Orkney International Science Festival…..‘Notes From An Island’……Xavi Bou…
by Bernie Bell - 07:49 on 30 August 2022
Update from the OISF Team….
“It’s an ideal way to enjoy Orkney – with topics from wave and tidal energy to ship design for the hazards of the Northwest Passage, with astronomy, genetics, molecular biology and much more. Outings range from wildflower seed collection to new discoveries at the Ring of Brodgar. Workshops include flax-processing and making paper by the sea. Add in two Cathedral concerts and a candlelight lecture, and afternoon teas with Orkney produce, and there is a true Orkney experience in store.
Each day we’ll have five or six events at venues such as the Phoenix Cinema and the Orkney Theatre, and the Orkney Club in the later evening, and also around three events online. We’ve a range of exhibitions, and you can start to sample the first of the online ones now, with Orkney Camera Club and Bringing the Light Back.
We have news of varied developments. Orkney’s ancient six-rowed barley - bere - claimed in recent years as having a Norse origin, has turned out much older. A new approach to Epstein-Barr virus involves seeking genetic susceptibilities. A new theory links the mysterious diamond shapes on Neolithic stones to movement of ships. There’s a radically new approach to animal navigation, new insights into protein folding, a new possibility for the origin of sea monsters, a model of a 2,000-year-old computer, and spectacular images of the Sun.
Orkney Aviation Festival follows on from us, with its programme online and accessible wherever you are. It tells the remarkable story of the first flight across the North Sea in 1914, looks at the art of aviation and engineering, and reassesses the Northern Battle of Britain.
With best wishes from the Festival team!”
If you click on this link you’ll be able to download the programme brochure…… programme brochure
Parts of the festival can be accessed online through the OISF YouTube channel, or direct from the event description on the Festival website
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‘Notes From An Island’……
Mike came across a book by Tove Jansson that I didn’t know about – tho’ I should say by Tove Jansson and Tuulikki Pietila as ‘Tooti’ did the paintings, some of which put me in mind of the images in ‘After Orcadia’….. http://www.spanglefish.com/berniesblog/blog.asp?blogid=15888. Not surprising, really.
I’m jumping ahead of myself - here’s the tale……
Mike had called by Stromness Books & Prints https://theorkneynews.scot/2020/06/21/stromness-book-shop-scotlands-only-drive-in-book-shop/ to collect a couple of books which we’d ordered and there, on display on the counter was ‘Notes From An Island’ so, being the good man that he is, he bought a copy and brought it home for me. I had no idea this book existed, though I’m a great admirer of Tove Jansson, not just the ‘Moomin’ books, but also her ‘Summer Book’ and ‘Winter Book’.
I’d started to re-read ‘Contact’ by Carl Sagan, but that beautiful book, lying there on the table next to me…..
...... I had to embark on it and visit the isle of Klovharun with Tove and Tooti.
What’s it about? It’s about Tove & Tooti living together on a small, wild island and being happy - and all the things going on around them.
One of my very favourite things is the illustration on the front cover by Tove’s mother Signe Hammarsten Jansson and, in particular, the detail of the two little ‘seahorse’ creatures which to me represent Tove & Tooti - swimming along together through their lives.
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Just something wonder-full…..
I thought the image of the flight paths of the Common Crane was a picture of a piece of textile – would someone consider weaving that? Maybe add some colour......
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And here’s something I made earlier…… https://theorkneynews.scot/2022/01/14/dreaming-is-free-blondie-2/
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