The preparations are all coming together. Team leaders have got their scripts, received instructions and are currently panic-buying sunscreen and working out at what temperature Scottish skin actually melts. Before we all head off to Abu Dhabi, land of sun, sand and a shiny new science festival, we all met in one place last weekend for training.
Training’s probably the wrong word. This was a weekend of preparation. All of the team leaders from Edinburgh International Science Festival are passionate about science communication and know their stuff when it comes to tricking grumpy young children into learning some facts. We were brought together to answer questions which were hovering in the air about cultural differences and how not to offend all our new workmates. The basic conclusion? Be nice, listen, observe and you’ll be ok pretty much anywhere in the world.
Science communication is a language which transcends culture. Ok, so that sentence doesn’t stand up to excessive scrutiny, but it sounds good. Basically, although vocabulary will vary around the world, we’re going to be heading to the Abu Dhabi Science Festival with a heap of shows full of internationally known symbols: smiley faces, encouraging body language and a dinosaur waiting to be dug up.
Our role out there will be supporting a new generation of science communicators who’ll be delivering these shows, made up of freshly trained undergraduates. A team of experienced tutors, led by Tom ‘Dr Bunhead’ Pringle, went to a select group of universities and skilled up groups of students. Around 600 students were taught the power of taking scientific concepts and translating them in order to engage and excite young visitors to their blooming new science festival.
In the meantime, the team leaders are ordering Dirhams and reading guide books, preparing to take the energy of Edinburgh on a plane to a place where, we now know, we shouldn’t show the soles of our feet. Exciting times await.
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