Wrexham Science Festival 2010

Wrexham Science FeStival thursday 1 July – Saturday 10 July 2010 ScientriFFic Saturday 3 July

TH

NIV EU

ERSE

THE A

NI M
W AL

H&

ORL

EART

D

ND

&B ODY

IG BR

TS PA R
H

AN H UM
I M

KS

www.wrexhamsf.com

Wrexham Science Festival

Gwyl ˆ Wyddoniaeth Wrecsam

Welcome to the 2010 Wrexham Science Festival
Wrexham Science Festival is back – and the 2010 event promises to be more spectacular than ever before. The programme has a fresh feel – packed with a diverse mix of events which will encourage the investigation and enjoyment of science and technology. • New for 2010 This year’s festival will run from Thursday 1 July to Saturday 10 July 2010. The hands-on science spectacular Scientriffic will take place on Saturday 3 July. • TV and radio broadcaster and entertainer Johnny Ball will launch the festival on Thursday 1 July (see page 4). • By popular demand, many of this year’s events have been timed at 6pm and 7.30pm so that it is possible to attend two events in one evening. • New for 2010 Four new themes
EarTh and ThE UnivErSE animal World hUman mind & Body BrighT SparkS

how to book
You can book places for these events through the following outlets: Online www.wrexhamsf.com Email Requests for tickets should be sent to [email protected] and should include the following information: name of event, date of event, number of tickets required, contact name, contact address, email address and contact telephone number Telephone Glyndŵr University 01978 293466 Wrexham Tourist Information Centre 01978 292015 In person At Wrexham Tourist Information Centre, Lambpit Street, Wrexham, LL11 1AR Online and email ticket requests will receive a confirmation email which you should keep as your ticket for the event. Confirmation emails will also be sent for telephone requests, where possible. Printed tickets will be issued for requests made in person.

Key information
Locations Glyndŵr University, Wrexham campus unless otherwise specified.

Look out for the symbols next to each event! • New for 2010 Photography competition (see page 14 for details)

The Wrexham Science Festival has been organised by:
as a member of the Wrexham Science Festival Steering Group which also includes:

Age An age guidance is given next to each event. The festival tries to ensure that it is accurate as possible when recommending a minimum age for each event.

Wrexham Science Festival

Gw yl ˆ Wyddoniaeth Wrecsam

the eventS
BusINEss BrEAkfAsT LAuNch ThE NEEd fOr dEEr mANAgEmENT peter Watson, The deer initiative ltd animal World 7.30-9.30am, Catrin Finch Centre, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham Wild deer are a valuable part of our natural heritage. Their recent increase is due in part to the removal of major predators by man, the abundance of food in our managed environment and a succession of mild winters. Deer can make a positive contribution to our landscape, but numbers can easily get out of control, with serious impacts on woodlands and agriculture, and collisions on the roads. The aim of the Deer Initiative is to ensure the delivery of a sustainable, well managed wild deer population in England and Wales. Lesley Griffiths AM will introduce this event with an overview of the importance of science to industry. Sponsored by Glyndŵr Innovations. Free event including free breakfast. Pre-booking essential. Age Guide: 18+ PAsT ImPErfEcT, fuTurE fANTAsTIc Johnny Ball BrighT SparkS 7.30pm, William aston hall, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham Johnny Ball has been talking to audiences of all ages on Maths and Science for over 30 years, offering a mixture of historic insights into just how and why people of genius made their most famous discoveries and a positive look at the present as well as an eye to the future. In Isaac Newton’s day there were just a handful of genii, but today there are thousands in every field of science and technology, and potentially many thousands more amongst today’s school children. Sadly today young and old are constantly fed doom and gloom stories of how man is damaging the earth. This tends to breed fear rather than convey knowledge or paint a true picture of how things really are. We are an enormous weight on the earth, that cannot be denied. Yet there are so many instances of how we are improving every aspect of our impact on and our care for the earth and everything in it. All the great scientific names of the past were both confident and optimistic about our future and in his talk Johnny will be conveying that optimism. Free event. Age Guide: 10+

ArT/scIENcE ExhIBITION - VIsuALIsINg ThE INVIsIBLE: ArTIsTs wOrkINg IN mENTAL hEALTh hUman mind & Body Catrin Finch Centre, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham 9am-5pm Weekdays, Closed Saturday & Sunday durber gallery, north Wales School of art & design, regent Street, Wrexham 11am-3pm and 5.30pm - 7.30pm Weekdays, Saturday 10am-4pm, Closed Sunday This exhibition includes paintings, photographs, films and installations created by the artists, patients and staff at the Ablett Unit, Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. The exhibits display rhythms, colours and trace, communicating ideas that the patients have been unable to articulate in the spoken word but have expressed through their artworks. The works have been developed from an Artist Residency at the hospital, by Wrexham based artist and researcher Karen Heald. Karen delivered a programme of workshops for the patients and staff, with artist mentee and Glyndŵr University art student Jaime Kelly, assisted by painter and lecturer Susan Liggett. The Artist Residency was funded by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Safle, Glyndŵr University, the Arts Council of Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government. Free Event. Age Guide: All ages

