OVER the past few years, science has been stealthily insinuating itself into the festival scene. Here is CultureLab鈥檚 mini-guide to some of the best science delights running alongside the music.
Festival-goers in the UK are particularly well catered for. The season kicks off with one of the world鈥檚 best-known bashes 鈥� (22-26 June). One of the science stunts there involves getting down and dirty with a Decontamination Unit. If you want to get into an after-hours party, you will have to be inspected by psychologists and microbiologists to find out if you need a quick bout of therapy or a physical decontamination.
A few weeks later, at festival (14-17 July) in Suffolk, UK, a collective of actors, scientists, writers, video artists, composers, choreographers and designers known as the will premiere Exoplanets, a theatrical performance created with astronomer Martin Hendry.
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Also at Latitude, comedian Robin Ince will host a new event called Double Science, with a big helping of guest speakers in a series of three 鈥渟cience hours鈥�.
UK festival regulars will be at the (21-24 July) in Cambridgeshire to create more filth in the shape of a Dirt Banquet, a feast of stenches, dung beetle races and a quiz on the science of sex.
The minds behind Secret Garden Party are launching the first (12-14 August) in Oxfordshire, UK. In between music by the likes of Toots and the Maytals will be daily debates. 麻豆传媒鈥榮 editor Roger Highfield will be there to debate the problems solved 鈥� and created 鈥� by new technology.
If you are hungry for more, head to the (19-21 August) held in the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales. Einstein鈥檚 Garden 鈥� the festival鈥檚 hub for all things art and science 鈥� returns for a third year with science-inspired music that competes with the headline acts. Revellers can also ponder the human condition with a game of probability and logic run by the Curious Directive.
鈥淎t the UK鈥檚 Green Man festival, science-inspired music competes with the headline acts鈥�
Around the globe, (27-30 May) in Silverado, California, boasts do-it-yourself science. There are workshops on building your own solar energy system, growing algae, or building a gasifier that converts anything from wood to cow dung into a volatile gas to power an engine.
Over in Canada, Toronto鈥檚 (13-19 June) has a very different flavour and includes a digital media conference with some 50 different discussions and presentations exploring evolving technology and social media.
Many festivals are working hard to reduce their environmental impact. Among the vanguard is in Queensland, Australia (29-31 July), where new sewerage technology means revellers can rock out to bands from Modest Mouse to Pulp confident that their ecological footprint is reduced.
If you鈥檙e not totally burned out, a late treat is (29 August to 5 September) in the Black Rock desert in Nevada. This is a haven for sciencey sculpture and interactive experiences. Look out for Christopher Schardt鈥檚 Garden of Rockets: propane-propelled kinetic fire sculptures. Or head for the festival鈥檚 Math Camp for discussion, games and puzzles.