THE SCIENCE of bugs, bubbles, balloons and bats will be on display next week as Science Week Ireland gets under way. The emphasis will be on fun, but with an educational twist, given science’s importance to Ireland’s economic development.
Details of the 13th annual science week were announced yesterday in Dublin by Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation Conor Lenihan.
He visited St Pius X Boys National School in Terenure where the pupils were shown how the appliance of science can help solve crimes.
This year’s event ranks as one of the busiest yet with more than 400 events planned at venues around the State. About 90,000, children and adults are expected to visit events or participate in the presentations and lectures taking place between November 8th-15th.
While the emphasis is decidedly on the more entertaining aspects of science, Science Week has an important contribution to make, Mr Lenihan said after the launch.
“It is a highly important event. The future in terms of employment here will be dependent on science, technology, maths and engineering.” The events taking place showed these subjects in a positive light, he said.
“By showing the relevance of these subjects to their everyday lives with fun activities like the science of the circus and magic mathworks, we will be able to instill a sense of curiosity in young people and form the foundations of a Smart Economy.”
There is plenty on offer, including chemistry and engineering shows, access to university and company laboratories and access to planetarium shows.
The Institute of Technology Sligo will have talks about the wildlife to be found in back gardens, an opportunity to see the science of circus by learning juggling and the chance to build a flying machine.
Mr Bug will be making his rounds accompanied by his team of snakes, stick insects, cockroaches and tarantulas in Galway but also other venues.
The “It Takes Guts” interactive show will play at Cork City Hall, and the Blackrock Observatory has planned a number of events including night-time star gazing.
Details of what is on offer is available at www.scienceweek.ie
