Bruce Hood, experimental psychologist, gave this year's Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, following in the footsteps of Michael Faraday, David Attenborough and Richard Dawkins.

Why does Science matter?
Science is the most important human activity without exception. All the problems that we are going to face in the future will require scientists to solve them whether it is population expansion, climate change, pandemics or travelling to a new world. The Christmas Lectures (and Science Festivals) have the potential to spark the imagination of the next generation of scientists who we will need to solve the problems our planet will face.

What sparked your imagination?
I was fascinated by the mind and the potential for supernatural powers such as moving objects and mindreading and I soon discovered that there was no reliable evidence for any of these paranormal abilities. Ironically, I have been studying the development of mindreading - not in any spooky supernatural way, but as part of our natural ability as an animal capable of working out what others are thinking.

You met Mark Miodownik (who gave the 2010 Christmas lecture) at last year's Science Festival. What did you talk about? 
He told me that doing the Christmas Lectures was a bit like getting married. You are the centre of attention but there are a whole lot of things going on around you that you have no idea of.

What is your talk about?

The structure, function and purpose of the human brain - or at least trying to give the children a taste of these areas. I want to show how the brain is a sophisticated biological computer that creates who we are. Some find such a notion almost inhumane as I am reducing the human experience to a machine but unless you believe in spirits then that is what I am saying. However, the brain is a very special kind of machine that has evolved to interact with other brains in a way that generates new creative thoughts. So in that sense, we are very unique and different to computers.

Alice Roberts is an anatomist, author and broadcaster, best known for presenting BBC2's Coast and the Incredible Human Journey. 

This year, I've been... trying to balance work and being a mum - not an easy trick, as every parent knows. I'm enjoying the immense privilege of watching someone develop in front of my eyes, whilst grappling with the challenges of looking after a very headstrong toddler!

I've also enjoyed working on two series for BBC 2: Origins of Us, on evolutionary anatomy, and a second series of Digging for Britain, looking at current British archaeology. 

This Autumn, I've been focusing on teaching, running the anatomy course for trainee surgeons in the Severn Deanery, in the northern half of the South West. I've also been to Siberia a couple of times this year, finally tracking down a recently discovered mammoth for a programme with the NHU.

If I could regenerate as anything... it would be a bird, probably a fulmar. I count myself lucky that I was born in an era and a country where we have access to clean water and medicine, but we can also do something more frivolous, perhaps flying. It's something that humans have always dreamt of, and it's wonderful, but I'd still like to experience it without the aid of a machine. Just imagine what it feels like to swoop along a cliff-edge, on the updraft!

My favourite science quote has to be... 'Life is a copiously branching bush, continually pruned by the grim reaper of extinction.' Steven Jay Gould. Such a great metaphor for Natural Selection, and makes you feel lucky to be alive - and not pruned, just yet.

My favourite science festival moment... was a few years ago: finally getting to see Beau Lotto's beautiful sunset in a glass bowl. Amazing!

Cheltenham Science Festival is... a unique cultural event which brings together scientists from every field imaginable, and people from all walks of life. It reminds us that science isn't separate from our culture and our society - it's part of it, and it's something to be celebrated. If that sounds a bit abstract, then Cheltenham Science Festival is also fun, inspiring, thought-provoking and something I look forward to every year.