The Bealtaine Festival of Outdoor Science is celebrating its seventh birthday this year, with outdoor events for all ages.

The festival last year was chosen by the Guardian newspaper as being one of the top ten worldwide events for International Biodiversity day. Over 2,500 people participated in the week-long festival held in the south-east of Ireland, and this number is expected to be even higher for 2011.

The festival is a partnership between visitor centres and organisations in the south-east of Ireland interested in promoting science outdoors and is particularly designed for young people. Partners include the Coppere Coast Geopark, the National Biodiversity Data Collection Centre, Waterford City and County Councils, hill walking clubs and Lismore Heritage.

Over 30 events will be held during the week, including guided woodland walks, learning to identify birds with experts, build mosaics on the beach with renewable materials, building birdboxes, and finding out about our native trees, bats, insects and landscape.

Bealtaine offers a chance to experience the practical side of science, to get out into the fresh air with leading experts in archaeology, zoology, ecology and other environmental sciences.

A special feature this year is an exhibition on loan from the RDS on seismology, which will be accompanied on 13 May by an interactive presentation from the Dublin Institute of Advanced studies explaining earthquakes, how they are measured and Ireland’s contribution to this science.

The festival is co-ordinated by CALMAST, the centre for the promotion of science, maths, engineering and technology in Ireland. IThe directors of CALMAST – Eoin Gill and Dr Sheila Donegan are the Irish recipients of the EU Descartes Award for Science Communication.

Visit the Bealtaine Festival website for details of events for primary schools, secondary students and members of the public.

There will also be a number of junior science workshops for 5 to 7-year-olds. The junior science activities will include: science painting, mixing and separating colours, investigating natural indicators and more.

Workshop dates

Colourful Chemistry workshops ( 7 – 12 yrs)

• April 18    Zion Parish Hall, Rathgar
• April 19    Portmarnock Community School
• April 19    Dundalk Grammar School, Dundalk
• April 20    Navan
• April 20    Lifetime Lab, Cork
• April 21    Leixlip, Co. Kildare
• April 26    Ashford, Co. Wicklow
• April 27    Rathmichael School, Shankill
• April 28    Thurles
• April 29    IT Tallaght, Dublin 24

Camps run from 10amto 4pm  and cost  €60 per child

Junior Science workshops (5 – 7 yrs)

• April 18    Zion Parish Hall, Rathgar
• April 19    Portmarnock Community School
• April 20    Lifetime Lab, CorkApril 21    Leixlip, Co. Kildare
• April 27    Ashford, Co. Wicklow

Camps run from 10am to 2pm and cost  €40 per child

Click here to view the embedded video.

One of the biggest events during the year will be the Euroscience Open Forum in July 2012. Over 8,000 scientists and public policy officials are expected to attend this international conference at the recently opened Convention Centre.

Learn more

For updates on what’s happening, check out more at the DublinScience2012.ie website

The organisers aim to screen a collection of science films during Dublin’s time as European City of Science in 2012. They are seeking the approval of the EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF), the organisation which designates the city of science and organises the biennial international science meeting.

“My interest in the film festival wasn’t to have science fiction or documentaries about science but more about the scientific process, what these people [scientists] are doing or thinking about,” Professor Des Fitzgerald, vice-president for research at UCD, told the Irish Times.

Professor Fitzgerald says he expects the films to run in Dublin city-centre venues as well as UCD’s new science centre at Belfield. UCD hopes to partner with a New York-based science film festival in running the event.

Learn more

Visit the European City of Science website

It was one of the most successful Science Weeks to date, with 505 events taking place throughout the week, a 12% increase from 449 events in 2009.

Peter Brabazon, Programme Director of Discover Science & Engineering, said: “Science Week 2010 has been a great success and it’s fantastic to see the rise in popularity this year.

“The increased student numbers and record attendance at Science Week also points to the growing popularity of science, technology, engineering and maths among young people.

“I would like to thank everyone who got involved with Science Week this year which wouldn’t be possible without the enthusiasm and support of the volunteers and partners.”

Higher science uptake

Coinciding with Science Week, a Higher Education Authority report on CAO acceptance statistics showed positive figures for science, computing and engineering courses, with computing and engineering acceptance rates remaining stable.

Science acceptances increased in 2009/10 to 10.3% of all acceptances and have remained stable in 2010/11 at 10.2%. This is the highest rate of acceptance in the past decade.

The final official Science Week event took place on Saturday 21 November with the Galway Science and Technology Exhibition at the Bailey Allen Hall of NUI Galway. The event was opened by Maire Geoghan-Quinn, EU Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, and featured 3D Tours of the Universe, science entertainment shows and workshops for students.

Science Snaps

Two national competitions took place during Science Week. In the Science Snaps national photography competition, Bernard Dunne came first in the General Public category for his image “Science Leaps”.

First place in the Senior Cycle Category went to Sinead O’Neill from St Flannan’s College, Ennis, Co Clare, for her image “An Eye for Nano Science”. Katie Riordan, a student of Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig, Cork, was awarded first place in the Junior Cycle Category for her image “Coloured Transpiration”.

View a gallery of all of the photo entries on Pix.ie.

Science Raps

Hosted by DSE and the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre of University College Cork, the Science Raps competition challenged students to unleash their inner rapper and express themselves and their thoughts about science and technology through rap music.

Students were asked to compose and video a rap on this year’s Science Week theme, “Our Place in Space”. Rory O’Connor from Fermoy, Co Cork, was awarded first place in the over-17 category for his creative rap entitled “E=MC Rory”.

