What is Pint of Science ?

Pint of Science is an international festival that aims to deliver interesting, fun, relevant talks on the latest scientific research in an accessible format to the public – all in a pub!  The main festival takes place annually over three days in the month of May simultaneously in pubs across the world. Pint of Science is a non-profit organisation.

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Events typically take place in the evening and include between 1 and 3 talks by scientists, as well as an interactive activity to better engage with the public. Each event falls into one of the following topics:

• Beautiful Mind - neuroscience, psychology and psychiatry

• Atoms to Galaxies - physics, chemistry, maths, astronomy

• Our Body - medicine, human biology, health

• Planet Earth - geosciences, plant sciences, zoology

• Tech Me Out - biotechnology, robotics, computers

• Our Society - law, history, politics, policy, languages

• Creative Reactions - art and science come together

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Fact sheet

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• 120.000 participants in 21 participating countries in 2018

• 24 participating countries in 2019 (list here)

• 36 events organised in Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp, Liège, Leuven and Bruges for the first edition of the festival in May 2018

• More than 1.400 participants expected in Belgium alone in 2018

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Pint of Science Belgium

Pint of Science Belgium is the Belgian chapter of the international festival and was founded by Céline Ballieux and Guillaume Corradino in November 2017. The first Belgian Pint of Science festival took place on 14, 15, 16 May 2018 in Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp, Liège, Bruges and Leuven, with events will held in English, Dutch or French, depending on the location and speakers.​ In 2019, the festival will take place on 20, 21, 22 May. Special events are also organised throughout the year.

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HISTORY

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In 2012 Dr Michael Motskin and Dr Praveen Paul were two research scientists at Imperial College London. They started and organised an event called ‘Meet the Researchers’ which brought people affected by Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis into their labs to show them the kind of research they do. It was inspirational for both visitors and researchers. They thought if people want to come into labs to meet scientists, why not bring the scientists out to the people? And so Pint of Science was born. In May 2013 they held the first Pint of Science festival which featured some of the biggest names in their fields to explain their ground-breaking work to lovers of science and beer. It was a phenomenal success of course!