David Urry, regional coordinator at the Society of Biology, discusses his latest event in Cardiff, looking at food sustainability by exploring a ‘Menu of the Future’. Apply to the Regional Grant Scheme if you would like funding to run your own biology event in your local area, or contact your local branch committee to see how you can become involved in regional activity.
The Society of Biology headed to South Wales on the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd March, armed with roasted crickets, green algae, fried meal-worms and sonically enhanced toffee, to present our ‘Menu of the Future’ to the people of Cardiff as part of National Science and Engineering Week 2014.
The British Science Association kindly provided funding for us to bring a taste of the future to visitors at Techniquest on Saturday the 22nd, and the Cardiff Story Museum on Sunday 23rd March, where people were able to try their hand at entomophagy (eating insects), as well as biology activities and games. Zhao Zhang and James Yan, from Cardiff University, filmed part of the event for Cardiff News Plus and you can view their report below.
Not everyone was keen to tuck in to our tasty invertebrate treats, while some kept coming back for more. However, the event forced everyone to stop and think about what we eat and why, as well as changes that we might need to make in response to projected increases in global population and the associated demands on our planet.
The weekend of events cost around £350 to organise and deliver and was made possible by the help of a number of our fantastic volunteers. If you would like to run your own event on a similar topic, or any topic in the life sciences that interests you and you want share with others, then the Society of Biology is offering its members grants of up to £500 to do just that, as part of our new Regional Grant Scheme. You can also become involved in regional events through your local branch committee
For event ideas, download our guide to running a local event, or for those who are particularly ambitious, take a look at our guide to running a Big Biology Day mini science festival.
Contact David Urry if you have any questions about the Regional Grant Scheme or becoming involved in your local branch committee.