BORDERS
SCIENCE
FESTIVAL
2017
PROGRAMME
1 - 31 MAY
BORDERS
SCIENCE
FESTIVAL
2017
BORDERS
SCIENCE
FESTIVAL
2017
WELCOME
WITH A PACKED programme full of fun,
educational and creative events throughout
the month of May, the Borders Science
Festival aims to inspire people of all ages to
explore and celebrate the world of science.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND BOOKINGS:
UNLESS SPECIFIED PLEASE CONTACT: 01750 726400
E: [email protected]
WWW.LIVEBORDERS.ORG.UK
The Borders Science Festival is co-ordinated
by Live Borders Libraries. In its fifth year, the
festival has grown from a purely schoolsbased programme to one that includes family
and public events. Whilst we have taken
every care in producing this brochure please
refer to the website for up-to-date details
regarding all our events.
Borders schools have their own programme
of over 50 workshops and activities which
is co-ordinated by Scottish Borders Council
Children and Young People’s Services. Please
get in contact if you would like more information
regarding our schools programme.
FAMILY FUN DAYS
THEATRE
DISCUSSIONS
AUTHOR EVENTS
FAMILY FUN DAYS
HARESTANES FAMILY
FUN DAY
HARESTANES COUNTRYSIDE VISITOR PARK,
NR ANCRUM TD8 6UQ
SATURDAY 13 MAY, 10AM - 3PM
Join the Borders Science Festival at Harestanes
and enjoy a fun-packed family day of science,
including the following amazing activities:
• The Wildlife Information Centre –
Citizen Science
• SBC Rangers – Join a Tree Treasure Hunt
• Dynamic Earth – Extreme Environments
•LoveScience – Yucky science experiments
• Newcastle University –
Street Science busking
• Caravan Obscura – & upside down
Kohler Boxes
• And you can even explore your brain and
your senses with Edinburgh University
Neuroscience Department
Be prepared to have lots of fun!
Drop in activities.
• HARESTANES TIMETABLED EVENT:
ANIMAL MAN’S
AMAZING MINI ZOO
COURTYARD ROOM
NOON - 1PM
Get up close and personal with some weird
and wonderful critters. Some are cute and
cuddly! Some are not… Whatever the animal,
you can hold them if you feel brave enough
and Animal Man will astound you with some
amazing facts! (Children under 8 to be
accompanied by an adult please).
Booking required.
SCI-FUN ROADSHOW
Presented by the University of Edinburgh
PEEBLES COMMUNITY CENTRE
(DRILL HALL) EH45 8AU
SATURDAY 20 MAY, 11AM - 4PM
Join the fun with this amazing mobile science
centre. The SCI-FUN Roadshow offers an
exciting collection of over fifty interactive
activities – complete with fascinating
explanations! Be a scientist and experiment
with: seeing a hole in your hand; solving a
crime; understanding why a twenty-pence
piece is the shape it is; exploring animal tracks;
making objects apparently roll uphill; and even
using a spinning chair to introduce angular
momentum! (Don’t worry, there’s no exam –
you just have to concentrate on having fun!)
There is also an array of illusions and problemsolving activities to really get you thinking
about how we understand the world around
us. There’s plenty for all the family, including
the challenges of the Reaction Wall and
Power Bike for more competitive visitors!!
Pop in for a moment and stay for hours!
Drop in activities.
PUBLIC PROGRAMME
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND BOOKINGS | E: [email protected] | WWW.LIVEBORDERS.ORG.UK
BORDERS
SCIENCE
FESTIVAL
2017
FAMILY FUN DAYS
DISCUSSIONS
WILTON LODGE PARK
FAMILY FUN DAY
• WILTON LODGE FAMILY FUN DAY
AUTHOR STAR TENT EVENTS:
• WILTON LODGE FAMILY FUN DAY
ANIMAL MAN STAR TENT:
WILTON LODGE PARK, HAWICK TD9 7JL
SATURDAY 27 MAY, 11AM - 4PM
Join the Borders Science Festival at Wilton
Lodge Park and enjoy a fun-packed family day
of science, including the following amazing
activities:
OLLIE AND THE OTTER
with Emily Dodd
ANIMAL MAN’S
AMAZING MINI ZOO!
