litmus 2013 - issue two

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THE fEsTival for pEoplE wHo quEsTion EvEryTHing

frEE worKsHops, TalKs anD

Drop-in EvEnTs

WIN A TINY COMPUTER FROM

RASPBERRY PI

frEE faMily aCTiviTiEs

4–9 june 2013

James Watson: Nobel Prize winner and birdwatcher

Three minutes of science with FameLab International

The stats of summer from Matt Parker

Vote for your top medical innovation

insiDE

LITMuSYour guide to all the goings-on at

The Times Cheltenham science festival

FUll SCIENCE

FESTIvAl

lINE-UP INSIdE

The Science Team at the British library is pleased to support litmus, The Times Cheltenham Science Festival newspaper. bl.uk/science

gET THE laTEsT nEws... cheltenhamfestivals.com/subscribe @cheltfestivals #cheltscifest facebook.com/cheltenhamfestivals

4 All the fun of the Festival

6 Meet the Festival’s Guest directors

9 Summer is already 7.6% gone!

10 James Watson: Nobel Prize Winner

13 Famelab International Competition

14 What’s the secret to a good night’s sleep?

16 vote for your top medical innovation!

17 The Cutting Edge

18 What can design do for science, and science do for design?

20 Just so Science

22 Are you well informed?

25 donated to Cheltenham Festivals?

27 Win a tiny computer from Raspberry Pi

28 The Times Cheltenham Science Festival programme at a glance

30 Festival maps

32 Festival free activities programme

QUEEN’S HOTEL

PARABOLA

ARTS CENTRE

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FeSTIvaLOF ThEaLL THe Fun

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You can really get those grey cells working during the week of the Festival with daily free ‘Science Question Time’ sessions, where scientists, journalists from The Times and the Festival team will be discussing the biggest debates, newest discoveries and memorable Festival moments. At the weekend there will be more free events to enjoy; including an evening of stargazing with the Cotswold Astronomical Society, and simulated operating theatre sessions, where pioneering surgeons will be demonstrating a new cutting edge surgical tool, and inviting you to have your say about how this is implemented in the real world.

Throughout the week (4 – 9 June) there will be an exciting selection of Festival zones to explore for free. Children and adults will love the discover Zone, the EdF Energy Zone, the GE Pavilion and the BBC Science Zone; all places where they can immerse themselves in interactive experiments and technology.

There will be a lot for just grown-ups too, including a showcase of the latest technology and cutting-edge research in The Times Area 42 from Friday, and a chance to join in the debate in The Times Talking Point where speakers and Festival-goers can get to grips with the subjects of the day.

Between 11am and 4pm during the weekend of the Festival, the outdoor arena in Imperial Gardens will come to life with a schedule of demos, workshops and live experiments. You can see Gloucestershire Police dogs in action, be entertained by the science buskers and wowed by circus skills workshops and live interactive experiments

performed by Festival favourites. Children can get involved too with even more hands-on activities including face painting, arts and crafts and solar viewing.

And if all that activity is too much, The Times Café is on-site; the perfect place to relax with a cup of tea and a slice of cake!

See the map on page 30 and the listings on the back cover for more information on all the free activities on-site during the Festival.

From circus skills workshops and Police dog demos to stargazing and realistic surgery simulations; the free events, workshops and activities at the Science Festival in Imperial Square prove that you don’t have to be a scientist to get involved!

FeSTIvaL

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Dara’s EvEnTs

school of Hard sums EdF Energy Arena, Imperial Square, 4.15 – 5.15pm, Wednesday 5 June

peter Higgs in Conversation with Dara o Briain EdF Energy Arena, Imperial Square, 8.30 – 9.30pm, Wednesday 5 June

Coding the game EdF Energy Arena, Imperial Square, 6.15 – 7.15pm, Thursday 6 June

Dara o Briain’s science Club EdF Energy Arena, Imperial Square, 8.30 – 9.30pm, Thursday 6 June

wEnDy’s EvEnTs

The web and us Cheltenham Town hall, 12.45 – 1.45pm, Saturday 8 June

is the web Changing society? Parabola Arts Centre, 4.30 – 5.30pm, Saturday 8 June

Dara o BriainComedian, presenter and theoretical physics graduate dara O Briain will be joining us to explore his love of all things scientific. The frontman of BBC 2’s Science Club and Stargazing live, dara is a keen astronomer with a curious mind. Throughout the Festival he’ll be flexing his scientific muscle in an interview with Professor Peter higgs, pitting brains against brawn in School of hard Sums, and hosting a live Science Club with some special guests from the show.

DaME wEnDy Halldame Wendy hall is Professor of Computer Science at the University of Southampton and is one of the most influential people working in IT in the UK. One of the first computer scientists to undertake serious research into multimedia and hypermedia, she has been at the forefront of the field ever since. Wendy joins us in Cheltenham to explore how the internet impacts on our society, shapes how we think and changes the way we interact with each other and the world around us.

MEET ThE FESTIvAl’S GueST DIrecTorS

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DaviD’s EvEnTs

science, the Economy and you Cheltenham Town hall, 8.45 – 9.45pm, Thursday 6 June

The Eight great Technologies: How Britain leads the world Cheltenham Town hall, 10.45 – 11.45am, Friday 7 June

farming for the future? Regency Room, Queen’s hotel, 12 – 2pm, Friday 7 June

We’re very excited to introduce our three Guest Directors for this year’s The Times Cheltenham Science Festival: television presenter and comedian Dara O Briain, computer scientist Professor Dame Wendy Hall and Minister for Universities and Science, Rt Hon David Willetts MP.

rT Hon DaviD willETTs MpAs Minister for Universities and Science, Rt hon david Willetts MP is at the forefront of scientific policy in the UK. An advocate for the study of STEM subjects and public communication of science, david is a regular visitor to Science Festivals across the country. he joins us in Cheltenham to explore the challenges facing science and innovation in the UK today.

