The scientists are coming! Carbon nanotubes, quark-gluon plasmas and exotic nuclei are on the agenda. I can hardly wait.

Actually I'd rather have a ticket to Robbie Williams - or even Andy Williams - than listen to a bunch of eggheads enthusing about quantum field theory at the Brighton Centre.

Or at least that's how I felt until I spoke to Dr Alice Bows.

It seems I, like millions of others, don't appreciate the importance - and the fun - of physics.

However, the 1,500 scientists arriving in Brighton tomorrow are hoping to change that.

They are attending the Physics Congress, a conference-cum-roadshow scientific showcase.

Leading scientists and physicists will present new research, hold policy meetings and discuss issues most of us can't even pronounce.

But, amid the baffling intricacies of pure and applied physics, there are fascinating facts to learn and hands-on opportunities for the general public.

The Congress boasts the world's largest mobile planetarium.

Visitors can solder their own electronic gadgets and pit their wits against a series of puzzles and scientific marvels.

Dr Bows, spokeswoman for the congress, said: "In the past, physics has been thought of as dull but the congress gives people the chance to investigate and try things for themselves.

"Yes, it's a showcase for developments in physics but it is also an opportunity for the Institute of Physics to bring the fun and importance of physics to the widest possible audience.

"Obviously the scientific conferences are at a particular level but it isn't all like that."

One man who puts the 'phun' into physics is Bob Ward, who bills himself as 'a freelance scientific communicator'. Among his Physics, Phacts and Phun are how to use your hair to produce voltage and the link between magnetism, electricity and rock 'n' roll.

To get the congress off to an informal start, there's a treasure hunt on Brighton beach - no knowledge of physics required.

Then there are three days of Free Fun with Physics. Events include:

*l How the Universe got its Spots. Janna Levin, from the University of Cambridge, will examine the idea that the universe may be finite. She will also explain concepts like black holes, time warps, invisible strings and chaotic flows.

Dr Bill Vennart, from Pfizer Global Research, will unravel the mystery of the human body. He will show how medical physics is used in diagnosis and treatment.

Dr Hugh Hunt, from Cambridge University, will take visitors on a guided tour of the mysteries of spinning objects, from tops and tennis balls to planets and electrons.

Flooding, storms and droughts will be discussed at Climate Change - the Myth and the Reality. A panel of speakers from the Government, industry and the scientific community will debate the issue.

Howard Watson, from the Institute of Physics will introduce visitors to the Nobel Prize winners whose ground-breaking scientific discoveries and achievements changed the world.

The 'boffins' part of the conference includes eight scientific meetings.

On the agenda are next-generation atom-smashers and Europe's biggest condensed matter physics debate, covering applications like medicine, power and communication.

Professor David Wark, from the University of Sussex will be delivering a paper on neutrinos, which are setting new challenges for physicists.

If you, like me, have never heard of neutrinos, they are among the most baffling forms of known matter in the universe - extremely light particles from space which can pass straight through the earth, making them difficult to study.

Speakers at the seminar on structural failures and crash worthiness will discuss how research reflects on recent events, including train and car crashes and the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre.

Participants will also hear how whiplash in car accidents can be reduced by 75 per cent.

Another seminar will examine the physics behind speech recognition.

As electronic devices and security systems improve, the use of speech recognition is likely to increase - if a cash machine doesn't like the sound of you, you won't get any money.

The congress' aim is to encourage young adults on to what are classed as 'unfashionable' courses.

The congress will hear calls for a new degree which is more accessible to those without the mathematical expertise currently required.

There is also a student poster competition, talks from award-winning student lecturers and a young physicist evening, including a '60 second lecture' competition.

Fore more information, contact Laura Pearson at the Institute of Physics on 0207 470 4800 or visit the web site at congress.iop.org