In this edition: We get ready for the Festival by taking a talk quiz, building a mini Theremin, and hearing some scientific spoken word poetry.

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News: Pre-Incan waterways and analysing incinerators – We hear how 1400-year-old methods of water management could boost supplies during Peru's dry season, and how exposure to municipal waste incinerators has no link infant death or reduced foetal growth.

Talking about talks – The Great Exhibition Road Festival will host 30+ free public talks across the weekend. We hear about the range of panel discussions from top players in their fields, including predictions for the fashion of tomorrow.

The sound of circuits – Visitors at the Festival will get the chance to build their own mini-theremin – an electronic touchless musical instrument invented in 1920. Ahead of the drop-in workshops, we get our hands on one of the electronic instruments and learn what makes it sing.

Spoken-word scientist – As well as doing science, Festival-goers will get to meet researchers and hear about their everyday lives. We get a preview from a sustainability researcher who is also an award-winning poet, and find out how her two passions collide.

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The podcast is presented by Gareth Mitchell, a lecturer on Imperial's MSc Science Communication course and the presenter of Click Radio on the BBC World Service, with contributions from our roving reporters in the Research Communications group.