British Science Festival Bradford 2011

Natalie Shek - BMS Level 2 Undergraduate Student

Who knew a week-long science festival held by the British Science Association this year at Bradford would be so much fun!

I had the unexpected pleasure to be deeply inspired by thought-provoking talks and events I attended as well as have fun in meeting the other students from the bursary programme. We all did not imagine we would have such a laugh together nor realised that there is so much more to science than meets the eye. The British Science Festival has provided a great insight into the many aspects and remarkable potential of science.

An example of how truly amazing science, maths and technology are, when utilised, was demonstrated by Dr Akram Alomainy, an electronics engineer who is applying what he knows to create an invisibility cloak. A personal favourite from the festival was hearing E.F. Schumacher’s philosophy of economics; his heterodox way of thinking, atypical and controversial to the majority of economist’s, was published around 4 decades ago in ‘Small is Beautiful a study of economics as if people mattered’.

From then on, ‘Practical Action’, the charity he had established, is still now providing value to many lives as well as continuing to enhance some of the poorest communities with the use of the simplest of technology. E.F. Schumacher called it intermediate technology: a simple way to provide the basic services that everyone should have availability to access, such as food.

In Bangladesh, ‘Practical Action’ has put this notion into action, developing floating gardens for farmers to use in monsoon season, where food shortages occur. Moreover, they train the farmers to take care, control and improve their crop and yield. Working with the Bangladeshi community, flood-resistant houses have been constructed too. Yet, this is just one example, ‘Practical Action’ has worked across many countries, saving lives, not with intervention but innovative cooperation with the people.

How they make a difference is especially important too: it is with empathy and understanding, which is much better than a mere providing of the basic essential services on a plate. It is more dignified, effective and less frightening for them to be taught how to use the intermediate technology developed, instead of having western strangers bombarding in with their scary new environment and equipment. They allow people to take control of their own lives and community rather than spoon-feed help.

So it was unsurprising that, after this talk from ‘Practical Action’ at the festival, the audience left feeling awed or positive towards science, engineering and technology, knowing the humanitarian work done by such charities as theirs.

Another highlight was the canopy to cures exhibition which consists of a beautiful film of the Peruvian Amazon, capturing a glimpse of the indigenous people and animal dwellers among their glorious surroundings. Such exhibitions open up the audience’s perceptions from the clichéd view on science and bring young schoolchildren to realise not only how wonderful nature and the world is, but also our overall responsibility to preserve it carefully from human exploitation.

It was also enjoyable to learn top cancer expert Professor Baum’s discovery on some classic fine-art paintings; how they are more than famous pieces of art but clues to diagnosis of illnesses, surreptitiously depicting the symptoms of syphilis, for example in Agnolo Bronzino’s An Allegory with Venus and Cupid, or even murder, in A Satyr Mourning over a Nymph by Piero di Cosimo.

Honestly, there were too many fascinating, mind-boggling and downright interesting things at the British Science Festival that I cannot give justice by just a mention. For instance, did you know apiceuticals, beehive produces, can help in the treatment for cancer, as well as, that there is current technology that can detect a lie being told by examining a blood vessel under your eye.

The bursary students I befriended there contributed to me having an unforgettably cool week too. Yet, what I funnily didn’t notice, until the end, was that my initial dread of staying in an unfamiliar city with people I don’t know, other than that they like science, and scepticism that I would enjoy myself throughout, because last year’s bursary students said so, was unanimous and on every students’ mind (How we have been proved wrong!).

However, I can now safely proclaim to the next bursary student that there is more than enough going on to entertain, surprise and hearten you. In fact, you would more likely to feel some slight disappointment instead, when you must compromise on overlapping but equally exciting events.

It is simply best to just go and see it for all it’s worth next year and then truly know what you have been missing.