Flip Flops, Flying Frogs and Bee Cafes
March 2009
3,500 events taking place for National Science and Engineering Week (6th-15th March)
Friday 6th March sees the start of National Science and Engineering Week, one of the biggest public science events in the world.
Around 1.5million people of all ages will attend over 3,500 events across the country, which will include stand-up comedy, concerts, talks and tours. Topics range from the serious to the surreal and include an in-depth discussion on how to levitate frogs, the pros and cons of DNA profiling and the renaissance of the bedbug.
The British Science Association will launch three new national activities, which invite the public to share their hopes, fears and observations about ‘change’, this year’s theme, or make change happen themselves:
The Change Exchange
The Change Exchange will provide a compelling snapshot of our attitudes towards science, engineering and society. What do you think about stem cell research? What do you think of the Severn Barrage? How does the media portray science? Get answers, direct, from scientists and engineers – the people making change happen.
Science and Innovation Minister Lord Drayson will be taking part, along with celebrated handbag designer Anya Hindmarch, and comedian Ben Miller, both ambassadors of the Science: [So What? So Everything] campaign. The forum can be found at www.changeexchange.org.uk
The Climate Change Blog
Whether you’re wearing your flip flops longer in the year or you’ve noticed your bulbs bloom earlier, blog your real-life observations on the Climate Change Diary and contribute to a unique anecdotal investigation of how climate change is affecting people in the UK. The study is being conducted in partnership with the Bristol Natural History Consortium.Visit: www.ukclimatediary.co.uk to take part.
Save Our Bees
Native British bees are dying out at a rate of 30% per year, which will have serious implications for the UK food industry. National Science and Engineering Week’s ‘Save Our Bees’ campaign urges people to help boost honey bee numbers by planting bee-friendly plants – to create ‘bee cafes’ - during the Week and beyond. Register at www.saveourbees.org.uk.
Sir Roland Jackson, Chief Executive of the British Science Association said: “The starting point for scientific research is often a basic curiosity about how things work. We all have this impulse in us so it is especially fitting that this year’s National Science and Engineering Week sees the launch of the Change Exchange, which anyone can contribute to. The theme of change is an important one because it goes to the heart of what science and engineering are all about. Some find this exciting, others may feel threatened. The Change Exchange is a unique opportunity for people to share their views and hear directly from the experts.“
National Science and Engineering Week is coordinated by the British Science Association in partnership with the Engineering and Technology Board (ETB) and is funded by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). Save Our Bees is sponsored by Rowse Honey.
Lord Drayson, Minister for Science and Innovation said: “The theme of change in National Science and Engineering Week is very apt as we celebrate Darwin’s 200th anniversary. Darwin’s theories of evolutionary change were mind-blowing in his day, but changing perceptions and challenging theories are still very much a key part of modern science.
“NSEW offers a fantastic opportunity for everyone to discover science and engineering through national events and online forums. The Change Exchange web forum I will be taking part in is one great example of this.”
Last year over 1.4 million people took part in over 3,500 events across the UK, a 650,000 increase on the previous year.
Visit www.nsew.org.uk for a full programme of events.
For more information see our News and Events section.