Friday 2 – saTurday 10 July

Thursday 1 July

Friday 2 July

ThE BEsT Of scIENcE Steve allman, Show me learning EarTh and ThE UnivErSE 6pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham Sound reactive materials, slime, neurological tests, optical illusions, explosions and invisibility (yes, honest!) - come and celebrate the Best of Science with Steve Allman of Show Me Learning. Steve has been wowing audiences for more than 20 years with his hands-on science shows, talking about everything from brain science to chocolate and breaking the world record for the longest chain of bubbles ever made. The sciencebusting Best of Science show promises plenty of fun and mess – and not just to do with Astrophysics and Zoology, but plenty more in between. Sponsored by the Royal Society of Chemistry North West Trust. Free event. Age Guide: 8+

4

5

ELEcTrIc cArs Or fLyINg sAucErs? dr graham Sparey-Taylor, glyndŵr University BrighT SparkS 6pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham In 2007, a Welsh team built a solar-powered car for a material cost of just £8000, using new and recycled off-the-shelf components. The vehicle, Gwawr, went on to win the Panasonic World Solar Challenge Environmental Awareness Award 2007. Now, led by Glyndŵr University’s Dr Graham Sparey-Taylor and Tom Boddington, a new solar car is being built in Wrexham. Nos Gwawr II will have two alternative body kits, one an aerodynamic design for racing and another mode which makes the car suitable for commuting. Learn about the scientific challenges in building a solar car and catch a glimpse of a half-length model of Nos Gwawr II which has been used for testing. It’s now 20 years since solar cars affordable for the general public were first predicted by Howard Wilson, the brains behind General Motors’ Sunraycer. It might not be feasible to mass produce Nos Gwawr II just yet, but could the science behind the technology and low cost production provide a breakthrough in making solar cars attainable to the general public? Free Event. Age Guide: 8+ VIsuALIsINg ThE INVIsIBLE: ArTIsTs wOrkINg IN mENTAL hEALTh dr Susan liggett, glyndŵr University and karen heald, research assistant, Salford University hUman mind & Body 6pm, durber gallery, north Wales School of art & design, regent Street, Wrexham Art might sound like the last thing you’d expect to be helping to ease Mental Health patients back to good health, but in a ward of an NHS hospital in North Wales that’s exactly what has been happening. Funded by Safle, one of the largest public art organisations in Wales, in December 2009 Wrexham-based artist and researcher Karen Heald finished a nine-month project as an Artist in Residence at the Ablett Unit, an acute inpatient adult psychiatric unit at the Betsi Cadwaldr University Health Board, Glan Clwyd Hospital. Karen delivered workshops for staff and patients in painting, drawing, creative writing, video/sound and photography. The painting workshops were co-facilitated by Glyndŵr University lecturer Susan Liggett. The exhibition Visualising the Invisible includes paintings, films, photographs and installations created by Karen, Susan and patients and staff at the hospital. View the exhibition and hear from the artists who’ve been working on the project about the therapeutic benefits of art. Free Event. Age Guide: 8+

whO INVENTEd scIENcE? Brian Clegg, Creativity Unleashed BrighT SparkS 7.30pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham Explore what science is and what it means to be a scientist with science writer Brian Clegg, founder of science training group Creativity Unleashed Limited. Discover how the concept of science has evolved over time, from the Ancient Greeks through to the modern day. Why do we do science? Why is it so important? And just who exactly was our first scientist – Archimedes? Roger Bacon? Leonardo da Vinci? Galileo? Maxwell, even? Hear a case for each of these famous individuals to be given the accolade and then cast your vote at the end of the lecture. Free Event. Age Guide: 16+

Friday 2 July

Friday 2 July

Siobhan logan and Susan richardson, polar poets EarTh and ThE UnivErSE 7.30pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham A unique show which evokes the unique appeal of the one of the planet’s last great wildernesses – the Arctic. Arctic-ulate interweaves poetry, storytelling, monologue and music to explore the science and heritage of the Arctic, from ice-melt and aurora borealis (the northern lights) to indigenous peoples and European explorers. Climate change and industrialisation are also at the heart of the show, with the show’s devisers, Polar Poets Siobhan Logan and Susan Richardson, encouraging the audience to reflect on some of the most pressing environmental issues of our time. Free Event. Age Guide: 16+ scIENTrIffIc 10am – 4pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham Interactive family science day with activities for all ages. See page 22 for more details.

