Biggest ever Cheltenham Science Festival shares passion for science

What a week Cheltenham Science Festival was!  We enjoyed six days of scientific debate and exploration including events celebrating 50 years since the Apollo moon landing and 150 years of the Periodic Table. World-leading scientists and science communicators talked on topics ranging across mental and physical health, economics, cutting-edge brain research and a look behind the scenes at Britain’s Cyber Security agency.

Hitting the headlines were new research on prostate cancer, sleep apps and plastic waste, while national BBC News recorded an interview with Neil Armstrong’s son Rick for future broadcast in their Apollo 11 special and Jim Al-Khalili recorded an interview for BBCR4’s The Life Scientific with Dutch astronomer Ewine van Dishoeck.

Holst’s statue conducts The Planets at Cheltenham Science Festival’s Orrery, celebrating 50 years since the Apollo moon landing.  Image copyright - www.stillmovingmedia.co.uk

We also enjoyed unique experiences designed to bring science to everyone included the extraordinary Urban Astronaut street theatre in Cheltenham High Street, a late-night Dr Who Rave and award-winning comedy from the Edinburgh Fringe.

7864 pupils and teachers from 92 schools visited the Festival this year for workshops and to explore the six interactive zones. 200 GCSE pupils discovered hidden STEM careers with YouTuber Greg Foot and eight professionals in the world of STEM including presenter Dallas Campbell and guest curator Dr Ronx. The Festival arranged for the University of Manchester’s Tactile Collider demonstrating the Large Hadron Collider to New College Worcester to engage with visually impaired students. Cheltenham Science Festival’s International FameLab science communication competition saw the best new science communicators from across the globe compete for the title. Tim Gordon won the crown for the UK for the first time.

Head of Programming Marieke Navin said: “We expanded our free programme even further this year with our Apollo Free Stage, Huddle talks and Deep Mind open-air cinema which saw an increase in people attending. Added to this we had nearly 8,000 pupils and teachers through the doors over the four school days with many children coming back over the weekend with their families. Cheltenham Science Festival audience’s thirst for science just gets stronger every year.”

Cheltenham Science Festival Facts for 2019

• Over 43,500 tickets issued
• Over 45,000 visits to the free interactive zones and …around town

7 things we learned at the 2019 Cheltenham Science Festival

1. A 10-minute scan could soon let men know whether they're likely to develop prostate cancer
2. Snoopy, the lunar module from the 1969 Apollo 10 mission may have been located 50 years after it was launched
3. Fantasising about killing your boss is completely normal!
4. Sleep tracking apps could actually be making it harder to get a good night’s rest
5. Singing and forest walks could be prescribed as an alternative to traditional drugs
6. Consumers beware - some cutlery, coffee cups and wet wipes branded ‘compostable’ do not decay on compost heaps
7. The UK won FameLab International science communication competition for the first time when Tim Gordon, a marine biology PhD student from Exeter University beat 24 other science communicators from across the world.

The Cheltenham Science Festival in 2020 will take place 2-7 June.  Add it to you diaries now!