Edinburgh Science Festival 2021: One World

The world is changing and we are changing with it. The 2021 Festival will deliver some events in new formats and spaces. The Festival are keen to innovate in both our planning and delivery to ensure a safe and quality Festival experience for everyone, and are focusing energy and efforts on doing things differently to achieve this.

With this in mind, there is a particular interest in outdoor programmes and experiences, including walks, tours, trails, exhibitions and installations, as well as events with the potential to be delivered online that can augment the live Festival experience as much as possible.

Edinburgh Science 2021 call for ideas is open to anyone – individuals, groups or organisations – with bright ideas and a passion for communicating them.

For 2021, the Festival theme is One World. In a year that sees the us celebrate the 20th anniversary of the publication of the first draft of the human genome, the 50th year since the invention of email and the floppy disc, the inception of the World food programme and the 60th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s ground-breaking trip into space, we explore how we are all connected… to each other, to Planet Earth and to the wider Universe.

Edinburgh Science are looking for participants working in diverse fields from across the sciences, arts and cultural sectors. From fabulous shows for all ages, to thought-provoking discussions, interactive events, exhibitions and workshops that bring science to life, we are open to all suggestions.

To get involved, read the Call for Ideas Guide to find out more about the process, including benefits and costs, and a timeline of what to expect if your proposal is accepted. You can also download the Vision Document which outlines the themes for 2021.

Once you’ve read the guide, submit the online proposal form by 5pm on Sunday 31st January, 2021 for your chance to be part of one of the world’s best science festivals. 

If you have any questions or want to discuss your ideas further, please contact Festival Programme Manager Conor Ellis.

In addition to the Call for Ideas, the Festival is also seeking content collaborators for an exciting photography exhibition project.

This large-scale, outdoor photography exhibition will be held in a prominent public location in Edinburgh (previous locations include the Scottish Parliament forecourt, Festival Square, the Mound and Portobello Promenade) with an estimated audience of 56,000 people.

This call is open to anyone - individuals, groups or organisations that can provide existing beautiful, thought-provoking, high-resolution photographic images (at least 5906 x 3545 pixels). Edinburgh Science are looking for images that can communicate a scientific story as well as being visually striking. Possible exhibition themes for 2021 include:

• Food and sustainability
• Human connection to nature

Once you've read the Expression of Interest guide, send your expression of interest and links to any relevant images to Creative Projects Officer Emily Raemaekers for your chance to be part of this exciting new project.