The weather forecast for Sofia over the next few days predicts a hurricane of scientific shows, powerful eruptions of laboratory experiments and virtual travels, also close meetings with Bulgarian and foreign scientific celebrities. The reason for all this electricity in the air is the 5^th edition of the Sofia Science Festival, organized by the British Council and under the auspices of the ministry of education and culture. The four days of the fest (May 14 – 17) traditionally offer a colorful program of over 60 events for people of all ages and occupations. The festive stages of Sofia Theatre and the tents at the neighboring park are expected to attract thousands of Sofia citizens and guests of the city. Due to the lack of a border between science and culture here, the festival is included in the Calendar of Cultural Events of the Sofia Municipality. Mrs. Lyubov Kostova, Chair of the British Council tells us more on this unique fest of culture:

“This is a festival that has inflamed the imagination and the passion of young and mature people towards anything happening around, towards nature, innovations, the knowledge of ourselves and the world that we live in... There will be lots of opportunities for all guests to meet with scientists, to talk with them, to participate in experiments, to assemble robots, to make DNA bracelets, to see the first Bulgarian computers and to compare those with modern ones. Besides that they will be able to play games that simulate the management of our future energy resources, they will also have the chance to participate in lab researches together with scientists. Our goal is to show that science is for every one of us and that we don’t have to be scientists, in order to understand how much science can be found in each and every aspect of our life, making us full of admiration and respect. Over the 4 days of the festival renowned young scientists will tell about their fields in an attractive manner, so that everyone can understand them.”

A whole bunch of scientific stars from Bulgaria, the UK, Ireland, Poland and Spain will join the numerous events, in order to show the beauty of science:

“We are really happy to see Sofia as the spot where global celebrities have agreed to come, such as evolutionary biologist Prof. Richard Dawkins, professor in neuroscience Russell Foster, the great illusionist Drummond Money-Coutts (DMC), a host of the Beyond Magic TV show on the National Geographic Channel,” says Lyubov Kostova. “That only comes to show that science is a global, linking language, regardless of any borders and cultures. We do hope that they will set the flame, showing the path to young followers…”

Biologist and BBC host Simon Watt will take us on a thrilling adventure in the world of the most monstrous animal species. The man has also created the Ugly Animal Preservation Society.

“As Simon Watt says: we can’t pour all our emotions on pandas, since any animal, no matter its appearance, is essential for the ecosystem,” Mrs. Kostova explains. “Simon will have both a children’s show and a show for grownups with the same subject. It proves that science can be told equally well to kids and to their parents as well… There will be a show of the Bulgarian National Museum of Natural History. Its scientists will tell us about the beauty that kills, i.e. about those really beautiful animals, which can be extremely dangerous.”

English version: Zhivko Stanchev