Richard Robinson’s science breakfasts at HESFES

At the 2011 HESFES gathering in Suffolk, a science presenter set himself a problem. How could he tell the story of the universe quickly enough to hold a festival audience? A visiting parent remembered Mr Robinson allowing himself one minute per billion years, or just under fourteen minutes for the whole talk.

What a visitor saw

The account appeared on the Grit’s Day blog on 26 July 2011. The family heard Mr Robinson publicising his afternoon performance among the sounds of metalworking and music rehearsals. They later attended his talk and linked to this festival page when they wrote about the visit. Their recollection preserves the premise and setting of a performance for which this archive has no script.

Science at breakfast and in the afternoon

The festival’s own programme names the speaker as Richard Robinson. In 2011 he led morning sessions on topics ranging from why people defer to one another to how scientific ideas change. Sunday and Tuesday afternoons were set aside for his show about the universe. Monday afternoon was given over to building towers with spaghetti. The page also describes an hour of science explained through magic tricks.

Families could come back on another morning for a different question. That format gave the science sessions a place in the daily rhythm of the camp, alongside the music rehearsals and craft workshops.

Explore the subject at home

Try marking out a timeline along a strip of paper. Start with the formation of the universe at one end and today at the other. Before adding dates, ask everyone where they think the first stars, the Earth and the earliest humans belong. Pick one guess to check together and add a label showing how your thinking changed.

Brighton Science Festival also describes Richard Robinson’s family science series Are We Nearly Here Yet?, which traces the universe from its beginnings to human life. For the craft, music and other activities taking place around the science talk, see the Rougham Airfield festival record.