If you fancy walking on hot coals, watching some custard explode or
pretending to drive a Moon buggy, then make sure you get to Edinburgh over
the next fortnight for the third International Science Festival. The firewalking
will take place on 1 April, the opening day.
The organisers have chosen 鈥榯he human body鈥� as the theme. Conferences
on this topic range from AIDS and cancer to pornography and drugs in sport.
A whole day is devoted to the history of pain control and the prospects
for future treatments.
Aside from a demonstration of 鈥榚xploding custard鈥�, there are plenty
of quirky exhibits and shows. There is an exhibition of creations with Meccano,
and prospective astronauts and space scientists can test out their skills
at a 鈥榮pace school鈥� where Rodney Buckland demonstrates the activities of
his space science centre at Brunel University.
Advertisement
Budding boffins can win themselves 拢1000 in the festival鈥檚 inventors鈥�
competition, but the rivalry is fierce with 40 entries in already. Other
distractions include music and theatre, not to mention the attractions of
Auld Reekie itself. On 13 April, the penultimate day of the festival, there
is an important debate on genetic engineering. The event closes with talks
on body odour and astronomy.
Further information from the Edinburgh Science Festival, Box MP, 20-22
Torphichen Street, Edinburgh EH3 8JB (Tel: 031 226 5138).
