International Science Festival comes to Dunedin

16 May 2006

Dunedin gets ready to turn on luck, charm and aliens for International Science Festival

Dunedin is getting ready to turn on its luck, charm, aliens, and pheromones for the New Zealand International Science Festival in July 2006.

This is one event with something for everyone – whether they are just about to hit the dating scene, curious about life elsewhere in the galaxy, or are five year olds who dream of making their own magic.

The week of mind-bending science kicks off with Dr Jill Tarter of the SETI Institute ( Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence, California, USA) giving her keynote address on Saturday 1 July 2006.

Jill Tarter will captivate the audience as she tells her story of what it is like searching the universe for extra-terrestrials.

Starting at 7.30pm, Saturday 1 July, at the St David Street Lecture Theatre, University of Otago, Dr Jill Tarter's appearance will be her first in New Zealand.

The New Zealand International Science Festival 2006 brings Chris Krishna-Pillay from Melbourne to give Kiwis the low down on "Pre-Coital - the Science of Dating" from 1- 3 July 2006.

Chris says his show is about what science can tell us in the lead up to sex, the truth behind pheromones, physical attractiveness, emotions, condoms and the odds of finding your perfect match. This is science that singletons won't want to miss.

The biennial New Zealand International Science Festival brings science to the people, and this year is no exception with a superb line-up of workshops, a special chocolate chemistry lab, sci-fi movies, an energy debate, creatures of the deep, weather wizardry and more, leading up to Professor Richard Wiseman's keynote address "How to Get Lucky" on Saturday 8 July 2006.

Chair of Public Understanding of Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire (UK), Professor Richard Wiseman has popularized the science of luck with a humourous style, and features regularly on the BBC sharing his insights into human psychology.

Richard Wiseman's keynote address is to be held at the Glenroy Auditorium, Dunedin Town Hall, starting at 7.30pm on Saturday 8 July, where he will reveal the results of the mass participation experiment for the festival.

Tickets to the 2006 festival go on sale from 24 May at the Science Festival office.

Ticket prices range from a new Science Festival Pass, special rates for family and students to various free events.

Some door sales are available, and all ticket prices are listed in the programme available from 24 May.

To purchase tickets or get a free copy of the 2006 Programme contact the New Zealand International Science Festival booking office, Dunedin, telephone 0800 SCI FEST, by post (PO Box 5819, Dunedin) or by email scicrew@scifest.org.nz

Science Futures - New Horizons is the theme for the 2006 New Zealand International Science Festival to be held from 1-9 July in the science city of Dunedin.

Professor Richard Wiseman is being brought to New Zealand by the British Council.

The mass experiment is supported by SBS.

For more information go to our website www.scifest.org.nz

The programme, full listing of events and details on how to participate in the mass experiment will be available from 24 May 2006.

ENDS

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