World Class events at ScienceTeller Festival

Media Release – Monday 21 October 2013

World Class events at ScienceTeller Festival

Dunedin, 25 October to 27 October 2013

Marcus Byrne – photo by Chris Collingridge

ScienceTeller, the popular biennial festival celebrating science communication and storytelling kicks off this Friday 25 October in Dunedin. Featuring a programme of internationally renowned and high profile guests, this second festival is hosted by the Centre for Science Communication at the University of Otago, with three days of inspiring and entertaining events.

Festival Director Phil Bishop says this year’s festival features an incredible array of international, national guests and local talent; with international guests coming from as far as the USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia and Britain.

Highlights of the festival include the hugely entertaining Canadian rapper Baba Brinkman with his fun “The Rap Guide to Evolution” at the Regent Theatre on Friday 25 October at 1.45pm (please note this is an R13); award winning photographer and scientist Robin Moore with his “Search for Lost Frogs” and stunning exhibition “Metamorphosis”; American author and sceptic Guy P Harrison; South African dung beetle expert Marcus Byrne and historian of science from Harvard University, Professor Naomi Oreskes with “the fallacy of rationality”. 

BBC Academy story consultant and author, Hazel Marshall, will give a lecture and a workshop on the elements of storytelling; New Zealand based writer and artist Matt Vance will give a presentation on the role of myth and science with “This journey has beggared our language”; and Australian media personality Robyn Williams who will convene presentations of Popularizing Students’ work.

For the first time in New Zealand, international beer expert Mirella Amato, a National Level BJCP judge and only one of seven Master Cicerones® in the world, will inform audiences on the science of beer, alongside a beer tasting session on Sunday 27 October at 5.30pm, at the Lone Star in Dunedin. Following Amato’s event the popular ScienceTeller Literature and Lager evening – which is open to the public, will commence, also at the Lone Star from 7.30pm.

Not to be missed is the world premiere of nine fantastic films at Dunedin’s Regent Theatre produced by the 2013 graduating class from the University of Otago’s Centre for Science Communication – an anticipated event on the calendar. Tickets cost $10, available via TicketDirect outlets including the Regent Theatre or online via www.ticketdirect.co.nz or Ph 0800 224 224. Tickets include both sessions (4-6pm and 8-10pm). Details of the running order is available on www.scienceteller.com

ScienceTeller’s festival program combines film screenings, events and workshops with stimulating talks by guest speakers including the exciting SciTell rapid-fire talks www.scitell.com

Events will be held at the Regent Theatre, Otago Museum and the Lone Star. For a full programme and ticketing information visit www.scienceteller.com

The biennial festival is generously supported by a number of sponsors – including founding sponsor, the University of Otago, in partnership with NHNZ and Otago Museum, and a number of other sponsors, funding partners and volunteers. Without their support this festival would not be possible.  

ENDS

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