Festival of Science: week-long programme

The annual British Festival of Science gets under way this morning at the University of Birmingham with a week-long science-themed programme of talks, presentations and entertaining events.

Organised by the British Science Association, it ranks as one of Europe's largest science meetings and attracts up to 350 top scientists who come to talk about their research to the general public.

Each year visitor numbers top 50,000.

The association was formed in 1831 as the British Association for the Advancement of Science and has been a proponent of education and outreach about important developments in science, engineering and maths.

The association will inaugurate a new president on Thursday this week, Nobel Prize winner Sir Paul Nurse. He will describe science as a "truly revolutionary" activity.

The Irish Times will have daily reports until Friday. Discover more at britishsciencefestival.org and follow it on @BritishSciFest #BSF14