Free COOL stuff in Aberdeen this week 16-22 June!

Looking for something new and FREE to do this week in Aberdeen .. there's LOADS on so there are no excuses for being bored!  

Monday 16th June - Cafe Philosophique 'Is Equality Good for Us?  The Blue Lamp 7pm, FREE just turn up! 

A short, informal talk and open discussion about philosophy! A great bunch of folk go along to this event. It's really chilled out and this talk should be really interesting! The talk will be delivered by Dr Beth Lord from the University of Aberdeen. Don't forget to get your free ticket for the finale of this season of Cafe Phi from the Belmont Filmhouse (27 June) for the 'Where does Scott Pilgrim Live?' with Professor Roy Cook all the way from the University of Minnesota! 

Tuesday 17th June - Shmu FM The very first 'Talking Science' Radio show! 2-3pm

Tune in for the very first in the series of Talking Science. A brand new Shmu radio show... brought to you by the Public Engagement with Research team at the University of Aberdeen (that includes me... :-/ ). I will be super impressed if anyone guesses the 'sound of science' challenge!!!  

Wednesday 18 June - Cafe Scientifique ' Danger High Voltage'  Tesla's Contribution to Society (FEATURING A TESLA COIL DEMO!) 7pm Waterstones FREE 

An informal short talk (30mins ish) with a live demo followed by a Q&A. Dr Ken Skeldon will be delivering this event (he's done science shows around the globe!) Plenty of people come on their own to these events so don't feel uncomfortable about just turning up. Coffee and cake available to buy from the Costa cafe.

At the weekend.. 

Why not take part in a 'Civic Hacking' event and help improve the city of Aberdeen? (FREE but registration required) 

Saturday 21 June - Meet the Scientist event during MND Awareness Week 

Meet and hear from researchers looking at Motor Neurone Disease. They will be in Satrosphere all afternoon delivering talks and sharing their work! (there is a small charge for the entrance fee to Satrosphere but it's TOTALLY worth it and their cafe is ACE). 

Visit the Cruickshank Botanic Gardens (that are looking beautiful at the moment) or Duthie Park (yes, all FREE)! 

See the Gray's School of Art Degree Show? (not science, but plenty of awesome design to be seen there!) Open 10-5 on Saturday and Sunday

Exhibitions..

Satrosphere Science Centre have loads of events and exhibitions going on throughout the week and weekend including their 'minibeast little scientist days', the 'grey matters' family show and the 'we are aliens' planetarium show! Some charges do apply and check here for full details.

Seventeen (Belmont street) 'Breathless Breastless' A breast cancer awareness art exhibition (10 -5 every day, 10-4 Sunday)

Kings Museum, Old Aberdeen, Exploring the concept of time 'Victorian Time: Spirit of the Age' (10-4 Monday -Friday, 11-4 Saturday) 

Seen any others that I haven't mentioned? Email me!

Subscribe to updates by putting your email address in the box in the top right of the page! 

Cool things I found this week for big kids and little ones

Universe in a box (yes, that's right!)

This box of awesomeness has been created to get children aged 4-10 excited about the universe. Created by the very cool sounding 'Universe Awareness Team'  the box contains a range of activities and props including a solar system, globe and activity book. It includes everything a teacher or kids group leader would need to run over 40 activities and inspire the young 'ens.

The wonderful Abi Ashton who is working on their Kickstarter project which is aiming to get the Universe in Box to underprivileged communities around the globe said she liked the box because it is, "lo-tech and can be used anywhere in a hi-tech world (particularly because places with less technology tend to be richer in astronomy resources- less light pollution)"

You can support their Kickstarter project here and get your own Universe related goodies in return and be happy knowing that you are supporting a fantastic project. Because the Universe should be universal...... 

AND if you are a big kid that wants to nosy you can try out and look through the activities online here.

That questions in science haven't changed much since 1791....

In 1791 on the 25 September. The Aberdeen Medico-Chirurgical Society posed the question

'Exercise as a Preventative of and remedy in diseases.'  Much like the Cafe MED we hosted on Monday night titled Exercise and Health. Although the Medico-Chirgical society had a very strict policy that only members could discuss matters. Now we involved the public. 

I know this because you can have a nosy at all the minutes and information from the society in the published online archives here which I thought was pretty cool.

BioArtAttack Competition

The Society of Biology have launched a competition for school age children to create art work based on biology. They want people to film themselves creating their works for the competition which closes in August. There are lots of resources for those wanting to participate (including group leaders and teachers) on their website. 

For some bio-inspired art check out Artologica on Etsy who creates some awesome art works.