Home » Sligo Science Festival Goes Virtual in Face of Covid

Sligo Science Festival Goes Virtual in Face of Covid

November 4, 2020

Sligo Science Festival is back and this year it’s all happening online with an exciting new approach and impressive line-up. The event titled “Science at the Forefront”, supported by Science Foundation Ireland and AbbVie, will run from November 8th – 15^th. This year the Festival has launched its virtual venue at www.sligosciencefestival.ie and is packed with talks, performances and demonstrations that will entertain and inform all age groups.

The week-long festival will explore a wide range of subjects starting on Sunday the 8th of November at 12pm with the Annual Science Fair sponsored by AbbVie. This year the event is a virtual family event explaining science in a fun . The Annual Science Fair will include a wide range of performances, interactive displays and demonstrations for all the family to enjoy. Experiments, Discovery and lots of fun guaranteed for both children and adults. Families are encouraged to book their space on some of the many workshops via the Sligo Science Festival Website.

The Virtual Sligo Science Fair is this Sunday between 12 noon and 5pm

Please note you need to book tickets for all activities via our website www.sligosciencefestival.ie

Bookings are open now and will remain open until 20 mins before each event takes place.

Bookings are limited so, book early to avoid disappointment!

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Darren Egan, Site Director AbbVie Manorhamilton Road said: “Society is facing great challenges and the need to inspire future generations to become involved in science-based innovation has never been greater. This important event has been growing year-on-year and AbbVie are delighted to support it.”

Throughout the week there will be many talks, tours and workshops for all ages. Of course this year Science is all about the pandemic and the Sligo Science Festival has attracted some big names including; Prof Luke O’Neill an immunologist who has become a household name this year.

The festival also includes an interactive session with Dr Michael Ryan, Executive Director of the World Health Organisation Health Emergencies Programme. Dr Ryan is a native of Sligo and is leading the team responsible for the international containment and treatment of COVID-19.

Professor Adrian Hill is another big name in this years line-up. Prof Hill is Director of the Jenner Institute at Oxford University. Recently the Jenner Institute has initiated a major effort towards rapid development of a COVID-19 vaccine. A clinical trial of which he is the Oxford principal investigator is in progress. He has published 600 research papers with over 68,000 citations and co-founded several vaccine companies. Prof Hill with address secondary schools on how vaccines for COVID-19 are being trialled and tested.

Dr Jerry Bird, Head of Faculty of Engineering says the event will be better than ever:

“For the first time the Science Festival is forced online but we can assure everyone we will deliver a very exciting and entertaining virtual experience. This year we have secured some incredible names in the world of science. These inspiring speakers are some of the leading experts at the frontline of the fight against Covid and will be a unique experience for young people of the region to ask questions from the worlds leading experts.”

For those who wish to get away from all mentions of Covid there is plenty more on offer including some recent revelations at the Carrowkeel Passage Tomb Complex by IT Sligo lecturer, Sam Moore.

And from the ancient to the future; Professor Christopher Riley explores how countries and private companies are looking to return to the moon for the first time in decades.

LIST OF EVENTS:

· Monday 9th Nov – Mysterious Microbes