The first prize in the 16 and under category went to Catherine Finn from Clondalkin, Dublin, for her effort “The Universal Rap” which struck a chord with judges for her clever use of rap music to express her thoughts about science.  View the Science Raps entries on YouTube

About Science Week

The aim of Science Week is to promote the relevance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in our everyday lives and to demonstrate the importance of these disciplines to the future development of Irish society and the economy.

Science Week Ireland is organised by Discover Science & Engineering, the Government’s integrated programme for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) awareness and promotion.

Further information on Science Week 2010 is available on the Science Week website.

The fair at the RDS in Dublin provides an opportunity for students from 120 primary schools to display their class projects, and runs in parallel with the annual BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition.

The number of stands available at next January’s exhibition has increased from 100 to 120, so more schools will have an opportunity to participate.

The fair is open to students in fourth, fifth and sixth class in the Republic of Ireland and Key Stage 2 in Northern Ireland.

Schools interested in exhibiting a project at the fair should submit an “expression of interest” through the online form available on the RDS website.

The deadline for submitting an expression of interest is 5pm on Monday 8 November 2010.

Learn more

For the latest updates, check the RDS website. You can also email primarysciencefair[at]rds[dot]ie or telephone 01 240 7990

The public lectures include how a young woman invented an exciting new silicone product called Sugru, a look at threats from space by the astronomer who discovered pulsars, science versus “Moon hoax” conspiracy theories, and a scientific guide to a Saturday night.

‘The Story of Sugru’

Jane Ni Dhulchaointigh
Friday, 12 November, 1pm
Venue: Science Gallery, TCD

Click here to view the embedded video.

Jane Ni Dhulchaointigh is an artist, inventor, avid DIYer, hater of waste and believer in creativity. Jane’s ambition was to create something that everyone could use to fix or adapt mass produced products to make them work better.

So she came up with a new silicone material product called Sugru (from the Irish word for “play”) that has been described as the best invention since Sellotape.

In her Science Week lecture, Jane will tell the story of Sugru and how she brought  it from an idea to reality – through a long and winding road of creativity, science, collaboration, experimentation and learning.

Before inventing Sugru, Jane studied product design at the Royal College of Art in London, and sculpture at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin.

‘Did we really Land on the Moon?’

Dr Martin A. Hendry
Wednesday, 10 November, 1pm
Venue: Science Gallery, TCD

More than 40 years after Apollo 11 there are many theories in books, TV documentaries and the internet that Neil Armstrong’s famous “One small step” was an elaborate hoax, filmed in secret back on Earth.

Conspiracy theorists point to a range of “evidence” to support their claim – including waving flags, strange shadows, no stars in the sky and deadly solar radiation.

In this talk, using real Apollo video footage and a series of simple demonstrations, physics and astronomy lecturer Martin Hendry will look at the science behind “Moon hoax” claims, and asks whether we really did land on the Moon.

‘Saturday Night Science’

Dr Graeme Jones
Thursday, 11 November, 1pm
Venue: Science Gallery, TCD

Can reaction dynamics explain that boy meets girl moment? Can studying spectroscopy turn you into a John Travolta on the dance floor? Can chemistry help you get a boyfriend/girlfriend?

Come along to this scientific guide to a Saturday night and find out where you might be going wrong.

Dr Graeme Jones is chemical ecologist who has a passion for public science. In 2002 he led the team that built the model of DNA in Stoke that broke the Guinness World Record. He works with massive molecular models the size of houses, displaying and parading them at festivals and carnivals, including the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

This lecture is suitable for audiences aged 16 and over.

‘Will the world end in 2012?’

Professor Jocelyn Bell Burnell
Friday 12 November 2010, 7pm
Venue: Burke Theatre, Trinity College Dublin

Professor Jocelyn Bell Burnell is a science legend. While she was studying for a PhD in radio astronomy she discovered pulsars, opening up a new branch of astrophysics.

Dr Bell Burnell’s Science Week talk will examine the threats from space and explain how much truth there is in the suggestions that killer asteroids, lethal solar flares or the black hole at the centre of the Milky Way (for example) could cause the end of the Earth.

How to book

Book tickets for the lecture with Jocelyn Bell through the RIA website

Book through the http://www.sciencegallery.com for the lectures by Dr Martin Hendry, Dr Graeme Jones and Jane Ni Dhulchaointigh.

Ths year is International Year of Biodiversity, and the festival runs from National Dawn Chorus Day on Sunday 16 May to International Day for Biological Diversity on Saturday 22 May.

The events are taking place in a wide range of venues, including Waterford IT and local nature reserves, heritage centres, libraries and wildlife parks.

Guest speaker

This year’s special guest speaker is Professor Liam Dolan, Sherardian Professor of Botany at the University of Oxford.

He will give a talk to senior cycle students about the evolution of life and in particular plant life. Professor Dolan will explain how his research in studying plant development has led to a greater understanding of how plants work.

He will also outline how these discoveries may lead to the development of plants that could grow in less fertile soils, in turn helping help feed the Earth’s growing population.

Learn more

Find out details of events in the festival at LivingEarth.ie

Event location

St Pius National School,
Fortfield Park,
Terenure,
Dublin 6W.

Contact

Contact the Brigins and Cygnets Templeogue Troops by email or check out their site.



The DCU Summer Scholars taster day will take place in the DCU Business School on Saturday 27 February from 2pm to 4:30pm. All are welcome.

Learn more

Read more about the summer school in our news section

For more details email summerscholars[at]dcu[dot]ie or check out the DCU site