New RTÉ Radio 1 series “Bright Sparks” starts this Sunday

Bright Sparks is an eight–part science documentary series for RTÉ Radio 1 starting this Sunday at 7pm. The programme will be presented by physicist Professor Shane Bergin from Trinity College Dublin. 

Prof. Bergin says of the series: “Scientists are curious people who wish to explore the world around them. Their ideas are sparked by shared conversations. Bright Sparks invites you to listen in on those conversations and understand the root of ideas, discovery, invention and how science works.”

Throughout the series, Prof. Bergin meets the men and women who are leading scientific research in Ireland. He also discovers how Irish science and innovation are changing how we live. He explores how these ideas are shaping how we combat disease, face climate change, develop new technologies and how we uncover the mysteries of the universe.

In 2013, the leading international science monitor, Nature Publishers, marked Ireland as one of the top five countries, globally, to watch in terms of scientific research.
However, less than two years later over 1,000 Irish researchers signed an open letter to the Government, authored by neuroscientist Professor Kevin Mitchell, where he made the case for increased long term state funding, saying: “Without investment in long-term, fundamental research there will be no discoveries to capitalise on.”

Bright Sparks questions what drives scientific research in Ireland, who decides what is funded and what impact does it have, not only in Ireland, but also in the world.

The series explores how Irish researchers and their work is tackling contemporary issues, from climate change, antibiotic resistance to the future of food and solutions for dementia, cancer and motor neurone disease.

Prof. Bergin looks at the impact that Irish scientific research is having on our lives, from his own field, nanotechnology with industry leader Professor Jonathan Coleman, to robots designed to care for the elderly and disabled in their homes with Trinity engineer Conor McGinn.

The series goes from cutting edge space materials with Sinead McGlynn from Clonmel based Enbio to breakthrough biomedical devices, like Dr. Anne Moore’s malaria vaccination patch, that puts Ireland as a global leader in the fight against disease and illness.

Prof. Bergin meets some of Ireland’s most accomplished scientists including astrophysicists Peter Gallagher and Creidhe O’Sullivan, geneticists Emma Teeling and Aoife McLysaght, immunologists Luke O’Neill and Paul Moynagh, and neuroscientists Richard Roche and Geraldine Boylan to discover the importance of curiosity in solving the challenges of our world and in shaping a better one.

Tune in: RTÉ Radio 1, 7 – 8pm, Sunday May 24^th – Sunday July 12^th 2015 or visit www.brightsparksradio.ie for more information.