Psychology and physiology centre stage at city STEM festival

16/09/2024

WITH more than 86 billion neurons, 2.5 million gigabytes of storage and 50,000 thoughts a day, the human brain is incredible – and Aberdeen Science Festival, powered by TechFest, aims to delve even deeper into how it works.

Previously known as the TechFest public programme, this fresh new celebration of science and technology will offer a week of thought-provoking experiences across city venues from September 21-28.

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Supported by joint principal sponsors bp and Shell and festival sponsor Equinor, the newly created festival is primarily aimed at adults, including students and senior school pupils, with STEM Nights and Hot Topics set to generate healthy debate.

NHS psychologist Dr Emma Hepburn, known as The Psychology Mum and famous for her illustrations on social media, will explore The Science of Emotions.

Whether you’re feeling happy or sad, this talk will look at what emotions actually are and why they are a critical part of brain functioning.

Emma will consider what science tells us about emotions to answer a range of questions, including how does our brain create emotions, what would happen if we just had feelgood emotions and how can we best respond to difficult emotions?

This event will be held at 7pm on Thursday, September 26.

Do You Feel Lucky? Jon Davis will investigate the science of luck on Friday, September 27 at 7.30pm. Whether you’re superstitious or not, this event promises powerful mind-reading and a smashing finale!

Dr Matt Pritchard, also known as the science magician, will look at optical illusions in Designing Deceptions, showcasingboth an artistic and scientific appeal as they question our perception of reality.

This fast-paced and demonstration packed talk will explore how the mind can be deceived, and how optical principles, smart materials and even typographical word play can be exploited in magic effects.

Designing Deceptions will be held at 7.30pm on Tuesday, September 24.

If you enjoy warm days in the sun, discover how sunlight positively impacts our health and physiology.

Tickets are on sale now for Why Do We Like Sunshine? on Saturday, September 21 at 2pm.

Dr Olga Runcie will explore the science behind why we feel happier and more energetic on sunny days, looking into the role of sunlight in vitamin D production, mood regulation, and circadian rhythms.

Learn about the surprising ways in which sunlight influences our physical and mental well-being, and gain practical tips on how to safely enjoy the benefits of sunshine.

All of these events will be held at the Fraser Noble Building at The University of Aberdeen and tickets are now on sale at Aberdeen Performing Arts, priced at just £6 for adults and £4 concession.

Other sessions will take place at locations including Robert Gordon University, The Lemon Tree and Greyhope Bay.

Dr Martha Gavan, deputy managing director of TechFest said: “We’re excited to bring Aberdeen Science Festival to the city and hope the programme will provide a huge range of thought-provoking and interesting events to get the brain working!”

To book your tickets online, visit www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/whats-on/?event-search=Aberdeen+Science+Festival

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