THE FLAT EARTH AND
EVOLUTION OF THE
HOW WE KNOW IT’S NOT! HUMAN IMAGINATION
•RSPB – Bird Ringing demonstrations
• Dynamic Earth – Extreme Environments
•LoveScience – Yucky science experiments
• Newcastle University –
Street Science busking
• Tweed Foundation – Exploring River Habitats
• Caravan Obscura – & upside down
Kohler Boxes
• Live Borders Libraries – 3D printing
and fab Apps
• And you can even explore your brain and
your senses with Edinburgh University
Neuroscience Department
Be prepared to have lots of fun!
Drop in activities.
12.15 - 1PM
Ollie the osprey loves catching fish but he’s
useless at throwing them! And if he can’t throw
a fish to Isla, she’ll never become his friend.
Can Rory the otter help? A brilliant, engaging
story about the loveable birds and animals of the
Scottish Highlands. Recommended for ages
3–6. (Children under 8 to be accompanied by
an adult please).
11AM - NOON / 1.15 - 2.15PM
Get up close and personal with some weird and
wonderful critters. Some are cute and cuddly!
Some are not… Whatever the animal, you can
hold them if you feel brave enough and Animal
Man will astound you with some amazing facts!
(Children under 8 to be accompanied by
an adult please). Booking required.
VIKINGS IN BRITAIN!
with David MacPhail
2.30 - 3.15PM
Join author David MacPhail as he takes you
on an illustrated, historical and archaeological
trip through the ever popular history of Viking
invasions! Do you know Vikings as well as
you think you do and how did they help shape
modern Scotland? And dare you find out if they
were as scary as some people think? Gulp!
Recommended for ages 6 and above.
(Children under 8 to be accompanied by
an adult please). Booking required.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND BOOKINGS | E: [email protected] | WWW.LIVEBORDERS.ORG.UK
Illustrated talk by Astronomer Peter Flannery
Illustrated talk by Art Physiotherapist David Pitt
MELROSE LIBRARY TD6 9PN
WEDNESDAY 3 MAY, 7PM
Is the Earth flat? With the aid of his background
in astronomy, visual images, plus some simple
experiments for you to try, Peter will prove our
planet is indeed a sphere! Booking required.
PEEBLES LIBRARY EH45 8AG
TUESDAY 16 MAY, 7PM
Our imagination can be a valuable resource.
It can equally exert a negative influence. David
will discuss these concepts and explain how we
can use imagination therapeutically to come to
terms with the past and envisage a future full
of possibilities. Booking required.
MEDICAL COMPRESSION
SAVES LIVES!
Illustrated talk by Dr Lisa Macintyre
HERIOT WATT UNI, GALASHIELS TD1 3HE
WEDNESDAY 10 MAY, 7PM
Join Dr Lisa Macintyre to learn how textiles play
a part in saving and improving lives. Medical
compression has many uses including the
treatment of burn scars and the prevention of
deep vein thrombosis. Look at some available
products and learn about the challenges
associated with delivering the correct pressure.
Booking required.
MUNGO PARK: STEADY
VIEWS OF FUTURITY
HERITAGE HUB, KIRKSTILE, HAWICK TD9 0AE
THURSDAY 18 MAY, 7PM
A new look at Mungo Park’s archives at the
Heritage Hub, Hawick.
Booking required.
Please contact: T: 01450 360699
E: [email protected]
MARY SOMERVILLE:
SELF-TAUGHT WOMAN
OF SCIENCE
Illustrated talk by Isabel Gordon
KELSO LIBRARY CONTACT CENTRE TD5 7JH
WEDNESDAY 24 MAY, 2.30PM
Discover how Mary Somerville transformed herself
from a young woman with an extremely limited
education into a renowned mathematician, bestselling science writer and astronomer who helped
discover Neptune! Booking required.
