Science Week promises to be fun

Tedious old science takes on a more exciting look as Science Week Ireland gets under way this weekend in towns and cities all over the Republic. White coats, formulae and the strange lingo will give way to a week of events meant to convince even the sceptic that science can indeed be a byword for fun.

Science Week Ireland runs from November 11-18th and includes more than 150 presentations, talks, displays and family events.

The presenter of BBC television's Tomorrow's World, Peter Snow, was in Dublin yesterday to help launch the week's activities. He was introduced by the Minister of State for Science Technology and Commerce, Mr Noel Treacy and the chief executive of Forfβs, Mr John Travers.

The launch took place amidst the remarkable collection of bones, stuffed animals and preserved insects housed in the Natural History Museum on Merrion Square. Many children got their first and often most enjoyable exposure to science amongst the displays in the museum, Mr Travers pointed out.

Science Week Ireland represented the main opportunity each year in which to "celebrate" science, Mr Treacy said, but the Republic was unfortunately slow to recognise the many successes in Irish science and technology.

He mentioned Prof Ernest T.S. Walton, the Republic's only Nobel science laureate. "Science Week Ireland gives us an opportunity to remember and celebrate his success and that of other Irish people in science over the centuries."

Mr Snow, originally from Dublin, is best known here for his involvement in Tomorrow's World. The week would help people to understand that "science is fun", he said. Children today were far more aware of science and how it affected their lives than were their grandparents. The best part of his work with Tomorrow's World had been seeing the "enthusiasm and fascination of young people with science".

It was therefore essential that science be made "more understandable, clearer and more exciting. That is why Science Week Ireland is so important."

There is something for everyone during the week with family events but also more formal evening lectures. All provide real science but in ordinary language that can be understood by anyone.

There will be lively chemistry presentations for children featuring exploding custard and many local libraries will be staging "mad science workshops" for children. The conservation studios at the National Museum will open to the public and speakers such as the film-maker, Eamon de BuitlΘar will be talking about their work.

Those looking for something different might like to build a "bat box" to encourage these night time visitors to nest and there is a talk on the science behind the hangover.

Details of the events taking place as part of Science Week Ireland can be found on the web site: http://www.science.ie