- Cheltenham Science Festival
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Coordinates: 51°53′24″N 2°04′41″W / 51.890°N 2.078°W The Cheltenham Science Festival is one of the UK's leading science festivals, and is part of Cheltenham Festivals: also responsible for the Jazz, Music and Literature Festivals that run every year.
The logo of the Cheltenham Science Festival
Contents
Introduction and History
The youngest of the Cheltenham Festivals, the Cheltenham Science Festival was first held in 2002, and has quickly grown to become one of the most significant of its kind in the UK.
The 2011 event will take place between 7-12 June.
Guests and Directors
Co-Directors Kathy Sykes and Mark Lythgoe at the 2009 Cheltenham Science FestivalThe Festival has attracted many significant names in Science over the years, including Robert Winston (the first 'guest director' in 2004), David Puttnam (Director 2005), Jonathon Porritt (Director 2007), Adam Hart-Davis, Susan Greenfield, Richard Dawkins, Lucy Hawking, A. C. Grayling, Tony Robinson and Richard Hammond.
Programme
The Cheltenham Science Festival aims to engage in entertaining, challenging and deliberately discussing controversial issues and experiences.
Discover Zone
A main feature of the festival is the Discover Zone. Billed as 'Interactive Science for all ages', it is a free interactive exhibition space that takes up the main space of Cheltenham's Town Hall.
FameLab
FameLab® was set up in 2005 by Cheltenham Science Festival in partnership with NESTA with sponsorship and in-kind support from Pfizer, Silicon 19, Channel 4 and The Daily Telegraph. In 2007 the competition was adopted by the British Council as one of its flagship science engagement projects first in a South East Europe pilot and then expanding this in 2010 to include 14 across Europe, Asia and Africa. Thus FameLab has truly become a growing global phenomenon!
Festival History
2011 (Upcoming)
Festival Directors
- Kathy Sykes
- Mark Lythgoe
Guest directors
Themes
Celebrating the 10th Cheltenham Science Festival, the theme is 'X', "With a whole host of linked events from X-Men to X Chromosomes"[1] There have also been invited comedians like Robin Ince.[2]
New Features / Expansion
This year marks an expansion from a 5 day event to 6 days.
2010
Festival Directors
- Kathy Sykes
- Mark Lythgoe
Guest director
Themes
2009
Festival Directors
- Kathy Sykes
- Mark Lythgoe
Guest director
Themes
Including:
- Darwin - 2009 being 'Darwin Year', 200 years since his birth
- Galileo - celebrating the International Year of Astronomy
- Climate change
One of the Festival Partners is Chosen Hill School, the first secondary school to ever sponsor the festival.
2008
Festival Directors
- Kathy Sykes
- Mark Lythgoe
Guest Director
- Nick Ross - Journalist, broadcaster and presenter of BBC Crimewatch
Themes
Some of the major topics for 2008:
- 'Taboo'
- Mental capital and wellbeing
- The sustainable world
New Features / Expansion
A larger main area, two days of free outdoor activities, and more external events around Cheltenham. Also new - the 'Talking Point' - a place to continue debates and discussions inspired in events. The year 2008 saw the creation of SciFest, the International Science Festival, held in St Louis USA. This Science Festival was set up as a collaboration between Cheltenham Festivals and the St. Louis Science Center, in St Louis, Missouri, USA; and is run in a similar way to the UK festival on which it is based.
2007
Festival Directors
- Kathy Sykes
- Mark Lythgoe
Guest Director
- Jonathon Porritt - Chair of the UK’s Sustainable Development Commission
Themes
Some of the major topics for 2007:
- Climate Change
- 'Perfect Humans'
2006
Festival Directors
- Frank Burnet
- Kathy Sykes
Guest Director
No named Guest Director.
Theme
- Relationships - Including between humans and the planet and humans and urban spaces.
New Features / Expansion
The ExperiTent was introduced this year which was used for hands-on workshops aimed at schools and families.
2005
Festival Directors
- Frank Burnet
- Kathy Sykes
Guest Director
- David Puttnam - Film producer
Theme
- Other Worlds - Including developing countries, extreme environments and altered states.
2004
Festival Directors
- Frank Burnet
- Kathy Sykes
Guest Director
Theme
- Perception
New Features / Expansion
This year saw the introduction of a Guest Director who programmes events related to their area of interest and expertise. The first two years saw events taking place in the Cheltenham Town Hall and the Everyman theatre. This year, the Everyman was not used and instead The Arena, a large marquee built on gardens outside the Town Hall, was introduced which was used as the venue for the more popular events.
2003
Festival Directors
- Frank Burnet
- Kathy Sykes
Theme
- Time and Space - Including exploring the cosmos, the science of ageing and the past and future of our planet.
2002
Festival Directors
- Frank Burnet
- Kathy Sykes
Cheltenham Festivals
The Cheltenham Science Festival is just one of the four festivals that Cheltenham Festivals run each year. Combined with the Jazz, Music and Literature Festivals, Cheltenham Festivals host over 700 events across 12 months. The four festivals have worked together to ensure Cheltenham’s enviable reputation as the festival capital of Britain, and attract some of the art’s biggest names.
See also
- Cheltenham Festivals official website
- Cheltenham Festivals Myspace Page
- Facebook page for the Cheltenham Festivals
- Guide to Cheltenham and its festivals
External links
- Folk Festival Information
- Cheltenham Town Hall
- Pitville Pump Room Information
- The Everyman Theatre
- The Playhouse (Cheltenham)
- Fame Lab 2011 winners - From Nature Publishing Group's team blog
References
- ^ Cheltenham Festivals Science11 Brochure. 2011. http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/sites/default/files/documents/science/science_brochure_2011.pdf.
- ^ "Robin Ince: Who needs religion?". New Scientist. June 15, 2011. http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21028165.800-robin-ince-who-needs-religion.html. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
Categories:- Culture in Cheltenham
- Science festivals
- Festivals in Gloucestershire
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