• NEW EVENTS ADDED: the British Science Festival reveals an extra evening of fun free events, adding an entire night of sport-themed activities to this year’s line-up
• Dance classes, debut performances and lots of food and drinks will celebrate Coventry’s title as European City of Sport 2019

The British Science Association (BSA) and the University of Warwick have today (12 August 2019) announced an extra evening of events at British Science Festival. Late night fitness: raising the bar will take place on Wednesday 11 September in a free takeover of the Sports and Wellness Hub on campus at the University of Warwick.

Highlights include:

• Stunt training: do you have what it takes?

Hollywood stuntman Jack Jagodka will put visitors through their paces to see if they could make it as a stunt person on the big screen.

• Chasing elite cheats

The chief investigator at the heart of the infamous Russian doping scandal reveals all in this first-hand account of one of sport’s biggest ever enquiries.

• Love life of the sea slug

See this intimate, debut performance from artist Emily Scaife, in collaboration with Flatpack Festival, which uses stunning audio and visuals to explore the unusual mating behaviour of sea slugs.

• Get up and dance

Learn the art of Persian dance with dancer/choreographer Shahrzad Khorsandi and dancer/psychologist Julia F Christensen.

• Underwater orca-stra

Unleash your inner Jacques Cousteau and dive into the pool to listen in to the sounds of whales, as they may sound in the sea.

Whether you’re raring to unleash your inner Olympian, or just want to chill out and take in the good vibes on the veranda with food and friends, there’s something for everyone. The full line-up for Late night fitness: raising the bar can be seen here: britishsciencefestival.org/event/late-night-fitness-raising-the-bar

These events join over a hundred others throughout the week, including Tackling food poverty with celebrity chef Jack Monroe, The Sky at Night: Question Time, Perfect Bodies with Professor Alice Roberts and In Conversation with Konnie Huq.

British Science Festival Director, Ivvet Modinou, said: “We’re delighted to add this evening of sport-themed events to the Festival’s stellar line-up, giving the people of Coventry and Warwickshire a whole new way to engage with science through their hobbies and interests.

“We’ve curated the programme so that all tastes and interests are catered for. Visitors will have the chance to hear whale noises while submerged in the pool, find out how to improve their cycling performance, and have a go at Persian dancing, amongst many other free activities. We look forward to welcoming everyone to this event and others at the 2019 British Science Festival.”

Lisa Dodd-Mayne, Director of Sport & Active Communities at the University of Warwick, said: “This is a great opportunity for our local community to learn some fascinating science, while experiencing the world-class facilities of our newly opened Sport and Wellness Hub. The Hub plays a central role in our goal of being the most active campus community in the UK by 2020 and there will be plenty here to inspire you to try something new, or just to learn something you never knew about your own health and wellbeing.”

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.

Ends/… 

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.

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

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.

4. 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 and an engine manufacturing centre in the UK. We also have plants in China, Brazil, India, Austria and Slovakia.

From 2020 all new Jaguar Land Rover vehicles will offer the option of electrification, giving our customers even more choice. We will introduce 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.

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.

12 August 2019

For press enquiries, please contact:

Jess Rowley, PR Officer, British Science Association
jessica.rowley@britishscienceassociation.org
Tel: 020 7019 4953 | 07585 722 757

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