The UK’s biggest free Science Festival begins in Cambridge today with a screening of an explosive new television series staring University academic Dr Pete Wothers.

The Festival, which is in its 15th year, is expected to attract over 25,000 visitors throughout the 11 days.

The event, which runs until March 20, comprises over 20 lectures, exhibitions and more than 100 hands-on activities for children to take part in.

Tonight the Festival begins with a special screening of the Discovery Channel’s new reality series ‘The Big Experiment’ featuring the University’s Dr Pete Wothers and Chris Bracktone.

The series aims to fast-track a group of disengaged East London teenagers through their science GCSE by utilising some of the most innovative teaching techniques.

Wothers is renowned for his enthusiastic and often explosive approach to chemistry and will be holding talks at the Department of Chemistry on Saturday.

Also this evening Professor Simon Baron-Cohen will be giving a talk on the effect of hormones in the womb on brain development. Baron-Cohen will speak about a unique experiment he has conducted on hundreds of children in Cambridge, measuring their testosterone in the womb and following their development year by year.

Tomorrow Dr Ann Prentice gives a talk at the University Centre about new research conducted into the effect of nutrition on osteoporosis. Professor Jim Rose will be discussing the Ancient Human Occupation of Britain project (AHOB) at the Department of Chemistry.

There are also a number of exhibitions running throughout the 11-day event including photography at the Department of Engineering and the Museum of Zoology as well as a collection of Darwin’s correspondence at the CUP bookshop.

The Festival’s grand opening will take place on Saturday with Vice-Chancellor Professor Alison Richard and Festival Patron Carol Vorderman speaking.

Festival brochures are available from the Tourist Information Office, the CUP bookshop on Trinity Street and the Pitt Building on Trumpington Street or can be requested by calling 01223 766766.

For more details please see the link at the top right of the page.

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