Mary Beith Memorial Lecture. Ethnobotanical researcher Anna Canning describes Highland folk medicine and its varied treatments, and modern insights on its approaches.

Bill Graham of the T-Exchange makerspace describes how 3D printing offers a dramatically new route to manufacturing and recycling materials. He will show some new designs of printers for home and community use – and for some serious production.

Liz Ashworth discusses the wonders of heritage potatoes with Richard Shearer: how they developed and how to cook them

Glue, surgical materials, industrial polymers – examples of all of these have been developed by copying from the natural world, as Dr John Ramshaw from the University of Melbourne explains.

They already make biofuels and washing powder for us and, says Marcus Price of Edinburgh University, with modified genes they can make much more – for instance converting waste water or plant matter into energy or raw materials for industry.

A key role in the discovery of gravitational waves was played by Prof. Ron Drever – whose great-grandparents came from Papay. His brother Prof. Ian Drever tells about the man, and Prof. Martin Hendry of Glasgow University the work, while Patricia Long sets the family history scene.

See bubble shapes and find how to make giant colourful bubbles – and tubes! Philip Noble is a scientifically trained visual artist who has given bubble shows in over 20 countries. Something for the whole family.

Take the 5.45 pm ferry from Stromness to Hoy to hear about traditional Orkney boatbuilding from Dennis Davidson and Len Wilson. Plus stargazing (weather permitting), and supper as well. Admission free. Friday evening ferry from Stromness 5.45 pm, back from Moaness in Hoy 10 pm, details from Orkney Ferries 01856

It’s a great river in the sea, bringing warmth from the Gulf of Mexico to Orkney winters, and circulating heat to cold Arctic waters through vast undersea chimneys. Prof. Peter Wadhams tells its story, and Martin Gray adds some examples of items it has carried to Orkney beaches.

Sandra Henry and Kevin Heath explore the seabed of the Flow to tell the story of the scuttling and salvage of the German High Seas Fleet and look at the seven remaining ships, and show the results of the recent surveys of the Vanguard, the Hampshire and the Royal Oak.