Festival director Jerome Cousins is excited to be at the helm during the festival’s 25th year, and is looking forward to sharing the programme highlights.
These include the always-popular University of Otago Science Expo, physics and chemistry shows, many talks and demonstrations, science-based exhibitions, the Imagination Playground, tours of the city’s landmarks and businesses and much more.
Mr Cousins said the huge range of topics covered in the festival, which would run from June 30-July 9, meant participants would get the chance to try their hand at upcycling food, making ice cream from insects, solving a murder mystery, and could learn about poo, build something and make music.
"We’re so excited with the programme this year," Mr Cousins said.
"We have had such a rush on event hosts seeking to include an event, and we’re looking forward to seeing lots of people having a great time over the 10 days."
A special highlight will be hosting festival guest Prof Tim Jackson, an ecological economist and writer from the United Kingdom, who will share his thoughts around sustainable prosperity and life after capitalism and participate in a play-writing panel.
"We have also focused on inviting local businesses to be involved in the festival, which has led to a series of tours and workshops based around some great local firms," Mr Cousins said.
There is also plenty of crossover between science and the arts in the festival, with a broad range of exhibitions and theatre shows scheduled, as well as the screening of five short films produced by Otago University science communication masters students.
In family theatre show Matariki Ki Tua Ka Whetu, a scientist and his family gather in their garden to celebrate Maori New Year, sharing stories of their tipuna and the science of the stars.
The "25 Years of Science" exhibition will look back across amazing scientific advancement and research, highlighted by the Prime Minister’s chief science adviser Dame Juliet Gerrard.
Along with lots to keep the children entertained during the school holidays, there will be a busy programme of activities for adults, such as evening talks at Petridish, including several National Science Challenges Panel discussions.
Mr Cousins said once the festival gets under way, the Festival Hub would open in the Community Gallery, 26 Princes St, from July 3-9, hosting events and activities and a space where people could get information.
• Tens of thousands of New Zealand International Science Festival programmes were distributed with last week’s issue of The Star (May 25) and an additional 10,000 copies will be available through schools, public spaces and malls.
Copies can be collected from the Science Festival office at 19 George St (down from the Octagon), or online at scifest.org.nz
