Edinburgh Science Festival is a 'living laboratory' once more. Long may it continue to be so – Steve Cardownie

As a former city council Festival and Events Champion, it is gratifying to see that our festivals are once more featuring in the city’s cultural calendar.

The Edinburgh Science Festival is up and running with its website stating that this year sees a welcome return to hands-on science as the event embraces experimentation, innovation, creativity, curiosity, and invention. Its creative director, Amanda Tyndall, said that “using the 2023 festival as a living laboratory – a space for experimentation with formats, approaches and partnerships – we want audiences of all ages to not just talk about but get up-close with science of all sorts through a special programme of exciting real-life experiments and special events”.

The first Edinburgh Science Festival was held in 1989 when it was opened by the first woman in space, Valentina Tereshkova, and it has gone from strength to strength ever since. So much so that the format has since been adopted by other cities throughout the world.

Science was not my strongest suit at Leith Academy (although I did get an O-grade in zoology and botany, honestly) but I always found that the programme on offer at the festival was educational as well surprising and entertaining. Adults and children alike buzzed around the venues where they could not only attend colourful lectures but could also participate in the various experiments and events that were underway.

Net Zero Secretary Mairi McAllan in conversation with Patricia Espinosa, former executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, during an Edinburgh Science Festival event (Picture: Ian Georgeson)

So, as the festival approaches its 35th anniversary, I celebrate its past and look forward to a healthy future. Over the years, it has proven to be a significant contributor to Edinburgh’s international reputation – long may it continue to do so.