Science, previously the preserve of wild-haired men speaking a language you didn’t understand. But now science is all around us in our lives; you even need a degree in computer logic to simply work a modern oven.

Running from 13^th February to 6^th March, Brighton Science Festival 2011 is a series of exciting and informative shows that aim to make us look at the wonderful world of science in a whole new way. Rest assured you won’t need a brain the size of a planet, or haphazard fashion sense, to get the most from these events.

At the smallest level, Of All the Nerve tracks the life of a neuron, from birth to death in six chapters, using audience participation to demonstrate various brain functions, such as how memories are formed or what happens when we stub our toe. Fire up that imagination and get to the Sallis Benney Theatre on Sunday 6^th March.

On an interpersonal level, Robin Dunbar asks - How Many Friends Does One Person Need? Apparently we are the product of our evolutionary history and this history colours our everyday lives, from why we kiss to how religious we are. Robin explains how this distant past underpins our modern behaviours. If you want to know why you should be suspicious of someone with over 150 friends on Facebook then check out this fascinating talk on Tuesday 22^nd February at the Ropetackle Arts Centre.

Taking a slightly less reverential view of science is Zombie Science, where Theoretical Zombiologist, Doctor Austin, takes a light hearted look at the hard science behind the undead menace. Genetics, prions and genetic engineering are all used to explain how this most gruesome of Hollywood obsessions may be more real than you think.  (Be)head on down to BHASVIC  on Friday 4^th March if you need to know more.

One of the biggest attractions of the festival every year is the Big Science Saturday which takes over the Sallis Benney Theatre on Saturday 5^th March. This staple of the festival diary features a packed day of popular science, talks, debates and appearances from some of the keenest minds on the planet.

One of the highlights of this day is eminent boffin Dr Jonathan Hare talking about The Carbon Revolution. Detailing 30 years of development for Fullerenes, nantotubes and grapheme and how they will affect our future.

Also appearing is Justin Pollard, QI’s resident brainbox, who takes us on a break-neck tour through the real weird and wonderful history of science.

Elsewhere on the agenda is Free Radicals, which aims to dispel the myth that scientists are cold and level-headed. Michael Brooks explains that scientists are, by their very nature, rebels and anarchists. They take drugs, experiment on themselves and others with a reckless abandon.

Other, less edgy, seminars on offer cover the magic of bubbles and the use of music to establish and reinforce social territory all in one enormous, fact-packed day of science entertainment.

Another perennial favourite of the festival are the Philosophy in Pubs events. Murphy’s Law (the dictum “whatever can go wrong will go wrong”) will be up for debate this year. So if you think you can make sense of an insane world over a pint then look no further than The Palmeira on Sunday 13^th February.

Brighton Science Festival 2011 deftly treads the fine line between stony faced lectures and glorious showboating spectacle. There should be something in the calendar for even the most sceptical and unimaginative. For more information about all these events and the complete festival diary visit www.brightonscience.com/2011.

More info @ - www.brightonscience.com/2011