and installations with a scientific twist.

Joining forces with the University of Warwick and other organisations across Coventry and beyond, the British Science Festival will shine a light on the cutting-edge innovation taking place in the region.

Ivvet Modinou, Director of the British Science Festival, said: “We are delighted to be bringing the Festival to Coventry and Warwickshire in 2019. The University of Warwick has a fantastic reputation for its research and scientific excellence, and we’re very excited to be working with the University to create a flagship event.

“It seems especially fitting that we will be heading to Coventry next year given that the area will bethe UK City of Culture in three years’ time. Having been hosted by Hull in 2018, in their first legacy year following the success of their City of Culture celebrations, it is a huge privilege for the Festival to again be a milestone event in the run up to Coventry’s City of Culture status in 2021, showing that science really does play a part in the UK’s cultural identity.”

The British Science Festival moves to a different location each year, the first meeting having taken place in York in 1831, and is one of the British Science Association’s leading engagement programmes. This is the first time in the Festival’s history that the event will be hosted in Coventry, and its first visit to the county of Warwickshire.

The British Science Festival Coventry & Warwickshire 2019, will take place between Tuesday 10 and Friday 13 September 2019, and will feature a diverse programme of talks, debates, performances and activities on campus at the University of Warwick and around the city. This will be immediately followed by a one-day family festival on Saturday 14 September, featuring a range of activities and events to suit young children and families, which will be created by the University of Warwick together with local partners.

Stuart Croft, Vice Chancellor of the University of Warwick, said: “I’m delighted that the University of Warwick will be bringing the British Science Festival to our city and region in 2019. From designing the technology and infrastructure for autonomous vehicles to ground-breaking cancer drugs, and from the latest astrophysics discoveries to new medical treatments – Warwick is a world-leader in science innovation and we look forward to welcoming members of the public, businesses and researchers from across the region, the UK and further afield to our campus to learn more about our research, the breadth of the Midlands’ technological skills and the best of British science.”

The Festival is aimed at an adult audience with a broad but non specialist interest in science, delivering 100 events, specially curated by the British Science Association. World-leading academics from the University of Warwick and other institutions and organisations across the UK will present, discuss and debate cutting-edge science from across the scientific disciplines together with its impact on wider society, at a range of different events, talks and performances.

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. Since then it has travelled the globe, including visits to Montreal and Australia.

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Notes to Editors:

1. 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. Over 15,000 visitors attend the talks, discussions and workshops. Registration is free for journalists and gets you access to hundreds of events. The Festival takes place at a different location each year. The British Science Festival in 2019 will take place in Coventry and Warwickshire, from 10–13 September hosted by the University of Warwick. For further information, visit www.britishsciencefestival.org @BritishSciFest 

2. 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

3. 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.

For press enquiries, please contact:

Peter Dunn, Director of Press and Media Relations, University of Warwick

Tel office: 024 76523708- UK

+44 (0)24 76523708 - International

Mobile/Cell:07767 655860 - UK

+44 (0)7767 655860 - International

Email: p dot j dot dunn at warwick dot ac dot uk

Twitter @peterjdunn

Jess Rowley, PR Officer, British Science Association

Email: jessica dot rowley at britishscienceassociation dot org

Tel: 020 7019 4953