The 19th Galway Science and Technology Festival kicked off on Monday with a spectacular bang coinciding with one of the largest and brightest full moons in decades.
This year’s festival will explore and celebrate the theme Science Rising in this the International Year of Global Understanding, exploring how the local affects the global.
The 2016 Festival is presenting over 180 free shows and workshops to 35,000 primary and secondary school students across Galway City and County from the 14-27 November, thanks to the kind support of the festival’s main sponsor Medtronic Parkmore and several other organisations and research institutes in Galway.
On Monday, students from Colaiste Baile Chlair, Claregalway enjoyed a mock ‘Murder Mystery’ with forensic investigative help from Garda Aidan Coughlan from Galway. The school also enjoyed real life chemistry experiments in the school’s laboratory creating spectacular bangs and explosions.
While 5th and 6th class students from Scoil Mhuire, Maigh Cuilinn enjoyed a day outdoors in Brigit’s Garden where they received a hands-on workshop on ‘Nature’s Power: Energy in Action.’ The Festival will culminate with its final day exhibition on Sunday 27 November at NUI Galway from 10am-6pm when Galway companies, schools, colleges including GMIT, and research institutes including the Marine Institute will exhibit interactive STEM demonstrations and projects for all ages to enjoy.
An exciting new addition to the final day Exhibition is the ‘Gaming Zone’ in the Bailey Allen Hall, and should be a huge draw with Galway fast becoming a global hub for the Gaming Industry. The Gaming Zone area will feature: Romero Games, creators of the world famous Doom Game; Howling Hamster Games; Starcave Entertainment; Spooky Doorway; Tribal City Interactive; Peripheral Labs; Xeerroh Games; Hot Cereal Games; 9th Impact; Estabanatwork Games and Dunbar Games.
Tickets for free shows and workshops at the final day Exhibition will be available for booking on www.galwayscience.eventbrite.com from Saturday, 19 November at 11am.
Follow on Twitter @galwaysciencefe and on www.facebook.com/galwayscienceand use the hashtag #scienceweek and #GalwayScience to join the conversation. See www.galwayscience.ie
