Hemp homes, fast cars and dangerous ideas for #EdSciFest

The world’s fastest electric car, a Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas and some of Scotland’s most innovative low carbon start-ups are just some of the attractions on offer at Scotland’s leading low carbon hub forthe Edinburgh International Science Festival.

ECCI’s award-winning low carbon building will play host to two interactive events that will inspire and entertain visitors of all ages, including a Future Innovation Showcase featuring top of the range electric vehicles - including the world-beating Tesla Model S which accelerates from 0-60 in 2.5 seconds.

Visitors will be entertained and inspired by the Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas, where top thinkers will debate the impact we have on the environment around us. Hosted by comedian Susan Morrison, the thought-provoking session will deepen understanding of the climate challenges we face and how to tackle them.

A selection of innovative companies from ECCI’s business accelerator programmes will also feature in the ambitious city centre Ecoville showcase. Taking over the centre of Edinburgh, the ‘village of the future’ zooms in on methods of waste reduction and low carbon living.

It features some ECCI’s award-winning start-ups, including Retromixer, Industrial Nature and Hemp Eyewear, who are developing a range of products from a simple water saving device to plant-based building blocks and eyewear frames made from hemp.

The fledgling companies are all part of ECCI’s Climate-KIC programme, which in 2017 helped 17 start-ups scoop 14 awards more than £400,000 in investment and save the equivalent of more than 260,000 tonnes of carbon in a year.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to test ride top of the range electric bikes and view an exhibition of low carbon inspired artwork created by students of the Art Space Nature programme at Edinburgh College of Art.

ECCI Executive Director Andy Kerr said: “The next 10 years will see fundamental changes in the technologies that transport people and goods, and that create the products and services we use in our homes and our businesses.

"Our partnership with the Edinburgh International Science Festival is a fantastic opportunity to showcase some of these developments, and to challenge people with dangerous ideas about the future."

Simon Gage, Director of the Edinburgh International Science Festival, said: “ECCI brings excitement and authenticity to a festival like ours by setting out to innovate and challenge the status quo.”

ECCI, with an award-winning hub in Edinburgh and a new base in Hong Kong, brings together people from business, research, communities and governments to turn good low carbon ideas into reality. It supports a thriving community of low carbon enterprises and provides policy insight and evidence to help inform government decisions.

ECCI has teamed up with the University of Edinburgh’s department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability to deliver its programme of Edinburgh International Science Festival events.

Book tickets for the Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas.

Find out more about the Future Innovation Showcase.

Find out more about Ecoville.

Browse the festival programme.