We need to develop sustainable and efficient methods of food production that minimise impact on the environment. Food shortages and subsequent price rises have also resulted in civil unrest and riots in a number of countries around the world. The UN’s annual report on food security highlights the issue that while one sixth of the world’s population are currently undernourished a similar number of people are estimated to be obese.

Food security raises many issues of high public interest both in UK and globally covering areas such as: a growing global population; unequal access to available food; pressures on available agricultural land; climate change; loss of biodiversity and genetic erosion; food pricing and trade agreements; obesity vs malnutrition; food sovereignty issues where multi-national corporations are buying agricultural resources in developing countries and increased threat of disease risk to crops, animals and people.

The UK is heavily dependent on imported food to supply the needs of a growing population; recent forecasts indicate the proportion of food that we import is set to increase significantly over the next 20 years. Disruptions to the supply of imports will have serious knock-on effects; economically; socially and to the health and well being of the population.

Food security is a complex issue, which intersects many different research disciplines and is also a topic that everyone can engage with. Feeding the 7 Billion is an accessible and interactive exploration of the main issues around food security and how science might help secure the future of our food. The event involves a chaired panel debate including a short film capturing some of the public’s views on food security. Please come along and put your questions and comments to the panel.

It’s been quite a journey, which is probably best summed up by the Science Communicators: the groups of undergraduates who have been polished and molded into presenters in a learning curve so steep they should have been given a safety harness. They were made to perform in front of groups of (often rowdy) children, developing people management, public speaking skills and patience throughout the most intense science festival any of us have ever seen.

Of course some found it harder than others, just as the festival itself wasn’t perfect. Some discovered they preferred the organisational side of things, whereas others excelled at leading workshops into new exciting places. Some may never do science communication again but, as far as I could see, even those initially least interested will have taken something very special from this experience to use in their future career.

There were some emotional farewells on Saturday. Seeing the rise of confidence and enjoyment in most communicators revealed something we knew deep down from the start: culture differences are just surface issues. Friendships and respect formed between people from internationally diverse backgrounds because we were, at the end of the long, long days, just people trying to make children happy and excited about science. Working together it was a job successfully done.

It was crazy. It was often intimidating, especially when several thousand people turned up to see our beloved shows (it’s hard being awesomely popular). But it’s definitely feeling like an au revoir. This isn’t the end of science festivals in this part of the world but, as a Team Leader, it’s been a pleasure to be a piece of the beginning. 

I was working on Dino Dig where, about 10 minutes after opening, an enthusiastic child bounded up to tell me how much he loved dinosaurs, and how excited he was about coming to visit our show. Hurrah! They love us already! The science communicators were charmed by his glee, and I felt justified in whittering on about how this was one of the best jobs in the world.

Our first show went well, with just a couple of things we knew we could smooth out during the day. Just before we gathered our sparkly new presenters round for a debrief, I glanced outside our dino tent to see if it had got any busier. Man, had it got busier.

The hall in ADNEC is a big place. Like, a few houses could fit in it big. And it appeared to be completely filled with everyone in Abu Dhabi, plus a few more for good measure. Word on the street afterwards was that we had played host to 5,000 customers, but at a first glance it felt like several zeros could be added to that already pretty substantial number. Around the room, enthusiastic audiences were milling around the shows, falling over each other to get a piece of this new, strange festival.

The hours passed, the children were shown the science and the buzz seemed to heighten, even after the much-talked-about royal visitor had left. We got back to the hotel that night, slightly shell-shocked and counting limbs but...the best word is probably impressed. Our local communicators had stepped up to the challenge in ways that gave us maternal pride, and we were part of a festival that people were stampeding to be a part of. We’re a long way from Edinburgh, but one day closer to really understanding how this festival’s gonna roll.

Phew. 

View pictures from the Abu Dhabi Science Festival on Flickr

www.abudhabisciencefestival.ae

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.

Launching today is National Science & Engineering Week, a national celebration of science, engineering and technology running from 11th - 20th March 2011with captivating events and activites all around the UK.

Our favourites in Scotland include Wonderful Woodlands, 12th - 13th March 2011, where the whole family can learn about the UK's trees, woodlands and wildlife with the John Muir Trust and there is even the opportunity to make a fantastic animal mask! You can brighten up your lunchtimes with City Centre Science Busking, run by University of Strathclyde students who will be performing mini experiments around the city centre of Glasgow at 2pm everyday from 14th - 18th March 2011.

Digital Natives, a multi-sensory event on 18th March 2011 promises to be entertaining and inspiring. Performance and technology collide in an evening of experimental dance, sound, film and visual arts. Part of Women in Science Festival 2011, Dundee's annual festival to celebrate and encourage women in science, technology, engineering and maths, this event is a must see.

If you have ever wondered how the gigantic castles or cathedrals of Scotland where built, the Medieval Construction Science Show at Aberdour Castle is for you! Historic Scotland's free interactive show investigates the science and technology behind Medieval buildings, following the impressive journey of a block of stone from a quarry to the top of an arch. You can also catch this fascinating show at Blackness Castle 8th - 9th April as part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

You can also get involved at home, with a range of interesting online projects including Your Hidden Reality poll. British Science Association want to discover what kind of world UK citizens want to live in by knowing your hidden realities and dream parallel worlds.

