100 FREE SCIENCE FESTIVAL EVENTS
Science festival, WexSci, has a power-packed programme of more than 100 free events over two weeks. Simon Bourke reports
THIS year’s WexSci Wexford Science Festival will run from November 10 to 24 and promises to be a celebration of science, technology, engineering, arts and maths for people of all ages and interests. The festival has grown from a Science Showcase event into a full two-week festival offering free public engagement events, open days, workshops, talks, shows and tours. And this year there will be over 100 free science events for people to attend. Among those events will be several shows discussing and examining climate change and biodiversity and, on November 14, a series of environmentally focused talks for adults and students will take place throughout the county.
Wexford Library will host a climate action discussion with Dr Cara Augustenborg, Dr Karl Richards and Dr Jonathan Derham; in New Ross Library Olivia Hall will focus on the health of our drinking water; Hugh Feeley will be at Enniscorthy Library to discuss the health of Ireland’s rivers and lakes; and an information evening will take place in Bunclody Library with Stephanie Long from the EPA on radon gas in North County Wexford.
Also featuring will be artists Anne Cleary and Denis Connolly. Their work focuses on the science of looking and they have spent several years developing a set of helmets which allow users to see the world through new eyes, including those of a hammerhead shark, a horse, and a chameleon.
For over a decade Anne and Denis have been building multidisciplinary art and science projects in partnership with world class arts and science institutions in Ireland, France, Britain, Germany and the US.
Those interested in hearing them speak about their work can meet them at the Wexford Science Café on November 12 in the Sky and the Ground and again for a lecture and demonstration at the National Opera House on November 16.
In addition, there will be other opportunities to interact with the artist’s metaperceptual helmets during the interactive tours at Wexford County Council, Carricklawn on November 14 and 15.
A number of events catering for children and families will take place during the two weeks, many of them in local communities and schools. The highlight event for families and young people will be the Science Showcase open day at the Wexford County Council, Carricklawn which takes place on Saturday, November 16.
This year the Science Showcase will be staged across three locations: The Street at Wexford County Council, Carricklawn for family fun science events; from the National Opera House where you will hear lectures from renowned scientists Dr Niamh Shaw and Dr Sabina Brennan and artists Ann Cleary and Denis Connolly; and from Wexford Library where Brendan Wallace will present a demonstration and discussion on particles and will make the invisible visible.
Discussing the importance of the festival and the opportunities it will present to those attending the events, County Librarian Eileen Morrissey said, ‘This year’s Science Festival will feature some of the best national and international scientists and researchers, and people in County Wexford will get the opportunity to talk with scientists in many disciplines. There will be plenty of opportunities for families, adults and young people to get involved in science workshops and experience STEAM in action.’
Booking details can be found on www.wexfordsciencefestival.ie