City launches festival of science and engineering

A fortnight-long festival showcasing science and engineering in the city, which is led by Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Sheffield, returns this month in a new form, bigger and better than ever before.

Sheffield Festival of Science and Engineering 2013 sees more eye-opening, inspirational and exciting events for all ages and interests taking place at venues across the city and more than any other city participating in National Science and Engineering Week outside of London.

From Monday 11 March 2013 to Saturday 24 March 2013, this year's festival includes 168 events in schools and colleges across the region, along with plenty of free, public events in the city’s universities and museums.

Events will be taking place across the region involving schools, colleges, libraries and museums, all offering communities a unique opportunity to learn more about the world-leading research taking place across the region.

The aim of the Sheffield Festival of Science and Engineering is not just to celebrate the achievements of the past but to see, in the research and development of the present, a vision for the future in all areas of science and technology.

This festival demonstrates the enormous richness of scientific and technical talent that can be found in South Yorkshire; not only in the universities but in schools and industries across the region.

On Wednesday 20 March, Nigel Hayes, the CEO of Siemens MT UK will deliver a special lecture at Sheffield Hallam University on some of the biggest challenges facing engineering today. On Friday 22 March, Dr Ray Veness from CERN will appear at Sheffield Hallam to tell the story of the Large Hadron Collider.

University of Sheffield Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Science Professor Tony Ryan will turn the table on fellow scientist and author Professor Jim Al-Khalili, presenter of Radio 4’s Life Scientific, at the University of Sheffield’s Firth Hall, Firth Court, on Tuesday 19 March 2013 at 6pm when the acclaimed interviewer will be the one in the hot seat and answering the questions.

And on Friday 15 March Christina King, from Sheffield Hallam's Academy of Sport and Physical Activity, will explain how the University's Centre for Sports Engineering Research helped Team GB have their most successful Olympic Games ever.

In 1657 scientist Von Guericke invented an air pump, a discovery that almost went unnoticed until he demonstrated the effects of atmospheric pressures by getting two teams of horses to try and pull apart a hemisphere until air was readmitted.  Professor Charles Stirling of the University of Sheffield’s Department of Chemistry will be joined by Dr Richard Walton of the Science Education Centre at Sheffield Hallam to recreate this famous demonstration – with students standing in for animals – in the Winter Gardens at 2pm on Saturday 23 March.

All events are free but places must be reserved. For more information on these events, and many more taking place, please see the full programme which is available online at www.scienceweeksy.org.uk  

Sheffield Festival of Science and Engineering is supporting the National Science and Engineering Week 2013, organised by the British Science Association.

 For press information contact: Joe Field on 0114 225 2074 or email pressoffice@shu.ac.uk