Anatomist, TV presenter and author Alice Roberts today officially launched the British Science Festival at the Library of Birmingham – with a little help from her friends.

The British Science Festival, which runs from September 6^th-11^th at the University of Birmingham, is the spotlight event of Birmingham Year of Science 2014 (www.birminghamyearofscience2014.com), a Birmingham City Council initiative aimed at showcasing the city’s celebrated successes in the fields of science, technology and learning.

Alice, who is Professor of Public Engagement in Science at the University of Birmingham, was joined by VIPs and academics including Imran Khan, CEO of the British Science Association, and Dr Nick Hawes, lecturer in Intelligent Robotics at University of Birmingham, who was accompanied by a humanoid and programmable ‘Nao’ robot.

Professor Roberts said: ”Birmingham Year of Science 2014 and the British Science Festival are a celebration of the incredible science that is going on in the city and region. It’s about bringing that to a wider audience, encouraging people to engage with it and emphasising that science has always been part of Birmingham and is very much still today.”

Other highlights of Birmingham Year of Science 2014 include:

• The Gadget Show (NEC, April 9-13)
• Marvellous Machines (Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, May 10-September 14)
• Interactivos (mac, June 16-28)
• UKSPA 30^th Anniversary Summit (ICC, July 10/11)

Sir Albert Bore, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “Birmingham has both a proud scientific heritage and an exciting future; from world leading research in life sciences and renewable fuel cells to a wealth of digital and technical innovation, I cannot think of a better host city for a year of science and the British Science Festival.”

Imran Khan, CEO of the British Science Association, added: “British Science Association is thrilled to be back here for the 2014 British Science Festival. As well as having a vital historic role in both the scientific and industrial revolutions, Birmingham is a hub for world-leading science in the here and now. We are delighted to be able to work with the city’s amazing researchers, and share this fantastic science with the public.”

As well as talks by leading city academics, the launch event included fun activity sessions with a team of ‘Science Buskers’, such as demonstrating non-Newtonian fluids by walking over custard and ‘Am I an Ape?’, comparing the skeletal anatomy of homo sapiens and other animals to see if they are more like humans or chimps.