Midlands science festival now underway

Around 50 interactive events are planned this week to showcase the importance of science, maths, engineering and technology in our lives, as part the Midlands Science Festival. The seven-day programme forms part of Science Week Ireland, which is being held this year from November 9-16.

Tullamore development company Atlantic Corrider, in partnership with Science Foundation Ireland, and a number of other local, regional and corporate partners, is responsible for the week-long festival, being held across Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath.

Activities for all ages are on offer, from very young national school children, right up to teenagers and adults who wish to learn more about how science impacts on our everyday lives. The week also aims to highlight the wide variety of career options available in the science industry.

Events planned for Athlone include an art exhibition in the Luan Gallery, featuring medical-based sculptures by Siobhán McGibbon, a workshop with Reptile Village Zoo in St Peter’s National School Gym, and a series of talks and workshops in Athlone Institute of Technology.

This year’s Science Week theme is ‘The Power of Science,' which focuses on how science empowers people to shape every aspect of the world, from keeping our houses warm with electricity, to connecting with friends and family with our smartphones.

For a full list of events, or to book tickets, log on to http://midlandssciencefestival.com/.