"Everyday Science: food for thought" is the theme of the next festival, to be held on July 6-11.
And this theme will be far from abstract: some beer-tasting will be on offer, and festival visitors will be encouraged to explore many aspects of food science, including the science of curry.
Festival director Sue Clarke said members of the public often underestimated the amount of behind-the-scenes science and technology involved in producing and protecting food, and this was a chance to have fun and to learn a great deal more.
Among participants at the festival will be two high-profile overseas speakers, environmental scientist, adventurer and author Tim Jarvis and University of Otago medical graduate and plastic surgeon Andrew Greensmith, festival organisers announced yesterday.
Mr Jarvis has masters degrees in environmental science and environmental law, and this year was made a Member of the Order of Australia for services to environment, community and exploration.
His most recent expedition was a retracing of polar explorer Sir Douglas Mawson's journey of 1912-13 in the Antarctic.
The modern expedition used the same clothing, equipment and starvation rations as Mawson on a journey during which both of his colleagues died.
Mr Greensmith is based in Melbourne, and is a consultant at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, and the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.
He is well known for his recent work at the Royal Children's Hospital, involving the successful separation of conjoined twins Krishna and Trishna, from Bangladesh.
Festival president Mike Harte said the festival was the only one of its kind in New Zealand.
It allowed New Zealanders to participate in "informative and fun events" and to "explore real issues and hear first-hand from global experts", Mr Harte said.
New Zealand's only International Science Festival has developed, managed and produced six biennial festivals in Dunedin since 1998.
