Trowbridge doctor Stuart Farrimond has launched a global science magazine he hopes will make the subject accessible to everyone.

Dr Farrimond, who lectures part-time in health and social care at Wiltshire College, launched the first issue of the internet-based Guru magazine this month, with contributions from writers from the USA, South Africa and the UK.

The 29-year-old is a former practising doctor at Royal United Hospital in Bath, but after discovering a brain tumour in March 2008 which left him with epilepsy, he went into teaching.

His experience was the inspiration for the magazine.

Dr Farrimond said: “I couldn’t go back to work and, after about 18 months, I found work in lecturing at Wiltshire College. I loved it.

“I found it very rewarding when I was able to make science an interesting subject for the students and not one many had traditionally seen as dull and complicated.

“I took that idea and started writing an internet blog, which became popular with around 5,000 to 10,000 hits per month.

“A lot of the science that you can read that’s currently on the shelves can be dry and heavy and so the idea to form the magazine was born.

“There is nothing out there like Guru. We’re combining the best from science, technology and lifestyle publications and pulling them altogether into a magazine that we believe has something for everyone.”

The magazine is published monthly and is available on tablet devices such as iPads and smartphones, and at www.gurumagazine.org.

It is not the first time attempts have been made to make science more accessible. Brian Cox, former keyboard player for 1990s pop band D:Ream, went on to become a particle physicist and fronts BBC science shows.

Dr Farrimond, of Polebarn Road, has enlisted the support of friends Sarah Joy, a graphic designer, and Ben Veal, a communications professional, to make the project a reality. The pilot issue in June was downloaded by more than 6,000 people.

Contributors to the next edition include American artist Michele Banks, whose science-themed work focuses on cells, bacteria and the human anatomy.

There will also be an item from South African broadcaster and radio presenter Daryl Ilbury, looking at scientific scepticism; and US psychology expert Dr Kim Lacey, on the inner workings of the human mind.

Dr Farrimond said: “A lot of people are turned off when they hear the word ‘science’, but really, by its very nature, science is interesting to most people.

“It’s the way our bodies work, what makes us tick, what goes in our food and the way technology works.”