From Spooky Skeletons to Medieval Curses ‘Samhain Agus Science’ Returns for 2024

The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) is hosting its annual science festival with a Celtic Halloween twist – Samhain agus Science. The festival brings together researchers from DIAS and around the world to make the scientific questions of our time and that of Celtic history relevant, accessible, and fun.

During the festival, researchers will explore everything from black holes to spooky space weather, how space spooks your skeleton, the whispering fin whales who sing off our coasts and Christian curses in medieval Ireland.

Beginning Wednesday, 30 October, ‘Samhain agus Science’ will run until 12 November. All events are free, geared for a general audience, and will take place at 7 pm in DIAS HQ, 10 Burlington Road with one event (12 Nov) in DIAS Geophysics 5 Merrion Square.

To register your attendance and book your place, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/samhain-agus-science-2024-3749889.

Speaking about the annual event, Dr Eucharia Meehan, CEO and Registrar of DIAS, said:

“This is such a unique festival bringing together our three schools of research – Celtic Studies, Theoretical Physics and Cosmic physics – capturing both the eerie strangeness of the universe and that of our own medieval past”.

Samhain Agus Science 2024 Programme of Events:

30 Oct: Primordial mountains and dancing giants: black holes in cosmic history.

Dr Syksy Räsänen, Senior Researcher, Theoretical Physics, University of Helsinki, will discuss the regions of space that are possible to enter but which you can never leave. Expect to learn about time travel, dark matter and the formation of galaxies.

4 Nov: Spooky Space Weather and the Halloween Storm

Dr Alexandra Ruth Fogg, Space Scientist at Dunsink Observatory (DIAS) will discuss the “winds”, “storms” and “rains” on earth which are caused by Space Weather. She will explore the famous Halloween space weather storm of 2003 and its impacts on human technology, the Northern and Southern lights, and images of the aurora as seen from Ireland.

5 Nov: Christian Curses in Medieval Ireland

Dr Jesse Patrick Harrington, research fellow at the School of Celtic Studies (DIAS) will delve into the rich traditions of Christian curses and their associated beliefs in medieval Europe and Ireland. Exploring why many of Ireland’s most prominent saints, including St. Patrick, St. Adomnán of Iona, and Dublin’s patron St. Lorcán Ó Tuathail, were celebrated or feared as champion cursers.

7 Nov: How Space Spooks Your Skeleton

Dr Lisa McNamee, a medical doctor with a special interest in aviation and space medicine, will share the impacts of the “alien” space environment on the human skeleton, how the body adapts and the learnings which can help us live more healthily on earth. Lisa is a nominee for the Women in STEM Rising Star Award 2024.

12 Nov: Fin Whale Whispers Beneath Your Feet

Dr Martin Möllhoff, Director of Seismic Networks (DIAS Geophysics), will be discussing Fin whales – the second largest animal on earth – who produce one of the loudest vocalisations. Martin will reveal how, in some coastal regions, whale song vibrations can be recorded with low-cost citizen science seismometers, helping encourage engagement with our marine environment and giving vital information on migration patterns and climate change.