on THE fEsTival…

“Cheltenham Science Festival surprises me because of the appetite for science I see there. From children all the way up to adults and experts, the audiences, as well as the topics, are so diverse and people just love it! It seems that the appetite for science is just increasing. When I was a child, science was something you did at school and that was it. I’m amazed by how much science is packed into the Festival and I hope to inspire even more people to get involved.”Dame wendy Hall

“Cheltenham is one of the country’s great science festivals – with an amazing atmosphere and fascinating selection of things to do. Festivals offer a unique opportunity for scientists and experts to share their ideas with the public and start real conversations about their research. It’s great to see what quality science communication we have in this country, and this Festival is at the forefront of that.”rt Hon David willetts

“I’m very fond of being around people who actually know things about things. I work professionally in the field of bluffing and making things up and it’s a tremendous pleasure for once to be surrounded not by other people who also bluff, but by people who actually know what they’re talking about.”Dara o Briain

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Regardless of what the weather may have to say, according to the calendar summer was officially rolled-out across the Northern hemisphere on the 1 June, one week ago. Which means summer is already 7.6% over. These three months give us 92 days of summer, but if you research the sunrise and sunset times for all of the days between 1 June and 31 August 2013 (which I may have done) and calculate the total sun-hours, summer is split into 601/4 days of sun and 313/4 days of dark. So with each passing daytime hour, another 0.07% of the summer sun slips away as the Earth slowly continues its orbit.

Insisting summer starts and stops according to calendar months is of course, a bit arbitrary. The height of summer,

astronomically speaking, is the solstice on the 21 June when the Earth’s axis of rotation is pointing directly at the Sun (or away, depending on your hemisphere). As many people know, this peak of summer actually coincides with the Earth being almost as far away from the Sun as it can get. The most-distance point, the “aphelion”, is just after the solstice on the 5 July. At 7pm BST on the 5 July the Earth will actually be traveling at its slowest speed of the year, should you be looking for a good time to get off.

Thankfully, the Earth leaning in at 23.4° means that even though it is further from the sun during summer, we are still able to catch more rays. The light is actually travelling an extra 5 million kilometres (5

gigametres, around 3.1 million miles) to hit the Earth, compared to the shortest distance at perihelion. So if you do go outside to enjoy one of the 1445.9 hours of 2013 summer sun, be sure appreciate all that extra distance travelled, even if it does always seem to be stopped by clouds in the final 10 kilometres or so.

Stand-up mathematician Matt parker reveals the stats of summer.

stand-up MathsEdF Energy Arena, Imperial Square8.45 – 9.45pm, Saturday 8 June

Call My genetically Engineered BluffCheltenham Town hall3 – 4pm, Sunday 9 June

suMMEr is alrEaDy 7.6% gonE!

GFPe

ck

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Few scientists find fame, and even fewer find it in their twenties. Yet in a Cambridge pub 60 years ago, a 25-year old James Watson and his colleague Francis Crick realised they had unravelled one of nature’s greatest mysteries: the structure of dNA.

That this acronym can be used without batting an eyelid is a testament to the fundamental nature of Watson’s work and the degree to which it has pervaded modern life. From the identification of Richard III to Angelina Jolie’s preventative double mastectomy, our ever-expanding understanding of dNA has provided us with a way to probe our past and our future as never before. And from creating the iconic structural model to publishing his entire genetic blueprint, James Watson has been leading the charge.

he hit the ground running with his university career beginning at the age of 15. By 22 Watson had a Phd from Indiana University under his belt and was already captivated by the burgeoning field of genetics — having investigated how x-rays affect the genetic material of bacterial viruses he wanted to delve deeper and probe the very composition of genes.

his chance came when he moved to Europe in 1950 to pursue his interest in nucleic acids. Attending a lecture by Maurice Wilkins in Naples, Watson saw x-ray diffraction data of dNA that spurred his determination to solve its structure. he gained a position at the Cavendish laboratory in Cambridge, also the workplace of Francis Crick, and the rest, as they say, is history.

But the discovery of the double helix and the ensuing Nobel Prize was far from the culmination of Watson’s career. he went

on to spearhead research into numerous areas including cancer-causing viruses, genetic engineering and RNA — a single stranded cousin of dNA — elucidating its role in turning the genetic information contained in chromosomes into proteins vital for life. he has worked at Caltech, held a professorship at harvard and became director and later president of the Cold Spring harbor laboratory in New York, where he is currently Chancellor Emeritus.

With an enduring commitment to public interest, he led the human genome project for four years from 1988. Completed in 2003, the project underpins efforts to develop therapies tailored to individuals and Watson was one of the first to publish his own genome to aid scientific research in pursuit of this goal. he has also waded into science policy, staunchly opposing the patenting of genetic sequences.

having been in the vanguard of genetics for over half a century it may seem surprising that Watson’s early ambitions lay elsewhere: fascinated by birds from childhood onwards he had originally intended to become an ornithologist. And while his career has taken quite a different tack, he has yet to put his binoculars down.

Watson’s energy for science shows no sign of flagging either. his propulsion into the public psyche has been in a large part a result of his powers of communication, from lifting the lid on scientific discovery in The double helix to writing seminal textbooks. From the layman to the scholar, Watson’s forthright style and persistent enthusiasm have found an eager audience.

It is with equal enthusiasm that we look forward to his participation in this year’s Cheltenham Science Festival.

nicola Davis from The Times looks back at the incredible career of dNA pioneer James watson.

jaMeS WaTSonNOBEl PRIZE WINNER

a message from The Times

On behalf of The Times, I’m very pleased to welcome you to The Times Cheltenham Science Festival 2013.

This year’s programme features scientists who have been at the heart of some of the biggest discoveries of our generation as well as a dazzling selection of the best scientific thinkers of the moment.

highlights include a rare public talk by Peter higgs, James Watson looks back 60 years after discovering the structure of dNA and Jocelyn Bell Burnell explains pulsars, which she famously discovered during her Phd. Other topics range from science and the economy, to the science of tea and the botany of gin - pick your tipple of choice.

It is not just the “big names” or the fantastic programme that make Cheltenham the best British science festival, however.

