After 12pm, Talks & lectures

Researchers from the Social and Public Health Sciences Unit discuss health and sexual health and how they are represented in the media, followed by a Q&A.

Hear from the instantly recognisable but always believable actor about a life in film, from Begbie to Renard and beyond. Part of Edinburgh International Film Festival.

The omnipresent guitarist Earl Slick, whose most recent project was David Bowie's The Next Day, discusses his new book.

Senior curator Francis Fowle explores the recently acquired painting by the leader of the Glasgow Boys. Booking is essential.

A look at the work of Janet Henderson, who helped to establish the organic, local sourcing and healthy eating scene here in Scotland, and a glance at the future of food culture in the country. Booking is essential.

Contributors to Unstated: Writers On Scottish Independence talk about the impending referendum in 2014.

The historian discusses his book The Return of a King, a substantial and analytical new account of the first Afghan War.

Come and find out about participating in Brighton Fringe, England’s largest arts festival. For four weeks in May, Brighton is transformed with all types of performances in venues big and small. www.brightonfringe.org

Philip Glass is joined by Patti Smith to discuss their cross-art form collaboration The Poet Speaks with writer and broadcaster Richard Coles.

From the Marquis de Sade to Fifty Shades of Grey, from literary quickies to passionate epics, erotic stories continue to get us in a fluster. In this scintillating session Rowan Pelling, Telegraph columnist and former editor of the Erotic Review, shares some of her favourite excerpts and offers gentle guidance to…

Learn more about the history of Hastings Old Town on this spooky tour with author and historian Tina Brown. Meet her at the chessboard in George's Street.

Universal Quidem. Revealing, thought provoking and at times hilarious, BBC Radio 2 legend Johnnie Walker discovers the real person behind the celebrity. Famous for his years on pirate Radio Caroline and Radio's 1 and 2, Johnnie is regarded as one of the finest radio interviewers today. Now Johnnie escapes the studio…

Artist Matthew Barney and composer Jonathan Bepler present their latest piece of multi-discipline work, which is based on Norman Mailer's Ancient Evenings, and combines film, performance, sculpture and opera. Followed by the chance to discuss the piece with its creators.

A troubadours' tour beginning at the library in GoMA and ending at Glasgow Green to watch the sunrise following a midnight ceremony of poetry and song.

Terry Jones (of writing, directing and Monty Python fame) talks about the possible reasons behind censorship in the Ellesmere manuscript, an early 15th century illuminated manuscript of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.

Professors Maurice Moloney and David Hume talk about the future of biotechnology and genetics in crop and livestock development.

Peter Abrahams, Professor of Clinical Anatomy at Warwick University, explores the value of Leonardo’s anatomical drawings as a tool for understanding the human body, and how closely the artist anticipated the range of imagery used by the medical profession today.

A talk and discussion of the 1SCOTS and their time spent recently in Afghanistan.

The Fringe Society chats with actors at the top of their game. Hear how they started, their career highs and lows, what they would do differently. Previous guests include Miriam Margolyes, George Wendt and Anthony Rapp.