ArcTIc-uLATE

saTurday 3 July

6

7

dOEs my gOLdfIsh sEE cOLOur? professor ron douglas, The Colour group (gB) animal World 6pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham Many people think a lot of animals are colour blind and that humans have the best colour vision. This talk will destroy this myth. You will learn how humans see colour and that although a few animals do not see colour, the majority do. In fact many birds and fish have superior colour vision to our own. The talk will also include a discussion on colour blindness including testing the audience’s colour blindness. Most vision, however, occurs not in the eye, but in the brain. This will be demonstrated using a series of visual illusions. Sponsored by The Colour Group (GB). Free Event. Age Guide: 16+ OccuPATIONAL scIENcE – hOw ‘dOINg’ cAN mAkE us hAPPy helen Carey, glyndŵr University hUman mind & Body 6pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham This presentation is a light hearted look at the importance of occupation and how meaningful and purposeful ‘doing’ makes us happy. Some of the questions explored include: what is happiness? when do we consider we are truly happy?, and when are we happy with what we do? The importance of balancing work, rest and play will be linked to happiness and the impact of occupational deprivation will be explored–reflecting on the experiences of prisoners, hostages and hospital patients as examples. The talk will also consider how occupation can be used in physical and mental rehabilitation and provide a few recommendations on how to improve your happiness through ‘doing’! Free event. Age Guide: 16+ sIr EdwArd APPLETON: dIscOVErEr Of ThE IONOsPhErE ANd gOdfAThEr TO ThE JOdrELL BANk rAdIOTELEscOPE professor peter Excell, glyndŵr University BrighT SparkS 6pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham Sir Edward Appleton is renowned in the field of radio science and much of his research and discoveries have influenced the innovations we see today such as the launch of the first satellites. He was able to use his influence to aid the setting-up of research laboratories, particularly at Harwell and Jodrell Bank. This presentation reviews Appleton’s life and work, relates it to the development of radio/wireless communications, and gives an outline understanding of the Earth’s space environment. Free event. Age Guide: 8+

dOINg drugs IN BrITIsh PrIsONs Susan Wighton, glyndŵr University hUman mind & Body 7.30pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham The prison population in the UK is one of the highest per capita in Europe (Home Office, 2008). Since 1994 the population has doubled from 40,000 to over 82,000 in 2010. 90% of prisoners have mental health problems of which 80% are estimated to have problems with drug and alcohol use. This lecture will look at how the attitudes to drug use and addiction have overloaded the prison system in the last 16 years. Some of the issues covered include why the drug use happens, the prison drug market, the hazards and what is needed to prevent illegal drug use. Free event. Age Guide: 16+ PArANNOyANcE matt pritchard, lab monkey productions hUman mind & Body 7.30pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham The only thing we have to fear is fear itself…and dinosaurs. The world is as crazy as a bull in a butcher’s shop and Dr Johnny Façade (Matt Pritchard) has had enough of society‘s mad cow disease. Join him as he attempts to grab the horns and figure out fear. (Unless paranoia grips him first.) A fast paced and interactive show that uniquely fuses magic, multimedia and stand-up comedy. Hilarious “clean comedy” that will appeal to a broad age range making this an ideal treat for all the family. Free event. Age Guide: 8+ whEN ThE OIL ruNs OuT…ThE ImPAcT ON Our mATErIAL wOrd professor anthony Johnson, glyndŵr University, polymerisation reaction Engineering group EarTh and ThE UnivErSE 7.30pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham In the last 50 years synthetic materials have become an integral part of modern life. The fact is that synthetic polymers and polymer matrix composites are essential for numerous industrial, electronics, food and health sectors and they impact on almost all aspects of our existence as well as providing employment for millions of people. The small molecules which are needed to build polymeric structures largely stem from non-renewable sources i.e. coal, gas and oil, and these will eventually become scarce and will run out. The impact resulting from a shortage of these basic commodities on our energy supplies is widely debated. The impact on the supply of the many high-tonnage and speciality materials which have become essential to sustain our current standard of living is less well explored and will be the focus of this talk. Free event. Age Guide: 8+

Monday 5 July

Monday 5 July

8

9

NucLEAr POwEr “BAck TO ThE fuTurE” andrew Taylor, magnox north Wylfa Site BrighT SparkS 6pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham New Nuclear Power Stations are back on the political agenda. This talk is about the history of nuclear energy tracing it back to the 1940s’ effort to create an atomic weapon to the present day “renaissance” of nuclear energy. This presentation also looks at the future of Nuclear Energy and asks the question is it more of the same? Free Event. Age Guide: 12+ INVENT A NEw dEsIgN whIch usEs LIghT fOr ThE BENEfIT Of mANkINd ray davies, glyndŵr University BrighT SparkS 6pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham This interactive workshop will invite you to invent, there and then, a new application of Laser Photonics concepts. The workshop will start with a series of practical demonstrations of some of the fundamental concepts involved with Low Power Laser Photonics, and the related optical, and optoelectronics, phenomena; before asking you to either individually, or in small groups, propose some highly innovative ideas for the design of some new applications of Laser Photonics principles. You will be encouraged to carry out some investigative experimentation, in house, of your own devising, to ascertain the feasibility of your new ideas, using the various Photonics components that will be provided. Free event. Age Guide: 16+ ThE POLIcE dNA dATABAsE - PuBLIc dEBATE The Wales gene park hUman mind & Body 6pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham Advances in DNA technology have revolutionised the way the police can protect the public. The creation of a Police DNA Database has helped to identify offenders and secure convictions such as in the case of Sarah Payne. Crimes which had been previously unsolved for several years have now been solved. At present, a DNA sample is taken at a person’s arrest. However, the Home Office has recently announced that even if a person is not found guilty, their information will be held on the database for a number of years. Some people believe that information from innocents should not be held. Others call for the database to include everyone living or visiting the UK. What do you think? Take your opportunity to listen and question experts about the science and wider issues surrounding the use of DNA in solving crimes. Free event. Age Guide: 16+

