Lincolnshire is offering a chance for virtual festival goers to follow a science rapper’s guide to the solar system and join Sir Isaac Newton in lockdown, thanks to an innovative day of science that can be enjoyed at home.
South Kesteven District Council’s hugely popular Gravity Fields Festival – normally staged every two years to celebrate the life, times and achievements of Lincolnshire scientist Sir Isaac Newton – was due to take place this month, and had to be postponed as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic – but a special day of science-based online activities has been lined up to replace it.
It is the UK’s only festival dedicated exclusively to the scientific legacy of Newton, who was born and raised at Woolsthorpe Manor, near Grantham, which was home to his world-changing thoughts on light, gravity and mathematics, and where the apple tree that famously inspired his theory of gravity also survives to this day.
While the 2020 Festival, due to take place from 24-27 September, has had to be postponed until 2022, the Gravity Fields Online Day on Saturday 26 September will include a selection of science-based treats, talks and challenges mixed in with messages from patrons and highlights from previous Gravity Fields Festivals.
Various events will be premiered on YouTube and Facebook, as well as held on the Zoom video meeting app.
Despite the disappointment of postponing this year’s event, teams at SKDC’s Arts Centres in Grantham and Stamford still wanted to celebrate the area’s connection to Newton on what would have been the main festival day and have come up with a flavour of Gravity Fields-themed events.
Highlights include science presenter Jon Chase presenting his ‘Rapper’s Guide to the Solar System for families’, a tour of the solar system with a difference as he explains just how extreme our Solar system can be, through the use of science-based raps that you can join in with at home! Featuring raps written for the BBC, this show is both informative and entertaining. Jon is the UK’s foremost proponent of Science Raps, his raps have featured on CBeebies’ Rhyme Rocket, CBBC’s Space Hoppers and Channel 4 Learning.
There will also be another chance to see ‘Newton in Lockdown’, specially commissioned short films in which Sir Isaac Newton (AKA actor Mark Griffin from Griffin Historical) shares his wisdom and advice. Sir Isaac will even be showing people how to do their own experiment to ‘split white light’.
Tune into the Gravity Fields Festival YouTube channel on 26 September and look out for more information on Facebook @gravityfields and Instagram @gravityfieldsfestival
For details and the most up-to-date listings, go to www.gravityfields.co.uk