Cambridge Science Festival 2007

The Festival gives families and adults the opportunity to get a taste for the excitement of science across the University – from astronomy to zoology. Many of the demonstrations and hands-on activities will take place during the Science on Saturday events on 17 and 24 March.

TV presenter Carol Vorderman, one of the newly-created Patrons of Cambridge Science Festival, will launch the first Science on Saturday on 17 March at 11 am in the Babbage Lecture Theatre, New Museums Site. She will be joined by Channel 4's Men in White who will solve a challenge set by local school pupils.

Later in the day, a team from Harvard University will present the Ig Nobel Prize Show for science that makes you laugh first, then think.

For 2007 the main Festival highlights for families include: Crash, Bang, Squelch , 50 fun events run by Cambridge students; the famous rice crispie inferno, demonstrated by Dr Peter Wothers in his It's a Gas lecture (both 17 March); and an exploration of physics with experiments from Lab-in-a-Lorry at the Cavendish Laboratory (24 March).

Among attractions for teenagers are Dr Jim McElwaine's Avalanche lecture, in which he describes how he sent half a million ping pong balls down a ski jump to explore the science of avalanches, and the chance to discover the wonders of the universe at the Institute of Astronomy (both 24 March).

For teenagers and adults, the Spotlight on Science lectures offer an insight into some of the current hot topics in science. The series includes talks by Lord Robert Winston, who will be asking Can we really trust biologists? (12 March), and a joint lecture by Professor Colin Blakemore, Director of the Medical Research Council, and Professor Austin Smith, Director of the new Wellcome Trust Institute for Stem Cell Research, who will look at Science in the Real World (15 March).

From 12 to 16 March the Cambridge Science Festival Schools' Roadshow takes leading Cambridge scientists out into local schools to give talks aimed at children aged five upwards and tailored to the National Curriculum. Topics range from Cuckoo tricks with eggs and chicks to How to hunt a submarine.

Science Festival Co-ordinator Nicola Buckley said: “This spring we are offering additional schools' days, targeted at years 9 to 13, to involve over 500 teenagers in Science Master Classes which will give them an insight into the world of science at University and future career opportunities. This is in addition to sending more than 30 lecturers out to schools throughout Eastern England to give talks.”

Now in its 14th year, Cambridge Science Festival is the UK's largest free, fun science event, last year attracting more than 25,000 people. This year's Festival will encompass more than 100 events across 40 departments and five sites.

The Science Festival now has a Board of Patrons, who are well-known figures in science communication from the University and beyond. Chaired by Professor Malcolm Longair, they include journalists and scientists who have been involved with the Festival over several years.

The Patrons are Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, Professor John Barrow, Dr Henry Gee, Dr Roger Highfield, Professor Sir Gabriel Horn, Professor Peter Lipton, Professor Peter Littlewood, Tim Radford, Lord Rees of Ludlow, Professor Barbara Sahakian, Professor Jeremy Sanders, Dr Andrew Sugden and Carol Vorderman.

For a full programme of events visit the link above right, or call the information line on 01223 766766. Booking is required for some events: early booking is advised.

The 2007 Cambridge Science Festival's principal sponsors are Agilent Technologies, Cambridge University Press, Microsoft Research, Vodafone UK Foundation, and the Wellcome Trust. A further 15 companies and charitable trusts have also contributed.