British Science Festival 2024 Wrap-Up

We were thrilled to bring the British Science Festival back to the capital for the first time since 2000 earlier this month, working in partnership with the University of East London (UEL).

In total, the Festival included almost 100 free events across the UEL Docklands campus, UEL Stratford campus and in other Stratford venues, offering talks and activities that entertained, educated, and inspired us all.

From cutting-edge discussions on AI and a genetics-themed bingo session, to Sonic Spider (a massive spider-inspired musical instrument) and driverless cars. This year’s Festival had something for everyone.

As we start preparing for next year’s Festival in Liverpool, let’s take a moment to look back on some stand-out events that left us in awe.  

Alright Boom! With Big Manny and the Royal Institution

TikTok sensation Big Manny, alongside presenters from the Royal Institution, lit up Old Town Hall Stratford with exciting science demos. With more than 1.8 million followers across social media, Manny is known for creating engaging content that brings science to new audiences.

At the event, Manny reflected on the inspiration behind his passion for science, sharing, 'When I was in Year 8, I had a science teacher called Mr. Carter. You could see his face light up, and you could feel his excitement… and now I’m trying to do the same thing for young people today, exciting them with science.'

The Guardian's Science Weekly Podcast - Live! Will AI make a good companion?

At the UEL Docklands campus, we hosted a thought-provoking live recording of The Guardian's Science Weekly podcast on the topic of AI.

The panel included the Guardian’s Science Editor, Ian Sample, Professor Tony Prescott, and Dr. Mhairi Aitken, who explored the complexities of AI friendships and their potential benefits and pitfalls to tackle loneliness.

The conversation also touched on romantic relationships, and we were surprised to learn that AI-bot ‘girlfriend’ and ‘boyfriend’ platforms are a fast-growing industry. Many AI-bot startups are apparently very popular, making on average £100k a month.

The panel raised concerns as to whether this could set up unrealistic expectations in real life. People will be sharing deeply private, personal information to AI chatbot services, which are vulnerable to hackers and leaks.

Listen to the podcast on the Guardian website here 

The winning edge: how elite athletes get to the top of the podium

Sports enthusiasts were treated to an inspiring panel at this unique event on the first day of the Festival: world champion rower, Dame Katherine Grainger; former British and Commonwealth record holder for the 800m and 600m, Diane Modahl; and Olympic heptathlete, Kelly Sotherton, all took part in the discussion.

We learnt about their journeys to the podium, exploring how science and technology played crucial roles in their training, nutrition, and performance. They touched on the gap in research on women’s health and performance, particularly in relation to menstrual cycles, and how things have really changed for female athletes today.

Kelly Sotherton shared that science played a crucial role in her success as a performance athlete. Competing in the heptathlon at 27 was unusual, so she relied on scientific support, including a physiologist who optimised her running programme and helped improve her rowing. This involved extensive lab work, including VO2 max testing and regular blood checks

Is it a crime to be poor? 

The "Is it a Crime to Be Poor?" panel featured criminal justice experts Siddhartha Bandyopadhyay, Professor of economics at the University of Birmingham, Pia Sinha, former prison governor, Richard Garside, Director of the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, and Martine Lignon, a social justice campaigner. Together, they explored the links between poverty and incarceration.

The panel shared troubling findings about the prison population, highlighting how children expelled from school or facing difficult starts in life, frequently end up in prison. Children growing up in the care system or unstable environments are particularly vulnerable.

Lacking a solid start in life due to a lower socio-economic background penalises young people long before they reach adulthood.

Genetics Bingo

Did you know that humans share about 60% of their DNA with bananas? That 70% of the human genome is shared with zebrafish? Neither did we! Thanks to the Genetics Bingo event, hosted by Professor Jonathan Pettit from the Genetics Society we’re now full of fun genetics facts!

We spent our evening in Cabana club in Westfield Stratford playing bingo, while learning all things genetics!

Sonic Spider

Ever heard a spider sing? We did at the "Sonic Spider" event, an improvised group performance using a unique instrument inspired by how spiders sense vibrations in their webs. It was a mesmerising experience that blended science and music.

The project is the brainchild of composer and coordinator Camilla Saunders, whose work builds bridges between species on our planet.

Touching Across the Void

We got hands-on in an interactive session led by Dr. Sara Abad Guaman and Professor Helge Wurdemann from University College London. Festival goers got to try a fingertip device, which makes the sensation of touch possible through technology.

The bioinspired haptic system (called the BAMH system) they developed uses vibrations to stimulate touch receptors, delivering a surprisingly lifelike experience. The hands-on demonstration offered insight into how tech could change lives for those who’ve lost their sense of touch.

The impressive work by the UCL researchers were even featured in the Daily Mail, The Times, The Telegraph, Independent and the Financial Times, along with hundreds of regional outlets, highlighting the impact of their work.

Taking the backseat with self-driving cars

We also stepped into the future and got into the driving seat with Bani Anvari from UCL’s research on self-driving cars. Her cutting-edge research reveals how autonomous technology is revolutionising transport.

Through the interactive session, we got to experience the freedom these vehicles offer, from giving people more time to enabling visually impaired individuals to take the wheel.

It was an immersive experience that showed us the future of mobility. We learnt how technology can better transportation for everyone, while also being lots of fun to play with!

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As we wrap up this year's British Science Festival, we're already looking ahead with excitement to next year's event in Liverpool. We can’t wait to see what the 2025 British Science Festival has in store, as we continue to celebrate the wonders of science. See you in Liverpool!