TAkINg INsPIrATION frOm NATurE (A cOmPuTINg PErsPEcTIVE) david howard, University of the West of England hUman mind & Body 6pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham Natural processes are very powerful but how can we learn from them and use them to our benefit? Throughout this talk David will discuss how powerful evolution, genetics and the human brain are and how their power can be harnessed to achieve a goal or solve problems. This will involve an introduction to evolutionary computation and neural networks. The talk will be illustrated using a range of film clips to show why nature is such a powerful force including swarming behaviours, colony behaviour, collective behaviour and survival as well as a look at evolving virtual creatures. Free event. Age Guide: 16+ why dOEs E=mc²? professor Jeff Forshaw, manchester University EarTh and ThE UnivErSE 7.30pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham Based on his groundbreaking book, written with Professor Brian Cox, Professor Jeff Forshaw will showcase an illuminating journey to the frontier of 21st century science to consider the real meaning behind the iconic sequence of symbols that make up Einstein’s most famous equation, E=mc². Breaking down the symbols themselves, they pose a series of questions: what is energy? what is mass? what has the speed of light got to do with energy and mass? Answering this question is at the heart of the investigation as it demonstrates how, in order to truly understand why E=mc², we first must understand why we must move forward in time and not backwards and how objects in our 3-dimensional world actually move in 4-dimensional space-time: in other words, how the very fabric of our world is constructed. Free event. Age Guide: 16+

Monday 5 July

Tuesday 6 July

Tuesday 6 July
10

11

PLAy ANd PLAyINg: ThE ImPOrTANcE Of ThE sEEmINgLy frIVOLOus Ben Tawil, glyndŵr University hUman mind & Body 7.30pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham This interactive seminar combines practical activities with a lecture style presentation to enable you to learn about and experience the benefits of playing for children and young people (maybe adults too). Playwork lecturer, Ben Tawil will showcase recent research in children’s play and playwork to argue that rather than our preoccupation with specific and deferred skills development, we may be better to focus our concerns onto the immediate benefits of play for emotional wellbeing, people and place attachment, brain growth and development, socialisation, stress response systems and last but not least pleasure and enjoyment. Free event. Age Guide: 8+ sTANdINg uP fOr NATurE dr paul Evans EarTh and ThE UnivErSE 7.30pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham The United Nations has declared 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity. The UK government had pledged to halt the decline in biodiversity by this year. Given the speed and intensity of biodiversity decline in species and habitats it is easy to be cynical but Dr Paul Evans believes there’s an important philosophical problem to discuss. Biodiversity is an opaque term for many, and may obstruct our relations with nature by alienating the public, submitting to a market-driven view of ecology, ignoring the cultural and spiritual value of the wild and becoming self-destructive. This talk will explore a counter view around the idea of symbiosis and community. The year of biodiversity offers an opportunity to reassess what we mean by the term and how our relations with the world can change by standing up for nature. Sponsored by The Association for Science Education. Free event. Age Guide: 8+

ThE dEVELOPmENT Of “ThE OrThOPAEdIc” david adams, rJ&ah orthopaedic hospital hUman mind & Body 6pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham Looking at the history and the development of “The Orthopaedic” David Adams will talk about some of the people in history who were crucial in the development of this field. Like Dame Agnes Hunt and her colleague Emily Goodford who together established a Convalescent Home for Children and Sir Robert Jones who publicised the Thomas splint which saved countless lives in the First World War. Sir Robert Jones was also responsible for developing orthopaedics as a separate specialty. Up until then it had been a part of General Medicine. Free event. Age Guide: 8+ BIOdIVErsITy ON yOur dOOrsTEP Emma Broad, Wrexham Biodiversity group, Wrexham County Borough Council animal World 6pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham From the tiniest bug to the oldest oak tree biodiversity can be found all around us; you certainly don’t need to go to Africa to see exciting and interesting wildlife. Come along and find out about the amazing biodiversity that can be found in Wrexham County Borough, what might be lurking at the bottom of your garden or secretly visiting your home at night! 2010 is International Year of Biodiversity and this talk will help you understand and appreciate the biodiversity in and around Wrexham, and the special habitats and species that we can see around us. Free Event. Age Guide: All ages hOw wE cONVErT ThE suN’s ENErgy INTO ELEcTrIcITy professor Stuart irvine, glyndŵr University, Centre for Solar Energy research EarTh and ThE UnivErSE 6pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham This talk by Professor Stuart Irvine, Director of the Centre for Solar Energy Research, will explore how energy from the sun can be converted into electricity and can help to avert climate change. Professor Irvine will draw on the research of his group and give a simple overview of how solar photovoltaics works. He will discuss the big challenges in energy supply and explore how the UK can take advantage of the feed in tarrif coming into force from April for renewable energy integration demonstrating how materials science and physics are relevant to our everyday lives. Free Event. Age Guide: 8+

