As the director of the world’s first science festival, in Edinburgh in 1989, Dr Howie Firth created the format that is now followed widely. He has been directing Orkney International Science Festival ( www.oisf.org ) in his home islands of Orkney (population 23,000) for the past 30 years. The Festival’s many events can be freely accessed on its YouTube channel ( www.youtube.com/user/OISFestival/featured ). With a degree in mathematical physics, he has a background in teaching, writing, broadcasting and community development, and various awards for his work.