Edinburgh is a city of contrasts – a fact that is hard to dispute. It offers a huge variety of interesting, vibrant, and, of course, educational experiences. The latter refers to the numerous events dedicated to science, art, and history. These include exhibitions, lectures, brunches, discussions, and festivals, all aimed at raising the educational level of locals and tourists alike. Find out more at edinburghski.
Among these, The Edinburgh Science Festival deserves special mention. It attracts thousands of participants and, year after year, amazes with its unique programme and fascinating themes that simply cannot leave anyone indifferent.
The Organisation Behind the Premier Science Event
It’s fair to start by explaining that the festival is run with the direct involvement of an educational charity called Edinburgh Science. It was founded in 1989, and the idea of holding The Edinburgh Science Festival belongs to this very organisation.
This is a major celebration of science and technology held in Edinburgh and is the largest of its kind in Europe.
In addition to the festival, Edinburgh Science places a huge emphasis on education. To this end, it runs a touring programme called Generation Science, visiting schools all across Scotland.
The organisation also occasionally holds interesting and beneficial events abroad.
More About the Science Celebration’s Programme
As for The Edinburgh Science Festival – the largest festival organised by Edinburgh Science – the following is worth noting.
This event is held annually, typically during the Edinburgh school Easter holidays. The festival programme is incredibly rich and truly surprises participants and guests every year. On average, over two weeks, around 270 different science-related events are held. These include all sorts of discussions, lectures, talks, hands-on workshops, and, of course, family days.
Partners Actively Involved in The Edinburgh Science Festival
Interestingly, to deliver the festival, Edinburgh Science collaborates with many partner venues. These include The National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh Zoo, The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, and Summerhall.
It is thanks to them that such a rich and vibrant programme is achieved, offering the public the chance to learn about the many facets of science.
The Festival’s Debut
The very first Edinburgh Science Festival was held in 1989. At the time, it was a real sensation and something extraordinary. The debut event was sponsored by The City of Edinburgh Council and The Scottish Government.
A Prestigious Award and the Story of One Recipient
Of course, in addition to introducing the public to new and interesting developments and technologies in science, the festival also allows for the rewarding of the best scientists. It was for this purpose that The Edinburgh Medal was established in 1988. Since then, this prestigious award has been presented annually to men and women who have achieved outstanding results in science and technology. Each of their developments or inventions is considered to have made a significant contribution to improving life on the planet.
Another special feature of the festival is that the recipient of the award must deliver a lecture.
Among the individuals who have been honoured with The Edinburgh Medal, it is fair to highlight Christiana Figueres (Karen Christiana Figueres Olsen). She has been recognised as a world leader on global climate change. The woman made maximum efforts to bring countries together to forge a collective agreement on climate change. Subsequently, Christiana became the Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and played a key role in the successful conclusion of the Paris Agreement negotiations. As a result, all countries in the world committed to avoiding global warming.
Thus, The Edinburgh Science Festival is one of the world’s leading science-related events. Its organisation allows the public to get a closer look at unique technologies that can improve the lives of modern society. This is achieved not only through the demonstration of new developments and inventions. Meetings with numerous scientists, interesting lectures, and discussions greatly simplify the process of engaging with the scientific sphere. It is fair to say that at the festival, complex subjects and processes are explained in simple terms. This is one of the great strengths of the event, especially since the festival programme is very large and its themes are incredibly diverse, making accessibility crucial.
Furthermore, The Edinburgh Science Festival helps to promote talent. In particular, The Edinburgh Medal serves to encourage people who have made significant achievements, meaning it is thanks to them that science continues its relentless development.