People from across Swindon descended on the Carriage Works on Tuesday 1 October to attend the first in a new series of events exploring science, innovation, and ideas. Organisers of Swindon Science Café were thrilled to see so many people at the successful first event, debating difficult global issues whilst socialising and meeting new people.
Held on the first Tuesday of every month at the iCAST Creative Hub, this informal series brings science to life with fascinating talks and lively discussions in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. There are no long lectures – just an engaging, two-way conversation between researchers and an audience of curious minds over a drink. The Science Café is a new partnership between the University of Bath Innovation Centre for Applied Sustainable Technologies (or iCAST), Royal Agricultural University Swindon, Swindon and Wiltshire Institute of Technology and the Festival of Tomorrow.
This month’s event featured a screening of Cobalt Rush, an award-winning, 20-minute documentary that powerfully tells the story of cobalt extraction from the perspective of artisanal miners in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
At the next event, in November, Swindonians will have the chance to discuss how to respond to climate change with Professor Lorraine Whitmarsh MBE, an environmental psychologist from the University of Bath. Professor Whitmarsh is a Lead Author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and regularly advises governmental and other organisations on low-carbon behaviour change and climate change communication.
Whilst the next three events have already been programmed, the organisers asked attendees what issues they’d like to discuss in the future, with suggestions ranging from lab-grown meat to how we can harness AI before AI harnesses us!
Anyone wanting to find out about upcoming events should sign up for updates on the Festival of Tomorrow website and follow on social media.
Here’s a taste of the exciting events planned for the next three months:
- 5th November 2024: COP29: How Can People Engage with Climate Change? with Professor Lorraine Whitmarsh MBE, University of Bath
- 3rd December 2024: Soil Health with Dr David O’Connor, Royal Agricultural University
- 7th January 2025: Making Plastic from Christmas Trees with Professor Matthew Davidson, University of Bath / iCAST
