Edinburgh Science Festival kicks off this Saturday exploring the theme of One World: Science Connects Us.

With over 200 events, tours, exhibitions and workshops, there’s lots of exciting stuff in the programme which focuses on the challenges and opportunities ahead as the world prepares for COP26 in November, and over 70% of these events are available online and free to access to anyone around the world.

SciMart is back (27 June, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh) and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the creation of the World Food Programme as it takes form of a farmer’s market with a scientific twist, revealing the science behind some of our favourite foodstuffs. Entry is free but booking is essential.

Botanicals – The Heart of Gin is also taking place at Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden and is a unique chance to join Edinburgh Gin’s Head Distiller, David Wilkinson and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Botanist, Dr Greg Kenicer on an after hours walk through the garden to discover the plants that are at the heart of Edinburgh Gin’s 1670 Gin, made with a unique blend of botanicals that have been grown at the Edinburgh Garden.

Cheeseology is taking place on Zoom this year so anyone in the UK can take part! Join Paul Thomas and Patrick McGuigan, our regular cheese experts, for an evening of the science that underpins the flavour and texture of everyone’s favourite dairy product, followed by a tasting of some of the finest cheeses known to humanity from Edinburgh favourites I.J. Mellis

How can we Eat to Save the Planet? With Annie Bell is an online talk with author Annie Bell inspired by her eco-friendly recipe book, Eat to Save the Planet (December 2020), and 28-day food plan based on the ground-breaking Planetary Health Diet, a global scientific study that tackles both our personal health and the health of the planet.

Ending Hunger with Anthony Warner is a talk also inspired by a newly published book (January 2021) which sets out the challenges involved in feeding a growing and increasingly affluent human population and looks at ways in which we might do so without a devastating impact on the natural world.

The Science of Sweets Science Show is a chance to join Stefan Gates and his long-suffering daughter Poppy for a Wonka-esque, snack-based science show packed with facts about the chemistry of sweets, the engineering of chocolate fountains, the biology of flatulence and the quantum mechanics of glowing spaghetti. There are loads of demos you can try at home, plus a few you really can’t!