2017 Report
Our 2017 report is now complete and available. It was another super year for the festival, with a record breaking 8000 people attending our events across the 2 weeks. Thank you so much to everyone who attended our events, we hope you enjoyed it and a HUGE thank you to all our partners, sponsors, contributors and volunteers. This festival really could not happen without all of your continued effort & support. ...
Red squirrels struck by medieval strain of leprosy
An international team of researchers led by Professor Anna Meredith, Chair of Zoological and Conservation Medicine at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Midlothian, have identified two species of bacteria linked to outbreaks of leprosy in UK red squirrels. DNA samples from red squirrels in England, Scotland and Ireland revealed evidence of infection with Mycobacterium lepromatosis and Mycobacterium leprae, both of which...
2017 Festival dates – 7th – 21st October
We are delighted to announce the dates for the 2017 festival Saturday the 7th October until Saturday the 21st October. Our programme of events will be, as usual varied, rich, stimulating and accessible as we aim to reach out to people who might not normally come to a science event. ...
2016 Festival all wrapped up – Read our report
DOWNLOAD our annual report and find out about the 2016 festival. What do you think of us? How are we funded? Where did our events run and how many folk turned out? How long do people stay at our events? We collected over 700 evaluation forms during our two week festival and in the report, you will find a summary of the findings. We couldn’t fit all the feedback into the report, but we do look at every single item...
The Dog days are over…
On Sunday 9th October 2016 the sun came out to play at the Midlothian Science Festival event at Vogrie, and so did a small army of dogs, bringing their families and loved ones with them: this was Dog Day. The day was the product of woven interaction between a vast array of canine loving parties; the Midlothian Dog Training club, the Royal Dick Vet School (vets and students including many from the Jeanne Marchig Centre for Animal...
Big thank you!
The 2016 Midlothian Science Festival reached over 7,500 people, and we would like to sincerely thank all who support us. Donors, contributors and volunteers, and all of the amazing people who come to our events. This year’s festival was a huge success. Here are a selection of images from just 3 of our 85 public events! Watch this space for news of our 2016 report, where you will be able to see details of all our supporters...
Midlothian Rocket Blast Winner 2016
Imelda Milestone came with her mum and dad to launch her rocket at Mayfield library gala day. Imelda and her dad built the rocket at Gorebridge library. Running late, they arrived at the end of the Mayfield launch session. All the other rockets had been launched, and a winner seemed clear. Imelda’s rocket took first prize with a clear distance of 60 metres! A dramatic end to this year’s competition. Imelda and her...
Download 2016 Brochure Now
Well it’s what you have been waiting for and it’s now ready to DOWNLOAD so fingers on the button… GO!! You can Download it using the link at the top of the page or the button below or even just the word “Download” at the start of this sentence! Download Brochure (no. 2,221) Event Booking goes live on the 12th...
It’s here!
Our lovely green brochure has arrived. It will be ready to download from the website from next Monday, the 5th Sept. Here is our front cover, to entice you for what’s coming in October. From the 5th September, the brochure will be available to download, and will be appearing in Libraries, Leisure cent-res, pubs, and shops throughout the Lothians. It will be in all Midlothian school children’s bags during the the week of...
It’s coming…
Our Brochure for 2016 is nearly ready! So exciting to see all the wonderful events we have been planning coming together. The festival will open with the ‘Easter Bush Campus Open Day’ on the 8th of October, closely followed by ‘Dog Day – The Science Behind the Wag’ at Vogrie on the 9th. ‘Science Alive’ gala day at Lasswade on the 15th Oct, ‘Dino and Volcano Day’ at The...
Psst. Remember this? You know who you are.
Those of you who came to Dino day last year at Dalkeith library will remember that our attempts to set off a super volcano were…a little bit of an anticlimax! So you will be delighted to learn that this year we have a real volcanologist to help bring this amazing branch of science to life. Kate Saunders from The University of Edinburgh will join us when we will take over the Glencorse Centre on October the 16th. Combining our...
How do we do it and what do you think?
Our annual report is now available. Read about how we did in 2015. How are we funded? Where did our events run and how many folk turned out? What do you think of us? These and many more questions can be answered by DOWNLOADING our annual report We collected over 900 evaluation forms during our two week festival and in the report, you will find a summary of the findings. Much more of the feedback collected is fuelling our plans...
Nicola and Sarah grab a gong!
A glittering dinner took place last night at the National Museum of Scotland. At the Scottish Enterprise annual do, Easter Bush won the award for Community Engagement for it’s work with Midlothian Science Festival. Of course you all know that great work is done by great people, and in this case, two. Nicola Stock , Public Engagement Officer for The Roslin Institute and the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, and Sarah...
Maggie Boyd’s beautiful beastie made our judges beam!
Maggie Boyd from Newtongrange entered our ‘Design a bug or beastie’ competition. Our judges were enchanted by her design, which won the 5-8 years category. Maggie described it like this: “The ‘Jellyscorpagi’ is made of jelly. It is famous for it’s cuteness and square nose and is solar powered. Sun goes in one pincer and goes all around the body and makes it glow. Then it comes out of the other...
Stephen scribes his way to success.
Stephen Catterall sharpened his pencil, put his mind to work, and produced this poem to win our Cell Poetry competition. He came to Dalkeith Library to collect his certificate and prize. One hundred billion neurons whirring in my brain help me to remember how to write my name Skin cells enveloping every part of me stops my insides falling out wouldn’t you agree? Beautiful red blood cells travel through my veins oxygen...
Our youngest Bugs and Beasties Designer is Maya!
Maya Duran from Edinburgh visited us at Science in the Glen on the 4th of October. She spend some time at our design a bug or beastie activity, and our judges loved the results! She came to Danderhall Library to collect her certificate and prize. Here is her winning entry. Well drawn...
Dominic designs a winner!
Dominic Forest of Roslin won the age 9-12 category in our ‘Design a Bug or a Beastie’ Competition with his wonderful, colourful creation. And here is Dominic at Roslin Library with his winners certificate and prize. Well done Dominic! Thank you to all of you who entered this year’s competitions. Winners in the Bugs and Beasties 0-4 category, 5-8 category, and winner of the Cell poetry competition will appear next...
Meet Ben, winner of the Rocket Launch competition 2015!
Ben Freeland won this year’s farthest launch, with a whopping 44 metre blast during the Mayfield Library Science Gala Day on the last day of this years Festival, October the 17th. Here he is with his prize, certificate, and of course, his amazing rocket! Well done to all of you who launched rockets with us this year, we had great fun! Rocket launching will return next year, so look closely at Ben’s design, and for...
Dino Dig in Dalkeith is done and dusted
And what a feast for all the senses Dalkeith Dino Dig Day was! Saltersgate Art Department did us proud designing and making all the elements involved, and all the prehistoric creatures were represented – from the humble trilobite to Big Al and ‘his’ eggs as seen in the pic. And after a manic day for both MSF staff, Volunteers, Midlothian Library staff and chief designer Amy Collop – Art teacher at Saltergate School,...
Dancing Light Date Error
Please note that there was a printing error and the four Dancing Light Sessions are on Wed 14th Oct and not Tues 13th as stated in the brochure. We wholeheartedly apologise for this error and hope that it has not inconvenienced you too much. Details of the event and all the booking info can be found here where you can also book the events via...