Every year there is a growing core of scientists, comedians, politicians and teachers who quietly pencil it into their diary. A few months ago one very eminent scientist contacted the team to mention that he was travelling from the US to Australia - and might he be able to “pop in” to Cheltenham on the way to give a talk? (The answer, of course, was yes).

For many, it is Cheltenham’s uniquely friendly and open atmosphere that makes people return, and this is created in a large part by the audiences. They are full of curiosity and enthusiasm and the discussions go on long after the talks have ended.

So please get involved and come along to the Science Question Time sessions held in the Eureka tent and pop by for a chat in The Times Café, where Times+ members can also claim their free cuppa.

We hope that you enjoy the festival and see you again next time round!

Hannah Devlin, Science Editor of The Times

EvEnTs froM THE TiMEs

science question Time See back cover for schedule of events

James watson in Conversation with Matt ridley EdF Energy Arena, Imperial Square 2 – 3pm, Thursday 6 June

science, the Economy and you Pillar Room, Cheltenham Town hall 8.45 – 9.45pm, Thursday 6 June

Bumpology: the Truth about pregnancy Pillar Room, Cheltenham Town hall 1.15 – 2.15pm, Friday 7 June

FREE

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The scientist and the landscape DesignerMRC Centenary helix Theatre, Imperial Sq8.45 – 9.45pm, Thursday 6 June

James watson: in Conversation with Matt ridleyEdF Energy Arena, Imperial Square2 – 3pm, Thursday 6 June

Happy Birthday MrC: Celebrating a Century of Changing livesMRC Centenary helix Theatre, Imperial Sq2.15 – 3.15pm, Saturday 8 June

BirdwatchingEdF Energy Arena, Imperial Square6.45 – 7.45pm, Saturday 8 June

nicola Davis from The Times looks back at the incredible career of dNA pioneer James watson.

From the layman to the scholar, Watson’s forthright style and persistent enthusiasm have found an eager audience.

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Workshops and Free Have-a-Go Healthcare Science ZoneCelebrate the exciting science & cutting-edge technology in use at Cheltenham General and Gloucestershire Royal Hospitals

Extraordinary everyday

Saturday 8 June & Sunday 9 June 2013

9.30am – 4pm

Sandford Education Centre, Keynsham Road, Cheltenham (opposite the Lido Car Park)

Come and have a go at…Workshops (ticket required) Small groups will get ‘hands on’ time with senior specialists…

Intricate Operations Three 30-minute workshops looking at: Vocal Chord Surgery; Care of Special Care Babies; Eye Surgery

No More Scalpels Three 30-minute workshops looking at: Heart procedures; Keyhole Knee Surgery; An endoscopists view inside the body

Emergency Trauma Three 30-minute workshops looking at: Inside the Emergency Room; Surgery inside blood vessels; 3D tour of the heart and brain

Have-A-Go Healthcare Science Zone Stroll in the ‘marketplace’ of specialists and try your hand at…

• Virtual ear surgery

• Ageing – in an instant

• Photography of the retina

• 3D printing for medical devices

• The truth behind health scare headlines

• Surgical Instruments Unveiled

• Cutting-edge ultrasound

• Telehealthcare

• Communication aids

• Mood monitoring

Workshop Tickets £10 (£8 concessions) available from the Science Festival Box Office Tel 0844 880 8094 or visit cheltenhamfestivals.com/science

In partnership with

FREE FAMILY SCIEnCE ZonE

NHS experts will astonish you with the incredible skills they use every day.Come along to the Free Have-a-Go Healthcare Science Zone – for all the family.You won’t miss the giant inflatable colon or the superhuman Operation Game.

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BOx OFFICE 0844 880 8094 BUY TICKETS AT CHElTEnHaMfEsTivals.CoM/sCiEnCE

They have just 3 minutes to impress a panel of judges who will be assessing them on Famelab’s 3 C’s:

Content, clarity and charisma.Please do come and cheer them on! Who will you vote for?

Since its birth at Cheltenham Science Festival in 2005, Famelab has grown into the world’s leading science communication competition. Working in partnership with the British Council and NASA this global competition has already seen more than 5000 young scientists and engineers participating in over 23 different countries. This year’s International Final will feature the winners from Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, Germany, Greece, hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and UK.

Each contestant has three minutes to present a science, technology, mathematics or engineering based talk using only the props they can carry on stage. They have already proved their scientific prowess and earned their crowns as national winners by being judged according to Famelab’s golden rule - the 3C’s: Content, Clarity and Charisma.

Famelab has become so popular around the world that the number of participating countries has grown rapidly. This means that this year there will be two semi-finals, both on Thursday 6 June, and a grand final on Friday 7 June. We are delighted to welcome Quentin Cooper, presenter of BBC Radio 4’s weekly The Material World, as host.

Regardless of where you are on Friday 7 June, you can watch the International Final as it will be live-streamed Festival from famelab.org and cheltenhamfestivals.com/famelab

These are the sort of questions that we will be finding answers to when 21 contestants from across the globe compete in the International Finals of the world’s greatest science communication competition – Famelab.

semi-finals: Thursday 6 June, 6.45 - 8.15pm and 9.00 - 10.30pm in the Winton Crucible

final: Friday 7 June, 6.30 – 8.00pm in the EdF Energy Arena

How DoEs a synCHroTron worK?wHaT is lovE?wHy Do MEn HavE nipplEs?wHaT woulD an aliEn looK liKE?

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Well, if I could bottle it I would make a fortune! First of all I think you have to ask how much sleep you actually need. If you’re forced out of bed by an alarm clock, rather than waking naturally, if it takes a long time to wake up, or if you’re feeling drowsy or muggy for a long time, you’re not getting enough sleep.

So you now need to think about the second half of the day, about when you do go to bed. If you are waking up tired, you need to think about going to bed earlier. And then you have to think about the nature of the

bedroom. At least half an hour before you go to sleep you need to be winding down; stop playing games, watching Tv and dvds, and texting. Expose yourself to reduced levels of light, and so then when you go into the bedroom, you’re actually starting to think about sleep.

