NZ Int. Science Festival Calls For Volunteers

Call for volunteers for NZ International Science Festival in Dunedin 5-13 July

If you’ve got some spare time, you like talking to people and you would like to be part of a prestigious international festival in Dunedin, then the New Zealand International Science Festival is looking for you.

The team behind the sixth NZ International Science Festival, held in Dunedin from 5-13 July, is looking for volunteers to perform some important and interesting duties during the nine day event.

Festival Director Sue Clarke said the success of the festival depended on input from the community, in people attending the events, but also people willing to volunteer and make the event a truly community experience.

“For members of the public attending the festival; listening to the keynote speakers, witnessing the amazing scientific displays and fun events the input of volunteers can make a difference to their overall experience,” she said.

“Volunteers are the face of the festival, they are the people you can ask for information, guidance and also provide invaluable behind the scenes assistance.”

Ms Clarke said around 30 volunteers were needed throughout the nine day festival which kicks off on Saturday 5 July. Specific tasks they will be able to perform include:

• “Faces of the Festival” during the Uni Expo (July 5 and 6) as well as during the What’s Best Expo at the Polytech (July 12)

• Helpers for the set-up of our Headquarters on the 3rd and 4th of July

• Ticket collection during various events such as keynote speakers.

• Administrative tasks in our ODT Science Festival HQ that need to be covered.

• Helping hands for kids activities throughout the Festival.

• For the collection of names for an economic impact survey, to be undertaken after the Science Festival.

People wishing to volunteer can do so by calling 0800 SCIFEST or email projects@scifest.org.nz

Tickets selling fast – get in quick

Meanwhile ticket sales for the festival are selling fast so people wanting to attend festival events are urged to visit the website at www.scifest.org.nz, or phone 0800 SCIFEST.

People purchasing tickets to the keynote speeches at the Festival will go in the draw to win return tickets for two to either Wellington or Auckland on Pacific Blue airlines between July and November. Pacific Blue is New Zealand’s newest domestic airline and will begin flying out of Dunedin in July.

The four keynote speakers are Dr Cordelia Fine, an academic psychologist and author based in Melbourne, Australia; Professor Fiona Stanley an expert in child health research based at the University of Western Australia in Perth; New Zealand born Dr Jilly Evans, Vice President Amira Pharmaceuticals who received her PhD in Biochemistry from the University of British Columbia in 1978 working with Michael Smith who won the Nobel Prize in 1993 for the development of site-specific mutagenesis, and Geoff Henderson, CEO of Windflow Technology Ltd. based in Christchurch.

There are over 300 events planned including interactive activities, science theatre, workshops and panel discussions.

A new website has been launched to provide up-to-the minute information on the festival, ticket sales and online activities for kids and features a daily programme at a glance, so events can be found easily. Many of the events targeting children are free, but people still need to book.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.scifest.org.nz or by phoning 0800 SCIFEST.

From 5 July tickets can also be purchased by visiting the ODT Science Festival Headquarters in the Dunedin Community Gallery, 20 Princes Street, Dunedin.

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