105119/Z/14/Z: SmashFest: An Alternative Science Festival for Kids, Families and Grown-ups

Project Summary:Uberfest is the world's first Un-Science Science Festival and is dedicated to science engagement/education to new and wider audiences through entertainment. It will focus on bringing performance and arts related events (comedy, music, films, storytelling, theatre, dance) often found on the fringes of traditional science fairs to the heart of this festival. Uberfest will have a narrative theme, (for 2015 the proposal is Asteroid Strike ) which will thematically link and lead a diverse and e ntertaining programme of events engaging its audience with the underlying science. The mission for Uberfest, is to increase and widen participation in science beyond demographics traditionally associated with science festival attendees, (who self-identify as already engaged with science). The intent of Uberfest is to engage with schools and families, particularly in London boroughs with indicators for socio-economic poverty and diverse BME populations, often underserved by existing informal s cience engagement offerings. Uberfest 2015 will pilot events across 6 boroughs (Camden, Lewisham, Barnet, Greenwich, Southwark, Lambeth) and aims to become a sustainable enterprise, fostering a community of creatives, artists, scientists and publics working together to produce a festival each year. In the 6 weeks preceding the festival, Uberfest delivery partners will carry out schools workshops combining science projects with artistic expression. Students will carry out a science projec t, the results of which will be expressed creatively and incorporated into the festival as a part of a competition of performances, events and exhibits.

Grant Holder:Dr Lindsay Keith

Organisation:Refinery Productions Ltd

Financial Year:2013/2014