The 2008 Mayo Science and Technology Festival took place from November 3 to 9 throughout Mayo, with an exciting range of events taking place across the length and breadth of the county.
Councillor Paddy McGuinness, Chairman of Mayo County Development Board, expressed his delight with the success of this year’s festival. “Science Week aims to give young people in particular a better insight into how science and technology affect our everyday lives. Giving young people an interest in science and technology is critical to the future of the Mayo economy,” said Cllr McGuinness.
Pullathomas National School were the winners of the national schools’ paper aeroplane design challenge (north Mayo ) competition, while Swinford National School were the south Mayo winners. A team from St Geralds College, Castlebar were the secondary schools’ mechanical aeroplane challenge winners. Winning teams will be given a unique opportunity for a behind-the-scenes look at Knock Airport, including the chance to experience the technology used in the air traffic control facilities at the airport.
Other highlights included the week-long screening of the hugely important Al Gore documentary An Inconvenient Truth at Mayo Movie World, Castlebar and Pictiúrlann Iorrais, Béal an Mhuirthead. A number of schools were invited to visit many of Mayo’s major industries including Allergan, Surface Power, Derrinumera Recycling facility, and Westport Waste Water Treatment Plant. The Teanga agus Teicneolíocht – idTreo na ré Digiti day in Áras Inis Gluaire, Béal an Mhuirthead was also extremely successful.
The festival was concluded with a Science in Action open day in the TF Royal Hotel and Theatre. A wide range of fantastic interactive shows, hands-on activities and presentations were organised. These included a magic, science and mystery show, a spectacular bubble show, the real science of the circus and an end of the dinosaurs lecture.
Many of the best-known science and technology–using employers in the county organised interactive exhibition stands which proved to be an outstanding success with spectators. Exhibitors included a variety of public and private sector companies such as Allergan, Knock Airport, Jackson Engineering, Shell, GMIT, An Garda Síochána, the Marine Institute, “Get the Focal”, Coca Cola and Lionbridge Technologies. Other popular exhibits on the day included the launch of an Irish language podcast competition and the display by the NUIG Physics Department. The demonstration of cutting equipment by Mayo Fire Service was another particular highlight.
Mr John Magee, of the organising committee, paid tribute to Mayo County Development Board and Mayo County Council for continuing to support the festival. He also thanked the wide range of other agencies that contributed to making the festival a success and also acknowledged the support from the national Discover Science and Engineering Programme.
