Edinburgh International Science Festival 2012 - highlights

Derren Brown and giant eyes among the top events at this year's EISF

Illusions, experiments, fire-walking and food are just some of the treats in store at this year’s Edinburgh International Science Festival. With events in more venues than ever before, 2012’s programme welcomes scientists, comedians, psychologists, dancers, chefs and photographers to look at scientific phenomena from every angle.

Highlights include photography project Invisible Worlds, presently at St Andrews Square, examining the hidden realms of the big and small; mind-man Derren Brown appearing in conversation with Richard Wiseman; and InMotion at the National Museum of Scotland, celebrating the science of human movement (especially apt in Britain’s Olympic year). The Museum is also hosting a workshop about the physics behind good DJing and author Marcus Chown talking about the solar system.

As ever the programme is suitably attired for young and old: adults can walk across burning coals in Firewalking, challenge their senses in Sensory Dining, or discover the science behind dad dancing with The Dancing Brain. The Scottish Storytelling Centre will be running one week of kiddy friendly events, as well as lectures for over 18s including an examination of the science behind sex and a look at topical questions about infinity. The Royal Botanic Gardens will teach the weans about the dairy industry and chocolate production, whilst grown ups can find out about sustainable fish-eating and so-called superfoods. Don’t miss the BBC’s Bang Goes the Theory team, either, presenting free live shows in the Usher Hall and drop in activities on the Mound Precinct.

The Filmhouse is also getting in on the act, running a series of science-inspired films including Frankenstein, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Gattaca.

Coinciding with the Easter school holidays, there are, of course, a lot of events squarely aimed at the little ones: Edinburgh’s City Art Centre will be transformed into a science playground, complete with skeletons, robots and manic monsters, with Visual-Eyes (see what they did there?) allowing children the chance to peek inside a giant eye.

We’re exhausted and excited just thinking about it.

Various venues, Edinburgh, 30 Mar–15 Apr.