Science Week in the Midlands – Swimming, Cats, Aliens & Much More !!

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Science Week takes places this November and it includes a wide range of activities facilitated by Midlands Science in Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath. Activities start in the midlands with a family fun day with everything from  astronomy to zoology on November 10th. Over one week, there’s a range of events  for schools and groups and for adults exploring everything from cold water swimming to cats and all events are free of charge.

Jackie Gorman, CEO of Midlands Science explained ; “this year we are delighted as part of our science week programming to bring a range of activities to schools, groups and communities. It’s great to welcome back Ice Swimming Guinness World Record Holder Nuala Moore and new speakers such as Gerry Creighton of the tv series The Zoo and Dr Clare Meade of The Cat Hospital. Science is important for our economy but it’s also an important part of our lives. It’s in everything from how we understand health and lifestyle decisions to understanding our pets.”

Events in Laois this year include a special free music concert with string quartet Bohemian Strings, who have played with the Beach Boys and Richard Clayderman. The concert will show through tunes from AC/DC to Vivaldi how music involves everything from physics to psychology. You’ll be tapping your feet and singing up for science.

Events in Westmeath include a special event with the National Museum of Ireland exploring the world of swifts, those amazing aerial acrobats who have been recorded in high numbers recently in Mullingar. The event will also include prizes for primary school drawings and local community groups who are involved in biodiversity actions which benefits swifts and other wildlife.

Events in Offaly this year include a special event with Gerry Creighton of the tv series The Zoo and Dr Clare Meade of the tv series The Cat Hospital as they explore the science of cats, big and small! Both of these speakers have experience in dealing with cats over many years, everything from tigers to tabby cats. You’ll never look at the little lion in your living room the same way again as you realise how much they have in common with their cousins who roam the Serengeti.

Events in Longford this year include a series of workshops with explorer and space enthusiast Dr Niamh Shaw with secondary school students. From Antarctica to NASA, Niamh’s boundless enthusiasm for all things scientific make her a powerful advocate for the curiosity which lies at the heart of science. Dr Niamh Shaw has undertaken a wide range of science outreach activities in the midlands over the past number of years.

A special science map of the midlands is being produced by Midlands Science with Dr Claire O’Connell and will include places and people of interest from each county related to science. The map will be available across the region and is free of charge. Pop-up activities such as events exploring optical illusions will also take place in local shopping centres. Events are all free of charge but must be booked in advance and all details are available on www.midlandsscience.ie


Exploring the Science of Food Waste

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Midlands Science recently completed a science outreach project exploring the science of food waste. The project was supported by the Coca Cola Thank You Fund in association with the Irish Youth Foundation. Through a series of workshops and self-paced learning, the project explored the science of food waste.  It is literally a huge issue. Every year more than 25% of the food produced in the world is wasted. In Ireland best estimates say we waste about750,000 Tonnes of food every year. Growing, processing and transporting food takes a huge amount of resources such as land, water, energy and fertiliser. Wasting food means wasting these resources too.

Through a series of workshops young people learnt about food production and food waste and discussed together actions they could take. Evaluation showed after the workshops young people had more awareness of food waste and its link to climate change. They also indicated they had more confidence now about discussing the issues related to food waste.

Everyone learnt that one way to reduce food waste is to change how you see food. Something that can be seen as waste or not valuable can actually have a big flavour or nutritional benefit. Think before you throw it out, for example, carrot tops are great in a tabbouleh salad or pesto and coriander stems are great for giving curries a bit of a punch!!

Jackie Gorman, CEO of Midlands Science commented “we are grateful to the Coca Cola Food and the Irish Youth Foundation for their support for this project exploring the science of food waste. It’s a great example of how science is part of everyday life and how becoming more informed about the science involved in any area of life, can help us make more informed choices.”

More information on Midlands Science can be found on www.midlandsscience.ie


It’s All Adding Up For Maths Week In The Midlands

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Isla Harrington from Athlone having fun with the Rubix Cube in advance of maths week. The popular puzzle has one core, eight corner cubies, and 12 edge cubies. This means the total number of ways you can scramble a Rubik’s cube is 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 !!!

