MEDIA RELEASE: BEAKER STREET FESTIVAL 2022

Beaker Street Festival organisers announce the return of the annual celebration of science and art in 2022. The Festival will run from the 5th to the 14th August around lutruwita/Tasmania, with offerings in Hobart and the southern region, Cradle Mountain, Tasmania’s East Coast and Launceston. This year the Festival seeks to broaden our understanding of what science is, and what it means to be an expert. “As the Festival has grown and we’ve had the opportunity to work with hundreds of scientists and experts in their fields, we’ve come to understand that experts are often hiding in plain sight, contributing an incredible richness of knowledge and passion to a diverse range of roles in our society,” says Festival Director Dr Margo Adler. “You don’t necessarily need a PhD to be a scientist.” The 2022 election has underscored the growing, urgent demand for action on climate change and the environment, and a desire for more open discussion in public forums that look to science for solutions. “Beaker Street Festival is not shying away from the tough topics,” Adler says. “We are out to create an inclusive community that shares a sense of wonder and curiosity about our world, and to shine a spotlight on the pressing issues that affect us all.” The Festival seeks to draw attention to environmental and social issues such as light pollution and the need to preserve Tasmania’s pristine dark skies, as well as deepen our understanding of and respect for the traditional knowledge of Tasmanian Aboriginal people.

Beaker Street is a not-for-profit cultural organisation in lutruwita/Tasmania. Beaker Street Festival has been celebrating science, art, and community since 2017, earning its place as Australia’s premier National Science Week event for adults. Expect a rich and diverse program of fascinating talks and presentations, artist/scientist collaborations, live music and performance by Tasmanian artists, scientist-led tours, excursions, workshops and immersive experiences. “It’s a raucous celebration of science and art, with more than 150 scientists on hand, excellent booze and food, live music and performance, and much more,” says Adler.

You can view the entire Beaker Street Festival 2022 program at www.beakerstreet.com.au

Key Talent: This years festival showcases some of the countries most recognised scientists and artists: Dr David Flannery (Queensland University of Technology) Dr Karl Kruszelnicki Natasha Mitchell (ABC Science) Craig Reucassel (The Chaser, War on Waste) Ingrid Martin (Melbourne Symphony Orchestra)

Opening Weekend, 5th – 7th August:

The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) will host the Festival Hub with main stage presentations including: Dr David Flannery (QUT) – Working with NASA to search for life on Mars. Professor Barbara Holland (UTAS) – “You are probably bad at thinking about probabilities.” From the famous Monty Hall problem to Kahneman and Tversky’s taxicab problem people are notoriously bad at reasoning about uncertainty. This talk will give a primer on conditional probability. Ingrid Martin (MSO) – ”Conducting an Experiment.” Demonstrating what a conductor is actually communicating to an orchestra with an ensemble from the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. Craig Reucassel (The Chaser, War On Waste) – The politics of climate and using humour to spark change. Natasha Mitchell (ABC Science) – The Beaker Street Great Debate: “Your keep cup won’t save you!” A rowdy, thought-provoking discussion of whether combating climate change and environmental destruction requires changing individual behaviours or whether focusing on personal responsibility is just a distraction from the real issue – a need to change policy and shift the behaviour of major corporations. Unheard Of – What is gained in the absence of hearing, the richness of deaf culture, and all that goes unnoticed when the sound is on. PowerPoint Karaoke – Scientists improv to slides they’ve never seen before, hilarity ensues! Panel Discussion – “Is Science Really for Everyone?” Members of the Tasmanian Aboriginal community; Theresa Sainty, Nunami Sculthorpe-Green, Dean Greeno, and Zoe Rimmer, discuss the limitations and downfalls of western science. Other events happening in the southern region, nipaluna/Hobart and Launceston: Multiple dates: Detached Gallery at the Old Mercury Building will host multiple performances of Request Concert directed by Jane Longhurst (UTAS) Multiple dates: “Homecoming” – An exhibition at Franklin House in Youngtown, by tech/art collective Soma Lumia (TAS) and artist Samantha Dennis (TAS). Saturday 6 August: Dr Karl Kruszelnicki speaking at the Odeon Theatre Saturday 6 August: The Beaker Street Crawl – Pick up a map at Salamanca Market for a self-guided tour around Hobart featuring special offerings by some of our city’s best makers, thinkers, producers and sellers. There’s much to uncover, including scientific talks at Hadley’s Art Prize and conversations about the endangered handfish at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies. Saturday 6th August: Ferment Stations at Harvest Market – Follow the journey of the microbe to discover how we can choose vegetables and prepare them to enable bacteria to do the work of fermentation, in collaboration with AgriCULTURED Festival and FermenTasmania. 7th August: Southern Excursion Day – Highlights include a dinner under the stars at McHenry Distillery, walks on kunyani/Mount Wellington and an expedition to the Tahune forest.

