Science Week Celebrates 30 Years with €850,000 Funding Boost

Science Week, an annual celebration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), is set to mark its 30th anniversary from **November 9 to 16, 2023**, across Ireland. This year, the event features **36 projects** that have collectively secured nearly **€850,000** in funding from the Ministry of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

Dr Ruth Freeman, the Director of Research for Society at Research Ireland, emphasized the significance of this milestone. “For 30 years, Science Week has been sparking curiosity and bringing people together through science,” she stated. The anniversary theme, **“Then. Today. Tomorrow.”**, invites participants to reflect on past achievements and envision future possibilities for individuals, families, communities, and the planet.

Funding and Notable Projects

Among the funded initiatives, the **Sligo Science Festival** has received **€50,000** to host a science fair day at Atlantic Technological University. The festival will include science shows, workshops, demonstrations, and talks designed to engage attendees of all ages.

The **Midlands Science Festival**, covering counties Offaly, Laois, Longford, and Westmeath, also secured **€50,000**. It aims to highlight scientific inquiry through a music concert, events exploring the science of nature, and a teddy bear hospital. Additionally, both the **Limerick Festival of Science** and the **Wexford Science Festival** will each receive **€50,000**, while the **Kerry Science Festival** has been allocated **€36,000** for its activities.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, **James Lawless, TD**, remarked, “Science Week is now a key event across Ireland, connecting people with science through engaging activities. I encourage everyone to get involved and attend one of the many events happening around the country this Science Week.”

Exciting Events and Activities

Among the highlighted events, internationally acclaimed artist **Luke Jerram** will showcase his installation **“Museum of the Moon”** at Dublin’s Merrion Square from **November 13 to 15**. This seven-metre illuminated sphere features detailed imagery of the lunar surface sourced from NASA. Jerram expressed, “There’s something truly special about bringing it to Dublin to mark such a milestone for Science Week. It’s about inspiring wonder – and seeing our shared world from a new perspective.”

In Cork, the spectacle theatre company **Macnas** will premiere at the Marina Market on **November 9**, presenting a vibrant story about biodiversity loss through drummers, stilt walkers, and puppets. Meanwhile, **Rosemary Coogan**, a Belfast-born astronaut with the European Space Agency (ESA), will participate in an event titled **“Baking in Space”** at Dundalk’s An Táin Arts Centre on **November 9**, sharing insights about cooking in zero gravity and her journey as an astronaut.

In Dublin, the **Let’s Talk Science Festival 2025**, organized by the Rediscovery Centre, will host an all-day event on **November 8**. This event will offer hands-on activities, science shows, and exhibits to engage the public in a fun atmosphere.

Cork will also host a dedicated **SpaceFest** featuring performances, workshops, and exhibitions. Highlights include a private tour of the University College Cork’s **Crawford Observatory** on **November 11** and a panel discussion on queer identity and experience in STEM the following day.

On **November 12**, **Iftikhar Umrani**, a PhD scholar at South East Technological University’s Walton Institute, will deliver a talk titled **“Drones in Everyday Life – Promise, Potential, and Protection”** at the Clonmel Library in Tipperary. Umrani is developing AI-driven methods for secure drone operations, which are increasingly transforming daily life by assisting farmers and facilitating package deliveries.

Another notable event, **“Light Laboratory: Optical Science past, present, future,”** will showcase the principles of optical science in Cork next weekend. The **Irish Astronomical Society** is organizing a moongazing event on **November 12** in Dublin, alongside an astronomy watch in Waterford on the same day.

As Science Week approaches, the wealth of activities promises to engage and inspire audiences nationwide, continuing its three-decade legacy of making science accessible and exciting for all.