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March 14, 2018

Gastrofest Gastrofest is a popular strand of Edinburgh International Science Festival.

The 30th Edinburgh International Science Festival will be sparking up the Bunsen burners in a little over a fortnight. As always, their Gastrofest strand promises tasty treats.

Taking place at several Edinburgh venues from 31st March to 15th April, the Science Festival will be tackling big subjects such as Mapping the Future and Unearthing the Secret of Corpses.

If you have ever felt the need to search for dark matter and dark energy then there is an event which has your name written all over it.

Gastrofest: feed your mind

If, on the other hand, your thoughts more naturally turn to questions such as 'how would you bake bread in space?' then you should truffle around the Gastrofest end of the program.

We like the look of Best Before: The Evolution and Future of Processed Food. This presentation takes place on Thursday 5th April. Appropriately enough, the event will be held in the Anatomy Lecture Theatre at Summerhall.

Nicola Temple will be putting the vexed question of processed food into perspective. Recent headlines seem to indicate that highly processed foods are at the root of many health problems in developed countries.

On the other hand, our ability to process food has made us one of the most successful species on the planet. Where do we draw the line?

One of the subjects which may come up over the course of the event is that of artificially grown meat.

Some think that this may be one way in which we can maintain our meat-eating habits without wrecking the planet. Others disagree vehemently.

It is a topic that will be examined in depth on Friday 6th April at the event Should We Give Up Meat to Save the Planet?

The argument is that our food systems are a major cause of environmental damage.

Researchers and policymakers are encouraging us to adopt sustainable diets, but how do we make the right choices?

Gastrofest fun

Gastrofest is more than happy to tackle big serious subjects such as food poverty.  There are also events which celebrate the more pleasurable aspects of food and drink science.

Curd nerds may want to book in for Cheeseology 3.0.

Alternatively, if you have a taste for whisky then you might opt for the event Science and the Spirit of Scotland.

Billed as 'an in-depth look at the art and science of making, blending and tasting Scotch whisky', gastrophysicists, psychologists, writers, cooks and blenders will discuss the science and culture of Scotland's national drink.

Tix for Gastrofest and other Edinburgh International Science Festival events can be bought from here.