MORE than 2,500 residents have already signed up to attend the University of Sussex’s community festival on Sunday.

Visitors will be given the chance to see a glowing copy of themselves like Dr Stephen Wilkins, senior lecturer in astronomy, by stepping in front of infra-red cameras.

There is the opportunity to see a single-seat race car built by engineering students for an international competition next month.

There will also be an inflatable planetarium, musical performance celebrating a Sussex beauty spot and an augmented reality tour of the university at Falmer.

More than 30 academics will be on the campus as well as students and staff.

Dr Wilkins said: “The great thing about astronomy is that it is accessible to everybody.

“There are things that we study, such as Saturn’s eclipse of the Sun or images of distant galaxies, that are beautiful.

“Seeing something like that at an early age can be the starting point for a lifetime’s fascination and passion for the subject and hopefully visitors to the festival will get a sense of that on the day.”

Professor Alison Pike, University psychologist and scientific expert on Channel 4, will offer insights for parents on how to put themselves first without feeling guilty, manipulate their child’s behaviour and stop sibling squabbles.

BBC Rough Science presenter Dr Jonathan Hare will explain the wonder of ’buckyballs’, the carbon structure discovered at the University of Sussex which led to a Nobel Prize for the late Professor Sir Harry Kroto.

Other attractions include circus skills, fairground competitions including hook-a-duck and the coconut shy,sport taster sessions, a steel band and food stalls.

Sussex Police, Sussex Wildlife Trust, Sustainable Sussex, Brighton Peace and Environment Centre, Sussex Learning Network and Central and South Sussex Citizens Advice will be sharing information about volunteering,

More than 2,500 residents have already registered their interest and the university is encouraging interested parties to sign up for free tickets via its website.