A Pint of Science: inspiring talks in Belgian pubs

Fun discussions about science - in a pub. That's the idea behind the Pint of Science festival which launches in Belgium for the first time this week.

Pubs in Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp, Ghent, Liège, Leuven and Louvain-la-Neuve will be the venues for a range of talks from 14-16 May covering everything from astronomy to zoology.

The annual science festival takes place worldwide every May, and last year attracted 80,000 participants in 10 countries. This year, it has doubled in size to cover 21 countries including Belgium.

The aim: bring inspiring scientists to local pubs and bars in a laid-back atmosphere to discuss their latest research with the public. The talks are meant to be accessible to the general public and address all scientific subjects.

All of the Brussels talks are in English - and topics range from how to find life on another planet to the future of cancer treatment. Among the venues are the Halles Saint-Géry and the Grimbergen cafe behind Sainte-Catherine.