September 2013 Public Engagement Events

Summer may be coming to a close but never fear, our Engaging Science grantholders have a wide variety of activities to keep your spirits up. 

Metta Theatre’s aerial circus production, Well
Credit: Richard Davenport

Fusing classical Indian dance and contemporary aerial circus set against a rich soundscape of Bengali music, Well is based on the accidental large scale arsenic poisoning of villagers in Bangladesh by well-meaning international aid agencies. Performing at the Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds 27-28 September, Metta Theatre’s newest production examines the personal and global impacts of international interventions that go wrong.

“Closing Down Sale: 50% off old people! Get them before they expire! Feel free to window shop! Warning: May contain surprises.” Inspired by research into how our bodies and minds age Bradford theatre company Freedom Studios challenge common perceptions about what it means to be an older member of society in Britain. Performances of The Pensioner Warehouse will take place at Forster’s Bistro and Deli, Bradford on 28 September, 1 October and 19 October.

Small Wonders, a new 3D film exploring the beauty and danger of the microorganisms, premiers at  ArtLacuna, London between 18-21 September. Artist-filmmaker Kate Goodwin has collaborated with microbiologist Terence M Preston to give the viewer an insight into the hidden world of the microscopic organisms found at the surface of lakes and ponds all over the world. A panel Q&A will be held 21 September at 3pm.

Professor Hallux has been building a body but something has gone wrong. Join the Professor and his indispensable assistant Nurse Nanobot as they check their creation – brain to toes, and all the bits in between – to work out what’s gone wrong. In this immersive production for 7-11 year olds the audience will meet medical characters past and present while learning how our bodies work. Professor Hallux Alive! will be at the Chickenshed Theatre, London, 28 September and 5 October.

For one night only

In 2011, James Piercy suffered a traumatic injury. Lively, entertaining and at times highly emotional, What’s going on his head? follows James’ journey from car crash to recovery, exploring the science behind MRIs, brain structure and trauma along the way. Join him at the annual British Science Festival, Newcastle, 10 September at 3.30pm. The talk will be followed by a panel discussion with leading experts in neurology and surgery. Other festival highlights include Daredevil labs’ Xtreme Everest 2, 8 September at 1.30pm and on 10 September at 12pm, our very own head of Communications, Mark Henderson , will be chairing a panel discussion Three parent babies: myth or reality?

Wellcome Trust public engagement fellow, Erinma Ochu, will be giving her first TED talk at TED^xCity2.0 at Greenhouse, Leeds, 20 September. Erinma will be talking about her latest project, Everyday Growing Cultures, a six month pilot study connecting allotment growers and the open data community that ran over the spring and summer. The project explored the potential of digital engagement and open data to help allotment holders build stronger communities, address food security and increase environmental sustainability all while aiming to benefit the local economy.

Guerilla Science continue to indulge their fondness for taking science to unusual locations this time popping up on a canal. Mixing science, art and music, Everyday Science Part 2 will be at the Limehouse Basin, London, 29 September as part of The Floating Cinema experience.

Enjoy at your leisure

ThinkOutreach, based in Cambridge, host a range of events aiming to bring critical thinking to new audiences. Live events include Skeptics in the Pub, separating the fact and fiction of everyday life and contentious or interesting topics over a pint and Bright Club, the comedy night that puts academics behind the mic. The team have collated the talks and conversations from past events and made the freely available as a series of podcasts for you to enjoy at your leisure.

Last chance to see

Mark Neville’s latest exhibition Deeds Not Words continues at the Photographers’ Gallery, London until 29 September.  The exhibition follows on from the book of the same name documenting the fight of the Corby 16 to claim compensation for young people with birth defects caused by improper removal of toxic waste in the town. Never commercially distributed, the book was sent to local authorities and environmental agencies to raise awareness of the issues around handling toxic waste. Displaying photographs and films from the project, this is Neville’s first public display of the work.

If you are inspired to go along to any of the events above, please come back to leave a comment and let us know what you thought!

Thanks to our Engaging Science colleague Lois Browne for the info.