BOURNEMOUTH University’s Festival of Learning kicks off today with a festival family day on Talbot Campus.

From the chance to build a dinosaur from DNA to a singing day, sporting sessions and cyber security workshops, free activities for all ages will run throughout the day.

A total of 140 free events and activities will run across the five day festival, bringing learning to life and helping the local community find out more about BU research and expertise.

Natalie Day, who is helping to coordinate the festival, said: "The Festival of Learning is five days of events for anyone to get involved with, whatever your age or interest, that showcases some of the brilliant research that takes place at Bournemouth University.

"It’s our opportunity to show the community that the research that we are doing is part of their lives and we want them to engage with it and have fun learning something new."

The festival runs from Saturday until Wednesday, with events and activities running throughout the day and evening. They range from professional development opportunities to debates, and theatre performances.

This year’s festival guest speaker is adventurer and endurance athlete Anna McNuff, who will share tales of her travels around the world, including cycling through every state in the USA and running the length of New Zealand.

She will be sharing her advice and experiences in two talks at the family day on Saturday.

Anna said: "I’m really looking forward to being part of this year’s Festival of Learning, sharing tales from my adventures around the world.

"I’m just going to share stories and try to take everyone that’s in the audience and put them up that mountain with me, or on that trail and hopefully they’ll get a feel for what it’s like and get inspired to go out there and do something for themselves."

On Sunday July 9, the festival will head to Poole Quay with a variety of hands-on activities. Events will run throughout the day and evening.

Whether you want to find out more about the acoustics of nature, eating healthily in older age, crafting romantic love stories, or protecting yourself from financial scams, there’s an event for you.

Go to bournemouth.ac.uk/fol for more details or to book your free ticket.