Musical Moods is another online sound experiment, to find out if our familiarity with TV programmes affects our emotive connection to its theme music. Run by leading acoustics expert Professor Trevor Cox and BBC Research and Development, this research hopes to pioneer a brand new way of classifying TV programees within the BBC's vast digital archive. Indulge in your music passion with Geek Pop a virtual music festival featuring musicians, artists and comedians inspired by science, watch performances online and download their podcasts at your lesiure. Your ears will be pleased!

Check out British Science Association's website for full programme details.

As well as all our fascinating (and very grown up) talks and debates, for Science Festival 2011 we've also come up with plenty of ways for you to have some fun and recapture your youthful sense of adventure.

Following the immense success of last year's event, on Thursday 14 April we'll once again be opening up our flagship family venue, City Art Centre, for an evening of kid-free entertainment. Take a tour through the jungle, blow bubbles, build turbines and mix up a blood-curdling milkshake.

And so convinced are we that our family events really are for all the family, we'll be holding another evening just for adults at our brand new family event - Atomise. Celebrating the International Year of Chemistry at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Atomise offers scientific fizz and fascination like you've never seen before featuring workshops, shows and interactive demonstrations. Join us for Atomise Later - set off the Chain Reactor, concoct a pongy potion and explore our forest of crystals by night.

Don't let the kids have all the fun - join in, get your hands dirty and discover sensational science!

Tickets for both events include entry into all workshops and a glass of wine. Book online by following the links below or call our booking hotline on 0131 553 0322. You can also buy tickets in person at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe shop on the Royal Mile.

City Art Centre Without the Kids, Thursday 14 April, 7.30pm-9.30pm, £10/£8 - book now!

Atomise Later, Tuesday 19 April, 7-9.30pm, £15/£12 - book now!

Download a copy of our full Science Festival 2011 programme here, or request a paper version by emailing your details to marketing@scifest.co.uk.

From a traditional educational perspective, Science and Art can seem poles apart. But are they? This weekend, Peninsula Arts, the public arts programme from the University of Plymouth, will present a unique contemporary music festival exploring how the two are, in fact, linked.

The Peninsula Arts 2011 Contemporary Music Festival is entitled 'Re-sounding Science' and seeks to investigate and understand how the two disciplines can connect. Simon Imble, Director of Music at Peninsula Arts says:

"At a time when a prescriptive economy divides science from the arts, this festival is driven by enterprise and collaboration and... [the] union of art and science. These themes are pursued through the world of neuroscience, music and the brain..."

This academic union may seem strange, but 21st century technologies now have a huge role to play in music production techniques. Re-sounding Science will push the boundaries of this relationship with innovative work from contemporary musicians and composers.

On 11th February, Cloud Chamber, by Alexis Kirke will feature a semi-improvisational composition for violin accompanied by a projection of subatomic particles, created by computer tracking equipment. And on the 12th, Imble will conduct the world premiere of Mind Pieces by Eduardo Miranda. This five movement piece for orchestra, percussion and piano is the result of an amazing 13 years research into how scientific methods and approaches can influence musical composition.

Organised in partnership with the University of Plymouth Interdisciplinary Centre for Computer Music Research, it offers a range of events designed to encourage artistic appreciation of science's role in society.

Re-sounding Science could help you become an "arts and science person"! Find out more here.

Image: Daniel St.Pierre / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Apparently, the motto's a long story. So say Richard Wiseman and Peter Lamont, organisers of the Edinburgh Secret Society who, since December, have been organising "verbal, theatrical and experimental presentations intended to inform, entertain and bewilder."

The events are based on the actions of a group of 18th century Edinburgh intellectuals which included David Hume and James Boswell. Their meetings deliberately took place outwith the framework of the dissemination of information of the Scottish Enlightenment. To keep the secret safe, no notices of the meetings were posted and no records whatsoever were kept.

The same can be said of Lamont and Wiseman's venture. Despite a few leaked details, all of which have been suitably vague, the content of the society's events has remained mysterious.

So far, there has been illusion, disbelief, psychology and self-improvement at the Voodoo Rooms with tickets selling out within a matter of hours. Last week, the society announced its next venture, an "evening of death" and "manifestations from beyond the grave". The event will take place on Friday 18th February at 8pm and will be held around the dissecting table in the Anatomy Lecture Theatre at the University of Edinburgh, a haunting space, rarely open to the public.

Tickets go on sale at 10am on Tuesday 1st February, and if past events are anything to go by, they'll sell out fast.
 As per society rules, there won't be any reviews so if you miss it, you miss out!

All details are available on the Edinburgh Secret Society website. Shh.

You've probably already spotted our collection of fascinating Did You Know facts and images that form the page backgrounds on our website, but did you also know you can use our site to ask us your own science questions.

We're lucky enough to have a wealth of science geeks at our fingertips, and if they don't know the answer, we'll find someone who does!

If you have a My Science account you can save previously asked questions and Did You Know facts as well as news and blog articles to your profile. And once our 2011 programme launches on 24 February, you'll also be able to store details of any events that take your fancy too.

You can have a look at the questions other people have already asked us here, or simply submit your own. And don't forget to sign up for your My Science account by clicking here.

What are you waiting for? Put us to the test!

Image: Boaz Yiftach / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The Scottish Event Awards celebrates the very best of all types of events and event services across the country. You can see a full list of 2010 winners here.

The awards ceremony took place at a glittering reception in Glasgow, and we're very grateful to Visit Scotland, who were kind enough to host us at their table.

Of course, we're all delighted with our award! Keep checking this site to find out how we intend to make 2010's Best Cultural Event even better in 2011.