Tuesday 6 July

wednesday 7 July

wednesday 7 July

scIENcE ExPLOrErs – fAmILy scIENcE shOw Techniquest glyndŵr EarTh and ThE UnivErSE 5pm, Techniquest glyndŵr, Wrexham How do you carry out a science experiment? Come and join us to follow our intrepid science explorers on a round the world expedition. Their quest is to understand predicting, fair testing and drawing conclusions. Free event. Age Guide: All ages (family)

12

13

wednesday 7 July

whAT’s gOINg ON AT cErN? professor Simon hands, Swansea University EarTh and ThE UnivErSE 7.30pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham This interactive lecture from Professor Simon Hands will cover the description of particle physics experiments using accelerators and detectors such as those at CERN. It will explore why we need such huge machines to look at such small things; what we have learned so far about elementary particles; and most importantly what we don’t know yet or understand. Free event. Age Guide: 8+

drugs ANd yOuNg PEOPLE – Is IT rEALLy LIkE JErEmy kyLE sAys IT Is? Sarah mcCall, in2Change hUman mind & Body 7.30pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham This talk will look at the reality of drug use, giving a generic over view of drugs and the effects on the mind and body. The lecture will look at a variety of drugs and their street names as well as how different drugs have effects on the mind and body depending on the drug ingested and whether it acts as a stimulant, depressant, hallucinogen or pain killer. It will look at the topical issue of the rise in popularity of ‘legal highs’ and explore the methods and strategies Drug & Alcohol teams use to support young people using these legal and illegal substances. Free event. Age Guide: 16+ E-cuLTurE ANd m-cuLTurE: ThE wAy ThAT ELEcTrONIc, cOmPuTINg ANd mOBILE dEVIcEs ArE chANgINg ThE NATurE Of ArT, dEsIgN ANd cuLTurE professor peter Excell, glyndŵr University BrighT SparkS 7.30pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham Electronic devices and communications systems are creating new categories of interactive art forms, such as television programmes, computer-generated special effects, computer games and electronically enhanced music. But we need to be aware that this process is accelerating and of its impact on industries, design and innovations in the future. Many of these new technologies revolve around interaction between the human being and a powerful computer and at the same time the ability of this technology to be mobile is becoming more of a factor. This talk will explore these factors which have implications on design aesthetics, functionality, hardware/software requirements, usability, as well as the business model of the new technology. What are your views? Free Event. Age Guide: 16+ INdusTrIAL BIOPOLymEr wOrkshOP professor peter Williams, glyndŵr University, Centre for Water Soluble polymers EarTh and ThE UnivErSE 10am, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham This workshop, which is aimed at professionals in the field of biopolymers, will include a series of short lectures from industrialists and academics. It will cover new sources of biopolymers, for example, through developments in biorefining, and the application of biopolymer in various industrial sectors, including, food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, coatings and packaging. Tickets: by invitation only. Age Guide: Adults

wednesday 7 July

Wrexham Science Festival photography competition

This year the Wrexham Science Festival is giving you the opportunity to showcase your photography and interpretation skills. Use your skills to take a photograph(s) to fit into this year’s Festival themes: • • • • Earth and the Universe The Animal World Human Mind & Body Bright Sparks

Do you Want to ShoW oFF your photography SKillS?
Deadline for all entries is thursday 3rd June 2010

It is up to you which theme(s) you choose to represent and how many photograph entries you wish to enter. four categories Individual entries Age 11 and under; Age 12 to 17; and Age 18+ group entry (2 or more people) Ideal for schools, community groups or photography groups to submit a portfolio. There will be a winner and commended photograph chosen for each category. The final winners will be entered for the opportunity to win the Best In Festival Audience Award. how to Enter For details of how to enter, what you could win and the competition’s terms and conditions visit www.wrexhamsf.com or e-mail [email protected]

