The science festival which will run from 5-15 June is now in its eighth year and is going from strength to strength with more than 70 events to suit all ages.

The aim of the festival is to showcase the outstanding contribution Glasgow and Glasgow based researchers make to the worlds of science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine.

Among the events featured at this year’s festival is the popular Tasty Science series which looks at the science behind some of our favourite food and drink, including the science of malt whisky.

Festival-goers can also have a giggle thanks to the Bright Club Comedy Science Special and the Ugly Animal Preservation Society.

With the Commonwealth Games approaching the festival will also take the opportunity to debate questions including whether elite sports are good for you and which countries are best at different sports and why?

Children too can have fun at the free family fun days at the city’s three universities – Glasgow, Strathclyde and Glasgow Caledonian – and can discover more about the city’s very own Hogwarts at an outdoor mapping workshop in the quadrangles of the University of Glasgow.

The schools programme is also back with a range of activities with a sport theme – which includes taking a look at how bacteria take part in their Commonwealth Games, competing in swimming, running and boxing!

Older pupils can take part in a Genetics Lab Taster session to find out just how much they can blame their parents for the physical characteristics they have inherited and how much is down to their environment.

Alasdair Allan, Minister for Learning and Science in the Scottish Government, said: “Science Festivals are a great way of bringing science to life for a wide public audience of all ages and interests.

“The Glasgow Science Festival this year has a programme to intrigue sports fans and celebrate the city playing host to the XX Commonwealth Games. Events will explore the science and technology behind exercise, health and elite sports while others will showcase the scientific discoveries made in the city in the Science on the Streets tours. 2014 is also the second year of Homecoming, and those with a passion for our heritage and history can learn more about the ingenious methods our ancestors used in constructing our famous castles along and our most famous food and drink exports alongside a whole variety of events.”

Deborah McNeill, festival director, said: “We’ve got a great line up of events this year and hope to welcome our biggest audience yet.

“The Glasgow Science Festival is a great opportunity to learn more about the world around us and how scientists in Glasgow are playing their part in the advancement of knowledge in a host of different areas.

“With the Commonwealth Games in the city the following month and 2014 being the year of Homecoming, it will arguably be our most exciting festival to date.”

For more information about the events at this year’s festival visit: www.glasgowsciencefestival.org.uk

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Notes to Editors
The Scottish Government is supporting the Glasgow Science Festival with £30,000 of funding to encourage more Scots to explore the science that plays such a vital role in our everyday lives and £10,000 for events connected to the Year of Homecoming.

Media enquiries: Zara Gladman, glasgowsciencefestival@gmail.com / 0141 330 5370 or Stuart.Forsyth@glasgow.ac.uk / 0141 330 4831

First published: 7 May 2014