'Science on the Streets' will uncover the city's best kept secrets including George Square's public measuring ruler, once an essential tool for fair trading using the so-called 'rules of thumb.'

The tour is being run by Dr Carol Trager-Cowan, a physicist at the University of Strathclyde, as part of National Science and Engineering Week.

She said: "Glasgow has an impressive scientific and industrial heritage, yet the city's contribution to the technology we take for granted is often forgotten.

"Science on the Streets is all about uncovering the secrets that lie on our doorsteps. We'll look at the stories behind the statues of James Watt and Thomas Graham in George Square, and recount a few of the more grizzly tales from Glasgow's rich history.

"If you know where to look, you'll see the city is peppered with reminders of our heritage in science and technology."

The tour includes a visit to the Ramshorn Church graveyard, for the story of the two scientists who attempted to resurrect an executed murderer using electric currents. The macabre experiment - similar ones were thought to be the inspiration behind Mary Shelley's Frankenstein - was a forerunner to defibrillation.

National Science and Engineering Week is a 10 day programme of events running throughout the UK organised by the British Association for the Advancement of Science.

Science on the Streets begins at 2pm from the South West Corner of George Square (opposite the Tourist Office). For more information, visit www.strath.ac.uk/nationalscienceweek

Related links:

Science at Strathclyde: http://www.strath.ac.uk/science/

Study Physics: http://phys.strath.ac.uk/