Thursday 8 July

14

15

ThE scIENcE Of A hEALThy hEArT; AN ExErcIsE Of ThE BOdy ANd ThE mINd dr John Buckley, University of Chester hUman mind & Body 6pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham Is a healthy heart just about exercise and healthy eating? What are the key factors in the rehabilitation of those who have suffered from cardiovascular problems? Dr John Buckley is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist, he has been working in the area of exercise in health and rehabilitation for over 22 years. His presentation will draw on his experience of running his own specialist centre and will cover the physical exercise, psychological, behavioural and mental health relationships linked to the prevention and rehabilitation of people with cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks, heart function, and strokes. Free event. Age Guide: 16+ wEAThErINg sOLAr sTOrms dr Jim Wild, lancaster University EarTh and ThE UnivErSE 6pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham Space isn’t quite as cold and empty as you might first think. The Earth is embedded within the outer atmosphere of the Sun and is constantly buffeted by the solar wind and bathed in the remnants of the Sun’s massive magnetic field. While generally imperceptible to humans here on Earth, changes in the space environment, so-called “Space Weather”, can have an impact upon man-made technologies under, on and above the surface of the Earth. Dr Jim Wild looks at the science behind space weather and considers some of the implications of living with a star. Free event. Age Guide: 16+ INgENuITy IN ThE dEsIgN Of ThE ImPOssIBLE ray davies, glyndŵr University BrighT SparkS 6pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham A laser is a very special source of light. This presentation will demonstrate some of the recent prototype designs that illustrate the amazing ingenuity in light and the creative ingenuity in the imagination of the students who have produced these working laser photonics projects. During this presentation, some of the extremely useful concepts of laser photonics will be considered and demonstrated to show how these developments could lead to using light for the benefit of mankind in a range of innovative and exciting ways. Using lasers to generate robotic systems, to control life-saving scanning systems, and to produce high quality security systems are just a few of the applications that will be included to highlight the concept of the Ingenuity in Light. No-one will leave this presentation without realizing the amazing ingenuity that is available within light. Free event. Age Guide: 16+

why rEsTOrE fENN’s & whIxALL mOssEs? dr Joan daniels, natural England EarTh and ThE UnivErSE 7.30pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham Over the last 19 years, Natural England and the Countryside Council for Wales have been restoring Fenn’s & Whixall Mosses National Nature Reserve near Wrexham, after its near destruction from commercial peat mining. Clearing pine forests, trees and scrub and damming up thousands of ditches to restore this site comes at a high price. Is it worth it? This illustrated talk by Senior Reserve Manager Joan Daniels will examine why it is so important to save the world’s bogs for their irreplaceable record of the past, their wonderful boggy bio-diversity, the eco-system services they give us and to save us from the impact their destruction has on climate change. Free Event. Age Guide: 8+ AN INsIghT INTO ThE BEhAVIOur Of wOLVEs frOm wIThIN ThE PAck Shaun Ellis, Wolfpack management animal World 7.30pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham Wolf behaviour expert Shaun Ellis has learnt about the physicality and psyche of wolves and how they work together by actually living with them! In 2005, three abandoned wolf pups led Shaun to make a daring move, raising a pack of wolves in captivity by living with them...as a wolf, teaching them by example how to survive in the wild. Through his experience of becoming an integral part of the wolf pack, and having a specific role within the group, he has a unique insight into one of the most complex models of group behaviour. In this detailed talk he will explain what it was like to work with the wolves from inside the pack and how they live and help each other. Through Shaun’s experience he will guide you through his insights into pack behaviour and provide you with his improved ideas on how to deal with your own animals. Shaun Ellis had his documentary on wolves aired on Channel 5 last year he also featured in a recent ITV1 documentary on the ancestry of domestic dogs presented by Martin Clunes. Free Event. Age Guide: 16+

Thursday 8 July

Thursday 8 July

16

17

LIfE ON ThE surfAcE – frOm ENOrmOus TELEscOPEs TO EVErydAy LIfE professor david d. Walker, glyndŵr University BrighT SparkS 7.30pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham Astronomy tells us about the universe and our place in it. We are at the threshold of major discoveries, hopefully seeing for the first time earthlike planets around other stars, galaxies when they first formed, as well as going on to a fuller understanding of the large-scale structure and evolution of the universe. Tackling these challenges means collecting more light, and that needs bigger and better telescopes. Right here in North Wales we are developing exciting new technologies to create the European Extremely Large Telescope. When built, this will be the largest and most sensitive in the world. The talk will show how these technologies can also impact on more down-to-earth applications, ranging from improving the lifetime of human joint-implants, to the next generation of microchips. Perhaps the most exciting is the potential to solve the world’s energy-crisis, copying what goes on inside the stars that we observe with our telescopes! Free event. Age Guide: 16+ AssIsTIVE TEchNOLOgIEs: usINg IT TO kEEP PEOPLE INdEPENdENT professor vic grout & dr richard picking, glyndŵr University, Centre for applied internet research hUman mind & Body 7.30pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham The population of the EU is getting older – and it’s a simple fact that as people get older, they find it harder to carry out the basic domestic activities they would have found easier in their younger days. Working with partners from several other countries as well as the UK, the Centre for Applied Internet Research (CAIR), a research group at Glyndŵr University, recently completed a substantial EU project under the FP6 IST funding programme. The £2m EASYLINE+ project developed a range of intelligent home appliances for use by elderly and disabled people allowing people to live longer independent lives. Washing machines that warn users when colours are mixed together and fridges which sound a warning when left open were among the devices tested.This talk gives an overview of the project and considers some of the wider applications of Assistive Technologies. Free event. Age Guide: 16+

