Fourth annual IdeaFest a week of discovery and exchange

When does a disease turn into an epidemic? How do scientific and Indigenous knowledge intersect? What is your ideal electrical grid? (Hint: marbles can show you.) How can we live well and age well? And why the backlash against diversity in video games?

With these questions and dozens more, UVic faculty and students are once again preparing to share their ideas at UVic’s fourth annual IdeaFest. Running March 2–7, IdeaFest has grown into a hugely anticipated celebration, attracting thousands to campus.

More than 50 events, free and open to the public, day and evening, offer a view into the university’s research environments and creative activities. Venues include First Peoples House, forests, libraries, labs and both on-campus galleries and the off-campus, downtown Legacy Art Gallery.

“Engagement with the community is paramount,” says Vice-President Research David Castle. “IdeaFest offers a tremendous opportunity for researchers, scholars and artists to communicate their discoveries and innovations to the university community and wider public. They’re eager for the two-way interaction—discussion, questions and rigorous debate are what make IdeaFest a true celebration of ideas.”

“I think festival goers will find these events have in common UVic’s values and vision in terms of sustainability, social justice, inclusion and ultimately the betterment of society,” Castle adds. “I encourage everyone to go to the website and check out the full roster of events.”

The full program of more than 50 events is available for easy online browsing on any device at uvic.ca/ideafest.