Thousands make bee-line for Bioscience fair at Bethnal Green
No... Martians haven't landed in Bethnal Green! It's just a biological science festival [pictures: Joel Knight] - Credit: Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council
Thousands of youngsters flocked to the Great British Bioscience festival with their mums and dads to discover how bioscience fuels us, feeds us and keeps everyone healthy.
No... Martians haven't landed in Bethnal Green! It's just a biological science festival [pictures: Joel Knight] - Credit: Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council
They came to wonder at 20 interactive exhibits from all over the UK which made up the three-day festival in London’s East End.
These included witnessing the invisible electric world of bees, killing glowing bacteria and seeing new innovations like pain-free injections and replacement body parts.
The youngsters also had a chance to conduct their own experiments and even walk through a giant colon.
No... Martians haven't landed in Bethnal Green! It's just a biological science festival [pictures: Joel Knight] - Credit: Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council
The fair attracted 6,500 visitors to Museum Gardens next to Bethnal Green’s V&A Museum of Childhood at the weekend who all left feeling inspired.
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The festival was the icing on the science cake from a year-long programme of activities celebrating the Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council’s 20th anniversary of bringing bioscience to the public.
Exhibits dazzled adults and children alike, with boffins on hand to give the low-down on their research.
No... Martians haven't landed in Bethnal Green! It's just a biological science festival [pictures: Joel Knight] - Credit: Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council
The researchers who have been touring the country with their microscopes and electronic gizmos showed off some of the best world-leading bioscience which is funded by the Research Council.
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“We work with some of the most potentially far-reaching areas of research in bioscience,” the research council’s top boffin Prof Jackie Hunter explained.
“We communicate with the public to respond to their hopes for the future.
No... Martians haven't landed in Bethnal Green! It's just a biological science festival [pictures: Joel Knight] - Credit: Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council
“The festival was an opportunity for scientists and researchers to get involved with the Great British public.”
Inspirational pictures and knitted bugs were on display, to show anyone interested in research the range of funding available.
People were invited to get creative with bioscience through the Images with Impact and Knit-a-bug competitions.
They voted for their favourite shortlisted entries for the ‘Impact’ competition with the winner decided by public vote to be announced later this month.
The full list of exhibits at the Great British Bioscience Festival are available online. The festival also has a Twitter following at #GBbioscifest hashtag.
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Pictures: Joel Knight
