The Cambridge Science Festival 2010

The one place where they can set fire to, and explode, things in safety!

The annual spectacle that is The Cambridge Science Festival takes place at venues across the city this March.

Over 150 activities are planned for the two weeks of the festival, from 8 to 21 March 2010. Most of the events are free.

On offer is everything from the highbrow to the downright ridiculous.

The festival's highlight is its family day, on Saturday 13 March, when both the innovative and the explosive take centre-stage.

BBC Radio Cambridgeshire - live from the Science Festival

Come and meet BBC Radio Cambridgeshire's Mark Rumble at the Science Festival on Saturday 13 March.

He'll be there finding out what's hot and what goes bang, and will be broadcasting his show live from 12pm-2pm, at New Museums Site, Downing Street.

Packed programme

With the Darwin Festival and the Cambridge 800 celebrations tucked firmly under its belt, the University of Cambridge is getting ready for its first big event of 2010.

The Cambridge Science Festival has grown in stature and popularity to such a degree that it's even spawned a little sister - The Festival of Ideas - which specialises in popular culture and the humanities, and takes place in September.

Robots galore will be invading the city for the festival

This year's Science Festival kicks off on Monday 8 March and offers a packed programme - two weeks of talks, drop-in sessions, themed walks, hands-on events and activities to suit everyone from curious toddlers to serious scientists.

Science on Saturdays

Saturday 13 March and Saturday 20 March are designated as family days, packed full of events taking place at venues across the city.

Join the Naked Scientists on a whistle-stop tour of waves, gases and chemistry in their lecture 'Crisp packet fireworks!' and the CHaOS Science Roadshow will be showing how things 'Crash, bang and squelch' in their drop-in experiment sessions.

And forensics can, apparently, be fun! That's if you fancy taking fingerprints and unravelling a crime scene. Or how about building a brain, or even a bridge using only 2p coins?

If that's not enough for you, Dr Evil will demonstrate 101 things you can do with a laser, using props including a jam doughnut, a kettle and an egg - that's to celebrate the laser's 101st birthday. Happy birthday, laser.

If maths is your thing, the festival's got your number, examining the science of the lottery and gambling.

From apes to archaeology to autism, just about everything is covered by this year's festival that celebrates diversity through the medium of science. Give it a go. It's free!

More information

CAMBRIDGE SCIENCE FESTIVAL Download a copy of the 2010 Festival brochure[4.76 MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here

You can download a copy of the full programme from this page, or visit the Cambridge Science Festival website for more information.

A hard copy of the festival brochure is available by calling 01223 766766, and you can use that same number for booking places on any of the sessions or talks.