UCL staff to speak at British Science Festival

Academics from UCL are taking part in Europe's largest science festival next month, where they will discuss subjects ranging from the fate of Celtic languages to the presence of water on Mars. The British Science Festival brings more than 350 top scientists and includes hands-on family days, debates on modern science, and unique opportunities to question some of the country's finest minds. Seven staff from the university will speak at the festival, which runs from 5 September to 10 September and takes place in Surrey. In addition to talks and debates at the University of Surrey, there will be a host of events throughout the county. UCL's growing contribution to the festival, which coincides with the International Year of Astronomy 2009, includes: 5 September - Joe Cain (UCL Science & Technology Studies): 'You must be joking! Pranks, jokes and other silliness in science' 5 September - Francisco Diego (UCL Physics & Astronomy): 'Is there alien intelligence in the universe?' 5 September - UCL's Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL) will also be throwing open its doors to the public as part of the festival.