Engineers are fantastic – they are the people who change the world. Engineers put a man on the moon, develop the internet, build skyscrapers, rebuild bodies … and so much more.

Hay Festival programme

The Festival, held between 23 May–2 June, is a celebration of the power of great ideas to transform our way of thinking, bringing together writers, scientists and business figures from around the world to debate and share stories surrounded by the beautiful Welsh landscapes around the town of Hay-on-Wye. Currently in its 26th year, the event features illustrious speakers from a variety of backgrounds, including Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt, writer Will Self and Nobel Prize-winning geneticist, John Sulston.

Professor Welland's talk will give an introduction to the development and progress of nanotechnology, and an expectation of what it can do – from miniaturisation of mobile phone technology to the understanding and treatment of human diseases. His talk is on Friday 24 May at 4pm in Google’s Big Tent.

Dr Minshall will talk about the role of engineers in changing the world – from sending a man to the moon to developing the internet, from building skyscrapers to rebuilding bodies. This is part of his mission to change people’s – and, in particular, children’s – perceptions of engineers by explaining the critical role they play in our current and future lives. It will be held on Sunday 2 June at 11.30am at the Sky Arts Studio.

The talks are part of the ‘Cambridge Series’ which is now in its fifth year at the Hay Festival and showcases the huge breadth of subjects studied at the University.