Johnny Ball joins climate debate

Television science presenter Johnny Ball and environmental campaigner Tony Juniper are to debate climate change at a summit in Inverness.

Mr Ball, formerly a presenter on Play School for 17 years, has warned of scaremongering about the issue.

A former director of Friends of the Earth, Mr Juniper was the Green Party's candidate in Cambridge in the general election.

The men are to take part in the two-day climate summit in Inverness next month.

UHI, the prospective University of the Highlands and Islands, will hold the event in Eden Court.

James Fraser, UHI principal, said the summit would look at opposing views on the human race's role in global warming.

He said: "Most of us would agree that it certainly is happening, but many people are confused by the science and varied arguments.

"We are facilitating a debate to make clear these arguments."

UHI will also use the summit to demonstrate its research work.

Mr Ball told the Manchester Science Festival in 2007 that scaremongering about climate change was putting children off science at school.