Teagasc is hosting a series of exciting events for Science Week (November 11-18) as part of ‘The Festival of Farming and Food – SFI Science Week at Teagasc’. Many of Teagasc’s research centres around the country will open their doors for school and college visits, where students will get to perform hands-on experiments and find out about careers in STEM. Teagasc will also host three events for the general public – two in Dublin and one in Kilkenny.
Margie McCarthy, Interim Director Innovation and Education, Science Foundation Ireland said: “We know from research we’ve carried out that about half the Irish population feel uninformed about science, technology and engineering but that more than half are interested in these areas. Science Week is not only aimed at engaging and informing the public but also to normalise science in our everyday lives and creating a long-lasting appetite for science culture. The SFI Science Week funding allows us to support and invest in quality events that will take place across the country and allow us to reach as wide and as diverse an audience as possible”.
Catriona Boyle, Teagasc’s Science Communication and Outreach Officer said: “Teagasc is delighted to be one of 12 regional festivals to receive funding from Science Foundation Ireland for its Science Week Festivals programme in 2018. Attendees will learn about a wide variety of topics and how they apply to their everyday lives including food for health, food product development and improvement, food safety, sustainability of animal and plant production, healthy soils & biodiversity and the development of rural areas”.
60 Minute Science
Well known presenter Rick O’Shea, RTÉ, brings his inimitable style of hosting to the ‘60 Minute Science’ event at the Kilkenny River Court Hotel on Thursday, November 15 at 7.30pm.
The event celebrates local science in Kilkenny with speakers from Costello’s Brewing Company (Beer magic), The School of Food (Scobys, starters and more…), Glanbia (Why small is beautiful), Teagasc (Think before you tidy), and Cartoon Saloon (Bringing food to life). Audience participation is encouraged! Music is provided by the Hot 3 jazz band. Reserve your free ticket today on EventBrite.
A Slice of Science
‘A Slice of Science’ takes place at Teagasc Ashtown Research Centre on Thursday, November 15th (4-8pm). At this open evening meet some of the Teagasc researchers in food, horticulture and spatial science. How do we use all our senses to relate to food? How clean are your hands? What makes a good steak? What insects are bad for plants? What exactly is gluten? You will also see the invisible world revealed by satellite images and a food 3-D printer in action! Researchers will be there to talk to you about their work, and there will be an opportunity to participate in hands-on experiments, as well as live music from the in-house band ‘The First Authors’. Reserve your free ticket today on Eventbrite.
Plant Power
This year Teagasc and the OPW are organising a series of events for both school pupils and the general public at the National Botanic Gardens on Tuesday, 13th November (12.30-3.30pm). The event theme is “the importance of plant breeding in sustainable food production”. Come along and take part in interactive lab sessions, learn about local sustainable food production and have the unique opportunity to visit the National Herbarium which is not usually open to the public, and contains a collection of more than half a million dried and documented plant specimens from Ireland and the rest of the world. The OPW will provide walking tours of the National Botanic Gardens throughout the week. Pre-booking is required for groups. (Tel: 01 857 0909; 01 804 0319).
Events for Schools and Colleges
Science Week at Johnstown Castle
Teagasc Johnstown Castle in County Wexford opens its doors to primary and secondary school students from Monday, 12th to Saturday, 17th of November. Activities will include a tour of the Johnstown castle facilities and get a look at the work of some of our scientists. A meet and greet with some of the farm animals and an SFI sponsored “Hack your Brain” exhibition with interactive demonstrations and amazing experiments. Johnstown Castle researchers will also participate in WexSci Science Showcase at Wexford County Council, Carricklawn, Wexford on Saturday, 17th November.
Healthy animals, healthy food
November 13th & 14th Teagasc, Grange, Co. Meath is hosting primary school students from the locality as well as from the Trinity Access Programme and secondary school students from local schools. This event will explain the importance of healthy animals and the link to healthy food.
Farming and new technologies in food science
Tuesday 13th November Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork opens its doors to secondary school students to show how the role of new technologies in food science is being incorporated into modern agricultural techniques.
Cereal Science – Crafting your food and drink
Tuesday, 13th November Teagasc, Oak Park Crops Research Centre, Co. Carlow will host second and third-level students. The event will be focused on the science behind cereal production, from finding varieties better suited to the Irish climate to crafting the perfect pint. Talks and demonstrations will cover aspects of agronomy, biotechnology and processing.
How does science help us?
Wednesday, 14th November Teagasc, Mellows Campus, Athenry, Co. Galway opens its research centre to students from local secondary schools. Demonstrations and exhibits on display will include animal science, sheep breeds and grassland research.
I’m a Scientist, Get me out of Here
This is an online outreach competition for scientists, where school students are the judges and it’s taking place from 6th to 17th November at https://imascientist.ie/. Teagasc researchers who will be participating in the competition this year are: William McCarthy and Karen O Neill (Environmental Care Zone) and Kieran Meade (Genes Zone).
Spilling the Guts on Performance
Ireland’s leading gut health institute, APC Microbiome Ireland, is hosting a public forum “Spilling the Guts on Performance” as part of Cork Science Week on Monday, 12th November in Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork. Through a unique line up of expert speakers, including scientists, nutritionists and leading sports stars, the event will explain how to enhance fitness, performance and health through exercise and diet. Dr. Orla O’Sullivan, a computational biologist at Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, and APC Microbiome Ireland will speak about her research on the roles of exercise, fitness and diet, specifically whey protein, on the human gut microbiome both in elite athletes and non-athlete groups.
The ‘Festival of Farming and Food – SFI Science Week at Teagasc’ is kindly sponsored by Science Foundation Ireland as part of the Science Week Festivals programme and organised by Teagasc, the Agriculture and Food Development Authority. All events are free, however, pre-booking is required.
For more information on all of Teagasc’s Science Week events click here: www.teagasc.ie/scienceweek or on www.sfi.ie. #stopandask #believeinscience #scienceweek
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