the-BA : BA Press Release

Forward planning release

The BA Festival of Science will be in York from 9-15 September, bringing over 350 of the UK’s top scientists and engineers to discuss the latest developments in science with the public. In addition to talks and debates at the University of York, there will be a host of events throughout the city.

Each year, the Festival generates hundreds of press stories – last year, there were almost 170 stories in the UK national newspapers, in excess of 420 regional newspaper articles, more than 120 radio broadcasts and over 30 TV broadcasts. This year will be no exception.

Here is just a taster of what’s to come at the Festival…

Did monkeys really live in England? – a look at how climate change and humans influenced the most recent European primates and whether they’ll return
Achieving gold with engineering – from body sensors to non-stop ski waxing, engineering’s improving the UK’s sporting chances
Energy and human progress - the BA Presidential Address; Lord Browne of Madingley explores the technological solutions to our energy and climate change problems and the international institutional arrangements that can help
The influence of family circumstances on children – do fathers matter?
Earth’s fiery future – will climate change trigger more geological hazards?
Farms as factories: new opportunities for the development of non-food crops
Nice but naughty? – why do we crave chocolate, and could it actually be good for us?
Identity and mistaken identity: face recognition in a surveillance society
Prehistoric food and diet – new perspectives on the way key ingredients became part of our everyday diet
The mystery of consciousness – what insights do ‘moral illusions’ offer regarding human nature, and what can contagious yawning tell us about the mind?

The BA will be operating a Press Centre at the Festival from 10-14 September, sponsored by AstraZeneca, providing desk space, access to telephones, internet PCs and interview rooms with ISDN lines. Registered journalists will have access to embargoed speakers’ papers online a fortnight before the event and will be able to attend press conferences with the key speakers at the Festival.

To register for access to speakers’ papers and to the Press Centre itself, please visit www.the-ba.net/pressregister. Registration is now open.

Please note that there will also be a press launch for the Festival on 6 September 2007 in the Dana Centre, London, where key speakers from the Festival will be previewing their talks.

For further information about the BA Festival of Science, including an online programme and information on accommodation in York, visit www.the-ba.net/festivalofscience.

The Press Centre at the BA Festival of Science is sponsored by AstraZeneca. This year’s BA Festival of Science is organised by the BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science) in partnership with the University of York, Science City York and the City of York Council. It is supported by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS), BP and Yorkshire Forward.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Lisa Hendry, Press Officer, the BA
Tel: +44 (0)20 7019 4946
Email: lisa.hendry@the-ba.net

Jessica Griggs, Press Assistant, the BA
Tel: 020 7019 4947
Email: Jessica.griggs@the-ba.net

Note for editors

1. 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. Images of the BA Festival of Science can be obtained from the BA Press Office.

3. The President of the BA for 2006-2007 is Lord Browne of Madingley. He is the former Group Chief Executive of BP and is also President of the Royal Academy of Engineering. He has received many accolades, including the Prince Philip Medal for his outstanding contribution to the field of Engineering.

4. Speakers have been asked to submit press papers for their talks, which include a summary of the talk and what is newsworthy about their research. Press papers will be available to registered press from late-August at www.the-ba.net/presspapers.

5. To register for access to the press papers or to the Press Centre at the BA Festival of Science, visit www.the-ba.net/pressregister.

6. The BA Festival of Science 2007 is being hosted in York by the University of York, Science City York and the City of York Council.

7. The University of York, founded in 1963, has nearly 12,000 students, 3,000 staff and more than 30 academic departments and research centres. It is one of Britain’s leading research-intensive universities, with a global reputation. The University concentrates on strong viable departments and teaching and research of the highest quality. It is rated sixth out of 172 UK higher education institutions for the quality of its research, with 18 of its 23 departments rated 5 or 5*. Ambitious plans for growth include a projected 50 per cent increase in student numbers, and significant research expansion and spin-out activity. For more information, visit www.york.ac.uk.

8. Science City York is a successful business and skills development initiative, driving the creation and growth of business and employment opportunities across York and North Yorkshire in bioscience, IT & digital and creative technologies. Established in 1998 as a partnership between City of York Council and The University of York, Science City York is supported by Yorkshire Forward, the Regional Development Agency for Yorkshire and the Humber. Further information available from www.sciencecityyork.org.uk.

9. City of York Council serves over 180,000 residents, covering an area of 236km2 and providing a wide range of services. The council works with 70 schools across the city to provide high quality education to over 24,000 pupils. The authority employs over 7,000 staff and is York's largest employer. More information about the council and its services is available at www.york.gov.uk.

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