An estimated 15,000 people from across the region will be visiting Cambridge this weekend to learn about everything from polar bears and climate change to backyard bio-diversity at the Cambridge Science Festival.

University buildings and sites across the city will be welcoming visitors to a wide range of talks, exhibitions and hands-on activities, nearly all of which are free.

Tomorrow at 10am Festival Patron, Carol Vorderman, will join the Vice-Chancellor Professor Alison Richard in the court yard of the Downing Site to officially open the event.

Carol will also be introducing the Top Talk, ‘The Science of Dr Who’ given by life-long fan and author of ‘The Science of Dr Who’, Dr Paul Parsons. The talk accompanies an exhibition of Dr Who monsters on display in the Pitt Building.

Visitors to the Pitt Building can also learn about the dangers of climate change with the help of a life-size moving replica Polar Bear called Bjorn. The bear will be joined by his handler Tom and members of the Cambridge Zero Carbon Society to explain about its behaviour, habitat and the dangers being created by global warming.

This year there are over 90 separate family events spread over Science Saturday and Science Sunday suitable for children and young adults. Bottling genes, colourful brain sculptures and green screen movie special effects are just a few of the attractions.

The Guildhall will feature explosive pedal power tests, golf training and the chance to create your own computer game along with many other inter-active events, run by Anglia Ruskin University.

A marquee will be situated at the New Museums Site for information, on-the-day bookings and help with locating events.

There will be tea and light refreshments available from the Small Exam Hall at the Arts School on the New Museums site. Hot and cold meals and snacks will be available in the Main Dining Hall of the University Centre, Mill Lane from 12.15pm.

Sunday’s events include the chance to build an AM radio at the Cambridge Museum of Technology and a vet school family day at the Queen’s Veterinary School. The Cavendish laboratory has an afternoon of Physics events with demonstrations, hands-on activities and talks.

Nicola Buckley, who is co-coordinating the event, said: “This year's Festival is the largest yet, with 130 free events for all ages. The family weekend on 15 and 16 March promises to be as fun and educational as ever, and we look forward to seeing you there!'”

Full details can be found in the Festival brochures that will be available across the University sites and at the Cambridge University Press bookshop.

Running until 20 March, the Festival is a major highlight of National Science and Engineering Week and features lectures and exhibitions for adults, as well as this weekend’s hands-on activities.

Full details of all events are also available at the festival website (see sidebar).

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