RESIDENTS and businesses are being urged to join in a celebration of intelligence and creativity as part of this year’s Malvern Festival of Innovation.
Tuesday, October 9 is being declared Boffin Day by Malvern Hills District Council in honour of the term which was coined to describe the scientists who worked on radar in town during the Second World War.
The aim is to celebrate intelligence, invention and creativity to help inspire the next generation of scientists, mathematicians and engineers.
The day coincides with Malvern Festival of Innovation’s Next Generation Innovators schools day, which will see about 800 students and their teachers descend on the Three Counties Showground to be inspired by the world of science, technology and entrepreneurship.
Visitors will be invited to take a special quiz to find out which one of 12 famous boffins they are most like as well as take part in various workshops.
The quiz will also be available through Malvern Hills District Council’s social media channels and people are being encouraged to tweet their support on the day with the hashtag #BoffinDay.
There will also be an exhibition along Church Walk in Malvern designed by MRATHS to highlight the many inventions and discoveries made in the town.
Coun David Chambers, Leader of Malvern Hills District Council, said: “Malvern has a rich heritage when it comes to invention and creativity and we want people to help us champion Boffin Day and inspire the next generation to continue that proud tradition.”
The festival runs from the Monday, October 8 to Saturday, October 13 and other highlights throughout the week include talks on how technological innovations will help cut household energy use and aid the fight against climate change.
Entrepreneurs will also be telling their stories of success while help and support will also be on offer to those innovators looking to make their way in the world of business.
The potential pitfalls and opportunities presented by quantum computing will be explored as will the applications of Blockchain technology, which is being described as the ‘biggest thing since the internet’.
The festival ends with the popular Family Day at Malvern Theatres on Saturday, 13 October from 10am.
There will be a number of free hands-on activities and exhibits to be explored as well as a ticketed event featuring Dr Sophie Kain, who appeared on The Apprentice in 2007, showing people how to take an idea and turn it into a successful business.
This will be followed by adventurer and astronomer Huw James helping celebrate World Space Week by explaining how we are already sending probes far in to space and discussing where we might go next.
Dr Adrian Burden, organiser and founder of the Malvern Festival of Innovation, said:“We’re looking forward to some fantastic speakers coming to our town once again to enthuse us all about the possibilities of the future.
“You don’t have to be a boffin to enjoy it, but hopefully we’ll inspire some to be become one in the future.”
Most festival events are free but places must be booked.
The exhibition on Family Day is free to attend but the show is ticketed and costs £8.40 via the Malvern Theatres box office and online at www.malvern-theatres.co.uk.
Visit www.festival-innovation.com for dates, venues and the full programme.
