A LINE-UP of creative and compelling events including this year’s Essex Book Festival are taking place across the county next month.

Essex 2020, the county’s largest celebration of everything scientific and creative, is holding a number of events throughout March.

Over the year there will be more than 365 science, technology, engineering, art and maths (STEAM) focused events and activities.

The events are designed to break down barriers to science and engineering and appeal to people of all ages in every corner of Essex.

This year’s Essex Book Festival is running from February 29 until March 31.

As part of the event there will be an immersive-audio performance by Wet Sounds at Riverside Leisure Centre in Chelmsford between February 28 and March 1.

On March 3, people will be able to hear from organisations already taking part in Essex 2020, at Stansted Airport College, before guests are able to find out about ethics and sources of power and control at Transition in Chelmsford.

Quantum physicist, author and presenter of BBC Radio 4 programme, The Life Scientific, Jim Al-Khalili, will talk about his debut novel Sunfall at Anglia Ruskin University in Chelmsford also on March 3 before a climate change presentation at The Hexagon, in Colchester on March 6.

On March 8, a family-friendly day of craft workshops will be held at Civic Theatre in Chelmsford and International Women’s Day can be celebrated with Siobhan Nicholas’ critically acclaimed play Stella at Cramphorn Theatre in Chelmsford.

Dr Who’s robotic dog will be discussed at Cramphorn Theatre on March 11, Mat Irvine will reveal his wealth of facts about his time in the BBC’s visual effects department at the theatre on March 12.

To find out more about Essex 2020, visit essex2020.com.