Since 2006, the annual All-Russia Science Festival has been drawing attention to the state of education and science in Russia, recent developments and the opportunities to improve the society with the help of scientific research.
      

This year's festival once again centres upon the pressing problems of scientific research in Russia: who needs it? who pays for it? what does "scientific research" actually mean? Focusing on Natural Sciences, the Festival becomes a kind of light-hearted report compiled by the leading scienctists and researchers for the society's consumption.
      

Already the first-ever Festival in 2006 attracted over 20 thousand visitors; last year's festival has drawn over 250 thousands in three days, and that was only in Moscow! The Festival has long acquired a Russia-wide character, with regional events taking place throughout the year. Free of charge, it combines the events of different formats, from lectures through discussions to interactive, hands-on sessions that all serve to raise the profile of scientific research and to acquaint the larger audience with the latest developments in Science in Russia and world-wide. Thanks to the range of activities, the Science Festival has long been attended by school pupils, student groups, and families, along with academics and amateur researchers.
      

This year's Festival runs from 7th to 9th of October, mainly at the Fundamental Library of the Lomonosov Moscow State University. Planned lectures include an analysis of the Fukushima disaster, a talk on human brain and its memory functions, and a report on the third Russian geographical expedition to Alaska since the territory had been sold to the U.S. in the 19th c.
      

Other events include several contests aimed at children and teenagers. A literary contest celebrates the 300th anniversary of birth of Mikhail Lomonosov, the leading figure in Russian science. A drawing contest marks the 50th anniversary of the flight to Space and the International Chemistry Year celebrated in 2011. Two more competitions attract the attention of school graduates and students: the former are invited to submit their research projects, while students, postgrads and young scientists have a chance to promote their projects and ideas to businesses and investors.
      

Last but not least, in the framework of this year's Festival a selection of science films is to be screened between September 23 and October 2.
      

Source: http://www.festivalnauki.ru/
      

Russian Festival of Science 2011. Promo from FREEZELIGHT.RU on Vimeo.
Author: Julia Shuvalova