Question: why are you aiming your work at music festivals, and what ones have you been to if you have?

Gemma Sharp answered on 17 Jun 2011:

Well we’re gonna take it to science festivals too, but to answer your question about why we chose music festivals:

Firstly, the stall is aimed at 16-35 year olds mainly, and a lot of people that age go to music festivals. The usual way that scientists tell the public about their work is through public lectures (snore) and not many normal young people go to those, so this is a more fun way to tell a new bunch of people about our research.

Secondly, let’s be frank, music festivals are full of drunk young people. Sometimes drunk people are a bit irresponsible and might be inclined to have unprotected sex. Our stall is about sexual health and we’re handing out free condoms so hopefully the messages will be fresh in their minds and they’ll decide to use a condom instead.

Thirdly, we like music festivals!

I used to go to Reading every year, but when I got to 19 I decided I was too old for it (haha! at 19!) and started going to smaller festivals like Truck festival (nothing to do with actual trucks) in Oxfordshire, and End of the Road festival in Dorset. I’ve been to Green Man (where we’re taking our stall) and I go to All Tomorrow’s Parties festival every year… that’s a bit of an odd one cos it’s held at Butlins!

Oh and I’ve been to V festival a couple of times, but I didn’t like it.