The University of Dundee-led festival takes place from Wednesday 16 to Sunday 20 October, with more than 50 events scheduled across its five-day run.

In the ‘Three Act Robbery’ workshop, taking place on Saturday 19 October, participants will learn about scientific techniques to analyse different evidence types while learning about some of the work of the university’s Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science (LRCFS). Visitors will also have the opportunity to see the laboratories where the University’s ground breaking forensic science research is carried out.

The Evidence Chamber is the world première of a piece of live theatre which sees the audience perform the role of jurors in a murder trial, and will take place at Dundee Sheriff Court on the same day. It has been designed by the LRCFS and the ex-theatre company FanSHEN to raise questions about how we respond to the presentation and communication of different types of evidence, its presentation, and how our preconceptions can affect decisions.

Professor Niamh Nic Daéid, director of LRCFS, said: “It is so important that when our juries are making decisions about a person’s guilt or innocence, they understand the science put before them and we are delighted to be able to present new ways of making science accessible to the public within the criminal justice context as part of the Festival of the Future.”

Also taking place will be a lunchtime debate on The Future of Criminal Justice and Human Rights on Wednesday 16 October. A panel of leading university academics who work in the areas of criminal justice and human rights will discuss subjects ranging from oral health programmes in prisons to challenges in the relationship between forensic science and the justice system. Following the discussion there will be the opportunity to put questions to the panel.

Each day of the programme will feature events aimed at children, young people and adults, debates with academics and external speakers and high-profile events featuring prestigious figures from the worlds of science and culture.

More information about this year’s festival can be found here