SOME of the North-East’s world-leading scientists will be seeking to inspire people during a series of talks of topics ranging from the Big Bang to driverless cars.

Durham University is holding its Saturday Morning Science programme again this year, with a wider range of all sorts of scientific topics.

Professor Frank Krauss, from physics department and the Institute of Particle Physics Phenomenology, said: “Saturday Morning Science is aimed at young people or adults with an interest in modern science and the world around them.

“Through accessible talks and fielding questions, we hope to inspire further interest in the fascinating subjects that our speakers spend their whole careers researching in great detail.

“We have a great line-up of researchers and topics for this year, and we are looking forward to welcoming many people to the university when the series begins later this month.”

The series involves talks from some of the university’s academics from a range of fields, including physics, biosciences, chemistry, computer sciences, earth sciences, engineering, mathematical sciences and psychology.

The series begins on September 29 with a talk from Professor Richard Bower, from the university’s physics department, the Institute for Computational Cosmology and the Centre for Extragalactic Astronomy.

His talk on “The Big Bang Show” will explore humanity’s place in the universe, what the universe is made from and evidence for an expanding universe.

There will be 22 sessions between September and next May, each including a 45-minute talk and 15 minutes for questions.

Refreshments will be served afterwards and some sessions will include associated activities, such as laboratory tours.

Other topics to be explored include: what makes people hear voices or see things; driverless cars; climate change; human interactions with seaweed; light; neutrinos; atomic clocks; our energy needs; electromagnetism; the human brain; how plants ‘feel’; sunspots; autism; volcanoes; and planetary collisions.

The university has run its Saturday morning’ sessions since 2015, last year attracting more than 500 visitors.

The talks will be held at the University’s Calman Learning Centre, off Stockton Road, Durham, on Saturdays from September 29 to December 1, from February 2 to March 30, and from April 27 to May 11.

All talks will begin at 10.30am, followed by refreshments at 11.30am.

Entry is free and no pre-booking is required.

For more information, please visit www.durham.ac.uk/physics/satmornscience