Irish Research Council shines a light on curious questions for Science Week

To mark Science Week 2018, the Irish Research Council has commissioned a light projection show at Barnardo’s Square, Dame Street, Dublin 2. The light show will showcase the work of researchers funded by the Irish Research Council, who are contributing to new understandings of the world.

The show will go live on 12 November 2018 and will be visible every evening from 6pm to midnight until Friday 16 November. Projected from the adjacent Dublin City Hall, the show will be visible on the side of the well-known Dublin City Council building on Barnardo’s Square.

The light show features 12 questions inspired by current research being conducted by Irish Research Council awardees under the Laureate Awards Programme. It aims to spark public interest and curiosity; and show how research has an impact on people’s everyday lives. Some of the questions included are:

What causes schizophrenia?
How does the brain control what we eat?
Can lack of sleep lead to heart disease?
Who were the passage tomb people?
Can climate change lead to violence?
Why does the mind wander?

Announcing details of the light projections, Peter Brown, Director of the Irish Research, said: “We are always delighted to profile and champion the great work of funded researchers and Science Week is the perfect opportunity to do this.

“We often take discoveries, knowledge, cures and preventions for granted without considering the years of work that happen behind the scene. By shining a spotlight on some of the research conducted by our awardees, we hope to develop new understandings of our world and encourage the public to think about how research has had a positive influence on their own lives.”