Edinburgh Science Festival will return to the city in April with a brand new theme, and plenty of fascinating events and workshops.
The festival, which is the biggest of its kind in Europe, will take place from 4 to 19 April in more than 30 different venues across Edinburgh and the Lothians.
This year's theme is Elementary – so the ancient classifications of earth, air, fire and water and how they relate to current environmental challenges facing the planet. Organisers say the festival will explore ideas for a successful and sustainable future – adding a fifth element of Aether with a special focus on the digital world.
So what's on this year?
Among the highlights of the 2019 festival will be the Pale Blue Dot exhibition, running at the National Museum of Scotland grand gallery throughout the two weeks.
Those behind the free event say it will take the form of a "multi-sensory exploration of everything marine" taking visitors through every layer of the ocean – from aquatic animals to incredible ecosystems. Work from artists such as Marco Barotti, Hannah Imlach and Matthew Rimmer.
The City Art Centre will also once again become a "science playground" for children aged five and over. Organisers say there will be dozens of bookable workshop and drop-in activities over the five floors. Highlights include young ones being able to perform a surgery in E.R, making their own scabs in the Blood Bar and programming their own robot in Creative Coding.
At the Pleasance Festival Programming Hub there will be a range of talks from leading scientists. Callum Roberts, the scientific advisor to hit show Blue Planet II, will explore our history with the seas while other events will focus on air pollution and its impact on mental health, gaming addiction and the future of 5G technology.
You can view the full programme on the Edinburgh Science Festival website.
What venues will be in use this year?
More than 30 different venues throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians will host science festival events. The full list is as follows: City Art Centre, Pleasance, National Museum of Scotland, Summerhall, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh Zoo, Dynamic Earth, Scottish Parliament, National Museum of Flight, Surgeons' Hall Museums, Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, National Museums Collection Centre, Holyrood Park, Scottish Storytelling Centre, Nelson Monument, Museum on the Mound, Stills Centre for Photography, Calton Hill, Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Signet Library, Collective, St Giles' Cathedral, Holyrood Park Education Centre, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Portobello Promenade, Holyrood Distillery, Eye Cave Beach, Joppa Sands, CRUK Edinburgh Centre, Western General Hospital, Fisherrow Harbour, Dunbar Beach, and Playfair Library.
And how do I get tickets?
Tickets can be booked on the Edinburgh Science Festival website. You can visit it here.
