‘I’ve sailed onst with an Orkney man,
A deal o’ years ago,’ said Dan,
‘In Clay’s old packet, Kubla Khan.’
– Cicely Fox Smith
Photography by Raymond Besant
Record-breaking week
Record-breaking week All records were broken for audience numbers in this year's Festival, when ended on Wednesday 12 September. Many events were completely sold out. Whether it was
Doggerland
Doggerland You can get glimpses of a lost world that vanished under the waves more than 8,000 years ago at the Family Day. Much of the area covered today
Battery breakthrough
A big battery breakthrough is under way which could provide a big boost for renewables. The world’s biggest and fastest battery has been switched on in Texas.
Courtroom format for climate change debate
A courtroom format in Orkney this week will tackle the question of climate change.
Did comet near-impact cause Exodus and Flood?
One of the world’s leading tree ring experts is coming to this year's Orkney Science Festival to outline evidence for catastrophes in ancient times.
Orkney clues to Pandora’s secrets?
Orkney clues to Pandora's secrets? A hunt is on for Orcadian links to the warship Pandora, wrecked off Australia’s Great Barrier Reef more than two centuries ago. The investigation brings
Jane Goodall to open 2012 Festival
Jane Goodall to open 2012 Festival One of the world’s leading figures in conservation is to open this year’s Orkney International Science Festival. Jane Goodall is internationally known for
The brilliant bee
Bees can count, read symbols and solve problems that would perplex some of the smartest mammals. Some have an eye for art appreciation, having been trained to pick either Monet or Picasso’s paintings from a choice of the artists’ work...
New European centre refashions the dream
A new European creative centre has opened, bringing culture and space together in a striking synthesis. The new building is distinctive in design and location – its location is not in a big urban setting but in a village in Slovenia.
A remarkable language from the Amazon
What could arguably be the most scientific language in the world is spoken by a group of around 300 people in a remote river system in Brazil’s Amazon Basin.
Steaming into the Future
It has produced some of the world’s most beautiful engines – and its clean and energy-efficient qualities may now bring it to the fore again. A highlight of the 2010 Festival was an evening on the comeback of steam, followed by the sight of a vintage steam engine in a green fuel mode.
Midwinter astronomy festival for Orkney
Orkney had a midwinter astronomy festival in December 2011. Talks and stargazing took place across the mainland from Birsay to Deerness, and in Stronsay and Sanday as well.
See Orkney skies on the iPad!
See Orkney skies on the iPad! To promote the 'Dark Skies Orkney' event of December 2011 and Orkney astronomy generally, a new e-magazine was produced for iPad and web access.It includes