• Have a STEMtastic time with Live Shows in the Circus Big and Little Top Tents, Real Scientists on Stilts, a Pop-up Planetarium, the Futuristic ARC (Aquaculture Remote Classroom), a 40 Foot Inflatable Walkthrough Digestive System, for those who have the guts to go inside. 
  • Little discoveries will be equally as thrilling as families get to try their hand at controlling mini robots, extracting DNA and spotting the microscopic critters that dwell in a single drop of river water

The full-scale programme of events was unveiled today for the highly anticipated Cork Carnival of Science, which takes place on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th June 2022.

This FREE 2-day family fun STEM festival will see Cork’s Fitzgerald’s Park transformed overnight into the largest science wonderland in the country for one unmissable weekend. Cork Carnival of Science is supported by Cork City Council and Science Foundation Ireland and organised by the Lifetime Lab @ Old Cork Waterworks.

The public are invited to explore, investigate, experiment, and discover the wonders of science throughout this 12-acre pop-up science super park from 11am to 6pm daily, with more than 45 different science-based activities to enjoy.

Festival highlights include a packed line-up of live demonstrations, Big Top seated shows, hands on workshops and family-friendly experiments. Headlining the Big Top, Little Top and Live Stage will be ‘Mark the Science Guy’ from RTE's science show ‘Let’s Find Out’, Science Magic from Belfast’s W5, Eureka from Edinburgh and Phil Smyth from Simply Science. Seated shows in the Big Top are on the half hour starting at 11.30am and the Little Top every hour from 12pm. An outdoor show taking place on ‘The River Stage’ between 12.230pm and 4.30pm will introduce Professor Plunger who is ready to show off his greatest invention yet- his hair.  All live shows are approx. 35-45 minutes in duration.  Also taking place throughout the day, walk about performances will pop up all around the park from Number Ninjas with Professor Tony Baloney, Dr. Ken with his Suitcase of Science, Bubbly Maths antics with Bubbles the clown and Science on Stilts by Circus 250.

A plethora of workshops and interactive stands will be mapped out along routes including ‘Exploration Avenue’, ‘Innovation Way’ and ‘Discovery Drive’.

Hands-on workshops will offer the chance try out a broad variety of science-based tasks, everything from extracting DNA, to soldering a flashing badge, checking out the inner workings of robots, making your own battery or hand sanitiser, explore mechanics and engineering through Lego, sampling computer workshops and learning about photonics.

Younger children will love the interactive dinosaur experience by Dino’s Down Under, the mini petting zoo featuring lizards, snakes, spiders, owls, frogs by Animal Roadshow, a LearnIT Lego-building station, and of course everyone will relish the chance to take a journey into space via the ‘Stardome’ inflatable planetarium by the Blackrock Castle Observatory!

Interactive stands will also be provided by leaders in the science engagement field and professional research bodies including Lifetime Lab, Analog Devices, UCC Chemistry, UCC Virtual Labs, UCC School of BEES, UCC Brainwaves, Munster Technological University, Tyndall, Fota Wildlife Park, IPIC, Calmast, APC Microbiome Ireland, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, ICRAID, Vistamilk, SSPC, Ireland’s Fossil Heritage, Lismore Heritage Education, Cork Sports Partnership and more. All the exhibitors are looking forward to encouraging more people to consider a career in science!

Dr Ruth Freeman, Director of Science for Society in Science Foundation Ireland, commented: “SFI is delighted to support the Cork Carnival of Science festival which promises unique opportunities to get up close and personal with all types of science from physics to chemistry, biology and more. If you know a curious young person who loves animals, nature, outer-space, dinosaurs or magic, there will be something of interest to bring science to life. The event will also highlight the important role of women in science and hopefully inspire more girls to consider a career in research.”

New for this year, Cork City Council’s Active Zone will feature all the fun of the laws of physics with facilitated sports activities by Cork Sports Partnership, the FAI and IRFU.

Adding to the festival atmosphere at the Cork Carnival of Science will be live trad music on the Local Live Performance Stage. This is funded by the Local Live Performance Programming Scheme, supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. And with street cuisine, picnic benches, toilet facilities, a gigantic playground, extensive gardens, the Cork Public Museum and Café all on site it truly makes for the ultimate family day out!

Accessibility is a key focus to ensure enjoyment for all, and in consultation with the Deaf Community in Cork provisions have been made by Cork Carnival of Science to ensure sign language interpretation is available at live show performances and for ad hoc requests.

Make sure to get your hands on the festival brochure on arrival, which includes a colourful map of Fitzgerald’s Park with all the festival attractions laid out alongside the key what, where and when details of shows, workshops, and demonstrations to check out throughout the weekend.

For more details see here or stay tuned to social media updates from @corkcitycouncilofficial.