The Cambridge Science Festival has won the Public Body Award at the inaugural Directory of Social Change Awards Ceremony this week.

The DSC awards, in their first year, aim to recognise the contribution individuals, companies, NGOs and public bodies have made to the community.

The ceremony, held at Central Hall in Westminster, was introduced by Ed Miliband, Minister for the Third Sector.

The Public Body Award was presented to the organisation that has worked most effectively with the community to achieve shared social change objectives.

The Cambridge Science Festival, organised and hosted by the University of Cambridge, is the largest free science festival in the UK and regularly attracts more than 25,000 people for two weeks of events during Science and Engineering Week in March.

It encourages the general public, and particularly young people, to take an interest in science and its application in society. Hands-on experiments such as rocket building, learning to extract DNA from kiwi fruit and creating controlled explosions aim to inspire more pupils to study science as the number of young people opting for science subjects post-GCSE continues to decline.

Shelley Rodwell, Festivals and Outreach Officer said: ‘We're absolutely delighted to receive the award and very pleased to be inspiring the next generation of scientists'.

The three shortlisted nominees in the category were voted on by charity sector professionals and the general public. The Cambridge Science Festival received over 50 per cent of the votes to take the prize.

The next Cambridge Science Festival will be held 10 – 20 March 2008. The theme for next year is ‘The World of Science' to coincide with the China Now Festival planned for 2008 and the mid stage of the International Polar Year (2007-2009).

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