the-BA : BA Press Release

Embargoed until 00.01 Tuesday 1 July 2008

The BA Festival of Science will come to Guildford in September 2009, the BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science) and the University of Surrey jointly announced today.

The Festival is one of Europe’s largest science festivals and regularly attracts over 350 of the UK’s top scientists and speakers to discuss the latest developments in science with the public. Over 50,000 visitors regularly attend the talks, discussions and workshops.

The Festival takes place at a different location each year and was last held in Guildford in 1975. In 2009 it will be hosted by the University of Surrey from 5-11 September, and organisations, institutions and businesses – local or otherwise – are invited to submit proposals to be part of this huge public event.

Announcing the decision of the BA’s Council, Roland Jackson, Chief Executive of the BA, said: ‘Guildford and the wider south-east region have a strong reputation for science and science-based industry and we’re excited to be bringing the BA Festival of Science back to the area after 34 years. We look forward to working with the University of Surrey and other local organisations to make this a thoroughly enjoyable and successful event for the region.’

Christopher Snowden, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Surrey, said: ‘I am delighted that the BA Festival 2009 will be coming to Surrey. Although the University will provide a hub for much of the activity during the Festival week, we are working in partnership with many local and regional organisations to ensure that this celebration of science and technology has an impact right across the county.’

Ed Metcalfe, Chief Scientific Advisor at the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), said: ‘The south east of England, with the highest proportion of the UKs international science and technology based-businesses, supported by a world class knowledge base, is a globally competitive region. We welcome the opportunities that the BA Festival of Science will provide to showcase these strengths to the science community and a wider public. Of key importance will be the opportunities to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.’

Richard Shaw, Chief Executive of Surrey County Council, said: ‘This is a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate what an innovative and enterprise place Surrey is. Science and technology are at the heart of the county's dynamic economy, and this festival will celebrate all that is best about 21st century Surrey.’

David Hill, Chief Executive of Guildford Borough Council, said: ‘Guildford is host to a number of hi-tech companies, including those on the Surrey University Research Park which many people will know is home to mission control for Surrey Satellite Technology. Guildford is an ideal town and university to host the BA Festival of Science in 2009. We look forward to playing our part in ensuring that the 2009 Festival is a huge success. The Festival first took place in 1831 and Guildford’s long association with scientific developments, including Dennis’s very early car factory in the town centre make the town a doubly appropriate host for the UK’s biggest and most prestigious Science Festival.’

As well as involving leading scientists, the Festival attracts star speakers. Those taking part in the 2008 BA Festival of Science in Liverpool from 6-11 September include Sir Ranulph Fiennes – described by the Guinness Book of Records as ‘the world’s greatest living explorer’, popular TV presenter and author Professor Adam Hart-Davis, and the UK’s premier fertility expert and TV personality, Professor Robert Winston.

The general theme of the 2009 Festival will be creativity, innovation and evolution. For more information about the BA Festival of Science, including the event submission process and for a guide to what’s happening this year, visit www.the-ba.net/festivalofscience.

The 2009 BA Festival of Science is organised in partnership with the University of Surrey and is supported by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA).

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Lisa Hendry, Press Officer, the BA
Tel: 020 7019 4946
Email: lisa.hendry@the-ba.net

Stuart Miller, Communications Manager, University of Surrey, Guildford
Tel: 01483 689314
Email: s.e.miller@surrey.ac.uk

Note for editors

1. About the BA
The BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science) is the UK's nationwide, open membership organisation that exists to advance the public understanding, accessibility and accountability of the sciences and engineering. Established in 1831, the BA organises major initiatives across the UK, including National Science and Engineering Week, the annual BA Festival of Science, programmes of regional and local events, and an extensive programme for young people in schools and colleges. The BA also organises specific activities for the science communication community in the UK through its Science in Society programme. For more information about the BA, please visit www.the-ba.net.

2. About the University of Surrey
The University of Surrey is one of the UK’s leading professional, scientific and technological universities with a world class research profile and a reputation for excellence in teaching and research. Ground-breaking research at the University is bringing direct benefit to all spheres of life – helping industry to maintain its competitive edge and creating improvements in the areas of health, medicine, space science, the environment, communications, defence and social policy. Programmes in science and technology have gained widespread recognition and it also boasts flourishing programmes in dance and music, social sciences, management and languages and law. In addition to the campus on 150 hectares just outside Guildford, Surrey, the University also owns and runs the Surrey Research Park, which provides facilities for 140 companies employing 2,700 staff.

The Sunday Times names Surrey as ‘The University for Jobs' which underlines the university’s growing reputation for providing high quality, relevant degrees.

3. About the BA Festival of Science
The BA Festival of Science is the UK’s largest science festival, attracting over 350 speakers and thousands of visitors, and has been taking place since 1831. The BA Festival of Science 2008 takes place from 6-11 September at the University of Liverpool and across the city. It is organised in partnership with the University of Liverpool and is supported by the Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills, the Liverpool Culture Company and the Northwest Regional Development Agency. For further information, visit www.the-ba.net/festivalofscience.

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