Science ambassadors pull in to Turin on promotional bus

THE HEAT has been taking its toll on the six participants on board Ireland’s big purple science bus, which pulled into Turin, Italy, on Saturday.

It was wheeled into position outside the Euroscience Open Forum (ESOF) conference centre and, within minutes, the curious were arriving to see what it was all about. The bus set out from Dublin on June 20th and celebrates Dublin’s selection as City of Science and host for the 2012 ESOF meeting. It has visited Liverpool, Brussels, Amsterdam and now Turin, and the trip continues with stops in Toulouse and Barcelona before the adventure is over.

The challenge, however, is coping with the continental weather. Temperatures were pushing 35 degrees outside but the bus’s upper deck was even hotter as the travellers, Michelle Dunne, Ellen Byrne, Dara Boland, Caitríona Geraghty, Ronan Lyne and Martin McKenna showed visiting junior minister for science Conor Lenihan around their temporary “office”.

A portable air conditioner failed to cool the sweltering bus. Mr Lyne, studying neuroscience at Trinity College Dublin, said he would happily do the trip again “but this time I would insist on better air conditioning”.

The planners for the 2012 event, led by the Government’s chief scientific adviser, Prof Patrick Cunningham, dreamt up the idea of fitting out a double decker, putting young science ambassadors on board and spreading the word about the ESOF meeting and the touristic delights of Dublin.

Funding for the expedition comes from the Discover Science and Engineering (DSE) science awareness programme, from Dublin City, Fáilte Ireland and Prof Cunningham’s office. It carries the simple message, “Dublin is a good place to do science”, said DSE director Peter Brabazon.

Mr Lenihan described Dublin’s City of Science win as “hugely important”. It would bring 7,000-8,000 scientists and visitors to Dublin, allowing scientists here to showcase their research.

Ms Dunne, a teacher at St Joseph’s, in Lucan, described the trip as an “incredible experience”. All the participants got on really well, said Ms Byrne, who has a pharmacology degree and works as a science communicator.

Mr Boland described the trip as "brilliant so far". He has just completed studies at DCU. Ms Geraghty has a business degree and works with Engineers Ireland, and makes the bus accessible to visitors. Mr McKenna is the media specialist on board, having served as the editor of Trinity News.

Follow the City of Science bus on www.dublinscience2012.ie