www.list.co.uk/kids
‘YOU TRANSFORM MATERIALS,
BUT AT THE SAME TIME YOU
TRANSFORM YOURSELF'
The appliance of science
Learning about science used to mean Bunsen burners and lab coats but not anymore. Kelly Apter talks to some of the people making it fun
ith |7ll e\ents taking place in lo \enties.
its sale to sit} that lidinhurgh International
Science l‘esti\al has got e\er}thing prett} much co\ cred. ‘l‘hc star ol' the sho\\ this _\car is :\S|.\l(). the \\or|d's most adxanced rohot. .»\ppearing lotir times a da} at the .\lcli\\an Ilall t4 & 5 .»\pri. it can run. climh steps. shake _\our hand. dance. recognise people and speak.
l‘or the lust time. the (‘it_\ .-\rt ('entre is ioining in the inn too, ol‘l‘ering se\en liltltll\ ol' lamil} lun. l'nder—Ss can drop into lli'c lli’llt/(‘I' lliir/tl. \xhile 3 h-)c‘;ii‘-olds can \enttu'e inside the liiitiemutioii (inn/mi or make a mo\ ing mini-machine at 'li'iii' [in \. pltis a \xholc lot more.
Once again. the l'iii\ersit_\ ol lzdinhtiigh will he running its popular 'l)isco\er Science programme. Along mm a host ol~ hands-on acti\ities tor lamilies. the l'iii\ei‘sit} has recruited (ilasgim Science (‘entie It) tlL‘ll\L‘l' some til~ lls lll\l\l stlcccssltll sllti\\s, including the lantasticall) titled Hung or .\'u Hum i4 «Q 5 .‘\[‘ll tllltl l))/(’(’(/. lit/c and l;(’(/\ HI.“ ll l l“ KPH :tl .-\tl;llll lltlll\L‘.
"l'he_\’re great sho\\s lor all ages.' sa}s lara (iihson ol' (ilasi—‘on Science (‘entre. 'llo\\ much ol the science aspect _\ou get out of them depends on hoxx Ultl )UU ill‘L'.‘ B/i’ittl. [ft/C (UH/ Him/t /))Iil\ g‘l\L‘s ttll o\er\ie\\ ol' our digesti\e s} stem. l'rom \xhat \xe ptit in our mouths to \\ hat comes out the other end. and ho“ it helps our hod} litinction. .-\udience [nirticipation is high on the agenda. including the daring '(‘ream (‘racker (‘hallengef ‘lt's one ot' the most popular hits in the slioxx.’ sa_\s (iihson. "l‘he
\oluntcei‘s ha\e to eat too ('ream ('rackers in less than a minute without an} \tatcr. It shims the importance ol sali\a and gets the audience cheering along to help them.' .-\udience memhcrs are also im ited to help squish timid and turn it into poo.
.\lean\\hilc. lit/lie or .\'u li’tnie teaches its all ahotit risk and chance something \\c‘ encounter e\ei_\da_\ \sithout e\eii noticing it. 'lt's done in a game shon \l) lL‘.. s;t_\ s (lll‘\tlll‘\ colleague. .ltl l'tltl. 'Stt people ttl'L‘ contestants rather than audience members. We talk ahout the maths hehind 'l'\' \ll(l\\ s such as l)m/ or .\'u l)('(l/. What of [wit/inc arid I’ltii liiiir (tin/x Rig/it. and get e\et‘}hod} in\o|\ed. l:\en little children ha\e an understanding ol' whether the} sliotild guess higher or lo\\ er. heads or tails and each time the pri/e is to launch a rocket.’
l’roxing that the ai'ts and science can \xork hand in hand. .-\lchem_\ .'\l'[\ is running its popular ':\i't-tastic' \xorkshops at the Rtl};tl Botanic Garden is ck U .-\prl. .-\l| ol' the materials tised h} :\lchcm} come l'rom scrap he it manmade or natural and hoth children and adults can make kites. huttert'lies and other creatures \\ ho change.
"l’he \\ot'ksltops tit heautil‘ull} \\ith the l'esti\al‘s theme ol li\o|ution and ('hange.’ e\plains .-\lchem_\‘s Kate \lacls'a}. ‘Because .-\lchein} .'\rts is all ahotit taking something and transtorming it. You transliorm materials. but at the same time _\ou translorm _\ourselli.‘
Edinburgh International Science Festival, Various venues, Sat 4-Sat 18 Apr. www.sciencefestival.co.uk or see listings.
>l< Puppet Animation Festival llt)lll ioltttivef. huiiitilo t_)ogii‘iniiigs. the l’tippot l-estiyal has blossomed iiito a tully grown national event with shows taking place across, the country. Visit wwwpupptt aniinationtestival.oig to find out what's happening near you See prei.'iew. Various venues. unti/ Sat S) Mn.
* Edinburgh International Science Festival the Science Festival ()()lllz:S of age this year, celebrating its 2 1 st birthday l-roin [)arWin to DNA and robots to Hetius. the two week long event has never looked more exciting. Set: our Soieiice Festival [)r(-2\.’l(?VV. left. and listings for more details or visit www SCIHl(;(}lt-,‘t$ll\’éil.(1().tll<. Various vent/es. [:d/nhurgh, Sat 4 —Sat 78 Apr.
* The BFG Stage adaptation of Roald Dahl's popular tale about a little girl and big friendly giant who ]Olll forces to defeat the Daddies. See pit-mew.
King '5 Theatre, Ed/ntmrgh, Tue f—rSat 7 7 Apr.
>l< The Book of Beasts Children’s tl'ieatre company. Catherine Wheels adapt E Neshit's charming tale of Lionel. a young king who opens the forbidden ‘Book of Beasts. Only to unleash some unexpected creatures. Citizens Theatre. G/asgow, Wed 75»—Sat t 8 Apr. >l< Baby Loves Disco Havmg children doesn't necessarily mean your clubbing days are over -~ they Just take on a different look. Grab yOur little one and prepare for an afternoon of disco dancuig and fun activities. Corn Exchange. Edinburgh, Sun 5 Apr.
=l< Zest Holiday Programme Once again. Glasgow Museums come up trumps With free actiVities for the Easter hols at many of its venues. Go to wwwglasgowmuseumscom for details. Various dates <3 venues. Glasgow.
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