Orkney International Science Festival

The Festival has over the years developed a distinctive programme, with family activities, music and food and drink events amongst the varied talks by speakers.

2023 isI the Festival’s most dazzling programme yet, with a remarkable model of the Sun, its surface illuminated by NASA time-lapse film of the Sun itself, to show the swirling solar storms and the massive flares bursting out from a surface of seething fire. It’s housed in the very heart of Orkney, in St Magnus Cathedral, the setting for two concerts and an opportunity for quiet reflection as well.

There’s a packed programme of events every day, with topics from the Northern Lights to new horizons for offshore wind, tide and wave power. There’s an evening of music inspired by astronomy, a day of family activities, and a play in which great engineers of the past meet engineers of today. There are outings to archaeological sites, insights into history, and glimpses into the future. There’s a legendary western group, taking part in two science shows and playing in concert, and there are lunches of Orkney fare with a One O’Clock Toast to a notable Orcadian.

Funding from the National Lottery means up to ten events will be livestreamed to audiences around the world. All the remaining events will also be filmed and available on the festival's YouTube channel.

For more information visit the official website. The Festival also has a very lively online magazine of science and exploration.

You can also find out more by following the festival on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.