The world’s largest festival of public science talks is returning to Edinburgh from the 18th to the 20th of May this year! More than 42 leading scientists are set to trade their labs for your local pub, relocating to over seven watering holes through the city during the two days.
The Pint of Science festival hosts events in over 500 cities across the world, presenting science-related events each night. The concept is simple: researchers present their work with the formalities of academia stripped away, aiming to encourage open discussion and engagement between scientists and the public. You and your friends can grab a pint while enjoying a unique line-up of talks, demonstrations, and live experiments, presented by researchers from Edinburgh’s universities for just £5.
The topics that will be brought to Edinburgh are vast in range: laser-based manipulation of neural activity, the science of mental imagery, how scientists are exploring the depths of the universe, and how urban and natural environments affect stress and attention, are amongst the many events. Want to know the difference between people who can vividly conjure up images, and those who cannot? Curious about how environments impact stress, attention and sensory experience? From astronomy to biology, robotics to ecology, your questions will find answers.
This year, Edinburgh’s Pint of Science festival will also invite audiences to take part in the largest ever multi-city pub quiz, competing head to head in fun science-themed trivia.
This non-profit festival was born in 2013, after a successful ‘Meet the Researchers’ event enabled people affected by numerous neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, to meet with scientists to discuss modern research. Founders Dr Praveen Paul and Dr Michael Motskin took inspiration from this event, reconnecting people by sharing the human stories behind scientific discovery. The remarkable growth of the festival, from just three UK cities in 2013 to over 500 this year, suggests that the appetite for science, told simply and in good company, was never confined to the cold halls of academia.
The festival is a great opportunity to learn about science away from the stresses and pressure of university, while also having fun with friends. Tickets are available from April 13th on the Pint of Science website and you can follow them on social media at @pintofscience.
“Pint of Science 2016-05-24 Oxford AI 3047” by Simon Dismore via Wikimedia Commons is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
