Set sail on a voyage of discovery at Edinburgh Science Festival

SCI-FI writer Isaac Asimov, who put a lot of sci into his fi, once said: “The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.”

Wise words indeed but, give us our due, we are trying to catch up. I’m not saying we are all scientists now, but science has never been more popular among the masses – that’s you, that is – with popular magazines crowding the shelves and television documentaries attracting millions of viewers.

I believe, on the basis of combined intuition and astrology, that this is because science is about the future. It is, by its very nature, optimistic. And of course much of it now looks towards ooter space, where many of us will live one day, wearing big puffy suits and leaping aboot in a peculiar manner.

Back here on the planet Earth, the Edinburgh International Science Festival once more ventures forth on a voyage of discovery, and everyone is invited to any of more than 270 events at various venues across the city.

Discussions, workshops, performances, screenings, special events and exhibitions will feature everything from sciencethemed parties to experiments with food. Visitors can check out the science of cocktails, evolution and algebra. But, if that’s all geek to you, opportunities will be provided to ponder ways of improving our lives through better health, well-being and understanding of the human condition, ken?

A major focus of this year’s festival is Our Built Environment, which looks at the spaces we humans make for ourselves, from the first forest shelters to Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia.

Greening the City is one theme, and there’s an opportunity to “think small” too, not just as urban environments get more crowded.

Yon big thinker Confucius said there were three ways to learn wisdom: “First by reflection, which is noblest; second by imitation, which is easiest; third by experience, which is bitterest.” And fourth by getting yourself along to this festival, which is the most fun.

Week Ahead

www.sciencefestival.co.uk has full details of the events, which run from March 26 to April 10.