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TechFest zooms in on science through the ages


By David Porter

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TechFest events continue next week
TechFest events continue next week

In a series of online events as part of TechFest’s annual Festival of STEM, astounding scientific discoveries, theories and inventions from history will be investigated, opening up a world of thought-provoking research and possibilities.

Travelling back in time, the TechFest team has installed ‘webcams’ in the 17th-century where audiences will have the chance to virtually meet one of Britain’s great geniuses, Sir Isaac Newton.

Using this modern-day technology, event attendees will be able to marvel at his amazing maths, gasp at gravity and feel moved by the forces of motion.

Taking place on Monday, November 22 at 7pm, Sir Isaac Zooms In…! is presented by David Hall and suitable for ages eight and over.

This inspiring and interactive lecture will also explain how the seven colours of the rainbow were discovered by Newton himself, through his experiments with refraction of light.

Known for being the most complicated organ in the human body, the brain is highly researched with more discoveries and intelligence being made each day.

Digital festival goers can find out more about recent research, which shows how specific brain regions contain neural stem cells that can actually generate new neurons.

Join Dr Daniel Berg from the University of Aberdeen on Tuesday, November 23 at 7pm for How to Grow New Brain Cells, where he will discuss current knowledge on these stem cells and what we can to do activate them to renew.

Minds will be challenged on Thursday, November 25 at 7pm in Searching in the Dark.

Presented by Dr XinRan Liu from the University of Edinburgh, this highly engaging session questions if there’s more than what can be seen, touch or felt.

Considering theories from the 19th-century, Dr XinRan Liu will discuss if there is more to the universe than what can be detected by powerful scientific tools.

Weaving in new evidence that strongly indicates a large percentage of the universe is in fact, dark matter, audiences’ interest will be piqued to explore more about a subject that scientists themselves are still unravelling.

Booking is now open for the events, which form part of TechFest’s 25 days of Live digital public programme.

Managing director of TechFest, Sarah Chew said: “Each year, we try to include a variety of events that are thought provoking and inspirational to our audience.

“Including scientific events which shows some of the initial discoveries that will forever go down in world history, as well as opening up conversations about research that is still going on in the field of dark matter, encourages individuals to be more actively involved in STEM and conduct their own research.

“Science, technology, engineering and maths knowledge surrounds us every day whether that’s understanding more about our internal organs, or the concept of daylight and rainbows, there’s a subject matter to capture everyone’s interest.”

The festival will wrap up on December 1 with Christmas content where audiences can then be directed to a STEM advent calendar for the remainder of the month.

TechFest’s festival of STEM is supported by joint principal sponsors, bp and Shell, with the public programme also being sponsored by Equinor.

Admission to all events is free.

For more information and to book, visit the TechFest website at www.techfestsetpoint.org.uk/


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