Latest news with #JeromeCousins
Otago Daily Times
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Hope festival will be starting point for lasting curiosity
The directors of the New Zealand International Science Festival are urging attendees to remain curious, as the festival wraps up for another year. Director Jerome Cousins said while they would not know the official attendance of this year's festival until later this week, early indications were "hugely promising". "We're very happy with the attendance. "I guess across the board, there's lots of different types of events, and the different events sort of have different expectations and hopes and dreams for the attendance. "We found that pretty much all the activities for families that have 20 people per session, all of those were pretty much sold out or very close to it." Establishing a "festival hub" and "Imagination Playground" in the Meridian Mall proved to be a godsend, he said. "We look really closely at groups, what interests them, what's accessible to them, what gets them coming, what gets them coming back, etc. "For the youngest kids, obviously it can be hard to explain scientific concepts when you're trying to explain what a concept is. "But that hands-on play is really what they engage with — so that's where the Imagination Playground came in. "In fact, you'll see the kids are playing with it in oftentimes way more complex ways than the adults do, because we've sort of lost that level of creative play that they still have." The Meridian Mall site on the top floor, which in the past had hosted Smiths City and Kmart stores, was a "fabulous space", Dr Cousins said. "We'd love to be here next year, but if this space is tenanted by something else, then we'll see what's available. "We can always make use of empty shops, empty locations. "It's been really great working with this space and being able to create all our zones, so to speak." The variety of keynote speakers at the festival had led to good attendance at events held in the evening, and geared towards an older audience, such as Nasa astronomer Michelle Thaller. "Having these keynote events helps support all of the other events, regardless of size." Dr Cousins said he was pleased with the interaction across age groups, and he urged people not to "switch off the lights" and wait until next year's festival to be inspired. "Never stop being curious. "So if you found anything that slightly piques your interest during the festival, don't just think 'oh, I'll wait until next festival to engage with that again'. "Look online, different tutorials for doing things, reach out."
Otago Daily Times
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Activities await at science fest
The New Zealand International Science Festival returns next month, offering more than 100 talks, tours, workshops and experiences. The festival team is putting the finishing touches to the programme before its release on May 21. Director Jerome Cousins said there was a wide range of activities designed to inspire young and old. This year is the Unesco International Year of Quantum Science and Technology and several events will explore the theme. The University of Otago Department of Physics will run a show titled What Is Quantum Technology? and Rachel Rayner's Atomically Correct comedy will offer a chance to learn and laugh. The sun's 11-year peak in solar activity is forecast for June and July and several events are planned to mark it. A hands-on workshop with artist Jess Nicholson (Kāi Tahu) will allow children to craft clay tile art while exploring the science and pūrākau (mythology) of auroras. The southern night sky will be explored at the Beverly-Begg Observatory. This year's special guest is former Nasa assistant director for science communication Dr Michelle Thaller, who recently retired after a 28-year career at the agency. ''She is going to come and share with us all things inspirational about space, all the space stories.'' A well-known face in space communication, including multiple TEDx talks, she will take part in several events, including school sessions on space careers and a women-in-space talk. An expanded hub in the former Smiths City premises at Meridian Mall will be the festival's biggest yet. ''People did really resonate well with a hub location, so we have expanded that.'' As well as drop-in stalls and activities, seminars will be held at the hub for the first time. A parent could attend an adult-focused talk while children and parents enjoy the Imagination Playground or explore other hub activities, Mr Cousins said. The festival was held every two years, which could feel a long time in science. ''The festival is definitely a time-and-place curation and that is what is so exciting for us to put together.'' The programme, inserted in the Otago Daily Times on Wednesday, May 21, will also be available at libraries and businesses after that date as well as published online, tickets going on sale the same day. The festival will run from Saturday, June 28 to Sunday, July 6. @
