AN EXPLOSION of different activities launches the city’s annual science festival today. Families can explore a free hands-on event in Bonn Square called Science In Your World.

It celebrates the start of Oxfordshire Science Festival, which runs until Sunday, March 24.

Shoppers will be able to find out how liquid nitrogen works, learn about infectious diseases and vaccines and take part in games that test the senses.

Renee Watson, Oxfordshire Science Festival manager, said: “It isn’t just for kids, nor is it just for people who are already inspired by science.

“Science in Your World is about looking at the science that makes up our day to day lives.

“Oxfordshire is a hub of exceptional science and technology and Oxfordshire Science Festival helps to show people the real life applications of what happens in the labs all around us.”

During the two-week festival there are more than 100 events taking place including a series of lectures, debates and other activities to whet people’s appetite for science.

More than 30,000 people are expected to take part.

Ms Watson said: “The aim of the festival is really to show that science is part of every day life, so things are relevant to what people see in the news and at home.

“Most of it is hands-on and interactive and things where people can have a go.

“There is certainly something for all ages.”

She added: “I think one of the big reasons why people should come along is that most of the activities are free and they are interesting, they are fun and people might actually learn something new which is always good.”

Tomorrow there is a Storytelling Science Day at Café Tarifa in Cowley Road, Oxford, from noon to 6pm.

On Monday, Oxford astronomer and BBC Sky at Night co-presenter Chris Lintott will be talking about the Zooninverse, the world’s most popular collection of citizen science projects.

His talk starts at 6pm at Martin Wood Lecture Theatre in Parks Road, Oxford. Booking is recommended. visit www2.physics. ox.ac.uk/events On Friday, March 15, Professor Marcus du Sautoy, from BBC’s Mind Games, will host Pi Day Live, a free interactive online event that welcomes as many people as possible to work together to calculate pi using techniques from the pre-computer age.

For more information visit oxfordconnect.conted.ox.ac.uk The festival is a collaboration between 50 organisations including Oxford University, the Medical Research Council, Science Oxford, Oxford Brookes University, the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy and Siemens. The Oxford Mail is the media sponsor.

For full details of all events, visit oxscifest.co.uk