God’s Number  is the name given to the smallest number of moves needed to solve the puzzle from any random starting position. Since July of 2010 we know that this number is 20, so every position can be solved in twenty moves or less. This number was calculated thanks to Google who donated 36 CPU-years of idle computer time, solving every position of the Rubik’s Cube in  20 moves. The first estimation of the God’s Number was 52 moves in July 1981. Then this number was gradually decreasing. 42 in 1990, 29 in 2000, 22 in 2008, reaching the final number of 20.

Midlands Science is looking forward to celebrating Maths Week in the Midlands next month. Maths Week takes place all over Ireland this October 12th to 20th with a series of interactive workshops for students being undertaken by Midlands Science across the region. The not-for-profit delivers STEM workshops free of charge to primary and secondary schools, after schools, youth groups, and events for the general public throughout the year. Originating in 2006, Maths Week Ireland is an all-island initiative which engaged with over 500,000 people in 2023, helping to further promote positive attitudes to maths, maths related careers, and its general importance in our lives.

Jackie Gorman, CEO of Midlands Science  outlined the importance of maths in our lives. “Maths is a core element of STEM – science, technology, engineering, and maths. We all use maths in our daily lives and recognising its importance can help encourage students to spend time improving their numeracy skills. This can help us all to see the relevance of maths to everyday life, maths is in everything from measuring ingredients in recipes to understanding sports league tables and understanding loan rates. We have seen from evaluation last year on our maths outreach that 85% of teachers previously felt that Maths Week activities improved their students’ interest in maths. We are delighted to work with some incredible schools across the midlands to build an increased appreciation for maths this year.”

Science Outreach Executive Criodán Ó Murchú who will be delivering a range of maths activities during the week expressed his enthusiasm for the workshops.   “There was an exceptionally high demand this year for STEM outreach and  workshops across the midlands, which shows us that teachers are aware how beneficial it is for their students to engage in these opportunities. I am really looking forward to Maths Week. Many students are interested in maths, they just might not be aware of it yet! With these workshops, we are hoping to inspire that next generation of mathematicians, actuaries, computer programmers, and help share the fun and discovery that lies at the heart of maths.”

For more information on Midlands Science go to www.midlandsscience.ie


Making An Early Start With Science

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Isla Harrington from Athlone knows learning all about science is child’s play. All pre-schools and creches in the midlands are encouraged to sign up for Midlands Science’s new Early Start Science programme, which is supported by the Ireland Funds. 

Childhood is all about curiosity and understanding the world around us and science has a key role to play in this. It’s never too early to start with science and Midlands Science is delighted to be offering free science workshops to preschools from this autumn.  This adds to the expansive outreach programme offered by the not-for-profit, which operates across the midland counties of Laois, Longford, Offaly, and Westmeath.
 
Jackie Gorman, CEO, Midlands Science, said; “Midlands Science is delighted to receive support from The Ireland Funds for our new pilot programme, Early Start Science. This initiative fosters a love of science in young children through engaging, hands-on activities like measuring height, blowing bubbles, and creating static electricity with balloons. By providing workshops and resources for pre-school workers and parents, we encourage exploration of science in everyday activities. The Ireland Funds’ support is crucial in making this programme possible.”

The Heart of the Community Fund strategically supports non-profits under The Ireland Funds’ four funding pillars: Arts and Culture, Community Development, Education, and Peace and Reconciliation. Emphasising community integration and inclusion, this fund prioritised projects that centred around belonging and organisations addressing youth and family support needs. This year’s Heart of the Community Fund is a testament to the enduring commitment of The Ireland Funds and its supporters. By providing timely funding, these grants will enable non-profits to address pressing community needs and create a lasting impact on the lives of many.

Science Outreach Executive Criodán Ó Murchú who will be delivering the workshops  expressed his enthusiasm for the workshops stating, “Children have an amazing ability to absorb information, ask questions without worrying if they’re silly or wrong. These  workshops will allow all to further develop their coordination skills, problem solving abilities, fine motor skills, all whilst introducing them to an early experience of science. By providing a foundational awareness of science, we are hoping to encourage some more amazing young scientists from the midlands.”

Those wishing to register their interest can contact Criodan on comurchu@midlandsscience.ie and more information on the work of Midlands Science can be found on www.midlandsscience.ie