70 free events for children, adults, families at this year’s Wexford Science Festival programme

Wexford’s world-renowned Opera House, its many libraries, primary and secondary schools, several community centres, the county’s SETU campus, the Seal Rescue Centre and a rugby club are among the venues for this year’s Wexford Science Festival which runs from November 7 to 17 and includes over 70 free events…

Booking is now open and pre-registration is essential for many of this year’s events, all of which are brought to the public by CALMAST at SETU, with support from Research Ireland. This year’s Wexford Science Festival theme is ‘Regeneration’ and the extended programme of events showcases just how relevant science is in our everyday lives and busts the myth that science, technology, engineering and maths are boring and difficult to understand.

Among the many highlights on this year’s programme, all of which can be viewed on www.wexfordsciencefestival.ie are an empowering and joyful Circus Skills Workshop at Wexford Opera House exploring the science of balance and coordination! Participants will explore a variety of circus skills such as juggling, hooping, and balancing.

Another workshop, this one in Clonroche Community Centre, invites participants to play a dice rolling game emulating the journey of a CO2 molecule. Participants will learn the intricate nature of how our earth works so efficiently to keep life as we know it in balance.

Families will delight in the free tours of the Seal Rescue Centre will begin with a short introduction to Ireland’s iconic seal species; their fascinating life history, behaviours and the threats they face in modern oceans. Visitors will also learn all about the rescue and rehabilitation process and enjoy a guided tour of the facility, with the chance to meet some of the adorable seal pups in care there.

Professor Conor Murphy plays a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of climate change through his research in hydro-climatology and historical climatology. With Ireland facing unique challenges due to its geographical and climatic characteristics, Conor emphasises in his lecture at Gorey Library the critical importance of informed climate predictions for effective adaptation strategies.

Wexford Science Festival-goers are also invited to discover the symbiotic relationship between our behaviours and the health of nature and the environment around us as well as the transformative power of 3D printing technology and its role in promoting sustainability at another event.

Eoin Gill, CALMAST Co-Founder and Co-Director said the Wexford Science Festival programme and theme evolves each year to meet scientific advances, topical subjects and general interest among school groups, families, adults and the wider general public.

“Science Week is a week-long event in Ireland each November, celebrating science in our everyday lives. Science Week includes a wide variety of events involving industry, colleges, schools, libraries, teachers, researchers and students throughout Ireland.

“Wexford Science Festival is the regional celebration of national Science Week offering a range of opportunities for the public to engage with STEM. Each year, the festival brings top scientists and science presenters from Ireland and abroad to local communities right across Wexford and this year’s events are hosted in a variety of accessible locations, from a direct provision centre to Wexford Opera House to libraries and our very own Seal Rescue Centre. Places are limited at lots of events and we’d encourage the public to book now, secure their place,” Eoin Gill added.