‘KIDS CAN MESS ABOUT WITH ICEBERGS AND BLUBBER OR UNWRAP A MUMMY'
World
of woner
Brian Donaldson looks forward excitedly to this year’s Edinburgh International Science Festival, which is back, bigger and better than ever
nce upon a time. only the biggest geeks at school were ever even vaguely interested in the ways and doings of test tubes and Bunsen burners. Nowadays, it’s not just the cool kids who are getting into science, as everyone with an interest in making any kind of progress in our technology- dependent world needs to be getting with this programme. That’s why major events such as the Edinburgh International Science Festival, now in its 19th year, are so crucial. The events spread across the city from Edinburgh Zoo to the Assembly Rooms and the Scottish Seabird Centre to Our Dynamic Earth. The programme includes the Science Festival at the Botanics where kids can learn about plant DNA. make compost or join the live satellite link to the Maya Rainforest of Belize. In Explore Edinburgh, you can discover how the city’s landscape has been moulded by volcanic eruptions or help build a rocket, while the adults can slink off to Big Ideas and hear leading scientists debate climate change, Nanotechnology and the latest medical developments. And there’s the wondrous Wonderama, which is described by the festival director, Dr Simon Gage, as a ‘play revolving around science. It’s not eggheaded, geeky and difficult. it’s easy, absorbing and quite extraordinary. It’s not table tops with posters behind; it’s a chance to come and get dressed up as a surgeon
or a palaeontologist and we’ll train you to be one. If
you dress up as an arctic explorer, we’ll let you mess about with icebergs and blubber or be an Egyptologist and unwrap a mummy. We’re creating these magical environments and letting the kids do the role play.’
These days, kids need little encouragement to indulge in science-based play as the subject has made serious in-roads, even at primary schools. While the education establishments are doing their bit, government has a major say in getting science onto everyone’s agenda. In this staunch anti-Blair era, Cage is reasonably satisfied with New Labour’s efforts. ‘About 18 months ago. Gordon Brown said that he couldn’t think of a better way to spend money than investing in science as it’s one of the main ways that we are going to make money,’ recalls Gage. ‘And to have the government’s chief scientific advisor stand up two years ago and say that climate change is a much greater threat to us than any terrorist threat just shows that science is right there in the middle.’
For an earlier generation who might have been scared off by science in the classroom, at least we could get our fix from the TV. Nowadays, kids might be more likely to want a return of Robot Wars than Tomorrow ’5‘ World. ‘I lament the loss of people like Johnny Ball and Magpie where they’d go slow enough for you to understand the science. There are few people now who are prepared to go that slowly,’ bemoans Gage. ‘In Wonderama, we have kids sitting down and concentrating for 50 minutes whereas everyone else will tell you that a kid can’t concentrate for more than 30 seconds. If you give them something interesting to do, you’d see that this is just rubbish.’
Edinburgh International Science Festival runs from Mon 2-Sun 15 Apr; www.sciencefestival.co.uk
Puppet Animation Festival Now in its 23rd year, this six-week celebration of all things puppet-related is bigger and better than ever. From traditional fairytales to the fun fellows pictured here, there’s a vast line-up of humorous, touching and educational shows on offer. For more info please see www.puppetanimation.org. Various venues, Mon 72 Mar-Sun 22 Apr.
Edinburgh International Science Festival The Festival continues to prove that there’s more to science than messing around with Bunsen burners. It’s all fun, fun, fun these days. See preview, left. Various venues, Edinburgh, Sun 2—Mon 75 Apr.
Tracy Beaker The naughtiest teenager in print and on the small screen gets a stage makeover. See preview, page ??? King '3 Theatre, Edinburgh, Tue 3—Sat 7 Apr.
The Dust Man Poor Dusty has a hard job finding dreams for everyone who falls asleep — whether it’s in bed or on the toilet. Join him as he travels through the night with his cat Nero. Citizens’ Theatre, Glasgow, Wed 4—Sat 7 Apr.
Easter Egg Extravaganza There’s more to Traquair House than the fair in August. This Easter, they’ve hidden 7000 eggs in the maze and woodlands surrounding the house, plus there’ll be a visit from his nibs, the Easter Bunny. Traquair House, Inner/eithen, Sun 8 Apr.
Floors Castle Easter Eggstravaganza A bit of a trek, but worth the journey. On Easter Sunday, the grounds of Floors Castle are covered with literally thousands of eggs. It's your job to find them. Floors Cast/e, Ke/so, Sun 8 Apr.
29 Mar-12 Apr 2007 THE LIST 55