The 2019 Sidmouth Science Festival takes place from Friday 4 October to Sunday 13 October.

This year's theme is 'Science in our Lives' - to reflect how important the STEM subjects (science, technology, maths and engineering) are to everything we do nowadays.

The Sidmouth Science Festival was started in 2012 by a small group of enthusiastic people who wanted to keep the public informed about recent scientific events - particularly around the challenge of climate change.

It consisted of a two-day event and was considered to be successful enough to repeat, but with a wider remit and lasting for a week.

Sidmouth Nub News caught up with organiser, Liz Bramley, to find out more.

She said: "The festival aims to ignite curiosity in people to explore science in their lives.

"This is becoming more important every year as we increasingly come face-to-face with STEM subjects and technology in our everyday lives.

"From our mobile phones and new cars, to healthcare, sports and food - as well as emerging artificial intelligence and understanding climate change.

"To make the festival accessible for all, we have tried to keep most events free by relying on the goodwill of volunteers.

"In fact, the festival continues to be run by volunteers making it probably the biggest volunteer-led festival in the South West

"To interest young people, we have made visits to many local schools linking activities to the curriculum.

"Sidmouth is very fortunate in having a ready-made scientific base with its position on the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, the Norman Lockyer Observatory and a number of Fellows of the Royal Society (past and present) being residents in the town.

"Plus, you have the Met Office just up the road.

"All these come together with universities and colleges providing outreach for the Super Science Saturday - when venues around Sidmouth are jam-packed with hands-on activities and talks for all ages and all abilities."

This year the speakers include Dr Adam Rutherford, Dame Julia Slingo and Professor Danielle George.

Previous years have seen the likes of Simon Singh, Prof Iain Stewart, Prof Monica Grady, Dr Marty Jopson, Dallas Campbell, Rick Edwards and Adam Hart-Davies, amongst many others.

Although the format has remained roughly the same, the scope of topics has grown and the type of event has become more varied.

This year the musical 'Granny Galactica' has been included. It follows the story of Granny Nettle around the Cosmos with Franklin the alien robot.

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