Ideas about death, Scotland's Prehistoric Geometry and the Orkney and Shetland Cancer Gene are all on the agenda this month as Explorathon is back at the University of Aberdeen for its 10th year.
Explorathon takes place across Scotland and celebrates the incredible variety of research happening today and shows how it touches every part of our lives. Through a packed calendar of events, this festival brings researchers to the forefront, offering young people, along with their parents and teachers, a unique opportunity to peek behind the curtain and discover what makes research so vital and exciting.
The annual Explorathon programme, coordinated by the University of Aberdeen, will run throughout September with something on offer for all ages.
On Wednesday September 18, Professor Zosia Miedzybrodzka invites members of the public to join her as she discusses her research which led to the discovery of breast and ovarian cancer genes in families from Orkney and Shetland. The research led to the creation of a small pilot trial offering testing for the gene variant to anyone living in Westray with a Westray-born grandparent, regardless of a family history. Those who attend the Cafe Scientifique event at OneBioHub on Foresterhill Road will hear from Professor Miedzybrodzka about the discovery journey, how much has been achieved and what comes next.
Later on in the month, the University will host Café Controversial: Ideas of Death - a blend of controversial academic research with a dash of comedy. Dr Jennifer Riley will lead a talk about the items that people choose to be buried with, while Dr Arnar Arnason will discuss the concept of ‘respectful cannibalism.’ The event, which is for over 18s only, will take place at the Lemon Tree on Wednesday, September 25.
As ever, the Aberdeen Exporathon programme also includes the Explorathon Discovery Day on Sunday, September 22. Organised in conjunction with TechFest as part of Aberdeen Science Festival, a wide range of family-friendly activities for all ages will be taking place in the Zoology Museum, Sir Duncan Rice Library and Cruickshank Botanic Gardens at the University's Old Aberdeen campus. To conclude the day, the interactive show Sci-Fi Snobbery invites audience members to determine exactly what is the best science fiction film of all time!
Dr Chris Croly from the University, who leads the Aberdeen Explorathon team, said: “We are so excited about this year’s programme of events. The range of topics and research on offer is terrific and I really think there is truly something on offer for everyone.
“Our academics are going to be leading what are sure to be very lively discussions and of course, our family discovery day is always hugely popular with families from across the region. We are delighted to be partnering with TechFest this year to host the discovery day, and this is sure to make the event even bigger and more varied than ever.”
Yashka Smith, education manager at TechFest, said: “We are delighted to be working with the University of Aberdeen and partnering on these events as part of both Explorathon and Aberdeen Science Festival. These fantastic events give the public the chance to explore some interesting topics in a fun and engaging way.”
For more information about all the events taking place as part of Aberdeen’s Explorathon programme, and to book your place, visit Explorathon 2024 | Events | What's On | The University of Aberdeen (abdn.ac.uk)