Science is on trial!  ‘Who is responsible for global warming?' will be one of the questions asked at this year's Rising Seas Lyme Regis Fossil Festival.

Rising Seas is taking place on May 4^th, 5^th and 6^th 2007 includes:

• Youth Climate Change Summit - Rising Seas and climate change in the here and now. How is this different from the past? What does it mean? What can we do about it? 

• Walk Through Time along the Jurassic Coast and see how sea levels and the story of how climate change has affected the last 250 million years. Lyme Regis was under the sea, Sidmouth was in a desert - environments have been different in the past.

• Lyme Regis £22 million Coastal Protection Scheme - An Engineering Solution to safeguard a seaside Town.

• Mary Anning - Meet this remarkable fossil hunter and expert and hear of Lyme's unparalleled role in the birth of the earth sciences.

The Youth Climate Change Summit will be held on Friday 4^th May with activities primarily for 900 students who have been invited to review the science and contribute their ideas on what we should do to address these issues. The first May Bank Holiday weekend (5th/6th) will see the Rising Seas Lyme Regis Fossil Festival continue with an exciting eclectic mix of participative activities, walks and talks for people of all ages and backgrounds. 

Rising Seas Lyme Regis Fossil Festival 2007 has been made possible through sponsorship from The Crown Estate, The Fine Family Foundation, Lyme Bay Holidays, Jurassic Coast World Heritage Team, Lyme Regis Town Council, West Dorset District Council, Dorset County Council, and a range of other local organisations

Note To Editors:

The Rising Seas Lyme Regis Fossil Festival is a response to the increasingly incontrovertible evidence that global warming is caused by humans and that sea-levels will rise by the end of the century (as outlined in the United Nations IPCC report ‘Climate Change 2007 The Physical Science Basis'). This natural sciences festival gives people of all ages the opportunity to examine the facts and consider their implications. The UNESCO-designated Jurassic Coast will face major changes from rising seas and the predicted shift of tourism away from Southern Europe, this festival will provide a focus to discuss the multiple challenges and opportunities presented by these large-scale changes.

Rising Seas Lyme Regis Fossil Festival brings together arts and science, leading national scientific institutions and universities, with the local community, highlights include:

The National Oceanography Centre and University of Southampton research vessel ‘Callista' providing a floating marine science laboratory and classroom based at the historic Cobb.     

Youth Climate Change Summit and exhibition in the Marine Theatre offering a range of interactive activities from Jurassic Coast World Heritage Team, The Environment Agency, University of Plymouth, The Area of Outstanding Beauty Team, Agenda 21 and others. A range of distinguished talks will take place in the evening, with participants including climate change government advisor Sir Crispin Tickell, the acclaimed science author Prof Richard Fortey and leading paleoanthropologist Prof. Chris Stringer.   

Science On Trial! Who is responsible for global warming? Is an interactive performance by The Time Travellers.  Come and see who will be put in the dock. 

The Natural History Museum Fossil Roadshow. A team of experts from the museum will be in residence throughout the festival, providing a unique opportunity to learn more about your fossil, rock or mineral specimens. In addition the NHM team will be running a range of hands-on activities to teach young people of all ages about rocks and fossils and how scientists use them to understand the history of our planet. In collaboration with Hitachi High-Technologies the NHM will also be bringing a state-of-the-art electron microscope to the festival, enabling visitors to view their specimens in unparalleled detail.   

Jurassic Coast World Heritage events and activities

The Jurassic Coast team will be on hand throughout the Festival to provide opportunities for the public to learn more about the World Heritage Site. On Friday, the Jurassic Coast will lead the Youth Climate Change Summit for secondary schools. Here, pupils will have a chance to present the results of their investigations into effects of climate change on the Southwest to a panel of experts who will then spark a debate based on their findings.  Over the public days of the festival, families will have a chance to uncover creatures of the past in a hands-on Jurassic Coast Dinosaur Dig.  For those interested in the stories behind the rocks, the Jurassic Coast team will be offering guided walks and a series of talks to help the public learn more about site conservation, management and why the Jurassic Coast is just as important as the Grand Canyon!

Meet the renowned fossil hunter Mary Anning as part of the Geological Society of London's Bicentennial Celebrations.       

Other participants include British Antarctic Survey, Lyme Regis and Charmouth Local Fossil Community, Dorset Geological Association, Lyme Regis Museum, Charmouth Heritage Centre, British Geological Survey, Royal Geographical Society, Rockwatch, West Dorset District Council, Dorset Coast Forum, Harry and his bucket full of Dinosaurs and others. The Jurassic Coast World Heritage Team have developed and coordinated the informal and formal educational activities.

Rising Seas is the third Lyme Regis Fossil Festival. In 2006 the event Deep Time In Lyme attracted 7000 visitors of whom 900 were students on the Schools Day.

View the  lyme_regis_fossil_festival_2007 (1.29 Mb) full press release with contact details. 

Visit risingseas for further details.