The bedroom itself should be capable of being very dark and slightly cool, and so get those black-out curtains out so there is no street light coming in, and also turn off the radiator. You don’t want to be cold, but you don’t want to be too hot. And relax. Embrace

sleep. Think of sleep as this wonderful duvet that you can wrap yourself in, and as a result of a good night’s sleep you will be a more amusing, innovative, reasonable human being!

Neuroscientist and Festival Chair russell foster shares his top tips for a restful night.

WhAT’S ThE SECRET To a gooD nigHT’s slEEp?

sleepless in CheltenhamWinton Crucible4 – 5pm, Thursday 6 June

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Neuroscientist and Festival Chair russell foster shares his top tips for a restful night.

WhAT’S ThE SECRET To a gooD nigHT’s slEEp?

quEsTion EvEryTHing @ThE TIMES ChElTENhAM SCIENCE FESTIvAl

IS ThERE lIFE OUT ThERE IN ThE UNIvERSE? dO MEN ANd WOMEN ThINK dIFFERENTlY? WIll WE FINd A CURE FOR CANCER?From the everyday to the extraordinary, from the mundane to the ridiculous, the Science Festival is all about asking questions. This year, we’re celebrating the unknown and inviting you to Question Everything.

In the run up to the Festival, we’ll be talking to eminent scientists and big thinkers, asking for their top questions in the fields of science and technology.

“The important thing is not to stop questioning”albert Einstein

Do you have a science question that you’d love to know the answer to? We want to hear from you!

Ask us your science questions and look out for our Twitter Q&A sessions with top scientists and speakers from the Science Festival: @cheltfestivals #cheltscifest

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A fantastic line-up of eminent scientists and big thinkers has been announced for the Medical Research Council (MRC) centenary event at this year’s Cheltenham Science Festival.

You are invited to an exclusive birthday party (complete with birthday cake and party bags) where they will be celebrating 100 years of the MRC and discussing the best advances in medical research of the past century.

Presenter vivienne Parry hosts the event and will be joined by science broadcasters Quentin Cooper and Adam Rutherford, director of External Affairs for the Science Museum Group Roger highfield, comedian and geek songstress helen Arney and special guest, discoverer of dNA, James Watson.

They will be making the case for their top medical discovery. Will the winner be MRI scans, the double helix or unlimited cheese consumption? Join them to find out…

As part of the Medical Research Council’s 100th birthday celebrations this year, they are asking you to vote for your top medical discovery of the last 100 years.


Happy Birthday MrC: Celebrating a Century of Changing livesMRC Centenary helix Theatre, Imperial Sq2.15 – 3.15pm, Saturday 8 June

To mark their centenary year, the MrC have surveyed a range of people in the public eye – scientists and non-scientists alike – and asked two important questions:

q1: what medical advance from the past 100 years has had the greatest impact? q2: what will be the most important medical discovery in the next 100 years?

Q1: Antibiotics. When you think of the deaths by septicaemia and other infections I cannot think of any other more powerfully effective medical advance.Stephen Fry, comedian and presenter

Q1: The creation of the NhS in 1948 has completely transformed the way healthcare is delivered in the UK. It is one of our greatest institutions in the world which belongs to the people and is there for everyone, irrespective of their ability to pay.Jeremy Hunt, Health Secretary

Q2: Without doubt I would say that we will have a final cure for all cancers. I strongly suspect this will only come about through interdisciplinary research involving biologists, chemists and physicists working together.Professor Jim Al-Khalili OBE, theoretical physicist, author and broadcaster

And now we want to hear from you! visit the MRC website at centenary.mrc.ac.uk/centenary-poll for the full centenary poll and to submit your own answers.

voTE for your Top MEDiCal innovaTion!

TOP SCIENTISTS WIll JOIN ThE dEBATE AT ThE FESTIvAl

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This year at the Cheltenham Science Festival, you will be able to experience how a new surgical tool could revolutionise the way surgeons decide what tissue to remove during an operation. The Intelligent Knife or iKnife can precisely identify tumour tissue while an operation is underway, thus making the surgery more reliable and faster. visitors will meet with practising surgeons, doctors, paramedics and scientists to find out more about how this new technology could become an everyday practice.

They will show how the iKnife is used to identify whether tissue is diseased or healthy,

and will demonstrate how it may be used in a surgical emergency within our pop-up simulated operating theatre, led by Professor Roger Kneebone. Then we’ll ask what you think about whether new technology should become an everyday practice and who this technology is actually benefiting!

The iKnife was developed by my team at Imperial College london. This project is part of a wider initiative between Imperial College london and Imperial College healthcare NhS trust Surgical Metabonomics Centre, and the Wellcome Trust.

who Holds the scalpel?Experitent, Imperial Square7.30 – 8.30pm, Friday 7 June

Ethics at the Cutting EdgeExperitent, Imperial Square7.30 – 9.30pm, Sunday 9 June

The Cutting-Edge – Tomorrow’s surgeryExperitent, Imperial SquareSaturday 8 & Sunday 9 June10 – 11am, 11:30am – 12.30pm, 2 – 3pm3:30 – 4.30pm

THE CuTTing EDgEDr Zinah sorefan discusses how a new surgical tool could revolutionise surgery, and asks you to get involved.


FREE

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DesignScience

WHaT can DeSIGn Do For ScIence, anD ScIence Do For DeSIGn?anne odling-smee and phillip Kent explain how the designScience group is working with scientists and engineers to improve understanding of design, and working with designers to improve understanding of science. The goal is better science communication for the benefit of all.

wHy DEsign?When you think of ‘design’, perhaps you think of cool chairs, designer fashion, or being artistic without practical function? Perhaps you associate design with the worst excesses of branding and advertising, Mad Men, and corporate capitalism? In our work with designScience we have different ideas, but we recognise that overcoming stereotypical perceptions is vital and not without its challenges. Those working in the design field also exhibit misperceptions of science that need to be addressed. In our definition, design is concerned with ideas and problem solving on technical, functional, aesthetic, economic and socio-political levels. There is a classic definition (attributed to Neville Shute) of the engineer as a person ‘who can do for ten shillings what any fool can for a pound’. Through intelligent use of tools and resources, a better outcome can be achieved, and for less money.

