PREPARATIONS for the 2004 Science City York Festival Of Discovery have taken on greater urgency in the light of a new survey which suggests that future skills shortages could halt the city's science-based boom.

The festival, due to be held at venues across York from March 9 to 21, will be designed to showcase York's "science city" reputation - with more than 9,000 people employed in science and technology occupations - and to prove that science can be fascinating and fun.

But the survey, commissioned by the Learning And Skills Council North Yorkshire and Science City York, suggests that the mushrooming sector, which now equals tourism in York, could be put under strain unless the skills are there to fuel its rapid expansion.

Anna Rooke, manager of Science City York said: "One of our main objectives will be to make people think about science and careers by presenting all the opportunities in an exciting, interactive way.

"We hope that sparks of fascination will be fanned into flames because it is vital that we keep the momentum of growth going."

The festival, which coincides with National Science Week, aims to demystify science for people of all ages and will demonstrate exciting discoveries being made by local companies.

Free events, lectures, demonstrations and open days will include:

The 2004 Faraday Lecture - Sound FX - an interactive presentation in Central Hall at the University of York exploring the technology behind music-making, and seeing what happens in the studio when singers and instrumentalists are recorded.

Discovery Days - Science Comes Home: Interactive demonstrations and displays from local companies showing how science impacts on our daily lives. Find out about the creepy crawlies that share our homes and food with us, where energy comes from, what's in our garden sheds and how the world's population needs to be fed and housed in the future.

Get To Grips With Computers: A chance to try your hand at digital photo-editing, surfing the internet, designing a T-shirt or tracing family history

A Day At The Vet's and a demonstration of robotic milking at Askham Bryan College, Rocket Into Science at the National Railway Museum and special science tours at York Brewery.

Updated: 10:58 Thursday, February 19, 2004