The Sci Fest was set up well over a decade ago thus:
The Sidmouth Science Festival was started by a small team from the Vision Group for Sidmouth part of the Transition Town initiative... With so many technical issues being faced by society we believe that our communities will make better decisions if they have a deeper understanding of the underlying science and technology. We aim to make people aware of how the STEM subjects (science, technology engineering and maths) play a part in what we take for granted in everyday life.
It was set up by this team from the VGS, then, with a determination to show the usefulness of an understanding of science to us all – and in particular the importance of understanding the science around the climate.
Perhaps the catalyst for this determination was how the 2009 COP 15 conference in Copenhagen failed to deliver a climate deal – and the parallel climate email-hacking episode which generated more heat than light, but which many would blame for scuppering a binding agreement due to arguments about the ‘facts of climate’.
And so for the last dozen years, the Sidmouth Science Festival has taken a regular and informative look at the science and technology around the climate – but all of this has to be done in a very Reithian way, being both educational and entertaining if any programme is to be engaging.
For example, the report for the 2021 festival did not overtly refer to ‘the climate’, but “listening to loads of interesting science talks and question the experts” is clearly key to what the event is all about – with highlights including talks on “soil – our cornerstone for life” and “the latest local geology discoveries”. And, with the purpose of gently challenging ‘alternative facts’, festival-goers could “hear the latest thinking on communicating (coronavirus) statistics to the media”.
Every year, though, has overtly covered a multitude of issues around the climate – with the CAPS news pages last week highlighting ‘cosy homes’, climate and tackling plastic @ Sidmouth Science Festival amongst the several events happening at the 2024 event.
And even today’s big finale to the week’s Family Fun Day at the Norman Lockyer Observatory which very much focussed on ‘edutainment’ found space for the Renewable Energy Roadshow – as all this science and technology, from gazing at the stars to harnessing the sun’s energy, is connected.
Finally, as one ‘top fan’ remarked on the Sci Fest social media about today: “Fabulous family day out, so interactive, kids and us adults loved it, well done!”
See you next year!
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