Fairground: Thrill Laboratory – Excitement

The final week of Thrill Laboratory harks back to the 1950’s space race with the Booster ride, which evolved from the rash of post war dive-bomber rides originally developed from aircraft-pilot training apparatus. The UK’s only space flight surgeon, Dr Kevin Fong from University College London will lead the discussion alongside a ride manufacturer and astronautical engineer.

The final week of Thrill Laboratory harks back to the 1950’s space race with the Booster ride, which evolved from the rash of post war dive-bomber rides originally developed from aircraft-pilot training apparatus. The UK’s only space flight surgeon, Dr Kevin Fong from University College London will lead the discussion alongside a ride manufacturer and astronautical engineer.

The fairground is being installed in the Dana Centre - the Science Museum’s adults-only bar and café for exploring contemporary science, medicine and technology – for three weeks only as it explores the science of thrill.

Lucky volunteers will be hooked up to video and audio transmitters coupled with heart rate monitors, as their live physiological data is broadcast directly into the Dana Centre.

The data will be analysed by international commentators, including the UK’s only space flight surgeon who will look at the effects of rides on the body, as well as psychologists, ride creators and scientists.

Launching on Tuesday 17 October, each event will focus on a unique aspect of thrill - pleasure, frisson and excitement - through the Miami Trip, Ghost Train and Booster rides, as the Dana Centre transforms itself into a fairground ride observatory and thrill laboratory.

The series promises to be an eclectic mix of psychological and sociological experimentation, cultural and historical observations, art and design, archive film, lively presentations, commentary and discussion.

Fairground: Thrill Laboratory is being curated by Brendan Walker – thrill aficionado, designer, and author of The Taxonomy of Thrill.

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