Galway’s biggest ever Science and Technology festival is set to inspire and intrigue! Opening for two weeks of educational events on Monday 13th November in Galway City and County, it will build up to a huge family day of shows, STEM demonstrations, workshops and interactive exhibitions in NUI Galway on Sunday 26th November. The exhibition is free of charge and open to the public. Free bookings for individual workshops and talks will open online on Saturday 18th November at 11am. www.galwayscience.eventbrite.ie

Dara Ó’Briain, well-known comedian, TV presenter and avid science buff, during his recent visit to Galway, for the Vodafone Comedy Carnival, dropped in to meet children from local schools in the lead-in to the 2017 Galway Science and Technology Festival which is part of SFI’s National Science Week. 

Dara’s first children’s book ‘Beyond The Sky’ which launched recently, is a clear demonstration of his life-long obsession with all things science having studied maths and theoretical physics in university. A self-professed gamer Dara was interested to hear about the ‘Gaming Zone’ during the festival. ‘If only there had been events like the Galway Science and Technology Festival back in my childhood, they are fantastic. They expose children to the wonders and intrigue of science, engineering and technology through practical accessible and entertaining experiences. It broadens their spectrum of curiosity and shows them a myriad of potentially exciting careers they could follow which could lead to conversations like ‘Daddy I want to be an astronaut’,’ commented Dara. ‘Scintillating Science’ a show presented by Dara and a host of special guests kicks off Science Week 2017 in Dublin’s National Concert Hall on 12th November, where they will explore intriguing questions on life and science. www.nch.ie for bookings.

Twenty Years

Galway Science & Technology Festival 2017, supported by Science Foundation Ireland, marks its 20th year with a fantastic line up of educational events for school-goers and families from Monday 13th November to Sunday 26th November. The Galway Festival takes place on NUI Galway and GMIT campuses as well as numerous locations including the Galway Atlantaquaria and Brigit’s Garden as well as schools throughout the city and county. It is now the largest science event in the country which draws visitors to the city from all around the region, with 150 free events facilitating 35,000 primary and secondary school students with the support of the main sponsor Medtronic, along with other major organisations, Science Foundation Ireland and third level colleges in Galway.

‘Galway has seen many positive developments over the twenty years during which it has developed a global reputation as a major global med-tech hub and we are delighted that local companies like Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Creganna/TE Connectivity and Aerogen and we are delighted that local companies play a major role in supporting our festival. We also have an expanding Technology hub with key world players including CISCO, Fidelity, EA Games and Valeo who also support the festival. I’m sure that the development of the festival has played a positive role in nurturing and guiding students into careers in these sectors,’ commented Paul Mee, Chairperson, Galway Science and Technology Festival.

Ronan Rogers, New Product Development Director, Medtronic Parkmore, ‘Medtronic is delighted to partner with the Galway Science & Technology Festival as the main sponsor for the 16th year running. Our partnership with the Festival is one of collaboration where our energies focus on engaging the young scientists and engineers of the future and providing them with an insight into working with a leading medical device company. We are delighted to celebrate the Festival’s 20th anniversary in Galway where it has grown in magnitude since its inception in 1998.’

The festival aims to be inclusive through its extensive outreach programme where 150 events will take place free of charge in primary and secondary schools during National Science Week throughout Galway making STEM more accessible to all. Special events geared towards transition year students are currently available to be booked through galwaysciencefestival.events@gmail.com  

Check out www.galwayscience.ie for the extensive schools programme which is now open for booking.

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