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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nScience at every turn<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We attended on the Friday, and it didn’t take long to spot familiar faces from the Faculty of Science and Engineering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our friends from Graphene@Manchester<\/a> were teaching wide-eyed festival-goers all about the potential of graphene and 2D material applications; excitable children settling down to carefully piece together molecular models of their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Colourful games and photo stand-ins proved hugely popular at the Dalton Nuclear Institute<\/a> stand, where enthusiastic exhibitors discussed nuclear energy for net zero; while the Earth and Solar System<\/a> tent proclaimed ‘science rocks!’, detailing everything from meteorites to planets, the moon to the Solar System.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The University of Manchester Physics Outreach (UMPO)<\/a> team, meanwhile, had younger visitors enthralled with its science busking tent, boasting paddling pool, giant colourful balls and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And it was in the huge blue and white tent, fittingly called Mission Control, where things started to really take off \u2013 as Manchester scientists took to the stage\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aptly for a festival hosting iconic acts such as Bjork and Mogwai, Dr Chris Jones<\/a>‘s talk was all about live music. Specifically, its carbon impact \u2013 and what we can do to reduce it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr Jones is part of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research<\/a>, and he updated the attentive crowd on a unique partnership the centre has forged with much-loved trip hop collective Massive Attack. It’s a fascinating and game-changing project, one we’ve covered before on The Hub through our interview with Director of Tyndall Manchester Professor Carly McLachlan<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I’m normally behind spreadsheets,” Dr Jones joked, as he addressed the growing audience. Comprised, no doubt, of music fans keen to do their bit to lessen the carbon footprint of the events they love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Festivals, after all, are like mini, pop-up cities. And they require \u2013 for a brief spell \u2013 power where it’s not normally needed. The focus for Tyndall and Massive Attack is on how bands get to where they’re going, what happens when they’re there, and the impact of audience travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr Jones explained how the project has produced a roadmap for the whole industry to follow – but also warned that nothing can happen individually. Promoters, fans, travel operators, venue owners and more, they’ve all got a part to play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And big challenges lie ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to end fossil fuel use at festivals, make it easier to travel by bike, train and bus, encourage lower-mileage tours, and move less equipment, there has to be collaboration. There needs to be the finance \u2013 and there needs to be help for smaller venues too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s just the beginning, but the forward-thinking minds at Bluedot seem a good place to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\nVolume up; carbon down<\/h2>\n\n\n\n