The British Science Festival is Europe’s longest-standing national event which connects people with scientists, engineers, technologists and social scientists, and this year it’s coming to Swansea.
Throughout the festival’s programme, scientific discussion is regularly framed by the context of associated social issues. One of the highlights of this year’s festival is sure to be its expert panel discussion on the subject of swearing. Dr Gabriela Jiga-Boy, a social psychologist at Swansea University who will be leading the discussion, is eager to explore how the targets and functions of swearing in British culture have changed with the times, and also how swearing varies from one culture to another.
Elsewhere, the Biological Sciences Section’s Presidential Address will feature a debate between the Society for Endocrinology’s panel of hormone and fertility experts regarding the social implications of egg freezing: a new technology touted as a game-changer for women wanting to delay motherhood. Another panel discussion entitled {The Fight for the Beautiful Game}, organised by the Sociology and Social Policy Section, will explore the development of football into a corporate business and the important role fans have played in challenging this.
While the festival’s promotion of social issue subjects is sure to broaden and diversify its appeal, there will be plenty to get visitors of a more purely scientific inclination and disposition scratching their heads and dropping their jaws too. For {Masters of the Genome}, organised by the British Science Association, John Parrington will examine the technologies taking genome editing – building an organism from scratch – from the realm of science fiction to that of reality, explaining our movement towards a world in which individual organs can be grown and brain cells stimulated with lasers and evaluating the impacts this might have on our society.
The range in talks on offer at the festival really is incredible. Those interested in learning about our ancient past can join Kasia Szpakowska for a study of how ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses helped them make sense of a mysterious and frightening world. After her presentation, Kasia will take her audience to the Egypt Centre Museum of Egyptian Antiquities to explore the Daemon Trail, and also provide an opportunity to see demon-related Egyptian artefacts up close at an object handling session.
JACOB MIER
The British Science Festival, Various venues across Swansea, Tues 6 – Fri 9 Sept. Admission: free. Info: www.britishsciencefestival.org
