The British Association for the Advancement of Science has agreed to hold its 2005 Festival of Science in Dublin. The event, which ranks as one of the world's leading scientific meetings, will be based at Trinity College Dublin.
The decision was confirmed yesterday by the chief executive of the association, Dr Peter Briggs, after receipt of a letter from Trinity College accepting the association's invitation to host the meeting. The association and Trinity will now begin a long process of organising for the event which includes a week long programme of public lectures plus a separate full programme for secondary school pupils.
The association meeting now underway at the University of Leicester is the 165th festival to be held. Its aim is to bring leading scientific researchers to a single venue where the public can hear about their work and discoveries. These meetings have over the years been used to announce important new findings and research breakthroughs.
It provides a wonderful opportunity for the public to learn about directions in science but also to be entertained by its lighter side.
The association's decision was influenced by representations made by this reporter who asked that they consider such a move.
As a result representatives of the association agreed to travel to Dublin last February where meetings were arranged with the then minister of state at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr Noel Treacy, and the Office for Science and Technology. Separate meetings were held with the Royal Irish Academy, the Royal Dublin Society, and with The Irish Times which has agreed to serve as media partner for the 2005 meeting.
Dr Briggs, yesterday expressed delight at Trinity's decision to host the meeting and the association's return to Dublin. Its last meeting in the Republic was in Dublin in 1957.
"It is a great opportunity for the BA," he told The Irish Times. "We are looking forward to going. All the feedback we are getting is we would be very welcome in Dublin.
"In a sense it is taking the BA into Europe. There has to be a role in the wider European context for the BA."
The Provost of Trinity College, Dr John Hegarty, also expressed satisfaction about the decision.
"I am very excited at the prospect of the British Association Festival of Science coming to Ireland and Trinity College in 2005," he said.
"It is a marvellous event full of the excitement of discovery and full of fun.
"It will play a big part in renewing the interest in science among our young people and in showing how science is as much about culture as it is the basis by which we will sustain ourselves economically and environmentally in the future," he added. It had been nearly 50 years since it was last in Dublin.
"It is great to see it come back to a country that has matured in every way and leapt ahead in so many respects."