Science Week to make a nationwide splash with hundreds of events on theme of ‘Water: From Molecule to Ocean’

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, has announced details of Science Week 2026, the theme of which is ‘Water: From Molecule to Ocean’.

Coordinated annually by Research Ireland and running this year from November 8th-15th with hundreds of events nationwide, Science Week encourages everyone to think more about and celebrate science in our everyday lives. The initiative directly engages an audience of approximately 200,000 people each year through in-person events and online engagement.

Announcing funding to support 43 Science Week festivals and events around the country, Minister Lawless said: “Science Week has become a much-loved part of our national calendar, giving people of all ages the opportunity to be curious, ask questions and dive into the science behind the world around us. This year’s theme captures that spirit of discovery perfectly. As an island nation, water shapes much of our landscape and many of our communities. I’m delighted to support this year’s Science Week programme with €960,830 in departmental funding, helping to bring fascinating activities to communities across the country.”

This year’s theme of Water is an invitation to look afresh at the substance that connects every aspect of life on Earth. We drink it, depend on it and are surrounded by it, yet water is far more than something that falls from the sky or flows from the tap. For Science Week 2026, Research Ireland is encouraging people to explore water – from the remarkable behaviour of a single molecule to the power of oceans, rivers and wetlands. It shapes our climate, sustains biodiversity, grows our food, supports our health and carries stories of our landscapes, communities and planet. Science Week will reflect on how water supports life, how climate change is altering the water systems we rely on, and how science can help us protect this vital shared resource for the future.

Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, CEO of Research Ireland, said: “Science Week is an opportunity each year for a national, intergenerational conversation on a topic of relevance to research and innovation. Water is both simple and complex, connecting so many aspects of our lives, from our health and the environment to energy, technology, and beyond. Understanding water better can help us make more informed choices about how we consume and conserve this vital resource today, tomorrow and beyond. As the national research and innovation development agency, Research Ireland is delighted to lead the discussion, and looks forward to the broad and busy schedule of Science Week activities planned around the country.”

Among the highlights of Science Week 2026 will be Ice Sculpture Installations by celebrated sculptor, Daniel Doyle; WATERLICHT ‘Dream landscape about the power and poetry of water’ by artist, Daan Roosegarde; North Dublin Science Festival – an inaugural celebration led by DCU; Chemistry UnCORKed, led by UCC School of Chemistry; Ripple Effect – a new cross-county Science Week Festival in Leitrim & Roscommon; Finn Valley Science Festival – an inclusive, accessible and calm festival in Donegal; and Midlands Science Festival, spanning counties Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath.

Dr Ruth Freeman, Director of Research for Society at Research Ireland, said: “Science Week takes big scientific ideas and brings them into communities in ways that feel simple, relevant and engaging. The range of events and festivals inspired by this year’s theme does exactly that. The annual success and impact of Science Week is due to the energy and commitment of the people who bring it to life in cities, towns and villages. Across Ireland, organisers, researchers and volunteers will create opportunities for people to encounter science in new ways, and to see how research directly connects with the challenges and opportunities facing society.”

Visit www.scienceweek.ie for downloadable resources and more information on how to get involved in Science Week 2026.

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