FOR little more than the price of a beer, North-East drinkers will be able to buy ‘a pint of science’ next month.

Academics from Teesside University are set to swap lecture halls for their local boozer in a bid to make their research more accessible.

Teesside is the only North-East university taking part in the international Pint of Science festival, which will see scientists from 20 different institutions give presentations about their work in pubs across the country.

The international festival encourages academics to present cutting-edge science research in down-to-earth settings and the festival is taking place in 50 towns and cities, across eight countries, between May 18 and 20.

Professor Tim Thompson, from Teesside University’s school of science and engineering, is taking part and was one of five academics invited to London to help launch the event.

He said: “As a researcher it is important that our work reaches as many people as possible. Sometimes we can become a little bit entrenched in our own academic worlds and that is why Pint of Science is such a fantastic event which Teesside University is proud to be a part of.”

Pint of Science is a volunteer run event and a number of postgraduate students have been involved in the organisation and marketing.

Other Teesside University academics taking part include Dr Cormac Ryan, Dr Carmine Ventre and Dr Michael Short.

They will give early evening talks themed around ‘Our Society, ‘Our Body’ and ‘Tech Me Out’ at three Middlesbrough pubs, TS One, O’Connells and The Dickens Inn, on May 18, 19 and 20.

Each session costs £3 and will feature a variety of thought-provoking presentations.

For more information go to pintofscience.co.uk/events/teesside/