The Central Economic Development Agency will be quenching Manawatū locals’ thirst for science by bringing the world’s largest series of public science talks to New Zealand – Pint of Science Festival.
Pint of Science is an award-winning international science festival held simultaneously around the world over three days in May each year. The annual festival’s success has been expanding globally since its inception in London in 2012 and today spans 300 cities across 12 different countries, attracting more than 100,000 people to events.
CEDA is thrilled to have secured Pint of Science New Zealand for 2019, bringing together the thinkers and drinkers at events that are relaxed, accessible and most of all fascinating.
Experts in their fields explain their scientific discoveries at events organised via partnerships with universities and research institutions. Through CEDA, Pint of Science New Zealand will run an event programme that supports the amazing research being done across the nation and will allow a new audience to hear about complicated, futuristic thinking and hot-from-the-laboratory discoveries.
“The festival will raise the profile and engagement of some of Palmerston North and Manawatu’s key sectors, including food innovation, agriculture (business and tech), health and more,” says CEDA Events Senior Tessa Lyons. “It will support education providers, research centres and businesses in connecting with an audience who may not normally engage with them and their work. The festival will help to build on Palmerston North and Manawatu’s reputation as a vibrant city and region.”
Festival founders Dr Praveen Paul and Dr Michael Motskin wanted to bring back the personal touch to science, giving everyone the chance to meet the real people behind the incredible research taking place in universities.
“Science can often get lost in translation, leading to the spread of pseudo-science and myths,” says Festival co-founder Dr Michael Motskin. “The best way to overcome this is for people to be able to talk to scientists directly in a familiar environment, such as in a pub over a pint.
With CEDA as National Directors of Pint of Science New Zealand, Manawatū will be on centre-stage to national and international audiences as a location of unique, leading-edge thought and collaborative ability. Based on the trend of its international success, Pint of Science could become a major national event, whose New Zealand presence will have been born out of CEDA and the Manawatū.
Local micro-brewery, Brew Union have already committed to being involved as a host venue for the festival and are considering the idea of creating a signature brew, simply called ‘Science’.
While the festival is run concurrently globally over three days in May each year, a launch event is being planned during New Zealand AgriFood Week 2019 in March.
If you are interested in becoming a partner of Pint of Science, please email [email protected] and be sure to follow Pint of Science NZ on Facebook to stay up to date on event details.
