Festival: Scientific feast for the mind

Can we hope for a cure for cancer? How much does a soul weigh? Are fish as flatulent as human beings? Can men breast-feed? How do hummingbirds hover in mid-air? What is a virus actually made of?

These are questions you may, or may not have, asked yourself sometime in your life. Mostly, however, these questions remain unanswered, although given the chance you would probably be intrigued to ask a real scientist what she might think.

This year you can! All the answers – and more – will be available for you right here in Copenhagen, as the 2013 Festival of Research (Forskningens Døgn or simply Forsk 2013) comes marching into town.

On its eighth year

On one hand, the festival is dedicated to unveiling new scientific discoveries through professional presentations within all fields from chemistry to linguistics. On the other, Forsk is simply a fun feast for everyone with a curious soul, as it offers a host of weird workshops and crazy experiments.

For instance, at the Researchers’ Fair at Rådhuspladsen (City Hall Square) you can build your own solar cells, woosh around in an electric car or enter a mobile planetarium to see stars in broad daylight. At Frue Plads (Square of Our Lady) you can find out how live snakes employ the natural phenomenon of “mimicry”, have a swig of seaweed juice or head over to the UV-tent to make your own sunblock lotion.

The Festival of Research has proven to be so popular that it is now on its eighth year running. This year it takes place in May, and it remains one of the best opportunities to get up close and personal with the fascinating world of science.

See the details in the fact box on the right.

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