20 July 2021: Minister Simon Harris, T.D., Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and Dr. Ruth Freeman, Science Foundation Ireland officially opened The Festival of Curiosity 2021 today.

The Festival of Curiosity is Dublin’s annual international festival of science, arts, design and technology. The festival programme will appear in its ninth year in a digital format for people of all ages to explore and discover science, arts, design and technology.

Transforming wherever you are into a curious playground of the future, the festival will take place across four days and four nights from July 22 through July 25.

Discover a curious feast of science, arts, design & technology for all ages this summer. 

Meet the people inventing and designing the future of how we live, work, and play.

Minister Harris said: “Science has never been more exciting and the Festival of Curiosity is a great way to bring families together to appreciate the joy of discovery and inspire all ages to find their sense of curiosity about the world. The FUTURE+ event will help us to get thinking about the questions we have for the national conversation “Creating Our Future”. It is wonderful to see the intersection of science and technology with art and design and there is surely something for everyone amongst the activities and events.”

Dr. Ruth Freeman, Director of Science for Society at Science Foundation Ireland said: "Science Foundation Ireland is delighted to support The Festival of Curiosity 2021 as it continues to offer a delightful smorgasbord of activities to connect the public with the latest research in science and technology. Working within the constraints of digital delivery has inspired innovative and creative ways to spark conversations between scientists and communities across the country and I look forward to a fun-filled and engaging festival.”

FAMILY HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: 

For the young explorers (or young at heart) join our daily Virtual Safaris to Dublin Zoo, the Butterfly House at Malahide Castle, or discover the secret lives of sleeping animals with our friends from The Smithsonian Channel.

Take a curious adventure in hands-on science making Cranky Toy Theatres, create Flying Puppets and Camera Obscuras.  Discover how to get started in XR, VR and AR with Lucas Rizzotto (ages 13+) or join the reporters club for kids and learn how to make your own radio show. 

Packed full of interactive workshops including Rocket Making, Accidental Recipes & Kitchen Failures, and Digital Painting. Bringing laughter to the table, take a special workshop in the science of Clowning, and don’t StrongWomen Science as they give you their scientific tips and tricks on how to become a circus performer. join Filskit Theatre's Kaleidoscope concert, an online musical experience for babies, or meet the Craic Mechanics for a virtual Sing-a-Long Social. 

FUTURE+

A Virtual Summit of the Future 

Join us for Future+ our annual boutique summit of the future, which brings together exciting new voices from the worlds of science, arts, design and technology. Meet the people inventing and designing the future of how we live, work, and play.

We tackle big topics like misinformation, climate change, artificial intelligence and look at interdisciplinary panels on the future of green gaming, science journalism, cinema's science new wave, and the power of designing story. 

Speakers include Production Designer for award winning VR experience Baba Yaga Glenn Hernandez, AI personality designer Arpita Kumar, Beasts of Maravilla Game Creator Michelle Olson, Professor of Film and Media Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara Alenda Chang, Award-winning director, writer and media artist Ainslee Alem Robson, and Sundance Sloan Prize Winner and Director of Imagine Science Film Festival Alexis Gambis.

PLAYDATE FOR THE IMAGINATION

Our Playdate for the Imagination is back for 2021 where we’ll be co-hosting across the Atlantic, a family film programme for children in partnership with BAICFF (California). Curated by Pixar Story veteran Jim Capobianco. 

PROTOTYPE 2021 

Irish Illustrator Chris Haughton and Branar Téatar do Pháistí are the latest to join the festival’s Curiosity Accelerator, a programme where artists and designers explore, prototype and test new ideas that merge science, art, design, and technology in curious new ways.

The Festival of Curiosity 2021 is made possible by Science Foundation Ireland and supported by Accenture’s The Dock and Horizon Therapeutics. 

More info on all events is available here.