Thursday 8 July

dIscOVEr ThE gEOLOgIcAL hErITAgE IN A churchyArd Sacred Space, northern marches Cymru EarTh and ThE UnivErSE 10am, rossett Church hall, Station road, ll12 0dg Join Professor Cynthia Burek as she guides an examination of the geodiversity of Christ Church and its graveyard at Rossett, near Wrexham. Refreshments and registration are at 10-10.30am in Rossett Church Hall. The tour runs from 10.30am-12.30pm. Appropriate shoes and clothing should be worn and no dogs are allowed. The event is organised by the Northern Marches Cymru Sacred Space Project which has received funding through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-13, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. Free event. Age Guide: 12+. BrIghT sPArks frOm hIsTOry- fAmILy scIENcE shOw Techniquest glyndŵr BrighT SparkS 5pm, Techniquest glyndŵr, Wrexham There have been many scientific innovations throughout history which have changed the way we see the world today. Come and see our interactive science show as we take a walk through history visiting key characters along the way and the scientific breakthroughs they achieved as well as how they affect the world we live in today. Free Event. Age Guide: All ages (family) Is ThE EArTh uNIquE? david Jenkins, University of york EarTh and ThE UnivErSE 6pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham What is special about our Earth which makes conditions right for life to appear? This talk looks at important factors such as the climate and the presence of oxygen and water. Until comparatively recently, all we knew about in terms of planets were those around our Sun. Astronomers have begun to identify planets around other stars. At present, those planets detected are more like Jupiter in size than our Earth but the number and range of exosolar planets (planets around other stars) is growing by the day. How likely then is it that there is somewhere just like our Earth elsewhere? Should we be actively looking for other signs of life and if we did find them what would we do about it? Free Event. Age Guide: 8+

Friday 9 July
19

18

LAughTEr ThErAPy neil robdale, glyndŵr University hUman mind & Body 6pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham Laughter not only provides a workout for your muscles, it unleashes a rush of stress-busting endorphins. A laughter therapist’s aim is to help you laugh more easily. Join us for this workshop on the therapeutic value of laughter and humour on both physical and psychological health and see what difference laughter can make. Free event. Age Guide: 16+ hOw cAN PLANT BrEEdINg hELP TO fEEd ThE wOrLd Jonathan harrington, Cropgen and professor denis murphy, glamorgan University EarTh and ThE UnivErSE 7.30pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham Did you know that we acquire 70% of our calories from just three crops? And that these are at risk from pests and diseases? Jonathan Harrington, of CropGen, will introduce you to the topic of how the world feeds itself and how we need to improve the way we grow and distribute our crops. Learn how science and technology are essential to preventing the loss of these crops which are key to our everyday lives. Professor Denis Murphy will explore plant breeding and deal with some of the various problems that threaten world food production including climate change, droughts, salt pollution, aluminum poisoning, pests and diseases, and weeds. Free event. Age Guide: 16+ ThE hIddEN AddIcTIONs philip griffiths, meba pharmaceuticals hUman mind & Body 7.30pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham A growing trend of employed, educated people are getting addicted to over-the-counter medications and medicines prescribed to them by their GPs. Community pharmacist Philip Griffiths, of Meba Pharmaceuticals, will discuss how the stereotypical drug addict is no more. Discover just some of the more common recreational drugs which are available over the counter at your local pharmacy – and how and why they are being abused. The Hidden Addictions will also touch upon some of the help which is on offer to unassuming addicts. Free Event. Age Guide: 16+

AmOEBA TO ZEBrA Being 747 animal World 2pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham Music and science come together for the first time in this spectacular natural history musical show. Amoeba to Zebra is a full-on rock gig performed by Yorkshire band Being 747 which explores the natural history of the earth. From the development of the most ancient and basic forms of life through to the complexity of today’s flora and fauna, the history of the earth is brought to life through the medium of pop music. Free Event. Age Guide: 8+ NAmINg PLuTO – dOcumENTAry fILm ANd TALk dr allan Chapman, oxford University, Father Films EarTh and ThE UnivErSE 5pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham 2010 marks the 80th anniversary of Pluto’s discovery. Naming Pluto is an award-winning UK documentary, telling the story of Venetia Burney Phair, the English Schoolgirl who named the planet Pluto in 1930, aged 11 years. Featuring Venetia’s only interview, Sir Patrick Moore, Oxford University’s Dr Allan Chapman, the Royal Astronomical Society and NASA, this 13 minute film looks back at the extraordinary story of a young girl who made astronomical history and witnesses her long awaited reunion with the planet she named, 77 years later, on the eve of her 89th birthday. Dr Allan Chapman, one of the UK’s leading science historians, was involved in the making of the film and narrates this talk. Free Event. Age Guide: 8+ ThE BEAgLE hAs LANdEd Ben hawkes, The missing inc animal World 6pm, glyndŵr University, plas Coch Site, Wrexham Celebrate the 201st birthday of one of our heroes as The Missing Inc. bring to life a raucous – and wildly inaccurate – account of Charles Darwin’s voyage upon HMS Beagle, some stuff about natural selection and his marriage to his cousin Emma. Yes, his cousin. After receiving a letter from a mysterious hooded figure, Darwin takes to the sea on HMS Beagle, commanded by the bizarre Captain Fitzroy. Following an unsuccessful attempt at entertaining his fellow seamen, Darwin encounters the ferocious and warlike Maoris of New Zealand. With time rapidly running out, the show culminates in a grossly exaggerated retelling of Darwin’s voyage as a 1950s radio serial, aided by screams and sound effects from the audience. Free Event. Age Guide: 13+

