About OISF Festival 2014
Vistas of earth, sea and sky opened up in 2014, with a look into Orkney’s geological past as a great lake in Devonian times, and then a look further back in time to the origins of the universe and of life itself with one of the great astrophysicists of our time, Prof. Chandra Wickramasinghe.
The Festival opened with the story of the Clipperton Project, with its director, Jon Bonfiglio, highlighting the importance of exploring for individuals and communities across the globe.
Steve Jacobs, Wizard IV of many American television science shows opened the Festival in scintillating style and Orcadian geneticist Dr Jim Wilson went on the trail of Orkney’s Norse roots, identifying two local families who are direct descendants of the ‘Ultimate Viking’ Sweyn Asleifsson.
Other topics ranged from the mathematics of knitting to the physics of the web of fate, and from metals in medicine to molecular switches, with a look at solar power, storing carbon dioxide under the seabed, and the story of radio in World War I.
It’s no accident mariners sail by the stars; perhaps that’s really their intended destination.
I’d like to take the spirit of what you do to the far corners of the planet….. and then on to Mars and beyond.
In original human DNA studies 15 years ago there was an unusual cluster in the North Isles of Orkney. Breaking this cluster up into subtypes provides links with four families of today, two in Caithness and two in Orkney, whose descent can be shown to go back to the time of the Orkneyinga saga.
Maxwell’s Light
Images from two of the Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell's favourite walks, near Parton in Galloway, where the Lair Burn and the River Urr run close to his house of Glenlair. Jennifer Austin's composition, Maxwell's Light, accompanies Selena S. Kuzman's film.
Ernest W. Marwick: writer and scholar
Items on display will include some of the photographs in the Ernest Marwick Collection, and you can also hear some of the sound recordings that he made. The exhibition will also offer a glimpse into his personal diaries. Ernest Marwick left school at just 10 years old after being diagnosed with scoliosis, but he did not let this hinder his education. Instead, he put the period of his illness to good use to read as much as he could.
Sailing with Clipperton
Make it Egilsay, said Howard Buxton from New Zealand. Sail with the Selkie to the island where St Magnus was executed and explore.
Highlights from Events 2014
Songs of strength and struggle, of women north and south, with stories as well, set the scene in an eve-of-Festival concert; and there were stories from many places – from William Balfour Baikie’s exploration of the River Niger to James Clerk Maxwell’s probing into the nature of light.
Highlights from 2014 Family Day
Seeing saltwater creatures and working with natural materials, steering a Mars Rover and making a flying saucer … the Family Day was packed with activities.
Peedie Producers Guide
When you sample the local fare at some of the Festival events, you may wonder where you can buy some to take home with you. There’s now a solution – a new pocket guide to some of Orkney’s ‘Peedie Producers’.
Hope’s Beautiful Daughters
A new CD bringing together Scottish and Slovenian musicians and storytellers is to be launched in Orkney on 3 September.
Clipperton Floating Laboratory Explores Northern Waters
What makes the Clipperton Project’s Floating Laboratory special is the mix of people aboard – scientists, artists, photographers and people promoting the spirit of exploration in tackling the challenges of today’s world.