Now in it’s 26th year, Science Week 2021 kicked off yesterday and runs until November 14th with the focus this year on “Creating Our Future, a national conversation between the general public, the research community and policy makers…”
Science Week 2021 aims to give the public inspiration for ideas for the Creating Our Future campaign by providing an opportunity to discuss and explore how science can contribute to a better future. It’s simple, organisers want you to tell them your idea for what scientists in Ireland should explore to create a better future and submissions will run until the end of November at www.creatingourfuture.ie.
Science Week Ireland is a week-long event every November, celebrating science in our everyday lives. The Science Week programme includes workshops, science shows, talks, laboratory demonstrations, science walks and other science-related events. It is a collaboration of events involving industry, colleges, schools, libraries, teachers, researchers and students throughout Ireland. Following on from an enforced virtual Science Week in 2020, the 2021 programme is adapting a hybrid model with most events taking place online with a number of events in collaboration with Creating Our Future due to take place in person, in full compliance with Covid-19 guidelines. All events are free to join but registration may be required.
So What’s Happening?
Do you want to discover more about the Asian elephants at Dublin Zoo? Find out about Space Explorers with EPIC Museum? Or maybe you want to discover more about your memory with Ginny Smith? These are just three of the shows available to watch during Science Week. All shows will be available with captions or an Irish sign language interpreter.
A sample of the Science Week events taking place and available to join online are:
- Science Week Live – Daily online show made by Gen Z (and Dr Niamh Shaw!) for Gen Z. This free live-streamed show will review and discuss all things Science Week! Monday 8th – Friday 12th November 5pm – 5:30pm.
- Phil Smyth Quiz – testing your science knowledge and giving away some fantastic prizes – Friday 12 November.
- Actually, it is Rocket Science with Dr Naomi Lavelle – Rocket technology is the science of future exploration, and this show has something for all rocket enthusiasts! You will learn how rockets work while making your own, with three different options provided in this step-by-step workshop. Monday 07 – Sunday 14 November.
- The role of STEM in caring for Asian elephants at Dublin Zoo – Meet the herd of Asian elephants at Dublin Zoo and discover how science plays a part in their care! You will receive a link to the video on Sunday 7 November that will be live for you to use until Monday 15 November.
This year there will be 14 Science Week Festivals taking place across the country in Cork, Cavan / Monaghan, Sligo, Galway, Limerick, Tipperary, Mayo, Wexford, Kilkenny, Kerry, Southeast, the Midlands, the Teagasc Festival of Farming and Food and BIAS: Inequality in Women’s Health and Research.
Hundreds of events are being held virtually and, in each county, nationwide to celebrate Science Week from the 7th to the 14th of November. The number of events means that there is something there for all ages and interests.
To find out exactly what’s going on in your area throughout the week and see how to get involved see go to www.scienceweek.ie. For a vast library of resources to bring Science Week to life in your classroom see SFI’s Science Week Resources page.
For more information, contact the Science Week team by email scienceweek@sfi.ie, subscribe to the Science Week newsletter or on their social channels: Follow #ScienceWeek online, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram