Science Week 2020 launches with hundreds of virtual events taking place

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, TD, today joined Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) to launch Science Week 2020, a national celebration of science with hundreds of virtual events taking place. Running from 8-15 November, Science Week provides people across the country with the opportunity to ask questions, explore the science behind our everyday lives, and consider the future we want and the role science can play in helping us create and understand our shared future.

This year marks the 25th-anniversary celebrations of Science Week, with events for all ages taking place, whether it is exploring the wonder of space from Arranmore island or an interactive family-friendly science day in Ballyhoura.

This year the theme for Science Week is Choosing our Future, focusing on how science can improve our lives today and in the future. For Science Week 2020, SFI wants to start a conversation on how science can positively impact our collective futures and help us shape the Ireland we want to live in. The public will be asked to share their views during Science Week 2020 through a series of formats.

Launching Science Week 2020, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, TD, said: “Science, technology, engineering and maths all play a huge role in our everyday lives and in our economy, that has never been clearer than during the past few months as we respond to Covid-19. Science Week is an opportunity for us all to engage with the science all around us and have informed conversations about our shared ambitions for our future.

I am encouraging people across the country to get involved in Science Week 2020, by joining one of the hundreds of virtual events and festivals taking place. Although we cannot join in person this year, I hope this year’s virtual Science Week will see science celebrated in every corner of Ireland.”

Dr Ruth Freeman, Director of Science for Society, Science Foundation Ireland said: “This year, Science Week aims to support conversations amongst the public about what they want the future of Ireland to look like, and how science can and should support the hope we have for our collective future. Throughout Science Week we will be looking for the public to get involved, to share their views and join one of the hundreds of virtual events taking place this year.

As we mark the 25th anniversary of Science Week, we are delighted to bring a fantastic variety of events to the public in a virtual capacity, so wherever you are, there are opportunities to discover, create and engage with science. I want to thank all the organisers for developing some really creative ideas this year and hope that people of all ages get involved and join the conversation on what science can do today and for our shared future.”

Most Science Week 2020 events will take place online and are free to join, but registration may be required. A number of events are due to take place in person, in full compliance with Covid-19 guidelines. A sample of the Science Week events taking place and available to join online are:

— Baking in Space virtual opportunity to join Andrew Smyth, aerospace engineer and Great British Bake-Off finalist and scientist, performer and explorer, Dr Niamh Shaw on a gastronomic journey into orbit. The event will be taking place live online the 8th, 11th and 15th of November.

— Tech Scéal will bring together families to explore science and engineering through a series of workshops involving robotics, electronics, coding and e-textiles culminating in an online virtual exhibition.

— A collection of entertaining workshops for Primary and Secondary Schools to bring into their classroom, including an exploration of our senses with Ginny Smith, scientific illusions with Dr Matt Pritchard and aerodynamic discoveries with Go Fly Your Kite.

— A special Family Day on Saturday 14th November where we will be streaming interactive events and workshops on ScienceWeek.ie, including a live quiz with Phil Symth (RTE’s Home School Hub) and an interactive session with Mark the Science Guy (Explorium) to build your own Rube Goldberg machine at home.

— The Mirror Trap: The Mirror Trap is a short immersive scientific experience about psychology and quantum physics on Saturday 14th at 19:30.

This year there will be 13 Science Week Festivals taking place across the country in Cork, Cavan / Monaghan, Sligo, Galway, Limerick, Tipperary, Mayo, Wexford, Kilkenny, Kerry, south-east and the midlands. Hundreds of events are being held virtually and, in each county, nationwide to celebrate Science Week from the 8th to the 15th of November. The number of events means that there is something there for all ages and interests.

For a full list of the thrilling science shows, workshops and talks across the country, visit the Science Week website www.scienceweek.ie.