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Links:

britishscienceassociation.org/web/BritishScienceFestival/index.htm" target="_self">British Science Festival

Academics from ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº are taking part in Europe's largest science festival next month, where they will discuss subjects ranging from the fate of Celtic languages to the presence of water on Mars.

The British Science Festival brings more than 350 top scientists and includes hands-on family days, debates on modern science, and unique opportunities to question some of the country's finest minds.

Seven staff from the university will speak at the festival, which runs from 5 September to 10 September and takes place in Surrey.

In addition to talks and debates at the University of Surrey, there will be a host of events throughout the county.

¹û¶³Ó°Ôº's growing contribution to the festival, which coincides with the International Year of Astronomy 2009, includes:

• 5 September - Dr Joe Cain (¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Science & Technology Studies): 'You must be joking! Pranks, jokes and other silliness in science'
• 5 September - Dr Francisco Diego (¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Physics & Astronomy): 'Is there alien intelligence in the universe?'
• 5 September - ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº's Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL) will also be throwing open its doors to the public as part of the festival.
• 8 September - Dr James Steele (AHRC Centre for the Evolution of Cultural Diversity): 'Darwin's theory and the cultural sciences'
• 8 September - Dr Anne Kandler (¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Institute of Archaeology): 'Language shift and the future of Britain's Celtic languages'
• 9 September - Dr Peter Grindrod (¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Earth Sciences): 'Exploring new sources of water on Mars'
• 9 September - Professor Simon Hillson (¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Institute of Archaeology): 'How did the people at Catalhoyuk lives their lives?'
• 9 September - Dr Shahina Farid (¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Institute of Archaeology): 'Putting it all together - understanding one particular house'

The festival, which is supported by the British Council, is working in partnership with the Darwin Now project to mark 200 years since the birth of Charles Darwin and celebrate his legacy and impact.

For more information on times, tickets and a more detailed description of the festival, visit the link above.

Image: Charles Darwin.

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¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Context

¹û¶³Ó°Ôº academics engage with the public in numerous different places, from schools to festivals. The university also hosts a wide range of public events, including the annual , which run weekly during the autumn and spring terms.

THe is part of ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº's Beacons for Public
Engagement programme, and has information about the university's initiatives and how to get involved.

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