Engineers Week, an annual campaign to present the possibilities a career in engineering can offer and highlight the vital role played by engineers in sustaining the community, is taking place in Galway from February 9 to 15.
On February 15, Galway Atlantaquaria hosts a special Engineering Day to celebrate its new Engineering Trail. Throughout the day participants will visit the explorer classroom where they will undertake engineering challenges including design and build mini wind turbines, plan and build mini catapults, launch a rocket, and create a circuit. This event is subject to an entry fee.
On February 12 and 13 Boston Scientific will host interactive workshops for primary and second-level students to demonstrate how to design, engineer, and build a product through the K’nex challenge and the use of Solidworks a computer aided design software. Volunteers will also introduce budding engineers to the company and explain about the products made in the local Boston Scientific facility in Galway. This event is free and pre booking is essential; to register for event and to find out more about what is on in Galway visit EngineersWeek.ie
During the week National University Ireland Galway (NUI Galway ) will host a number of free events for various different age groups to celebrate and share the world of engineering.
A fast-moving show called Move it! Learn Differently exploring the forces at play in allowing us to move will take place on February 10. Young engineering enthusiasts will discover how propellers and rocket engines can push us forward, and how friction and air resistance can hold us back. They will also learn how to inflate marshmallows using pressure of the air and travel to a world with little friction on a hovercraft.
NUI Galway will also host Ireland’s largest retro gaming event on February 12 where visitors of all ages can enjoy playing the classic games of the 1970s through to the 1990s such as Asteroids, Pacman, Space Invaders, Super Mario, Crash Bandicoot and Pong on vintage consoles and computers such as Atari, Amiga, Commodore Amiga, Sega Megadrive and Nintendo.
The week is coordinated on a national basis by Engineers Ireland as part of the STEPS programme, which is a strategic partner of Science Foundation Ireland’s (SFI ) Discover Programme. For further information about Engineers Week 2014 or to register attendance at an event, visitEng ineersWeek.ie