All Festival Hub Main Stage talks, and Dr Karl’s talk, will include an Auslan interpreter and will be live-streamed.

Tassie Science Road Trip, 5th-14th August:

Beaker Street Festival will also welcome the return of the Tassie Science Road Trip with the inimitable Dr Karl Kruszelnicki as the Road Trip’s ambassador for 2022. This is an incredibly unique opportunity to rediscover some of Tasmania’s iconic natural environments through the lens of the state’s top scientists, and learn about the challenges and accomplishments of scientists working in the regions. The Road Trip will commence in Hobart, travel up to Cradle Mountain, then Launceston and culminate at NOCTURNA in Triabunna.

The Full Beaker, 5th-14th August: Want to do it all? Beaker Street Festival is offering a very limited number of packages for a unique holiday adventure of science and art around lutruwita/Tasmania from the 5th-14th August, visiting Hobart, Cradle Mountain, Launceston and Triabunna. The package is $5000 for 2 people and includes access to all the festival highlights: 9 nights premium accommodation with Hadley’s Orient Hotel, Lemonthyme Wilderness Retreat, Peppers Silo Hotel and Spring Bay Mill. 2 passes to all shows at the Festival Hub at TMAG 2 passes to Dr Karl’s talk at the Odeon Theatre 2 passes to all talks and dinners along the Tassie Science Road Trip 2 passes to NOCTURNA Head to the Beaker Street website for more information.

Closing Weekend, 13th-14th August: 13th-14th August: NOCTURNA, the Dark Sky Party at Spring Bay Mill, in association with Dark Sky Tasmania, celebrates Tasmania’s pristine dark skies and is a mini-festival in itself. Highlights from NOCTURNA include: Aboriginal history tours with Nunami Sculthorpe-Green (TAS). Do Not Enter While Mill is Operating – A thought-provoking new work by Soma Lumia (TAS) with Ian Chia. Stargazing with the Astronomical Society of Tasmania. Live music with harpist Emily Sanzaro (TAS). When Water Falls – An uplifting, powerful and media-rich expression of water in our world. Produced and created by Big hART, written and performed by Jay Jarome and Sabine Bester, alongside an ensemble of First Nations vocalists and some of Tasmania’s finest contemporary musicians. A traditional Finnish sauna on wheels by Elsewhere Sauna (TAS). Half-day tour of Maria Island on Sunday 14th August 12th August: Celestial Navigation at QVMAG Planetarium 14th August: Science of the Stadium – Listen to talks by Dr Casey Mainsbridge (UTAS) and a Hawthorn sports scientist at UTAS Stadium with the Hawthorn Football Club. 14th August: Wise Up on Wine – A scientific wine experience at the incredible Josef Chromy Vineyard with Karina Damburgs (TAS)

Partners: Beaker Street Festival is proudly presented by Beaker Street. Major partners include Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, RISE Fund, City of Hobart, Events Tasmania and National Science Week.

Socials: Instagram | www.instagram.com/beakerstreetsci Facebook | www.facebook.com/beakerst Twitter | www.twitter.com/beakerstreetsci

Contact: For further information, images and to arrange interviews with Festival Founder Margo Adler or other participating scientists and talent please contact Laura Dyba at [email protected]

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