Friday 9 July

saTurday 10 July
21

20

SaturDay 3 July, 10am-4pm
ˆ glynDWr univerSity, plaS coch Site, Wrexham
A six-hour extravaganza of hands-on science experiments, live science demonstrations, fascinating science shows and informative science exhibitions, scientriffic will introduce you to new ideas and challenge your thinking about science.

ScientriFFic

© in

SchoolS programme
stit
uti
on

of

Ci

v il E
ng
in e
ers

primary Schools
More than 3500 children from North East Wales and Cheshire took part in this year’s primary school’s festival, organised by Steve Conwy of Schools Science Festival. The programme featured presentations challenging youngsters to build meteorites and paper planes – to learn about the science behind astronomy and flight – and talks on composting, chemistry, magnetism and the materials science behind sand. Visit the festival website at www.wrexhamsf.com to see pictures and information about the event. Organisations that assisted with the primary school programme are the National Museum of Wales; the Royal Society of Chemistry North West Trust; Wockhardt UK Limited; the Institution of Civil Engineers; the Environmental Agency, the British Women Pilots Association; Bangor University – Chemistry Department; and The British Science Association. Sponsored by Schools Science Festival.
Cymru

les Wa

Highlights of this year’s programme include: • • shows: The Bubble Show, Fire Science, plus Meet Britain’s Birds of Prey. The human mind & Body: Learn about the effects of drugs and alcohol on humans, how the brain works, how psychology is part of everyday life, how you can prevent damage to your ears when listening to your mp3 player and how microbes can lead to the spread of infection. Animal world: Make moving animal models and see how animals adapt to different habitats. Earth and the universe: Explore mathematics through sight, sound, touch and movement, discover how the world is fed through different crops and get a hands-on introduction to our garden invaders – the pests and diseases that threaten plants. Bright sparks: Create your own slime and learn about the science of polymers at the same time and get your hands on some remote controlled robots

Ticket Price On the Day Adults Children Family (2 adults, 2 children) Groups (10+) £7 £5 £20 Advance booking £6 £4 £15

Secondary Schools
The Wrexham Science Festival Secondary schools programme runs from 14th June until 10th July. This year’s programme is bigger and more exciting than ever before, with contributions from academics from across Glyndŵr University as well as a special lecture by Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, British Astrophysicist, discoverer of the first radio pulsars and current president of the Institute of Physics. This year’s programme also features a large collection of bookable activities supplied by Techniquest Glyndŵr and other educational charities from north Wales. Financial support is available through Careers Wales North East. See the Wrexham Science Festival Website for further information: www.wrexhamsf.com/en/Eventsforschools/ secondaryschoolsprogramme/ Further information is available from: • careers wales North East: Dave Fitzsimmons T. 01352 750456 E: [email protected] • Techniquest glyndŵr: Naomi Wyles T: 01978 293314 E: [email protected] Sponsored by Techniquest Glyndŵr and Yale College.

• •

£4 per person

£3 per person

•

Entry is free for children aged 2 or under. Prices include entry to Techniquest Glyndŵr and all shows and exhibitions at Scientriffic. Tickets can be bought on the day or in advance from wrexham Tourist Information centre (01978 292015) and Techniquest glyndŵr (01978 293400). Or online at www.wrexhamsf.com.

Visit www.wrexhamsf.com regularly to see updates about Scientriffic. Sponsored by the Royal Society of Chemistry North West Trust

23

Sponsors/Supporters
North West Trust

SSF
participating organisations
Being 747 Creativity Unleashed CropGen Father Films Glamorgan University Glyndŵr Innovations Glyndŵr University In2Change Johnny Ball Productions Lab Monkey Productions Lancaster University Magnox North Wylfa Manchester University Meba Pharmaceuticals Natural England Oxford University Polar Poets RJ&AH Orthopaedic Hospital Sacred Space Salford University Show Me Learning Swansea University Techniquest Glyndŵr The Colour Group (GB) The Deer Initiative The Missing Inc University of Chester University of York University of the West of England Wales Gene Park Wolfpack Management Wrexham Biodiversity Group

Disclaimer
All events were correct at the time of going to print but the programme is subject to change, where necessary. Regular updates, amendments and changes to the programme will be made available online at www.wrexhamsf.com

24