It would be difficult to over-estimate the countless benefits scientific and technological advancements have brought to the human race.

From the cure and prevention of deadly diseases to new and ever-increasingly sophisticated methods of catching out criminals, science plays a crucial role in the development and evolution of mankind.

But many of these developments have a dark side, a hidden danger which may only come to light after the damage has been done.

So says Professor Robert Winston, one of television’s most recognisable scientists, who will be coming to the British Science Festival in September to talk about his latest book, Bad Ideas? An Arresting History Of Our Inventions.

In his book, Professor Winston considers whether our reliance on science and technology will ultimately prove to be a rather dangerous situation for us to find ourselves in.

Speaking to the Telegraph & Argus, Professor Winston argued we need to become more scientifically-literate, more involved in the “science that we all own”.

He said: “The book describes how technology has greatly improved its power, but also, as we increase our knowledge, the technology we handle becomes more dangerous, so we have to find new ways of dealing with new issues.

“One of the big issues we are facing is climate change, which is produced by technology – we also have a huge range of issues with everything from an ageing population to the increasing risk of surveillance by people who own our privacy.

“We need much better science education and we need to be more involved in it.”

While the education system in this country is an obvious place to start when engaging people with science, events such as the British Science Festival also provides a platform to reach out to those maybe previously uninterested in the subject.

Professor Winston, a member of the council of the British Science Association, said: “The festival is an opportunity to do that. And I think it is an important message in the current time.

“There is a lack of education. Fairly basic scientific issues are not well-taught or well-understood by many people. I would certainly think the education system is not at its best when it comes to science in this country.

“There is a lack of investment, a lack of real commitment from the Government, inadequate teaching, inadequate schools, not very good premises for laboratories.”

With the current struggles on the public purse and a society which increasingly seems to retreat into a culture of celebrity when faced with real problems, you might think it could be draining encouraging people to take control of their science.

“On the contrary,” says Professor Winston, “I think it’s rather rewarding.”