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There
was something at the Cheltenham Festival of Science to capture any
imagination, even if you're still stuck on chapter two of A Brief
History of Time, or your understanding of quantum theory is based
solely upon old Star Trek episodes.
This
year's event attracted 27,000 punters, with over a third of the
events selling out.
From
UFOs and mutants to self-sufficiency and wildlife television, the
festival's five venues played host to some of science's best and
biggest brains.
View
our photos of the event:-
(20 Pictures)
(13 Pictures)
Discovery
The
town hall was transformed into the 'Discover Zone', where adults
looked on jealously as young visitors built
robots, abseiled, and took part in a musical megalab.
Robots
Oscar and Inkha took up residence in the entrance foyer of the town
hall, while elsewhere in the building attendees could take part
in art installations or pick the brains of available scientists.
Astronaut
Television's
Robert Winston was the guest director of the event, whose speakers
included Colin Pillinger, creator of the missing Beagle 2 space
probe and NASA astronaut Mark Kelly.
 This is something unique in Cheltenham
that will be copied around the world.
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| Prof
David King |
Gloucestershire-based
writer Marcus Moore discussed his forthcoming experiment to live
for two years, two months and two days without money (in a shed).
Meanwhile,
Ian Morison of SETI (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence)
and ex-MOD man Nick Pope examined to fact and fiction behind UFO
sightings.
Unique
The
government's chief scientist, Professor David King, applauded the
festival.
Speaking
at the opening night launch, he said:
"This is something quite unique in Cheltenham that will be
copied around the world.
"Cheltenham
has an outstanding history of festivals. You should be proud of
it."
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| The
Discover Zone |
Advances
Professor
King went on to describe the radical advances which have recently
taken place in science.
"For
one of my birthdays a PhD student gave me a card saying: 'Happy
birthday Dave,' written in atoms.
"That
would have been impossible 50 years ago.
"The
next 50 years will bring even more enormous challenges...This festival
is remarkably important for the UK."
The
festival's guest director, Lord Robert Winston, added: 'I go to
many science festivals around the world and this is the best one.
It is setting the example.'
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UFOs,
mutants and artificial intelligence - no, it's not the new series
of Doctor Who but some of the topics under discussion at the Cheltenham
Festival of Science.
