An Aberdeen Festivals member, today, launched its annual festival with a programme of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
The North-east’s annual TechFest will undertake a new programme of workshops, shows and presentations set to showcase the best of the North-east. With a wide range of activities for all ages, TechFest 2016, will run from August 27 to September 18.
The overarching theme for TechFest 2016 is all things local, from Aberdeen’s resident professors and academics to the North-east’s finest brewers and entrepreneurs.
The 2016 Festival programme was launched at a special K’Nex workshop, hosted by the Bon Accord Centre and St Nicholas Centre, where members of the public were invited to come along and take part in a fun and interactive session with the TechFest team and learn more about what’s on offer this year.
One of the aims of TechFest 2016, which is supported by joint principal sponsors BP and Shell, is to engage young people in the four main STEM subjects and encourage them to go on to follow a career which utilises these skills by demonstrating that they are both fun and relevant in day to day life.
Sarah Chew, managing director of TechFest, said: “It is very exciting to return for TechFest 2016 with many new workshops and events, building on the success of last year and listening to the feedback from our guests.
“From our opening event with Professor James Grieve through to the closing night, there really is something for everyone within this year’s programme.
“We look forward to welcoming you to TechFest 2016, we know it’s going to be even bigger and better than ever before.”
Some highlights of this year’s festival include The Science Behind the Game of Thrones, Social Media Science, food pairing at Rye and Soda, a tour of Aberdeen’s only microbrewery and a behind the scenes look at the Cambus O’May Cheese Factory.
This year will see the launch of the TechFest Eureka Family Science Programme, sponsored by Chevron, which will include a talk by Professor Robert Winston on the ‘Utterly Amazing Human Body’.
Sarah added: “We are indebted to the assistance we receive from all our sponsors and supporters, in particular our joint principal sponsors Shell and BP, whose ongoing backing helps us to continue to educate, inspire and entertain.”
The public programme, which is sponsored by Statoil and incorporates the company’s Heroes of Tomorrow talent development programme, runs from September 5 to 18 and includes everything from arsenic and volcanoes to coffee and crime fiction.
The fun-filled Activity Weekend, which is sponsored by Marathon Oil and takes place on Saturday 3 and Sunday September 4, returns to the Gordon Barracks on a bigger than ever scale, and will cost just £1 for adults and 1p for children.
Paul Goodfellow, upstream vice president U.K. & Ireland, Shell UK Ltd said: “Shell is delighted to be a part of this incredibly inspiring event. We are committed to inspiring and supporting the next generation of young scientists and engineers as we continue to address the global energy challenges. Working together with TechFest, we can #makethefuture today.”
Mark Thomas, Regional President BP North Sea said: “TechFest is a long-standing highlight in the Aberdeen festival calendar and BP is pleased to once again support the diverse programme of activity and events. Developing future capability and talent in STEM is key for the success of our industry going forward and this year’s TechFest programme promises to deliver a range of fun activities designed to stimulate an interest in these vital subjects.”
Book tickets online at www.aberdeenperformingarts.com or call Aberdeen Box Office on 01224 641122. For more information on TechFest 2016, visit www.techfest.org.uk or follow TechFest on Facebook and Twitter.