The British Science Festival 2010 is being held in Birmingham from 14-19 September:

• Programme of events

A gala dinner at the Festival will feature the launch of The New Optimists, a compilation of refreshingly positive views from UK scientists. From the Amazon page:

"The New Optimists is the most exhilarating of books. It looks to the future, not with rose-tinted glasses, but with a clear vision, aware of difficulties and challenges yet convinced that research and experiment can help the human race to overcome them." Excerpt from the Foreword by Jenny Uglow In the late eighteenth century, a small group of scientists gathered in Birmingham to form the Lunar Society, a debating group of scientists, artists, philosophers and businessmen. Their vision changed the face of the world. Today s inheritors of this vision, over 80 medics, life scientists, engineers, chemists, computer and digital media scientists, environmental and energy experts have combined in The New Optimists to share with us their view of the world and what the future holds. And the future is positive. The New Optimists takes us on an exhilarating journey into the minds of some of the UK s leading scientists and reveals just how much is happening in our research centres and universities, driving towards the common good. From tackling the big challenges, such as curing cancer, to living in harmony with our environment, the book reveals how scientists are breaking new barriers as they overcome obstacles to progress. From the role of behaviour in human health to role of science in society, The New Optimists opens your mind to the endless possibilities of focused and responsible research and helps us face the future with confidence."

• The New Optimists website