What engineers achieve in the technical realm, so designScience aims to achieve in communication and public engagement for science. design is perhaps best understood as being like a glue between someone else’s content and an intended recipient. We recognise that scientists do communicate with a variety of audiences all of the time. Those of us who are professionally known as ‘designers’ differ in the degree of expertise that enables us to do this specific job more effectively across the complex variety of communication media now available.

CoMMuniCaTing sCiEnCEThere are many reasons to celebrate the progress that has been achieved in science communication and public engagement with science in recent years – especially here at the Cheltenham Festival. But news stories, such as the entirely predictable and harmful repercussions of the 1990s MMR/autism scandal that have lead to the recent measles epidemic in South Wales, indicate that we have a long way to go.

We see engagement as having two elements: ownership and participation. British society today is at heart the product of science and technology developments going back hundreds of years. It is essential that the majority have a sense of ownership of this heritage as well as for a shared future. Arguably the popular sense of ownership has become stronger in recent years – for example, we see clear public expression of identification with the science celebrities of television and radio. Engagement by participation is a far greater challenge. Both scientists and the public have reasons to be wary of it. We have seen a certain amount of

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‘citizen science’, including in the mainstream media, however the participation is typically through observation and data collection (many eyes, hands or feet) and not in data analysis, interpretation or theory-building.

You may wonder how a greater degree of participation could be possible given the asymmetry of knowledge and expertise. To be sure, we are talking about shifting the asymmetry to significant degrees, not removing it. Exploring this challenge is a major element of the work that the designScience group will develop over the next few years. Computing and computational thinking are important because one of the greatest barriers to popular participation in science is lack of mathematical knowledge. Without mathematical understanding, the theories expressed in mathematical form or the workings of data analysis are inaccessible. Computers extend and restructure the ways in which it is possible to engage with the mathematical expressions involved in scientific ideas. Indeed, science and mathematics educational researchers have been exploring this for many decades, but the results are neither well known nor widely accessible. We currently have an unprecedented technological infrastructure of widespread personal access to computers, and electronic networks for exchange of information and social interaction. We need to build on that by devising educational resources and practices to change public participation with science and mathematics.

risK: CoMMuniCaTing unCErTainTyParticipation is crucial as a means of communicating uncertainty, and this is one of the key challenges for science communication today. Extreme weather events are on the increase and virulent animal flu viruses threaten the human population worldwide. The threat of earthquakes has been with us for millennia, and the scientific expertise now available is substantial. Yet communication of vital information about risk factors breaks down again and again; witness the recent prosecution of six scientists in Italy as a result of the 2009 l’Aquila earthquake.

how can we address the asymmetries of knowledge and expertise between scientists and the public? A powerful idea that we are working with is the potential of computers to simulate reality, in part using the mathematical models that are integral to the scientific understanding of phenomena. It is all too easy to rationalise unlikely future events out of existence because we cannot live through them directly. In a virtual reality, everyone may participate and achieve new kinds of dialogue through the shared experience.

Scientists cannot be held responsible for all of the problems in science communication. Communication is a complex, two-way process. People may hear and understand a message yet not be able to act on it.

Scientists get fed up when they do their research, then are told they’ve got to communicate it. This is understandable when they lack sufficient expertise or support. designScience is trying to build meaningful relationships with scientists, technologists and engineers to make design and communication an integral part of the process of doing research – not just a part you tack on at the end as ‘impact’. To achieve this we have to first overcome our own challenge – that of communicating to scientists what design is and what it can do for science. We hope this feature goes some way towards achieving this,

and to dispelling some of the unhelpful myths surrounding our subject.

We are also acutely aware that designers, journalists and public relations teams are not always sensitive or understanding of what science is, or of the needs and interests of scientists; so we are campaigning for a change of attitudes and the development of new learning opportunities and educational resources in this area. Indeed, we are convinced that the practice of design in general would be improved by incorporating more scientific approaches. We see the totality of what we are doing as establishing a feedback loop between design and science that will build up as a significant force for change in science communication. To find out more visit www.design-science.org.uk

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There’s no two ways about it. Make a radio programme about Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories for Radio 4 and you’re dicing with death. The stories are so treasured, the words such an ingrained part of the British national psyche – who can forget the ‘grey green greasy limpopo river all set about with fever trees’ – that any departure risks outright confrontation with the Radio 4 audience.

But I have been emboldened. In January, in Just So Science we mixed the science behind the animals of some of the best loved tales with readings by Sam West. You liked it and there are more coming soon but we have now run out of animals. So – draws deep breath – we need new animals and new tales. Enter the scientists.

So, we have five animals. All share one thing. They each have something extreme about them that makes them of special interest to scientists interested in human health or behaviour. On June 4th at 6 pm in the Eureka Tent at The Times Cheltenham Science Festival, you will hear five people presenting the science of their animal. Maybe you’ll even be inspired to write, in the style of the originals, a Just So Story about one of them.

Tasmanian devils are being decimated by a transmissable cancer which is spread by biting. The way it spreads amongst the devils is very similar to the way that human cancers spread through the body. dr Andy Strakova is hoping your story is about the devil.

I know you’ll want to write about my animal, the python. It may only eat once a year but when you tackle a whole baby tapir at one sitting, it takes some digesting. Pythons flood their blood with fats after feeding making their blood go white and grow their hearts. They are inspiring new medicines for human heart conditions.

Steve le Comber hopes his animals will intrigue. Bats. They have a very interesting type of foraging behaviour, which turns out to show where serial killers are likely to strike next.

dr helen Meredith of the Institute of Zoology at london Zoo is presenting the Mexican Salamander or axolotl which can regenerate its limbs making it of huge interest to scientists working in regenerative medicine.

And finally dr Chris Faulkes presents the naked mole rat. Naked and ugly but they don’t get cancer and they live for so long that they have become objects of fascination in ageing studies.

So come along best beloved and see what animals inspire you to write a new Just So story.

