What do 3D-printed prosthetics, digital magic tricks, and the guilty conscience of your dog have in common? They were all science topics at this year’s Lancaster and Morecambe Pint of Science talks.

Returning after last year’s success, Lancaster University’s Faculty of Science and Technology produced a new round of engaging science talks in local venues from May 19 to 21, bringing researchers out of their labs and into the pub.

This year’s programme started with additive manufacturing, perhaps more commonly known as 3D printing. Professor Allan Rennie from the School of Engineering, led the way at Lancaster City Museum to go behind the media hype and reveal a reality where 3D printing is no longer solely about developing prototypes, but revolutionising industries from engineering to medicine to art.

Then, from the School of Engineering, Chris Lambert and Tom Abram showed off their ‘Touch & See’ project, which uses 3D printing to turn paintings into tactile experiences for visually impaired museum-goers. The results are beautiful, intricate lithophanes - translucent images that can be felt as much as seen and are now installed in museums across the northwest.

Dr John Hardy, from the Department of Chemistry, discussed a future where 3D printers use living cells instead of plastic. Bioprinting is at the cutting edge of medical technology, offering hope for personalised implants and tissue regeneration. However, such technologies do not come without risk. Dr John Appleby closed the evening by examining some of the ethical dilemmas that we face as these new technologies become more practical and available.

The following day, it was mathematics that took centre stage at The Gregson Centre with three speakers from the School of Mathematical Sciences. The art of keeping secrets and the evolution of cryptography was the centre of Dr Jessica Jay’s talk as she took the audience on a tour through the history and future of digital privacy, explaining how everything from state secrets to the love letters of Victorian adulterers have used maths to protect themselves.

Dr Henry Moss demystified artificial intelligence by revealing the surprisingly simple maths behind the complex algorithms used by Amazon and Netflix to make their recommendations to customers, and Dr Dan Fretwell followed with a mathematically inspired magic trick that explained how your corrupted computer files get fixed before you even notice.

The event moved to the Mazuma Stadium in Morecambe for the final night on Wednesday, and the topic turned to the animal kingdom. Dr Clara Muniz-Diez from the Psychology Department explored the inner workings of animal minds. She posed questions including why do some birds mimic the sound of camera shutters, and is that look your dog gives you when you catch him eating your dinner really a sign of guilt? Lancaster Environment Centre’s Dr Rucha Karkarey delved into how behavioural shifts in animals can offer early warnings of ecological stress, long before populations crash, and Dr Jared Piazza also from the Psychology Department, posed an uncomfortable question to the audience - why do we care more about some animals than others?

Dr Dan Fretwell said of the experience of taking part: “Pint of Science gave me the wonderful opportunity to communicate cool and fascinating ideas from a subject that I love to an audience that was equally passionate to learn about them. What’s not to love about this? It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience all round and I’m already looking forward to next year’s event!”

Chris Lambert also mentioned the benefits for researchers in taking part: “Participating in Pint of Science was an enjoyable experience, providing our team with the opportunity to engage with a completely different audience. It was great to be part of this global movement, promoting our research with members of the local community.”

Organiser, Neil Morrison, Faculty of Science and Technology Research and Engagement Officer said: “It was a fantastic week where hard science was discussed in a relatable way that could be understood by the entire audience. The three events together attracted over 100 people, and it was a tribute to the skill of the presenters that all of them went home engaged and entertained.”