Enjoy the wonder of science during the Gríosadh Science Festival from Sunday November 10th with events across Inishowen Peninsula.
A packed week-long line-up of free workshops, experiments, demonstrations and talks take place in Carndonagh, Buncrana and Greencastle.
The programme includes a guided bird ecosystems walk and talk tour at Sharagore Wetlands (Desertegney) and Inch Island on Sunday 17th November.
The inaugural festival is presented by Spraoi agus Spórt, in partnership with Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland.
Gríosadh will showcase the innovative contributions being made by local people in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Maths (STEAM). It is Donegal’s first Government funded science festival, and one of 33 events nationwide as part of Science Week 2024. Gríosadh (pronounced “Gree-Sha”) means to be excited or sparked by something.
“This festival highlights how science is relevant to our everyday lives and integral to our local industries,” says Deirdre McGrory, Coordinator at Spraoi agus Spórt. “It demonstrates how innovation is tackling challenges and creating opportunities in rural communities. We are honoured to present contributions from leading engineers, scientists, textile makers, and academics. Gríosadh offers something for all ages and is a fully accessible festival.”
Gríosadh kicks off with an Open Day at Spraoi agus Spórt in Carndonagh this Sunday, 10th November from 1PM to 4PM. It features experiments, demonstrations and exhibits, including an upcycling demo at the neighbouring Síoraí Home store. Explore your digital creativity in the Digital Creative Lab or develop your coding skills with LEGO SPIKE. At 2PM, The Inishowen River Trust present ‘Building Resilient Communities: Sustainable Drainage & Nature-Based Engineering’.
In Buncrana, on Wednesday 13th November, Dr Ciarán Ó Catháin of the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) presents ‘Don’t Jump Like an Elephant, Run Like One (Maybe)’. At ii – Inishowen Innovation from 6PM to 8PM, it centres on the Science of Running Injuries and Novel Technology based Strategies to Reduce Injury Risk.
In Greencastle, on Saturday 16th November, Principal Garvan Meehan gives a guided tour of the National Fisheries College at 11AM. Explore state-of-the-art technologies, discover the latest advancements in navigation and satellite systems, and gain insight into the world of naval architecture. It is followed at 1:30PM by ‘The STEM of Land, Sea and Sky’. It features presentations by Carndonagh natives; Sarah McCormack, Professor of Engineering at Trinity College; and Gary O’Donnell, Head of A321XLR Programme at Airbus. Fellow expert, Fergal Bradley of Mountbellew Agricultural College will delve into the evolution of agricultural practices in Inishowen.
The full Gríosadh festival programme of events is at https://spraoiagussport.ie/griosadh/. Pre-booking is required for all events due to limited spaces.
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