Just so science Eureka Tent, Imperial Square 6 - 7pm, Tuesday 4 June

pride, prejudice & the Doctor Parabola Arts Centre 8.30 – 9.30pm, Friday 7 June

is my immune system normal? MRC Centenary helix Theatre, Imperial Sq 12.15 – 1.15pm, Saturday 8 June

Happy Birthday MrC: Celebrating a Century of Changing lives MRC Centenary helix Theatre, Imperial Sq 2.15 – 3.15pm, Saturday 8 June

13

13

Broadcaster vivienne parry discusses her search for animals to feature in brand new Just So Science stories.

ScIenceJust So

The stories are so treasured, the words such an ingrained part of the British national psyche...

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Many events at this year’s The Times Cheltenham Science Festival explore the impact of the web on our society and in particular on how it has shaped the way that we think and communicate. Indeed, the British library is collaborating with other major libraries to collect and provide long-term access to the nation’s intellectual output that appears in digital form – including blogs, e-books and the entire UK web domain. All pervasive, the internet provides us with immediate access to a global network of information and people. But along with that access come issues…

Can I believe what I just read in that blog? Are the research findings on that website to be trusted? Where’s the scientific evidence behind that statement? None of these issues are new. It’s just that the forum for discussion is more often online, rather than on a printed page or in a public meeting. We should still ask for the evidence behind what we read, see and hear online.

At the British library our TalkScience events take public discourse on science back to its roots, providing an opportunity to explore topical issues in contemporary research in person. We recognise the value of scientists, policymakers and the public coming together for an informed debate. TalkScience on 26 June - Pollinators and Pesticides: Is There a Plan Bee? - will examine the evidence for the role of pesticides in the decline of insect pollinators. Come and question our expert panel, chaired by BBC presenter Bill Turnbull, and decide for yourself. And if you cannot attend in person, there is always the online podcast!

Although the web is opening up the latest science to an ever-growing audience, there is often a disconnect between information

access and understanding. Funders of biomedical research from across Europe, have worked with the British library and our partners at the European Bioinformatics Institute and the University of Manchester, to develop Europe PubMed Central. This is a free, online service where you can access millions of biomedical research articles and other resources from around the world. however, like much contemporary scientific information, these research articles are often written in a highly technical language, which can be intimidating to anyone outside a narrow scientific discipline.

So, how can we open up research findings to everyone who is interested? This Autumn, the British library Science Team will be teaming up with Europe PubMed Central to launch the second year of our science writing competition Access to Understanding. The competition aims to encourage early-career scientists to develop their skills in communicating science to non-specialists, thereby helping bridge the gap between access and understanding. The challenge for the scientists is to take research articles in Europe PubMed Central and explain the science in a way that an interested member of the public would understand it, while conveying the significance of the research and key issues involved. See what you think of last year’s finalists following the link below.

The Science Team at the British library hope you enjoy the Festival events this weekend and remember to ask questions!

http://europepmc.org/sciencewritingCompetitionhttp://tinyurl.com/Talkscience Email us: [email protected] Twitter: @scienceBl

arE you wEll inforMED?

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EnJoy THE BEnEfiTs of MEMBErsHip

Becoming a Cheltenham Festivals Member means that you can enjoy all kinds of special benefits at all four of the Cheltenham Festivals. So whether you enjoy jazz, science, music or literature or indeed are interested in all, you’ll find a host of special privileges. There’s a 10% discount on tickets with Full Membership, advance booking for you and a guest and special Members’ offers around the Festivals. Join us as a Member, and you’ll receive exclusive Members’ news, invitations to Festival previews and a year round package of offers to enjoy across Cheltenham. Memberships are available for individuals, couples and families and start at £15.

DisCovEr MorE: cheltenhamfestivals.com/membership 0844 880 8094 or visit regent arcade Box officeTerms and conditions apply


MEMBERS SAvE 5% IN ThE WATERSTONES BOOK TENT

Did you know that CfTicketing also sells tickets for other events and that all our profits go to Cheltenham festivals?

For more info on buying or selling other tickets through us please visit cheltenhamfestivals.com/cfticketingKeep an eye out at the festival for our new range of merchandise – wonderful gifts that support the festivals

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If you’ve been to The Times Cheltenham Science Festival over the last few years you’ll have noticed a big change. In just three years the Festival has doubled in size, with almost 40,000 people engaging with Science in 2012.

This amazing growth has only been possible with the support of our sponsors and donors, allowing us to create a wide variety of events, free activities and experiences that inspire and challenge our audiences and speakers alike.

We hope that you share our sense of achievement when you visit the Festival and see first-hand how your gifts help.

Every one of the 6,000 schoolchildren who will be taking part in our education programme at the Festival has been

subsidised by our supporters.Our free activity areas such as The

Times Area 42 and the discover Zone give everyone the opportunity to interact and get hands-on with science. 14,000 people showed their appreciation and interest by visiting last year.

And over 200 events involving both internationally recognised speakers and emerging scientists would simply not be possible without our sponsors and donors.

We set out to achieve this each year at every Festival, with high quality events featuring leading and up-and-coming speakers and performers, free activities and education projects at the very core of our work.

We are extremely grateful for the gifts and donations we receive from our supporters. If you are booking tickets for any of our Festivals over the coming months then please do consider making a donation; it really does make an impact on our work and your support is greatly appreciated.

BUY TICKETS AT CHElTEnHaMfEsTivals.CoM/sCiEnCEBOx OFFICE 0844 880 8094

DOnATED TO CHElTEnHAM FESTivAlS?YOU’vE MAdE A BIG dIFFERENCE!

richard smith, head of Individual Giving at Cheltenham Festivals reveals how much difference donations make to the Festivals.

To find out more about getting involved and supporting the Festivals contact Richard Smith on 01242 537262, email him at [email protected] or visit cheltenhamfestivals.com/support-us

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26Registered Charity no. 251765

See the first confirmed names at cheltenhamfestivals.comMembers book from 27 August - join online today.