GRAVITATIONAL WAVES:
LISTENING TO THE SOUNDS OF THE UNIVERSE
Illustrated talk with Prof. Stuart Reid of
The University of West Scotland
PEEBLES LIBRARY EH45 8AG
TUESDAY 30 MAY, 7PM
Gravitational waves were first observed in
September 2015 - associated with the collision
of two black holes more than an incredible
one billion light years ago. A new and exciting
era of gravitational wave astronomy has since
commenced.
Booking required.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND BOOKINGS | E: [email protected] | WWW.LIVEBORDERS.ORG.UK
BORDERS
SCIENCE
FESTIVAL
2017
THEATRE
TWITAWOO
CRANSHAWS VILLAGE HALL TD11 3SJ
SATURDAY 20 MAY, 2.30PM
Theatre production for families, brought to you
by Vision Mechanics and Borders Forest Trust.
Owl, Badger, Squirrel, Pine Marten and friends
all live in the woods. They love it there and
they especially love Gerry, the Forest Ranger,
who has a hard time looking after them and
managing the forest. Gerry wants to win the
tidiest forest in Scotland competition but there
is a lot of waste to clear up. Meanwhile an
owl in the nearby forest has gone missing...
Twitawoo brings to life a host of fabulous
Scottish woodland creatures. With music and
songs, the forest friends share their adventures
and invite you to help look after their home.
Booking required. Collection on the door.
Please reserve your ticket by calling
01361 890384 or emailing
[email protected]
THE WORM: AN
UNDERGROUND
ADVENTURE!
KAILZIE GARDENS, NR PEEBLES EH45 9HT
SUNDAY 21 MAY, 11.30AM
An enchanting, musical tale celebrating the
wonder of life beneath our feet, specially
devised for 3–7 year olds and families.
Join Wilma and William, two nature lovers,
on a journey underground as they discover
a family of friendly, musical worms and their
colourful miniature world. With laugh-out loud
songs, The Worm is a fun-filled musical tale
guaranteed to make everyone giggle, wiggle
and love the squirmy wonders beneath our
feet. After the performance, the audience
are invited to see some real worms in a
specially designed wormery. Please note:
the performance will be outdoors.
AUTHOR EVENTS
WHY VACCINES
ARE AMAZING
Borders Youth Theatre and Trinity P7 Pupils
HAWICK LIBRARY TD9 9QT
WEDNESDAY 24 MAY, 2PM
Worldwide, many killer diseases have almost
disappeared due to the wonder of vaccines.
It wasn’t always like this! Thousands of people
used to die as a result of diseases we now
prevent. But, if we ignore the risks, any of
these diseases could return.Trinity P7 pupils
and Borders Youth Theatre have created a
piece of theatre to show the perils of the past
and how scientists began to shape the future!
No booking required.
Booking required.
Admission charge £3 per person.
Adults free.
FROGS, FLEAS, FOXES & BATTLE MAGE: FANTASY
OTHER FABULOUS FAUNA FICTION WRITING
with Polly Pullar
with Peter Flannery
DUNS PARISH CHURCH HALL TD11 3DD
THURSDAY 4 MAY, 2.30PM
Polly Pullar is a writer, photographer and field
naturalist with a passion for the natural world.
Here in an illustrated talk filled with humour,
she will describe the birds, beasts and beautiful
places that are of constant joy and inspiration in
her life and work. Tea, coffee and refreshments
available. Booking required.
HAWICK LIBRARY TD9 9QT
THURSDAY 11 MAY, 7PM
Peter will describe the skills an author needs
to face the competitive world of publishing,
from using computers to formatting text and
understanding the vagaries of online marketing.
Fantasy might provide the inspiration but
science gives us the tools to make it real.
WHAT MAKES YOUR
BODY WORK!
BURKE AND HARE:
FACT & FICTION
with Gill Arbuthnott
with Peter Ranscombe
DUNS LIBRARY CONTACT CENTRE TD11 3AU
SELKIRK LIBRARY TD7 4LE
SATURDAY 13 MAY, 7PM
Peter, previously a journalist with the Scotsman,
will describe his research relating to the infamous
Burke and Hare and their grisly business of selling
bodies for scientific research. Find out what
happened to Hare after Burke was hanged for
their murderous crimes. Booking required.
