bluedot announces this year's science programme

28 Mar 2017

Festival set for scientific voyage from the Antarctic to the depths of space via all points between

Following last year’s stellar debut, bluedot with ovo energy has raised the bar with the announcement of its vast science bill adding to an already impressive music line-up that features Pixies, Orbital, Alt-J and many more. 

In the hands-on Star Field and Planet Field, festival-goers will be able to take part in live experiments and science discussions on topics ranging from the brain to bees, glaciers to the galaxy’s magnetic field.  More details, including some amazing exhibitions and a family programme designed for all ages, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Experts in their field will explore fascinating topics including space travel, volcanoes, climate change, spider silk, black holes, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence and more.

Visitors will learn about the hunt for extraterrestrial intelligence from special guest Andrew Siemion from the University of California, director of the 100 million dollar ‘Breakthrough Listen’ project, and Mike Garrett, the new Sir Bernard Lovell Chair of Astrophysics at The University of Manchester.

Chris Lintott, presenter of the BBC’s Sky at Night and leading light at Galaxy Zoo, will celebrate the project’s 10th Anniversary, while his team will be on site all weekend with opportunities for everyone to join in the hunt for new pulsars and classifying galaxies. Also appearing is the Sky at Night’s expert astrophotographer Pete Lawrence who will look forward to the summer’s total solar eclipse and spend evenings helping festival-goers do their own stargazing.

Vinita Marwaha Madill, founder of the ‘Rocket Women’ website, will talk about her work designing space suits for the European Space Agency and the role of women in space. Also joining the festival is Libby Jackson, manager of the Human Spaceflight and Microgravity Programme at the UK Space Agency, who will be talking extensively on where we go next in space.

The popular Big Questions panel will feature Danielle George, who gave the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures in 2015, and Matthew Cobb, author of Life’s Greatest Secret, answering all the big science questions starting with “will we ever conquer the stars?”

The brilliant Prof David Nutt returns after his packed talk last year, to explain how the recent Psychoactive Substances Act represents a threat to scientific research as big as the banning of the telescope by the Catholic Church. 

Science Directors, Professors Teresa Anderson and Tim O'Brien, said: "It's very exciting to be hosting bluedot at Jodrell Bank again this year. We've put together a fantastic science line-up that alongside the music and other culture gives bluedot its unique eclectic atmosphere. We're looking forward to welcoming everyone to another amazing festival."

Full weekend camping tickets are now on sale and start from £149 outright cost or a £27.33 payment plan.