Wildlife cameraman, presenter and Strictly come dancing winner Hamza Yassin is set to visit Belfast as NI Science Festival returns to celebrate the science of you, the universe and everything in between.
Aerospace engineer-turned-baker and NI's own Andrew Smyth will also feature alongside world-renowned astrophysicists, neuroscientists, environmentalists and more.
The annual festival is a celebration of all things science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics and will return for a jam-packed 11 days of discovery from Thursday 16 – Sunday 26 February.
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Over 200 events are planned across Northern Ireland covering everything from the natural world, our planet, and the vast expanse of space to technology, engineering, the mind and body, food and much more.
Now the proud owner of the famous glitterball trophy, wildlife photographer Hamza Yassin, a familiar face on programmes including Countryfile and children’s TV show Let’s Go For A Walk, will share his passion for the natural world, combined with his love of adventure, in a talk at the Whitla Hall, Queen’s University Belfast on February 26.
The ornithologist and conservationist will share his secrets on how to capture the best images and record footage of even the most elusive animals, offering a fascinating insight into the world of wildlife filming.
Judge of Netflix's Baking Impossible and Great British Bake Off finalist Andrew Smyth will bring his brand-new family show Bakineering to Belfast on February 17 and Derry on February 18 - exploring incredible engineering through edible means, he will use interactive baking demos to showcase the engineering principles that keep us safe when travelling via road, sea or sky.
Commenting on the launch of this year’s festival, director Sarah Jones, said: “We’re very pleased to be able to return with our largest selection of events yet, celebrating the diversity of people working in STEAM sectors locally, nationally and internationally, and championing, among others, homegrown innovators, artists and academics at the cutting edge of research.
“This year’s festival extends right across Northern Ireland to spread the joy of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. We aim to ignite interest in the world around us, to spark conversation and debate, and we hope this year’s extensive programme will create new learning opportunities for festival goers old and new.”
The Nerve Centre-led project Our Place in Space makes its triumphant return to Northern Ireland as part of the festival. The highly-acclaimed super-squashed solar system designed by artist Oliver Jeffers lands at the Ulster Transport Museum offering a final chance to wander around the galaxy along the stunning locations of the North Down coastal path.
Belfast Lord Mayor Councillor Tina Black added: “My congratulations to NI Science Festival Director Sarah Jones and her team for curating a programme that’s out of this world! We’re so proud to support the NI Science Festival – not only does it bring a sense of joy, fun and discovery to science for people of all ages, it’s stimulating the type of thinking and skills about ourselves, the universe and everything in between that are so vital to Belfast as an innovation city.
"The sheer diversity of this year’s programme is inspiring. I can’t wait until February now – and I look forward to seeing the buzz around all these wonderful events.”
NI Science Festival is supported by the Department for the Economy, Belfast City Council, Tourism Northern Ireland, Derry City and Strabane District Council, Queen’s University Belfast, Ulster University, British Council Northern Ireland, MCS Group, The Open University NI, Innovate UK, Matrix NI, Film Hub NI, Institute of Physics, Belfast Harbour and Halifax Foundation.
The 2023 NI Science Festival runs 16–26 February. For more information about events and bookings, see here.
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