THE TIMES CHELTENHAM LITERATURE FESTIVAL

@cheltfestivals #cheltmusicfest

3-14 JULY

CHELTENHAM MUSIC FESTIVAL

BOX OFFICE 0844 880 8094 CHELTENHAMFESTIVALS.COM

FAMILY CONCERTS WITH JAMES MAYHEW

FILM MUSIC WITH MARK KERMODE

ORCHESTRAL EXPANSE IN SPECTACULAR VENUES

AND MUCH MORE

SUPERB CHAMBER MUSIC IN PITTVILLE PUMP ROOM

Twelve days of sublime and surprising musical adventures

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

FULL PROGRAMME COMING SOON

win a Tiny CoMpuTEr FROM raspBErry pi

For full terms and conditions, visit cheltenhamfestivals.com/terms-conditions

The Raspberry Pi is a credit-card sized computer that plugs into your Tv and a keyboard. It’s a capable little PC which can be used for many of the things that your desktop PC does, like spreadsheets, word-processing and games. It also plays high-definition video.

We’ve teamed up with the Raspberry Pi team to give you the chance to win a fantastic prize… a Raspberry Pi unit, complete with case, Sd card and power supply. They are also throwing in other goodies including a t-shirt.

How To EnTErTo be in with a chance of winning the Raspberry Pi, just find all the Raspberry Pi raspberries that are hidden throughout litmus, and email [email protected] and tell us how many there are by Monday 10 June.

HinT This is what you’re looking for…

HoW Do tHe Festivals make you Feel?

For latest news, findings and updates, visit cheltenhamfestivals.com

it might sound an obvious question – but it’s an area about which surprisingly little is known.

Cheltenham Festivals, in association with Plymouth and Warwick universities, is at the forefront of exciting new Qualia research, designed to better understand audiences and how you experience the Festivals.

Look out for special projects run across each of the four Festivals: from smile recognition at the Jazz Festival to interactive pods at Music. And at Science? As you might expect, we’re taking a more technical approach, with the pilot of a brand new Qualia mobile phone app to help you make the most of the Festival.

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PlAN YOUR pErfECT fEsTival10am 11am 12noon 1pm 2pm 3pm 4pm 5pm 6pm 7pm 8pm 9pm 10pm

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s037 THE WAR On viRUSES

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s013 THE SECRETS OF CREATivE PEOPlE

s008 BRAGGinG ABOUTCRYSTAllOGRAPHY

s012 JUST SO SCiEnCEs009 SCiEnCE QUESTiOn TiME s016 MURDER MYSTERY

s017 THE MinD OF An OlYMPiC CHAMPiOn

s018 MARTin REES: SURvivinG THE CEnTURY

s019 BOTAnY OF Gin

FAMIlY EvENTvEnuEs ARENA = EdF ENERGY ARENA CRUCIBlE = WINTON CRUCIBlE EUREKA = EUREKA TENT x-TENT = ExPERITENT PIllAR = TOWN hAll PIllAR ROOM PAC = PARABOlA ARTS CENTRE SEC = SANdFORd EdUCATION CENTRE ClC = ChElTENhAM lAdIES’ COllEGE SA = ST ANdREW’S ChURCh QUEEN’S = ThE QUEEN’S hOTEl hElIx = MRC hElIx ThEATRE

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QUEEN’S HOTEL

PARABOLA

ARTS CENTRE

ToWn HaLL

THe TIMeS caFe

THe TIMeSTaLKInG PoInT

eDF enerGY arena

WaTerSToneS BooK TenT

WInTon crucIBLe

Mrc HeLIx THeaTre

Box oFFIce

BBc ScIence

Zone

eDF enerGY Zone

eureKa TenT

Ge PavILIon

PILLar rooM

DIScover Zone

exPerITenT

THe TIMeS

area 42

sCiEnCE IN ThE

squarE

fEsTival Map ANd frEE aCTiviTiEs

outDoor activities

Suitable for all ages Sat & Sun from 11am

Interactive activities for all the Family in Imperial Gardens.

art at tHe FestivalFREE

As part of the COS13 art trail, artists from Cheltenham Open Studios will be exhibiting in the Town Hall’s Spa Well (near to the front entrance). Come along to see some local work!

HeaD squeezeThe team behind YouTube channel Head Squeeze will be bringing the best of the channel to the Festival, and they’re looking for the questions that you’re dying to know the answer to! You’ll find the team around the site wearing trademark Head Squeeze T-shirts.

youtube.com/headsqueeze

roWing tHe atlanticMeet the local team who will be rowing across the Atlantic this December, and find out all about the competition they are running to design an experiment for the boat. They’ll be next to the EDF Energy Arena all week.

Visit rowingtheatlantic2013.com/schools for details

tHe times talking PointAn event got you thinking? Continue the debate with the speakers and other audience members at the Talking Point.

tHe times caFéThe perfect place to relax between events with a cup of tea and a slice of cake!

tHe times area 42

Interactive science for over 14s Fri 3 – 8pm, Sat 12 – 8pm, Sun 12 – 6pm FREE

Get hands-on with some of the most exciting cutting-edge research and technology.

cheltenhamfestivals.com/area42

eDF energy zone

FREE Every day

The POD is EDF Energy’s Education Programme. Come and take part in exciting hands-on activities including trying out being a weather forecaster with the Met Office!

jointhepod.org

Box oFFice anD inFo PointOpen in Imperial Gardens every day of the Festival from 9.30am until the start of the last event of the day.

Discover zone

Interactive science for all ages 10am – 5pm daily FREE

Open every day of the Festival, the Discover Zone gives children the opportunity to get hands-on with interactive technology and experiments.

cheltenhamfestivals.com/discoverzone

Messier-Bugatti-Dowty

Open daily from 9.30 to Festival close.The Waterstones Book Tent stocks a wide range of science titles and will be hosting author signings.

MEMBERS

SAvE IN

ThE BOOK TENT

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QUEEN’S HOTEL

PARABOLA

ARTS CENTRE eDF enerGY arena


venueS anD car ParKS

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2

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GETTING TO ThE FESTIvAlFor information on public transport and car parks visit cheltenhamfestivals.com/your-visit

finDing our vEnuEsMost events are taking place in Imperial Square (GL50 1QA), and all other venues are within walking distance.

