THE Times Cheltenham Science Festival (2-7th June 2015) returns with a fantastic line-up of more than 165 events, including talks from Brian Cox, Steve Backshall, Alice Roberts, Robert Winston and Wilko Johnson.

Over the course of six days, the Festival will inspire, challenge, surprise and entertain.  It showcases ground-breaking research, debates big questions and introduces audiences to some of the world’s greatest thinkers.

Cheltenham’s pop-up tented Science Village in Imperial Gardens will be dominated by the Festival’s brand new DinoZone, featuring a spectacular seven metre skeleton of a Gorgosaurus. You can also learn about mass extinctions, discover what dinosaurs really looked like, learn who would win a dino war, and meet infamous dinohunter Pete Larson.

 

An original DeLorean will also be ‘flown’ in to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Back to the Future. We’ll be looking at time travel, ask why we don’t have flying cars, and see what science fiction says about the time we live in.

 

The Science of everyday life is also up for discussion. Audiences can explore sexism with Tanya Byron, find out why we love gossip and discover what mindfulness can do for you. Find out why music changes the taste of wine and sample the science of whisky and bread.

Visitors can also learn how to hack and programme LEGO Mindstorm Robots

 

The Universe is another major theme at this year’s Festival. We’ll explore the mysteries revealed by the Rosetta mission, discuss if space exploration is worth the money, Martin Rees will take audiences from Mars to the multiverse, and Jodrell Bank’s Tim O’Brien will cover the Search for Extra-terrestrial intelligence.

Festival Director Jane Furze said: “The Festival delivers a fantastic programme that engages scientists and serious science enthusiasts and also anyone and everyone with a curious mind who wants to better understand how the world works and how the world helps understand it. This year we’ve more to satisfy visitors’ curiosity than ever.”

Dinosaurs, DeLoreans and Free Science

This year’s Festival explores all things dinosaur, the centrepiece of which is the DinoZone housing the 7.4m long skeleton of a Gorgosaurus. Related events include a talk on mass extinctions to infamous dinohunter Pete Larson, whose excavation of Sue- a 90% complete $8.36 million T.rex-landed him in jail.  With the impending release of the sequel to Jurassic park due late summer- bone up on your knowledge of dinosaurs.

 

The Festival also travels ‘back to the future’ to talk about the film’s 30th anniversary. We’ll be looking at time travel, ask why we don’t have flying cars and see what science fiction says about the time we live in. There’ll even be a DeLorean at the Festival.

This year’s Festival also has more free and interactive zones than ever before. Visitors can tour Doc Brown’s Invention Lab in the Discover Zone, lock eyes with a Triceratops in the DinoZone, fly a plane in the GE Pavilion, land on Mars in the Siemens Curiosity Zone, and enjoy a glass of wine and some debate in the University of Warwick What If? Zone and get up close and personal with BBC presenters in the BBC Science Zone.

Life, health, food and wine!

Tanya Byron explores sexism, Wilko Johnson talks about being cancer free, Robert Winston discusses three-parent babies, and, back by popular demand, Steve Backshall returns as Guest Director of the family programme.

The mathematics of love is up for discussion, as is the compatibility gene, we'll ask 'what is happiness’, sniff the science of perfume, and talk about why we love gossip. We'll ask whether or not we have free will, explore how life affects our genes, investigate the lasting affects made by siblings and school friends, pause to consider mindfulness, and investigate the connection between humour and humanity.

Myths about Ebola and allergies will be dispelled, and we’ll reveal if sugar and sitting really are this century’s greatest killers.

Food and drink events include a talk (and tasting!) on wine, cheese and microbes, we’ll look at the psychology of taste with Charles Spence, investigate how listening to different music changes the taste of wine, as well as exploring the science of whisky and of bread.

Space, synthesisers… and the new Chaos Cabaret

Space is also major theme at this year’s Festival. We’ll explore the mysteries revealed by the Rosetta mission, discuss if space exploration is worth the money, Martin Rees will take audiences from Mars to the multiverse, and Jodrell Bank’s Tim O’Brien will cover the Search for Extra-terrestrial intelligence.

Festival workshops this year include how to hack, mathematical origami and programming LEGO Mind storm robots. You can also watch a step-by-step demonstration of taxidermy.

As well as tackling cutting edge science, we’ll be looking in to history: was Bruno Pontecorvo a physicist or a spy, we’ll revisit Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, take an in depth look at identifying Richard III and look at Impressionism and Renaissance art. Goldfrapp’s Will Gregory will also talk synths, telling us why these analogue miracles of electronics are back in fashion.

Cheltenham Science Festival wouldn't be Cheltenham without a good dose of entertainment.  There’s comedy from Robin Ince, the ever-popular over-ambitious demo challenge, and a new Chaos Cabaret and a variety night featuring Festival favourite artists all doing a turn for your entertainment.

The full Festival line-up is at www.cheltenhamfestivals.com. Festival tickets go on sale to Members on Wednesday, April 15 and to the general public on Wednesday, April 22 available at www.cheltenhamfestivals.com or at 0844 880 8094.