SATURDAY 6 MAY, 10.30 - 11.30AM
Come along and find out how amazing you
are! Discover weird and wonderful facts about
your body! You’ll even get the chance to do
experiments on yourself (and maybe even
your friends and family!) Ages 5+ but family
groups very welcome. Booking required.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND BOOKINGS | E: [email protected] | WWW.LIVEBORDERS.ORG.UK
Booking required.
FORENSIC FACT MEETS
FORENSIC FICTION
with best-selling Scottish crime fiction
writer Lin Anderson
THE MCDONALD DRYBURGH ROOM,
MILLFIELD GARDENS, CANONGATE,
JEDBURGH TD8 6ER
FRIDAY 19 MAY, 7PM
When a grave is unearthed on the remote island
of Sanday, forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod is
brought in to excavate. Cut off from the mainland
by bad weather, finding the killer is down to
forensics and secrets held in the soil.
Teas, coffees and licensed bar.
Booking required.
DISCOVER THE SCIENCE
BEHIND CRIME WRITING
with Janet O’Kane
GALASHIELS LIBRARY TD1 3JQ
WEDNESDAY 25 MAY, 2.30PM
Local author Janet O’Kane explains how
she chooses ways to kill off her (purely
fictional) characters! Booking required.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND BOOKINGS | E: [email protected] | WWW.LIVEBORDERS.ORG.UK
BORDERS
SCIENCE
FESTIVAL
2017
PUBLIC PROGRAMME
FEATHERS AND FLIGHT
ANIMATION WORKSHOPS
HAWICK MUSEUM, WILTON LODGE PARK TD9 7JL
MELROSE LIBRARY TD6 9PN
SATURDAY 6 MAY, 10AM - 1PM
Exhibition
SUNDAY 30 APRIL – SUNDAY 13 AUGUST
Explore flight in nature and art through an
exhibition of birds on show as specimens and
reproduced in artworks. Drop in and enjoy
this fun and educational way of looking at
the phenomenon of flight. Summer holiday
workshops around the Museum will accompany
this exhibition – watch media for details.
Drop in. Part of Wilton Lodge Park Year of Flight and Feathers.
HEDGEHOG WEEK!
HAWICK MUSEUM, WILTON LODGE PARK TD9 7JL
MONDAY 1 MAY – SUNDAY 7 MAY,
2 - 3PM
Come and see a fantastic display and learn
about hedgehogs! You can also meet a real
live hedgehog at two short activity sessions on
Friday and Sunday afternoons. For all ages.
Booking required for the activity sessions.
Please contact T: 01450 364747
E: [email protected]
Part of Hedgehog Awareness Week.
with Simone Russell
EYEMOUTH LIBRARY TD14 5JE
SATURDAY 20 MAY, 10AM - 1PM
Join Simone Russell and she will help you
create your very own stop frame animation
about frogs, their transformation from frog
spawn to tadpoles and the adventures you
think they get up to! There will be googly eyes
and crafty materials and you even get to do a
voice-over for your froggy characters!
Ages 7–11 (bring a drink & refreshments).
Booking required. Admission £3 per child.
THE SCIENCE OF
COLOUR
In partnership with the Institute of Physics
THE HIPPODROME, EYEMOUTH TD14 5HS
SUNDAY 7 MAY, 3PM
You’ll never trust your eyes again after you’ve
seen Dr Ben Craven use his favourite colour
experiments to explore the world of colour
vision. Find out how to make a black thing look
white, how two lights can be the same but
different and why we are all colour blind! Tea,
coffee and cake will be available. Suitable for
older children and adults. Booking required.
NATURAL FLOOD
MANAGEMENT
LAKE WOOD (LAYBY) CAR PARK,
3 MILES N OF PEEBLES ON THE A703
TUESDAY 9 MAY, 6.30 - 8.30PM
Join Tweed Forum staff on this walk to explore
how river restoration and flood risk reduction
can go hand in hand on the Eddleston Water.
See how re-connecting the river with its
floodplain, planting trees and creating water
storage ponds can all help reduce flooding.
Booking recommended.
