The new UK city of Milton Keynes will host its first annual science festival 6-15 July 2007, as part of the Milton Keynes 40th anniversary celebrations
With more than 50 events lined up, the festival will showcase some of city's world-class scientific and technical achievements encouraging and motivating the people of Milton Keynes and its surrounding regions to learn about the world of science, engineering and technology (SET).
The two weeks will be packed with a series of exciting, entertaining and informative SET events and activities held in various locations around the city involving local schools, colleges, universities, societies and businesses.
Professor Nigel Mason, professor of physics at the Open University said: "This is a very exciting festival for Milton Keynes as the city and surrounding region is becoming well known for innovation and technology.
"Both the Open University and Cranfield University are heavily involved in the programming for the event, which will involve hands-on scientists sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm with as many people as possible.
"We hope to strengthen the relationships between schools and the universities, and links from education to business".
The schedule of activities, which will include workshops, exhibitions, demonstrations, debates, and events, have been formed around eight key themes - space, women in science, the body, ethics and religion, high-tech and virtual, warfare, earth and environment and everyday science.
The festival is hoping to raise aspirations of young people and adults to learn about science with applied science demonstrations including hunting for extra solar planets, hands-on robot programming and games technology workshops, and exhibitions on erupting volcanoes and earthquake simulation.
There will also be an exciting event at Bletchley Park with a fly past from a Lancaster bomber and workshops on its war heritage.
"Many of the activities are designed for schools and families and we hope they will inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers and technologists," said Jim Sims, business development manager regional director at Business link (MKOB).
"We have fun, exciting workshops arranged within the schools as well as public activities so everyone in the city can be part of festival".
There will also be a series of controversial presentations and discussions including science and religion, science and superstition on Friday 13th and a public debate on climate change.
Grant Seeley, director of investment for Milton Keynes Partnership said: "Milton Keynes science festival is the perfect platform to make science and technology accessible to the people of Milton Keynes.
"We hope that everyone in the city joins in the array of scheduled activities and that the young people of Milton Keynes are inspired to become our budding scientists of the future".
Thousands of people are expected to take part in the festival, which has received funding and support from Milton Keynes Partnership, Business Link, Seeda, Institute of Physics, the UK Resource Centre for Women in SET, the Open University, the Science and Technology Facilities Council, Cranfield University, Countec EBP and Emberton Dale.
The majority of the events are free.
