Pesticides, energy crops and green nanotechnology at the BA Festival of Science
The BA Festival of Science will be in York from 9-15 September, bringing over 350 of the UK's top scientists and engineers to discuss the latest developments in science with the public. The extensive programme of events incorporates a number on ecology and the environment, including the following highlights:
The theme of this year's Festival is 'Energy and human progress'. The President of the BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science), Lord Browne of Madingley, will be addressing this subject in his Presidential Address. He also chairs a debate on climate change with the former Director of the British Antarctic Survey, Professor Chris Rapley, and Professor of Environmental Sciences, Tim O'Riordan.
The Cold War left a large surplus of fissile materials on both sides of the Atlantic. One way of putting this to good use would be to recycle it in nuclear power stations, but do the many risks outweigh the benefits? Ensuring that the material does actually come from a weapons stockpile is crucial to prevent it being redirected by governments or terrorists to create more nuclear weapons. The debate 'Nuclear swords into energy ploughshares' provides the platform for three expert panellists to discuss the solutions to the technical, verification and environmental problems posed by the Cold War nuclear legacy.
One oft-cited example of human progress in the twenty-first century is the rapid development of nanotechnology. 'Nano goes green: can nanotechnology benefit the environment?' looks at how this nascent field has the potential to produce efficient solar power and clean water, and offer environmentally friendly manufacturing techniques.
As organic produce becomes ever more popular, the event 'Pesticides, friend or foe? Who's asking? The science of pesticide safety' examines our relationship with the chemicals on the crops we eat. Scientists talk about their latest work on how to measure the effect of pesticides on our health, uncovering the molecular basis of insecticide resistance and the economics of it all.
The quintessential green pastures of the British countryside may soon be a thing of the past as increased planting of energy crops, such as willow and miscanthus grass, takes place. Whilst it may help ease the energy crisis in the UK, it will also have a big impact on biodiversity, agriculture and rural economies. The event 'Farms as Factories: new opportunities for the development of non-food crops' outlines current and future situations and examines the impact of non-food crops on the country's science, agriculture and industry, including how they could contribute to sustainability targets. The public's response to such crops, in addition to their wider potential impacts, will be explored in 'The English countryside with energy crops: how different will it be?'
This year's BA Festival of Science is organised by the BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science) in partnership with the University of York, Science City York and the City of York Council. It is supported by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS), BP and Yorkshire Forward.
