The British Science Festival has today launched its new visual brand identity alongside welcoming a new Head of Festivals, Antonio Benitez.

Since confirming that the British Science Festival will take place in September 2021 we have been busy creating an exciting events programme and are delighted to share an update on our progress so far.

The new visual brand identity for the Festival has been updated to appeal more to our target audience of young adults and to embrace the connection between science, arts and culture. The new brand is fun, vibrant and dynamic; and takes inspiration from the collision of particles and the trajectory they take.

We are also pleased to confirm that the British Science Festival Award Lectures will go ahead this year with the aim of providing an open and informed discussion on issues involving science and society. While the vast majority of the Festival programme will be in-person events, in the city of Chelmsford, Essex, and on the Chelmsford campus of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), the Festival will also be delivering some digital content, both during the Festival and over the summer months. This will include a series of short films about each of our Award Lecturers for 2021 which will be made available in advance of the Festival. The seven videos will tell the stories of early career researchers, conducting cutting-edge research across a range of subject areas and will be followed by seven live Q&A events during the main Festival dates.

As well as a refreshed brand, the British Science Festival has welcomed its new Director, Antonio Benitez. Antonio has a wealth of public engagement with research and science festivals experience. He has been working in the science public engagement sector in the UK for the last 15 years with previous roles including Senior Research Engagement Manager at Cancer Research UK and Director of the Manchester Science Festival. Antonio said, ‘’I am delighted to join the British Science Association as Head of Festivals and I am looking forward planning and delivery of the British Science Festival and managing the UK Science Festival Network and associated projects’’. 

As part of the BSA’s commitment to growing and diversifying the community of people interested and involved in science, we are also offering small grants of £500 for community groups and organisations in and around Chelmsford. The British Science Festival Community Grants are available for groups that work directly with audiences who are traditionally underrepresented in science. Our goal is to empower and support community groups to run their own science activities alongside the British Science Festival which runs from 7-11 September 2021 in Chelmsford this year. The British Science Festival 2021 Community Grant Programme applications have now closed.

The programme for the main Festival is due to be launched later this year, when bookings will open on the British Science Festival website. With less than four months to go, the Festival programme is shaping up to be one of the best yet and will feature speakers and events from across not only science but also policy, music, the arts and beyond. What’s more, the British Science Festival 2021 is due to be one of the most ambitious live events held since the advent of the pandemic in the UK last March. The BSA and ARU teams are closely following the Government’s roadmap for easing restrictions alongside its ‘Events Research Programme (ERP)’ pilot of large live events, and are looking forward to welcoming audiences to Chelmsford in a safe and Covid-secure way. Antonio added: “The BSA and ARU are fully committed to delivering a safe and exciting British Science Festival programme this September.  Our priorities are the health and safety of all attendees, speakers and staff, and to ensure we are providing the most engaging, enjoyable and high-quality Festival experience. It is an ambitious undertaking, but the team is looking forward to the challenge!”

To see more of the visual brand identity and to keep up to date on the latest news visit:www.britishsciencefestival.org