Pint of Science Festival comes to Edinburgh for first time

Pint of Science takes research out of the lab. Picture: contributed

Now more than 20 top scientists will take their place propping up the bar as the world’s largest public science festival hits the Capital for the first time.

The Pint of Science festival was dreamed up four years ago by a pair of London-based researchers, who wanted to take science out of the lab and to share its fun side with a wider audience.

Punters can knock back a drink while listening to talks on how stars are made, why the brain looks like pasta and why eating insects could tackle malnutrition.

Edinburgh joint co-ordinator Roseanne Smith said: “Edinburgh’s first Pint of Science festival will be a fantastic opportunity to bring Edinburgh University’s finest science researchers out of their labs and into the city’s pubs.

“Pint of Science festival gives scientists a chance to tell their science stories, and what are pubs for if not great storytelling and pints?

“Edinburgh’s festival-loving inhabitants will be able to interact with real scientists involved in tackling real-world problems, to question them and to be inspired by them.”

The three-day festival will see thousands of scientists simultaneously standing up and talking about their research in 100 cities across 12 countries around the world.

Dr Praveen Paul, one of the festival founders from Imperial College London, said: “We want to give people the opportunity to learn about the latest scientific developments directly from the scientists themselves – and then feel free to question them.

“We were at first surprised by the public’s appetite for these events and by the interest from both volunteer organisers and speakers. The rapid growth of Pint of Science from a grassroots effort to a global movement has shown that we may have been underestimating both scientists and the public, and that there is a greater need for more events like these.”

Researchers can be found speaking at The Three Sisters in Cowgate, the Safari Lounge in Cadzow Place, City Café in Blair Street and the Canons’ Gait, from May 23-25.

Each evening will also include a range of science-related activities including live experiments, science comedy, fun quizzes, geeky puzzles, engaging stories and other interactive activities.

Tickets for each event cost £4 from www.pintofscience.co.uk.

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