Cheltenham Science Festival brings the benefits and fun of science to all

Cheltenham Science Festival ended its twenty-first year in style last weekend, bringing a close to six days of remarkable talks, debates, workshops, demonstrations and discussion that encouraged attendees to Be The Change – and helped bring science and technology to a wide audience.

138 speakers across more than 270 events spent a week in the Gloucestershire town focusing on every scientific and technological question of contemporary interest, from artificial intelligence to climate change, gender to mental health.

With a diverse programme that made room for speakers of every background, a family and educational strand that played host to 7,000 school students from nearly 100 schools in Gloucestershire and beyond, and free events across the Festival site and throughout the town, Cheltenham Science Festival 2023 ensured that anyone who wanted to could engage in science-based learning in fun, engaging and exciting ways.

Active Discovery and Serious Fun

Almost 200,000 attended the Festival across its six days. From The Arcade – powered by BAE Systems Digital Intelligence – that was filled with both retro and contemporary games technology, to the Discover Zone that made accessible the latest scientific research; from MakerShack, where audiences could get hands-on and code their own robot and try out the latest technology to the late-night Friday programme, featuring alternative comedy and the VOICEBOX project that encourages audiences to become an active part of hot-topic debates in a safe and encouraging atmosphere; including the Multisensory maze that enabled them to explore the science of perception, Cheltenham Science Festival emphasised both active discovery and serious fun.

Marieke Navin is Head of Science Programming for Cheltenham Festivals, the charity which organises the Science Festival each year alongside its Literature, Music and Jazz Festivals. “We are so proud to be able to bring science and technology to so wide an audience,” she said. “Our speakers and our audiences arrive at Cheltenham from all walks of life and take home new knowledge and fresh experiences that we hope will inspire them to make change in their own communities.

“We’re committed to widening participation in science so that more people can understand, access and contribute to it. Every year, we work ever harder to push the boundaries of what a science festival can do. We’ve loved this year, and can’t wait until next year!”

Powering Innovation and Widening Access

The Festival began with ChelTechne, an event especially for policymakers and other stakeholders that aimed to imagine new ways of thinking about artificial intelligence. Featuring figures from government, academia, the cultural sector and industry, the event represented the Science Festival’s contribution to the society-wide response to the challenges of digital technology.

Powering innovation is a central aim of the Festival more broadly, too. Across the programme, its goal of bringing science to as wide an audience as possible has the aim of sharing knowledge, filling skills gaps – and creating new routes into science and technology for under-represented communities.

Year-Round Activity and Future Goals

With this goal in mind, the Festival offered curious minds the chance to delve into everything from space exploration and the climate crisis via talks and panel discussions – but also quizzes, bingo, and a free around-town programme featuring a live puppetry performance and cloud-watching installation in association with Cheltenham BID.

The Science Festival’s work also continues year-round. During the six days on-site, its FameLab programme – aimed at incubating the science communicators of the future, both among professional scientists and school-age children – was celebrated onstage, and relaunched with nine new hub partners from across the UK, alongside nine International Host Partners in four continents.

And DataFace – the charity’s trail-blazing collaboration with CyberFirst and the Jean Golding Institute, University of Bristol to inspire school students towards cyber skills and careers in big data – was launched ahead of the start of its first academic year in 20 schools in September. Dataface will receive £92,000 from the UK Government in 2023 and 2024 through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund via the allocation awarded to Cheltenham Borough Council. The project will also receive funding from Amazon Web Services.

Ali Mawle is the co-CEO of Cheltenham Festivals. “Every year, we are simply bowled over by the creativity and energy of our science community,” she said. “This year was no different. From our fantastic speakers to our amazing volunteers, everyone at 2023’s Cheltenham Science Festival came together to celebrate science and technology – and look forward to creating a better, more inclusive technological future together. Thank you! Here’s to 2024.”

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