To book call 01896 849723 or email
[email protected]
Bring waterproof clothing and wellies.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND BOOKINGS | E: [email protected] | WWW.LIVEBORDERS.ORG.UK
CYCLING
DEMONSTRATION
Live Borders
TRIFITNESS, GALASHIELS TD1 3EY
FRIDAY 12 MAY, 2PM
Live Borders Advanced Rider Development
Squad will demonstrate how force generates
power on Watt Bikes. Booking required.
EVENING WILDLIFE
WALK – OTTERS
BOWHILL, SELKIRK TD7 5ET
SATURDAY 13 MAY, 5.30 - 7.30PM
An evening guided walk led by one of the
Bowhill Rangers. This session will focus on
wildlife in and around the Bowhill loch with an
introduction to some of the survey techniques
used to monitor the estate’s Otter population.
Booking required. To book call 01750 22204
or visit www.bowhillhouse.co.uk
Admission £6 per person.
SELKIRK FLOOD
PROTECTION SCHEME
GUIDED WALK
MEETING: VICTORIA PARK CAR PARK
WEDNESDAY 17 MAY,
10:30AM - 12:00 & 1PM - 2.30PM
Members of the Scheme’s project team will
lead walking tours of the new flood defences
and answer any questions you may have.
The morning tour will focus on the defences
to the north of the river - through Bannerfield
and along the Long Philip Burn - while the
afternoon tour will focus on the defence to the
south of the river – along Riverside and on the
Shaw Burn. Booking required. Please email
[email protected] or
call 07538 114410.
ENERGY DRINK
WORKSHOP
Live Borders
3G ARENA, GALASHIELS TD1 3EY
FRIDAY 19 MAY, 6.45PM
Are you interested in the content of energy
drinks, the impact these have on your body
and how to make a healthier alternative?
Then this workshop is for you.
Booking required.
SATURDAY RANGER CLUB:
POND LIFE SURVEYING
BOWHILL, SELKIRK TD7 5ET
SATURDAY 20 MAY, 1.30 - 3.30PM
A chance to take a closer look at life in the Bowhill
loch, led by a Bowhill Ranger the session will
increase identification skills and knowledge of
the ecosystem in and around the loch, while also
looking at systems for recording the findings.
Ages 6 + (over 8s can be left unattended).
To book call 01750 22204 or visit
www.bowhillhouse.co.uk Admission charge
£5 per child. Booking recommended.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND BOOKINGS | E: [email protected] | WWW.LIVEBORDERS.ORG.UK
BORDERS
SCIENCE
FESTIVAL
2017
PUBLIC PROGRAMME
NUTTY’S LITTLE SQUIRRELS:
BUG HUNTING
BOWHILL, SELKIRK TD7 5ET
FRIDAY 26 MAY, 2 - 3 PM
A chance for the under 6’s to get out in to
the woods of Bowhill for a bug hunt, come
and see what creepy crawlies you can find
in the beautiful Bowhill woodlands! Booking
recommended. To book call 01750 22204
or visit www.bowhillhouse.co.uk
Admission charge £3 per child.
OUR AMAZING BRAIN:
THE SCIENCE OF
MINDFULNESS
PEEBLES LIBRARY EH45 8AG
SATURDAY 27 MAY, 10.30 - 11.30AM
Plasticine brain cells, torches, breathing balls
– and SUPER-DUPER big words for budding
scientists to experiment and understand how
training the mind can change OUR brain!
What’s chocolate got to do with it? Book your
place and find out! This event is suitable for
RASPBERRY PI
Workshop with Julien Ribeyron
HAWICK LIBRARY TD9 9QT
SATURDAY 27 MAY, 10 - 11AM
Ever wanted to be able to program your own
Minecraft Pi game, control a robotic arm or
program a weather station? Or how about
making electronic music or creating and
programing an electronic circuit? If it’s a Yes,
then be quick and book your place!
Ages 10–14. Booking required.
POND DIPPING
BUILD A TOWER
WORKSHOP
SELKIRK LIBRARY TD7 4LE
WEDNESDAY 31 MAY, 1PM - 3PM
Join in the fun and take the challenge to
build as tall a tower as possible using the
materials provided on the day. You’ll also
get to meet Engineers from CPE Consultancy
who project managed the design and
construction of the Selkirk Flood Protection
Scheme! Are you up for the challenge?
