JOIN USCome August 30 and the City will play host to the internationally acclaimed Edinburgh International Science Festival. The festival is being presented in association with Bhartiya City. At the press conference held at the British Library to announce the schedule of the festival, Edinburgh International Science Festival director Simon Gage addressed a gathering through Skype from London.
He said, “As part of the science festival, 15 different types of experiences are lined up for students of all ages. The festival introduces not only children, even their parents to the opportunities in science. This helps them pursue better things in the science field.” Explaining what the City can expect from the science festival, Simon, said, “There will be many exhibits and experiences that cannot be seen or felt in a museum or a classroom environment. This will be a very different exposure for students to interact and learn.”
Though the workshops are not India-specific, the organisers plan to introduce changes depending on the responses and the demands of the visitors. Simon said, “Not many workshops from the festival in Edinburgh are brought here. This is just an experiment and we hope to add more workshops in the coming years.” As many as 50,000 visitors are expected to gather for the festival. Snehdeep Aggarwal, chairman of Bhartiya City, said, “For the first time, the 25-year-old science festival has come to the City. Many schools have shown positive responses and we are confident that it will be a hit among adults also and just students.”
The 10-day event is set to give an adrenaline rush to all the science enthusiasts. For instance, during an ‘ER Surgery’ workshop, students can gain first-hand experience on the working nature of an operating theatre. They can experience what it feels like to be a doctor by assisting in the treatment of leg wounds or perform keyhole surgery using real surgical equipment.
In ‘Splatastic’, another exciting workshop, students can explore the properties of different polymers. The science festival has a lot to offer for students interested in mathematics too. ‘Maths Masters’, a fun way to learn easy tricks and shortcuts for fast calculations, will be conducted. An exciting exploration ‘The Coldest Show on Earth’ too is lined up in the festival. Some of the other workshops include ‘Chemical Mania,’ ‘Forensic Science’ and ‘Air Racers’.
The Edinburgh International Science Festival will be held at Bhartiya City from August 30 to September 8. Tickets for the show are priced at Rs 500 per student and
Rs 300 per head for adults per day. Schools willing to participate in the festival will get attractive discounts too. Ian Felton, deputy high commissioner of Britain to India, was present at the occasion.