MEDIA RELEASE COURTESY OF: The Ultimo Science Festival

Whether you’re a mad scientist or mad about science, or if you just have an interest in the amazing world around us, the Ultimo Science Festival is back to turn Harris Street into one big bang of fun from August 16 to 29.

The fifth annual festival, held as part of National Science week, will yet again intrigue all ages with day and night events, school sessions, family and kids’ events, pub events and just some really cool stuff! It's not just for geeks, scientists and students (though they'll be there), it's for everybody!

Ultimo Science Festival’s four partners, the Powerhouse Museum, the ABC, UTS Sydney and Ultimo TAFE, along with Ultimo Library, have created a dynamic and mostly free program for those who enjoy thinking outside of the square.

Highlights of this year’s festival include:

• Face Two Face – Merging 3D scanning technology and rapid prototyping, come and offer your face for scanning, then watch as a robot carves your likeness into a polystyrene wall. Powerhouse Museum, August 20-29. When you leave the Museum your image will remain, forming a wall of science lovers.

• The Ultimo Big Night of Science – the ever-popular opening night event features talks with colourful identities, music and drinks at the Powerhouse Museum on August 20. Featuring Dr Barry Jones.

• The Naked Scientist – Internationally renowned science media personality Chris Smith actively seeks to “strip down science to its bare essentials”. Chris guarantees to present an interesting night at The Muse Gallery at Ultimo TAFE on August 18.

• The Science of Successful Children – Educators, psychologists, nutritionists, developmental biologists and child-rearing experts combine forces to provide the truths behind the dos and don’ts of helping your children to be the best they can be at the Powerhouse Museum on August 29.

• CSI Misunderstood – Experts from the NSW Police Force explore real crime scene investigation processes and the evolving role of forensic science in preventing and solving crime. UTS Tower Building on August 24.

• The Science of Happiness – What makes a top quality life and can happiness be measured? Are women generally more content than men? What about when they’re divorced? Dr Terry Flynn, the senior research fellow at UTS’s Centre for the Study of Choice, unravels the fascinating world of what makes us happy. UTS Tower Building on August 26.

Festival patron, Catalyst’s Paul Willis, is looking forward to another the event. “I thought last year’s festival was out of this world and then I look at what is on offer this time around and I am amazed. There is so much going on. The festival has it all - with really great stuff to get the kids’ minds buzzing as well as dynamic stuff for older students and adults to sink their teeth into.”

The Ultimo Science Festival (August 16-29) is a National Science Week event. For more information click here, for the complete program or our Facebook page click here.

USF 2010 is supported by the City of Sydney and the Australian Government through the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.