Booking required.
HARE MOSS, A7 SELKIRK TD7 4NP
SUNDAY 28 MAY, 2 - 4PM
Enjoy some hands-on pond dipping and
bird watching with experienced Rangers
from Scottish Borders Council and the
Scottish Wildlife Trust.
Drop in and stay as long as you like.
children aged 7-12 - accompanied by adults
please. Booking required.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND BOOKINGS | E: [email protected] | WWW.LIVEBORDERS.ORG.UK
STROKE ASSOCIATION
BOOKBUG SESSIONS
MELROSE LIBRARY,
18 MARKET SQUARE TD6 9PN
WEDNESDAY 3 MAY, 10AM - 1PM
EARLSTON LIBRARY, EHS TD4 6JP
WEDNESDAY 3 MAY, 10AM
Appiness session included.
GALASHIELS LIBRARY,
LAWYERS BRAE TD1 3JQ
WEDNESDAY 3 MAY, 2PM - 5PM
GALASHIELS LIBRARY TD1 3JQ
THURSDAY 4 MAY, 10AM
Appiness session included.
HAWICK LIBRARY,
NORTH BRIDGE STREET TD9 9QT
TUESDAY 9 MAY 10AM - 12.30
FRIDAY 5 MAY,
10.15AM (BABIES), 11AM
JEDBURGH LIBRARY CONTACT CENTRE,
CASTLEGATE TD8 6AS
TUESDAY 9 MAY, 2PM - 4PM
KELSO LIBRARY CONTACT CENTRE,
BOWMONT STREET TD5 7JH
WEDNESDAY 10 MAY, 10.30AM - 1PM
Join one of our drop in sessions and speak
with a representative of the UK’s leading
charity dedicated to stroke prevention. Take a
moment… get your blood pressure checked
and find out how to reduce your risk of stroke.
KELSO LIBRARY CONTACT CENTRE TD5 7JH
(TODDLERS)
JEDBURGH LIBRARY CONTACT CENTRE TD8 6AS
MONDAY 8 MAY, 10.30AM
EYEMOUTH EARLY YEARS CENTRE,
EYEMOUTH PRIMARY SCHOOL TD14 5AN
THURSDAY 11 MAY, 11AM
Appiness session included.
MELROSE LIBRARY TD6 9PN
FRIDAY 12 MAY, 10AM
(BABIES), 11AM (TODDLERS)
SELKIRK LIBRARY TD7 4LE
MONDAY 22 MAY, 2PM
Appiness session included.
INNERLEITHEN LIBRARY EH44 6LA
THURSDAY 25 MAY, 10AM
HAWICK LIBRARY TD9 9QT
THURSDAY 25 MAY,
10AM (BABIES), 2.30PM (TODDLERS)
PEEBLES LIBRARY,
CHAMBERS INSTITUTE EH45 8AG
TUESDAY 30 MAY, 10AM
Free, fun and friendly science and numbers
themed sessions for wee folk! Each session
lasts around 30 minutes and includes songs,
stories and rhymes. Some sessions will
also include Appiness activities. Appiness
is an innovative, UK award winning learning
programme, funded by the Scottish Library
and Information Council, where you can find
out about the best library resources and
educational apps for pre-school children.
Drop in.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND BOOKINGS | E: [email protected] | WWW.LIVEBORDERS.ORG.UK
Thank you to all our sponsors and partners. With their kind assistance the majority of the Borders Science Festival 2017 events are FREE.
BORDERS SCIENCE FESTIVAL SPONSORS:
ROSLIN
BORDERS
SCIENCE
FESTIVAL
2017
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND BOOKINGS:
UNLESS SPECIFIED PLEASE CONTACT: 01750 726400
E: [email protected]
WWW.LIVEBORDERS.ORG.UK
Registration No SC243577 | Registered Charity No SCO34227
Design: pmgd
BORDERS SCIENCE FESTIVAL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH: