The event, which takes place from 3rd to 17th November, is one of many initiatives for Highland 2007 organised by the Going Nova group set up to develop science and society activities in the north.

A number of sessions will come to Inverness and the festival opens with the story of the journey into space last month of a piece of north of Scotland rock. It blasted off on a Russian spacecraft, to see how the organic fossil material within it would survive the heat of re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. The results will give a clue as to whether or not early life could have come to the Earth from another planet, carried by a meteorite.

Astronomy is to the fore in several other events, including a talk on Thursday 8th about the early universe, looking at the distribution of galaxies in the sky and working back to the time when the entire universe was smaller than an atom.

Space travel is also a strong theme, with the latest information from the landing on Titan by the Huygens probe in 2005 and a look at the new opportunities for space tourism that may bring a spaceport to Scotland. The festival will also look afresh at the first moon landing and at the impact of the original Sputnik, 50 years on.

And sea monsters are the subject of a talk on Loch Ness. Geneticist Dr Yvonne Simpson will tell passengers aboard the Jacobite Queen of a remarkable story of a sea monster which was seen in the waters off Orkney 50 years ago. She will be joined by local researcher Adrian Shine who will speak on the physical aspects of the loch itself.

One of the organisers behind the venture is Howie Firth, director of the first-ever science festival in Edinburgh, whose format is now followed worldwide, and who has received numerous awards for his work in making science more accessible.

"We've tried to keep it light and lively, to build in a real festival spirit and a varied mix of people and themes," Mr Firth explained.

"We go in time from the origin of the universe 14 billion years ago to the latest research results from this autumn. We go deep into some of the most puzzling philosophical aspects of physics and also look at practical development opportunities. We really hope that there's something for everyone in the programme."

Joining Mr Firth to organise the event are Bill Graham who was director of an industrial research laboratory before coming north to work with the careers service, organising many events to widen interest in science and engineering, including visits to NASA's Space School in Huston. Maarten de Vries is chairman of the Spaceport Scotland support group and active in astronomy circles in addition to his professional work in broadband and project management training.

The festival will also feature medical research including new insights on the causes of diabetes. World Diabetes Day on 14th November will also be marked by a look at the successes of people faced by challenges such as illness.

Muir of Ord will be the venue for a debate on the question of whether whisky-making is an art or a science.

Members of the Institute of Brewing and Distilling will provide expert opinion in the event, to be held at the Glen Ord Distillery Visitor Centre. And at the Black Isle Showground Pavilion, author James Miller will tell the story of the men who built the hydro-electric dams.

Other events are spread out across the Highlands, with the theme of "The Travelling Scholars". The theme at Applecross will be herbs and berries, and the potential for developing new crops of these to meet the growing demand for healthy food. At Achiltibuie there will be a talk on the night sky in November and one on an environmental theme.

Printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend

Bookmark this

---