As we at the RSC prepare for Cambridge Science Festival (12 – 25 March 2012) I ask…why do we love science festivals? Surely everyone interested in science will already be sold on it and those not into science will shied away from them.

A recent poll by researchers for the Big Bang UK Young Scientists and Engineers Fair found two-thirds of parents struggled to answer their children’s science questions on a daily basis. Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t that a great opportunity for both parent and child to investigate, experiment and learn together?

Of course, I believe that science festivals are great. What’s not to love about children and eventually adults getting themselves elbow deep in slime? Of gently being introduced to science they hadn’t even thought of? In making science far less scary than it might seem at school (or seemed at school). Stimulating young minds to observe and explain the world around them can only be a good thing. And if this means parents can’t answer their children’s questions, then so be it.

Science festivals can be a great way not only to encourage everyone of all ages to think about science, but also to learn the answers together. The activities demonstrated have been chosen to inspire questions and the people demonstrating them are knowledgeable about not only the subject at hand, but many other things. These people are at your fingertips...use them!