The Edinburgh International Science Festival celebrates the science of writing with the return of The Reading Experiment. The Reading Experiment explores the world of science writing in all its diverse forms and encourages audiences to engage with science literature of all sorts – from popular science to poetry, literary fiction to sci-fi, through a programme of literature-themed events and activities.
In the lead up to the Science Festival – starting 4 April – readers can enjoy online author interviews, book recommendations, readings and pop-up activities, and then choose from over 40 Festival events that celebrate the worlds of science and words. The Science Festival is also partnering with literary organisations based in Edinburgh – the Scottish Book Trust, the Scottish Poetry Library and the National Library of Scotland – to engage readers and audiences across the full spectrum of science writing.
First up is the return of the Sci-Ku poetry competition, where entrants are asked to compose a 3-line ‘science-inspired’ Haiku style poem about the wonder of light. For this year’s instalment the focus for entries takes inspiration from the Science Festival’s Light and Enlightenment strand of programming. Sci-Ku coordinator Sarah Thomas asks entrants to unlock the scientific secrets of light:
Light is seen
Light cold and warm is felt
Light is never heard
From 21 March, Sci-Ku entries will also be seen on Portobello High St in the Festival’s on-street exhibition The Porty Sci-Box. This re-purposed community-run phone box ‘gallery’ hosts a series of mini exhibitions throughout the year and is joining forces with the Science Festival showcase The Reading Experiment by displaying Sci-Ku entries on an interactive and tweet-able screen, transforming the Sci-Box into a hub of Sci-Ku sharing. There are separate categories for primary and secondary age school pupils, along with a public category for adults, with Sci-Ku running until Friday 3 April. The winning entries will be announced at a live event during the Science Festival and winners names and poems published.
Literary Science will also be out and about around the pubs and cafes of Edinburgh, as the Festival’s Mobile Bookshelf travels to establishments across the city. Packed with science books of every description, the bookshelf will offer all kinds of science writing linked to Festival events, for visitors to enjoy at their leisure. A full schedule and further information can be found on the Science Festival website, with updates on Twitter @EdSciFest.
During the Science Festival itself, a series of author talks, workshops and events explores why everyone can enjoy sci-writing: in The Science of Storytelling winners of the Scottish Book Trust’s New Writers Award discuss how science can bring new inspiration to writers who love it (15 April), whilst Bad Science Books? Jurassic Park takes on the relationship between science fact and science fiction (7 April), and in Forensic Fact Meets Forensic Fiction, author Lin Anderson examines the scientific fact behind popular crime writing (5 April).
For more information on The Reading Experiment, Sci-Ku and all reading related Festival events, visit our dedicated pages sciencefestival.co.uk where readers can also access science reading lists, author interviews and book group information. Science writing will also be on sale at the Festival from partner Blackwell’s Books, whose pop-up science shop will be open for business the Summerhall courtyard throughout April.
This year’s Science Festival runs from Saturday 4 to Sunday 19 April 2015, where through the theme of The Ideas Factory – celebrating Edinburgh as a hub for ideas and innovation – we invite audiences of all ages to discover the wonder of the world around them over two weeks of special events.
Full details of the 2015 programme can be found at sciencefestival.co.uk. Tickets for all events can be booked online via the website or through the Box Office on 0844 557 2686.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