Postcodes

1 Town Hall gl50 1qa

2 Sandford Education Centre gl53 7Py

3 Parabola Arts Centre gl50 3aa

4 Princess Hall, Cheltenham Ladies College gl50 3eP

5 Queen’s Hotel gl50 1nn

6 St Andrew’s Church gl50 1sP

Please be considerate to local residents when parking.

ge Pavilion

Suitable for all ages FREE Every day

Get to grips with some of GE’s cutting-edge aircraft technology: use computer programming to control aircraft components, inflate a balloon without touching it and see how you fare in a full-sized flight simulator. Plus much more...

knitting cornerCrafters from The Perovskite Project are knitting and crocheting their way to a giant model of the mineral Perovskite! They will be in the Waterstones Book Tent during the Festival so make sure you visit them – you could even have a go yourself! Complete beginners to experienced crafters welcome.

science zoneSuitable for all ages FREE Thurs, Fri, Sat & Sun

Meet the production teams responsible for some of your favourite BBC science programmes, explore the content further, get hands-on with science and have the opportunity to quiz their family of expert presenters in an informal setting.

Visit cheltenhamfestivals.com/bbc-science-zone for more details on content and sessions.

science eventsOur purpose built venues play host to 100s of events throughout the 6 days of the Festival. There are lots of free events too!

Visit cheltenhamfestivals.com/science/ whats-on to browse events.

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Charity no. 251765 cheltenhamfestivals.com/subscribe @cheltfestivals #cheltscifest facebook.com/cheltenhamfestivals

frEE fEsTivalZonEs

Discover Zone Town Hall, Daily Interactive technology and experiments for children and adults.

The Times area 42 imperial Gardens, Afternoons from Fri Cutting-edge research and technology for over 14s.

EDf Energy Zone imperial Gardens, Daily Activities including dIY weather forecasting.

gE pavilion imperial Gardens, Daily Cutting-edge aircraft technology including a full-sized flight simulator.

frEE EvEnTsscience question Times Eureka Tent, imperial Gardens An exploration of the day’s biggest debates and discoveries. Tues 4 June 4 - 5pm Weds 5 June 7 - 8pm Thurs 6 June 5 - 6pm Fri 7 June 4.30 – 5.30pm

The Cutting-Edge – Tomorrow’s surgery Experitent, imperial Gardens A demonstration of a new surgical tool with a chance to have your say about its implementation. Sat 8 and Sun 9 June 10am – 11am 11.30 – 12.30am 2 - 3pm 3.30 - 4.30pm

frEE ouTDooraCTiviTiEs

interactive fun, demos and workshops in imperial gardens from 11am to 4pm on saturday and sunday. visit cheltenhamfestivals.com/family-fun-day

Saturday 8 June Explore evolution, learn about sustainable technology, fight robots, have your face painted, take part in solar viewing and discover interesting facts about food and local wildlife. Plus, enjoy entertainment from science buskers and Thomas Trilby, who will delights us with circus workshops (1-2pm and 3-4pm)

Sunday 9 June Explore evolution, learn about sustainable technology, fight robots, explore the 4 elements through arts and crafts, take part in solar viewing and discover interesting facts about food and local wildlife. Plus, see a giant spider puppet wander round the Gardens (11-11.45am & 1.15-2pm) and Gloucestershire Police dogs in action (3-5pm).

MorE To looK ouT for…

Knitting Corner Waterstones Book Tent Crafters from The Perovskite Project knit and crochet their way to a giant model of the mineral Perovskite.

art at the festival Town Hall (front) An exhibit from Cheltenham Open Studios.

rowing the atlantic imperial Gardens See the boat that a local team will be taking across the Atlantic.

Headsqueeze imperial Gardens The team behind YouTube channel headsqueeze bring the best of their channel to the Festival.

The Times Talking point imperial Gardens An event got you thinking? Continue the debate with Festival speakers and members of the audience.

The Times Café imperial Gardens The perfect place to relax between events with a cup of tea!

visit cheltenhamfestivals.com/science-in-the-square for more information.

sCiEnCE IN ThE

squarE4-9

JunE

partners and supporters of The Times Cheltenham science festivalThe Times, Pfizer, EdF Energy, EPSRC, hP, MRC, Royal Academy of Engineering, Safran, Society of Biology, Wellcome Trust, Winton, BBC, BBSRC, Commercial Group, GE, Imperial College london, University of hull, The University of Manchester, Spirax Sarco, Swansea University, University of Gloucestershire, UCAS and many more….

THanK youWe would like to thank everyone who supports Cheltenham Festivals

BBC sCiEnCE ZonEThe BBC Science Zone is at the heart of the Cheltenham Science Festival this year, showcasing some of the best from BBC Science. Come and get involved with free sessions on everything from edible insects to shifting continents.

Featuring scientists and presenters from across the BBC such as Richard Fortey, helen Czerski, Iain Stewart and Jim Al-Khalili.

Sessions are free, limited in number and allocated on a first-come first-serve basis.

THursDay 6 JunE10am daring demos and Science Stunts 11.30am & 1pm Everest: Survival At The Extremes 3.15pm how We do Science on YouTube4.30pm Operation Iceberg: Below the Waterline6pm Backstage at The life Scientific

friDay 7 JunE 3.45pm Science in the News5.15pm Operation Iceberg: Balancing Risks6.30pm Science and drama: The Challenger7.45pm Stargazing live

saTurDay 8 JunE 10am Everest: Survival At The Extremes 11:30am Operation Ouch! 1pm The Secret life of Rock Pools2.30pm A Trip Around Mars 4pm So you want to be a presenter? 5.30pm Materials: how They Work7pm Science heroes Top Trumps

sunDay 9 JunE10.15am Incredible Edibles 11.45am Insect dissection – how Insects Work1.15pm Rise of Continents – hands-on session for kids2.45pm Planet Ant – life Inside the Colony4.15pm A World of Science Toys5.45pm ‘Prehistoric Autopsy’

litmus 2013 - issue two

Documents

festival team

festival favourites

science buskers

memorable festival moments

bbc science zone

times area

times caf

cheltenham festivals