Scientific Secrets of Edinburgh and Glasgow: Places to explore, cafes to discover

For a small nation, Scotland has provided an impressively large contribution to the development of science. In fact, a detailed presentation of its scientific achievements could not be performed within the limits of a short guide. This work has been written as a taster and it is hoped that it will provide you with the impetus to further research a fascinating subject. The author has lived in both Edinburgh and Glasgow for almost half his life and loves travelling and writing about science. While on trips he also enjoys seeking out hidden cafes that help him relax and digest his new discoveries. This compact scientific guide to Edinburgh and Glasgow combines all the above passions. It introduces you to lesser known aspects of the history of science, such as the Scottish astronomer who was the first to measure the distance to a star, and at the same time takes you to where famous scientists that shaped our modern understanding were born and flourished. It also recommends museums with scientific themes, planetariums and star observatories. For each site introduced, a nearby cafe is suggested as one of the author's favourites. A map is provided on the companion website (https://mysciencewalks.com) with the locations of all cafes and places of interest. If you are a keen traveller, with an interest in science and also enjoy a good cup of coffee, this guide is definitely for you.