Science Festival 2015 launches The Ideas Factory

Edinburgh International Science Festival has launched its full 2015 programme, transforming into The Ideas Factory - a hub for information, ideas and innovation.

Running from 4 - 19 April, EISF15 features a range of exciting and inspiring events and themes, including:

• Brainwaves - a series examining the mysteries of Brain, Mind & Consciousness
• Light & Enlightenment - UN International Year of Light 2015 illuminates Scotland’s greatestminds
• GastroFest - EISF's mini-festival about the science of food and drink returns
• Energy & Environment - a series debating our global climate future featuring IPCC Chair Dr Rajendra Pachauri
• Numbers That Matter - probing big data and the stats behind our lives
• The Reading Experiment - a celebration of science writing in all its forms
• How the Light Gets In - an exhibition showcasing artists working with light

Top names appearing at the festival include moral philosopher Mary Midgley who will be receiving the Edinburgh Medal 2015, star rider and Red Bull athlete Danny MacAskill, former hostage Terry Waite, and best-selling author Matt Haig.

The programme brings together great minds from different disciplines - from inventors to policymakers, world-class scientists to ground-breaking artists - and aims to foster dialogue about the future of our culture, nation, planet and global understanding.

The festival's popular Lates events continue, with science, music and art colliding to create inspiring nights out. Further creative collaborations will take place at the Science Festival's first ever club night, Full Spectrum, the return of The Reading Experiment, exploring science writing, and the launch of this year's SciKu poetry competition.

Families are well catered for with a range of child-friendly scientific playgrounds, and the third Edinburgh Mini Maker Faire showcasing everything from traditional crafting to digital technologies. And to encourage students to take part, Siemens is supporting EISF in offer half price tickets on many events through the #SciPals Student Ticket Scheme.

For much more information on Edinburgh International Science Festival 2015, and to book your events, visit www.sciencefestival.co.uk

Image: credit Aly Wight