Tickets, unless otherwise stated, and full programme at www.brightonscience.com

CITY BOOKS PRESENT MASSIVE

Ropetackle Arts Centre, Little High Street, Shoreham, Wednesday, February 6, 7pm, £8, call 01273 467523

Guardian science correspondent Ian Sample launches the festival with his latest book about the four-decade-long search for the Higgs boson (or “God”) particle.

HELIX

Lighthouse, Kensington Street, Brighton, Thursday, Ferbuary 7 6.30pm, £3, lighthouse.org.uk

Nature writer Dr Adam Rutherford introduces his new residency at Lighthouse with artist David Blandy, based around the discovery of DNA.

ROBIN INCE’S DIRTY BOOK CLUB

The Old Market, Upper Market Street, Hove, Friday, February 8, 8pm, £9/£7, 01273 201801

The stand-up behind much of the recent science-as-entertainment renaissance brings a special erotica-inspired edition of his Bad Book Club to Hove in time for Valentine’s Day. He will also be previewing his new show, The Importance Of Being Interested, at the Blind Tiger Club, in Grand Parade, on Wednesday, February 13, from 8pm. Tickets £9/£6 from www.brightonscience.com

THE SCIENCE OF SEX

Sallis Benney Theatre, Grand Parade, Brighton, Saturday, February 9, 11am to 6pm, £10/£8

With Valentine’s Day on its way, this 16+ event looks at the science behind sex, culminating at 8pm with a talk on The Sex Myth by Brooke Magnanti aka celebrated blogger Belle De Jour (tickets £12/£9).

The weekend also features a focus on DNA on Sunday, February 10, with the return of Fringe hit Zombie Science.

CATALYST CLUB

Latest Music Bar, Manchester Street, Brighton, Thursday, February 14, and Thursday, February 28, 8pm/£5 on the door

The Catalyst Club is just one of the many regular monthly events offering a scientific theme in February. The Brighton version of the French debating salon considers science in advertising, positive attitudes, transhumanism, optimism and sexual fantasies. Look out for special editions of Philosophy In Pubs, Cafe Scientifique and Hammer And Tongue.

BRIGHT SPARKS

Hove Park Upper School, Nevill Road, Hove, Saturday, February 16, and Sunday, February 17, 10am to 5pm, £4 for seven to 14-year-olds, £6 for 15 and overs, £16 for family ticket

A weekend of science for families, which this year is accompanied by an extensive programme of half-term activities, including Science Beach daily at Latest Music Bar in Manchester Street, and investigations into science history at The Booth Museum in Dyke Road.

UGLY ANIMAL PRESERVATION SOCIETY

Sallis Benney Theatre, Grand Parade, Brighton, Friday, February 22, 8pm, £9/£6

Why does the panda get so much coverage when there are so many other more aesthetically challenging creatures facing extinction? Simon Watt and a comic line-up champion a different endangered ugly, with the audience voting for their favourite at the end.

WHITE HEAT

Sallis Benney Theatre, Grand Parade, Brighton, Saturday, February 23, 10am to 5pm, and Sunday, February 24, 11am to 4pm, £5

The Festival Of The Spoken Nerd, who give a performance at 8pm (tickets £9/£6), front a weekend of slightly more demanding science for those of a more demanding age – 11 and above.

DARWIN’S SACRED CAUSE

Lord Nelson, Trafalgar Street Brighton, Wednesday, February 27, 7.30pm, £5/£3

James Moore and Adrian Desmond argue that behind Darwin’s evolutionary theory was another more altruistic motive – to try to combat slavery by proving all men were of one blood and ancestry.

OFFICE POLITICS

Friends’ Meeting House, Ship Street, Brighton, Friday, March 1, 7.30pm £9/£6

Oliver James, author of Office Politics, and Kevin Dutton, who penned The Wisdom Of Psychopaths, discuss how bosses climb the greasy pole to get to where they are today.

BIG SCIENCE WEEKEND

Sallis Benney Theatre, Grand Parade, Brighton, Saturday March 2, 10am to 4pm, Sunday, March 3, 10.30am to 4pm, £10/£6

The culmination of Brighton Science Festival features a series of talks and debates on wide- ranging issues, from infinity to modern communication.

Both days culminate with big special guest appearances – Ben Goldacre, writer of The Guardian’s Bad Science column, on Saturday at 7pm (£15/£12), and Professor Richard Wiseman on Sunday at 8pm (£9/£6) discussing paranormality.