The Family Show at the Malvern Festival of Innovation

Join us to hear first-hand about the latest approaches to wildlife conservation and to explore the wonders of your human senses.

Once again we have an exciting double bill, this year featuring Lucy Eckersley, the Punk Biologist, and Alina Ivan from Braintastic!

A Talk on the Wild Side
Most of us have a favourite animal (or five), but many of our favourites; tigers, whales, pandas and pangolins, are endangered meaning there are not many of them left. Protecting animals in the wild is a big task, and one that biologists are working hard on using exciting new approaches, join us to hear about real world conservation strategies, see a ‘Day in the life of a conservationist’ working in Kenya’s Masai Mara, and consider the question; Which animals should we save?

Come to your senses!
Ever wondered why food tastes funny when you have a cold? Or what happens when you get dizzy? Buckle up for a whirlwind tour through the senses you’re familiar with, and some you might never have heard of. Prepare to be amazed, confounded and confused in this demo-packed exploration of your brain as you find out how you to create, explore and interact with the world around you. You’ll discover that your senses aren’t as simple as they seem…and even uncover some senses you never knew you had!

About the Speakers

Lucy Eckersley trained to become a wildlife biologist at the Royal Veterinary College and London Zoo, and stayed on at the RVC as a science presenter, working with young people and animals every day. Lucy has given talks about conservation to audiences around the country, including to over 1000 14 year olds (so nothing can scare her now!), and loves talking about how realistic conservation fits into the world we live in. She is also passionate about making sure everyone feels welcome into science, regardless of their background and personal experiences.

Alina Ivan is part of the Braintastic! science communicator team which helps children challenge their understanding of the mind in meaningful ways through activities, illusions and experiments.
She also works in the Department of Psychological Medicine at King’s College London and for a mental health start-up called Augmentive. She obtained her MSc in Psychological Research Methods at the University of Exeter in 2017, where she also completed her BSc in Psychology. Alina has an interest in ways to use technology to improve mental health, bringing science of the brain and mental health to diverse audiences and the intersection between science and art.

About the Malvern Festival of Innovation
Running from 4th-9th October 2021, the Malvern Festival of Innovation returns for its tenth successive edition.  This is the annual opportunity to learn about new technologies, interact with new businesses, and a chance to think creatively.  Many of the events are free to attend through the kind support of sponsors, and the programme will appeal to professionals, students, and members of the public alike. The Family Show is accompanied by a free exhibition in the Malvern Theatres foyer with hands-on exhibits and chance to discover more about science, engineering and technology. Further details at:  www.festival-innovation.com