The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Dundee Science Festival
Various venues, Dundee, October 6-21
Just in time for the October holidays, the Dundee Science Festival returns for its ninth year of explosive events designed to entertain and inspire.
Venues, including Dundee Science Centre and local community centres will host exciting and accessible events created with families in mind. Paul Strachan of Dundee Science Centre, who has co-ordinated the festival since 2016, said: “Dundee Science festival started in 2010 when it aimed to celebrate Dundee as a city of science and innovation and establish science as an aspect of culture, alongside arts and heritage. Over the years, by working with a growing number of partners, Dundee Science Festival has become a staple festival in the Dundee calendar.”
He believes the festival’s strong community links are a cause for celebration, adding: “Throughout the development of the last couple of science festivals, we have worked with local community groups and organisations to create events that are accessible and engaging for everyone. Working closely with these groups has really affected how I think about and develop a festival programme. I have loved working with them and have learned a huge amount.
“Dundee Science Festival always starts with the local community and local people. The festival should, and always will, be led by local interests and needs.”
Look out for a glimpse into the incredible world of keyhole surgery at the Marvellous Medicine event on October 6 and 7. Visitors can try their hand at keyhole surgery and see inside the human body. Experts who work at the cutting edge of science will deliver fascinating activities linked to the Science Centre’s new Medical Marvels exhibition.
Paul is looking forward to the centre’s evening events, on October 10 (Danger! High Voltage!) and 17 (The Big Bang Show). “These shows are going to involve loads of chemistry experiments, electricity, audience participation and just general good fun. They are going to be pretty explosive!” he says.
If you don’t have a budding junior scientist to take along to an event, don’t worry, there is plenty on offer for adults too, with free creative workshops challenging visitors to transform old jewellery into new pieces or experiment with UV light printing.
Events in community hubs, accessible venues or schools aim to inspire people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to engage with science. “Dundee Science Centre is a registered charity with a remit for education and lifelong learning,” explains Paul. “Dundee Science Festival is very much an extension of this. We aim to provide a high-quality, social venue for learning for the whole community.”