Science festival tickets now on sale

New Zealand International Science Festival, 6th-11th July, 2010, Dunedin, New Zealand

Tickets are on sale now for the seventh New Zealand International Science Festival.

A full programme of festival events is now available on-line and visitors are urged to book early as many of the events, including free children’s workshops, will book out quickly.

Visiting experts attending the festival are Tom McFadden, a ‘science rapper’ and biologist from Stanford (USA); Tim Jarvis AM, a British Antarctic adventurer and environmental scientist; Mr Andrew Greensmith, a University of Otago graduate and specialist plastic surgeon based in Melbourne; NZ chef and author Julie Biuso and Julie Woods, known as ‘that blind woman’, who are teaming up to deliver an extraordinary ‘dining in the dark’ experience.

This year the festival is taking place in Dunedin over six days from 6th July to 11th July, 2010, and the theme is Everyday Science: Food for Thought.

In addition to the visiting experts, the festival involves many local organisations, volunteers, institutions, external event organisers, and a range of local and national sponsors and funders.

Planned events will explore the following topics: the future of our global water supply and the balance between the economy and our environment; medical advances in paediatric plastic surgery; an ‘on the edge – inspirational women in science breakfast’; why we are what we eat; greenhouse gas – no laughing matter; vitamin D deficiency – is it a concern?

The festival will also host the world premiere of the recent University of Otago Medical School documentary, Donated to Science.

There are over 200 dynamic interactive events to interest all ages and open up the world of science to everyone.

The festival programme includes talks, films, debates and a live cabaret show, Dante’s Laboratory – Science of Sin – not to be missed.

The festival also features the huge range of exciting children’s workshops including: how to extract DNA from a tomato; the ‘science of honey’; ‘cooking without looking’; a healthy breakfast; can you turn rubbish into art? And a search for NZ’s first ever ‘science idol’.
Many of the children’s workshops are free, bookings are essential.
A fun competition to reveal the ‘ultimate southern cheese roll’ to be announced shortly.

For a full programme of events, ticket sales and booking information, visit: www.scifest.org.nz or phone 0800 SCIFEST (0800 724 3378).