Goodbye Cheltenham

I’ve travelled 160 miles, and spent six days dashing from one tent to another in the rain. I’ve heard from scientists, broadcasters, authors, comedians and even a wizard, all talking about their passions. It’s been a hectic week, but the Cheltenham Science Festival for 2011 has come to an end.

As you’d expect, the entire spectrum of science engagement has been on offer, from across the disciplines, providing great opportunities to catch up on advances outside of your field (or even outside of your comfort zone).

Perhaps my most inspiring talk came in the first day, when I learnt how modest botanist David Potter and his team have been labouring in the lab and striving through controversy to bring about a drug (derived from cannabis) that is proving effective in helping to treat sufferers of multiple sclerosis.

One of my more profound talks came later in the week, as eloquent Martin Rees simply but beautifully walked us through the most fundamental and important concepts in physics and astronomy today.

Among the Astronomer Royal’s closings remarks was that it was “better to read first rate science fiction then second rate science”, which hit awfully close to the mark of what I’d been doing the night before.

Guest director for the festival this year was graphic novelist and author Alan Moore. Being a self-confessed snake-god worshipping wizard, he might not immediately have leapt to mind as someone who loves science, but you’d be wrong. In his talk Where Science Meets Fiction, Alan spoke about his appreciation of science, and talked us through how he considers himself to be at least a ‘quasi-rationalist’, in spite of his beliefs.

I didn’t follow him on all of his reasoning, and I don’t agree with all of his conclusions, but this was definitely one of the most compelling events I went to; it was a fantastic glimpse into the life and mind of this brilliant storyteller, and it really highlighted the breadth of events.

It’s been a wonderful week. The festival has a delightful charm, an atmosphere of enthusiasm, where people feel involved. From the stalls of demonstrations for the kids (and kids at heart) to get hands-on, to the Talking Point or book signings where you can chat and interact with the speakers, the whole week seemed to offer something for everyone, and allow all comers to experience a range of interesting science. It was also great seeing how UCL and other universities can bring their science to the public, and get their impressions and their feedback first-hand.

It was excellent while it lasted, but now I must get back in the lab. Who knows, maybe in a year or two I’ll have something worth presenting at the festival myself – and even if I don’t, I might just go along anyway.