SCIENCE WEEK IRELAND: It isn't too often you get a chance to eat baked maggots but the formal launch of Science Week Ireland presented just such an opportunity. Also available for the brave and curious who attended the event at the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin was the chance to talk to an astronaut and tickle a tarantula.
The Tánaiste, Ms Harney, yesterday declared Science Week Ireland officially under way, but surprisingly declined an opportunity to join in the festivities by handling the visiting Chile Rose tarantula. Nor did she see fit to sample the baked maggots.
Now in its sixth year, Science Week Ireland runs until November 17th and offers more than 200 lectures, presentations and shows, all aimed at making science both fun and understandable. It includes science fairs and "Sunday Fundays" suited to the entire family, with events running in centres across the State.
"The purpose of the week is to heighten awareness among the population at large but particularly young people," Ms Harney said. "If we want to have an innovative society we have to introduce science at an early stage, in primary school."
The events during the week are designed to help people understand science and stimulate an interest in the sciences. It is an attempt to stem the decline in the numbers taking science courses at Leaving and third-level, she added.
Among the invited guests was an enthusiastic group of pupils from Ballykeelis national school, Wexford. When the Tánaiste asked why they were at the launch, one bright spark replied: "To get off school," before another student offered the more politically correct response: "To learn about science."
Ms Harney also asked them about the new primary science curriculum which was introduced this year.
One pupil was able to explain in clear terms how electricity was produced, an answer which had the Minister with direct responsibility for science policy retreating to her planned talk.
The eight-legged beastie arrived courtesy of "The Big Bug Show", a hands-on showpiece event hosted by Mr Lee Gibbs. He also encouraged pupils and media alike to sample his baked maggots, which, for the record, taste something like a potato crisp gone wrong.
His show is one of three special events lined up for Science Week Ireland by organisers, the Science, Technology and Innovation Awareness Programme, which is operated by Forfás.
The other two include the Belfast-based W5 "Science is Magic" travelling road show and the Shell Pit Stop Challenge, which uses a Formula 1 Ferrari to help explain the science behind race cars.
Also on hand is another STI Awareness Programme guest, NASA astronaut, Lieut Col Greg H. Johnson.
He will make presentations and answer questions about manned space flight at a number of venues during the week. He praised the contribution of teachers in encouraging pupils to enjoy science. "Teachers change the world one child at a time," he said.