The public science festival, Pint of Science, is coming to Coventry for the first time this year, with experts from the Universities of Warwick and Coventry talking about their research work in a selection of pubs and venues around the city.

● Head down to your local pub to hear talks on everything from making sunscreen to levitating diamonds
● More than 30 scientists to appear in city watering holes, as the world's largest festival of public science talks arrives in Coventry
● Coventry to join nearly 300 cities around the world taking part in this global festival from the 14 – 16 May
● Tickets on sale from 9 April at pintofscience.co.uk/events/coventry

Monday 9 April 2018: Tickets are launched today for the world’s largest festival of public science talks, which will see 35 scientists from Warwick and Coventry universities take to the stage in pubs and venues across Coventry.

As part of the three-day Pint of Science festival, thousands of scientists around the world will speak about their research. In nearly 300 cities across 21 countries, members of the public will have the chance to ask them questions. The festival brings a unique line up of talks, demonstrations and live experiments to the nation’s favourite locals.

Researchers from the Universities of Warwick and Coventry will appearing at the Twisted Barrel, Drapers Bar, The Pheonix and Shopfront Theatre between 14 and 16 May, talking about, among other things, the physics of rollercoasters; finding new sunscreens; how to hide a panda and what time of day you should take paracetamol. The scientists will also cover the behaviour of the sun, ice, diamonds, batteries, healthcare, measuring natural disasters, our hearts, brains and emotions, the life of a fly, the potential destruction of the universe and much more.

Included in the exciting and thought provoking talks in Coventry this year are:

Future spies: man or machine? Professor Richard Aldrich talks about the changing world of secret intelligence. He’ll examine the impact of technology and globalization upon security and surveillance activities, exploring the likely future pathways over the next ten years. With the prevalence of the internet, social media and platform capitalism, he asks, will the next James Bond be a machine?

Bad Bugs, No Drugs: Microbiologist, Professor Chris Dowson, talks about the potential medical time-bomb of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics have been the greatest medical discovery of the 20th century, underpinning most of modern medical practice. But their overuse – and misuse – in human medicine and in agriculture, has led to a growing number of bacteria that are now resistant to these ‘wonder drugs’. Exacerbating this, most pharmaceutical companies are no longer interested in discovering new effective replacements. Chris will discuss how we have got to this point, and what might we have left for our children, old age and subsequent generations.

How to translate an invented language: The famous novel ‘A Clockwork Orange’ by Anthony Burgess is written in an entirely invented language, called Nadsat. The novel has been translated into over 50 different translations and over 30 languages. But until now no one has questioned how exactly we can translate an invented language, with no inherent organic culture of its own. Dr Benet Vincent and Dr Jim Clarke have been leading an international research project to discover how this invented language has been handled, and have found Anthony Burgess was a very clever linguist.

Full listings and tickets are available at pintofscience.co.uk/events/coventry. Tickets cost £4.

Alison Phillips, engagement co-ordinator from the University of Warwick, said: “Pint of Science is an exciting opportunity for researchers from Warwick and Coventry to tell their research story to a Coventry audience, and for the general public to hear about developments straight from the laboratory.

“There is some incredible work going on at both universities. Much of the research is ground-breaking and will have an impact on people’s lives, so it’s great to let the people of the city know what we’re up to and for the audience to hear the story direct from the scientist, perhaps over a pint and a packet of crisps.”

Pint of Science was established six years ago by a group of UK-based postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers and has grown into one of the world’s biggest science festivals. The founders, Dr Praveen Paul and Dr Michael Motskin, have brought a personal touch to science, giving everyone the chance to meet the people behind the incredible research taking place across the globe.

"There is so much fascinating research happening right under our noses that we don't know about” says festival co-founder Dr Paul. “Some can get lost in translation leading to fake news. Pint of Science allows people direct access to inspiring scientists and encourages open discussion, all in the most familiar of British places, the pub! Scientists drink pints too - they really aren't that different!"

“It's great to see this enthusiasm for knowledge shared across the world - this year Pint of Science will be taking place in nearly 300 cities and 21 countries!”

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Notes to editors:

Pint of Science is a non-profit organisation coordinated by a small central team who work alongside volunteers predominantly based within the various participating universities. A bit of background on the team can be found here - http://pintofscience.co.uk/team/

The 2018 programme will see UK talks held in: Bath, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cambridge Cardiff, Durham, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Guildford, Hull, Kent, Leeds, Liverpool, London Manchester, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxford, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Southampton and York; and new for 2018 – Coventry, Colchester, Sunderland, Swansea, Stirling and Reading. Whilst every science evening during the festival is unique, each will include at least two experts presenting their research.

Imperial College London awarded Pint of Science the "President's Inspirational Partner Award for Excellence in Societal Engagement" in June 2017 and Pint of Science was awarded Points of Light by the UK Prime Minister in November 2015.

Hindawi have generously supported Pint of Science 2018, for more information on our partners please visit our website https://pintofscience.co.uk/partners/

For press information contact:

Andrea Cullis
Media relations manager
University of Warwick
E: a.cullis@warwick.ac.uk
DD: 02476 528050
M: 07825 314874