Join regenerative gardener Elizabeth Woodcock as she takes the latest scientific research and applies it to growing our own food in our own gardens. “The best way to make our gardens more fertile,” she says, “is to restore the teaming web of life, and this in turn sequesters carbon into the soil.”
They are tiny single cells, invisible to the naked eye. They can consume agricultural and food waste – and produce fuel, fertiliser, feed, nutrients and pharmaceuticals. Dr Matjaž Vidmar of Edinburgh University describes the amazing abilities of microalgae and his current research into their potential.
Meet friends old or new and enjoy the best of Orkney cheese, meat, fish and baking. The One O’Clock Toast today is in memory of Eoin Scott, farmer, Islands Councillor, and Science Festival chairman. It is given by Dr Edvard Kobal from the Slovenian Science Foundation.
The genome of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) can integrate into the human genome – and thus be inherited. Prof. Ruth Jarrett’s group at the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research is using DNA sequencing to try to find when and where this has happened in the past - including in Orkney.
Photonics – the optical equivalent of electronics – underpins modern society. It includes the optical fibres of the internet, high-power lasers that cut and weld, and solar panels. Prof. Robert R. Thomson of Heriot-Watt University describes some remarkable state-of-the-art applications for photonic technologies.
How can creative activities – including those drawing on Orkney's green and blue space – help fortify community bonds and enhance collective wellbeing? Louise McQuaid of the North Isles Natural Wellbeing Project reports on its 'green health' initiatives, joined by Lewis Hou of Science Ceilidh which supports The Ideas Fund.
Jane Cooper’s interest in knitting brought her to Orkney to set up a Boreray flock with the last few sheep from the Highlands – and she was astonished to find she was the sole custodian of this flock in the world. She began tracking down the origins of the Boreray breed and tonight tells the story.
A new type of ship for smaller payloads will be demonstrated next year from Aberdeen to Orkney and Shetland. It’ll be a world first, powered by liquid hydrogen and uncrewed, with AI and robot systems. Mike Tinmouth, chief operating officer of the company leading the project, describes the technology and potential.
Violinist Charlotte Rowan, regarded as one of Britain’s leading violin virtuosos, accompanied by Charlotte Stevenson in a concert of works by Grieg, Sarasate, Wieniawski, Dohnanyi and Debussy, and featuring a trilogy of pieces about The Sun.
The start of brewing and distilling is making the malt: getting the grain to sprout and convert insoluble starch into fermentable sugars. It’s mostly done today in large maltings but, says Hugh Alexander, micro-malting opens the way to try different types of grain, and for smaller-scale specialist brewing at community-sized levels.