Up to 5,000 visitors attended the annual Science Fair at IT Sligo, yesterday. The event was the official launch event of Science Week Ireland 2011.
One of the largest, free events for families in the North West, the 12th annual Science Fair at the Institute was officially launched by Mayor of Sligo, Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady.
Mayor O’Grady said the Science Fair is one of the ‘most exciting and early anticipated educational events in the North West’.
“The Science Fair is a colourful, entertaining and dynamic celebration of science and learning, it takes education to a new and exciting level and the crowds it attracts year after year is an indication of its enduring popularity,” she said.
Peter Brabazon, Director of Discover Science and Engineering which co- ordinates Science Week said ” Science Week is now a an important national initiative to promote a stronger take-up of STEM subjects which both help us better manage the world around us, and take up critical new job opportunities. The Science Fair is a brilliant example of what Science Week is all about and we are delighted to see the national kick off of Science Week here in IT Sligo.”
Science Week continues at IT Sligo all week with nightly, public lectures. Victoria Stevens, a lecturer at the School of Science who organised this year’s Science Week lectures, says that the programme has very broad appeal thanks to a particularly exciting line – up of high profile, internationally recognised speakers, who are all leading scientists in their fields.
On Tuesday, November 15th, Professor Margaret Cox will outline how DNA has helped to identify the remains of 110 soldiers who perished in World War 1 near the village of Fromelle in northern France – and who until recently lay undiscovered in a mass grave.
On Thursday, November 17th ‘The Hunt for Alien Life’ will be examined in a lecture by award-winning speaker, Dr. Lewis Dartnell who works in the field of Astrobiology in the Department of Planetary Sciences in the University of London, UK.
A lecture by Professor Billy O’Connor on Monday, November 14th about the workings of the brain, with a special focus on Alzheimer’s disease, will have particular resonance given the high incidence of this disease in Ireland.
Also on the agenda during the week will be an illuminating lecture about “Drugs in Sport” by Dr Cathy McHugh from Sligo General Hospital (Wednesday, November 16th) and a talk about “The re-introduction of Irish Birds of Prey” by Lorcan O’Toole of the Golden Eagle Trust (Friday, November 18th).
Dr Jeremy Bird, head of the School of Science at IT Sligo, pointed out that science is a popular option at the Institute. “We are very proud of how Science Week has evolved and how the event provides an opportunity for the community to engage with a range of international experts on such topical subjects,” he said.
