Events

Biodiversity Festival in the South East – celebrate our living earth!

Ireland’s premier biodiversity festival, The Bealtaine Festival of Outdoor Science celebrates its 7^th birthday in May, starting on the May 13^th with a week of outdoor events for all ages.

The festival last year was chosen by the Guardian newspaper as being one of the top ten world wide events for International Biodiversity day. Over 2,500 people participated in the week- long festival held in the south-east of Ireland, and this number is expected to be even higher for 2011.

This unique and inclusive festival is a partnership between visitor centres and organisations in the south-east of Ireland interested in promoting science outdoors and is particularly designed for young people. Partners include Waterford Institute of Technology, the Copper Coast Geopark, The National Biodiversity data collection centre, Waterford City and County Councils, Hill walking clubs , Lismore Heritage Centre etc.

If you have ever struggled to identify flowers, birds, bats or  trees, or wondered how to navigate in the dark then this is the festival for you. Over 30 events will be held during the festival for students and the public, including guided woodland walks, learn to identify birds with experts, build mosaics on the beach with renewable materials, learn to build birdboxes , learn about our native trees , bats, insects  and landscape or  learn about  saving energy.

In Celtic times the festival of Bealtaine celebrated the arrival of summer.  The Bealtaine Festival of Outdoor Science celebrates the Living Planet with an emphasis on activities that increase understanding of our surroundings and the plants and animals that we share the world with.

So many people learn about science and nature from books or documentaries on television. Bealtaine offers a chance to experience the practical side of science, to get out into the fresh air with leading experts in archaeology, zoology, ecology and other environmental sciences.

Bealtaine aims to develop people’s awareness and interest in important environmental issues such as climate change and biodiversity. This year Bealtaine celebrates the International Year of Forests and finishes with the International Day for Biological Diversity on 22^nd May, the theme of which will be Biodiversity and Forests.

As such, the organisers of Bealtaine, CALMAST are delighted to welcome the return of Professor Liam Dolan, Sheridian, Professor of Botany at the University of Oxford and world- class researcher in the area of land plant development. Prof Dolan will explain how his research in studying the developments of plants has led to a greater understanding of how plants work and may lead to the production of plants which can withstand extreme conditions such as drought or cold to provide food supplies for people in difficult climates.

A special feature this year is an exhibition on loan from the RDS on seismology, which will be accompanied on May 13^th by an interactive presentation from the Dublin Institute of Advanced studies explaining earthquakes, how they are measured and Ireland’s contribution to this science.

The festival is coordinated by CALMAST, the leading centre for the promotion of science, maths, engineering and technology in Ireland.  In addition to the Bealtaine festival, the centre organises three other science festivals annually – the Waterford Science Festival, Waterford Engineering Week and co-ordinates Maths Week nationally.  The directors of CALMAST – Eoin Gill and Dr Sheila Donegan are the only Irish recipients of the  EU Descartes Award for Science Communication.

As 2010 is International Year of Biodiversity the festival will be better than ever. The festival this year will span from National Dawn Chorus Day on the 16^th May to International Day for Biological Diversity on Saturday May 22^nd.

We are delighted this year to have a special guest to mark IYB: Professor Liam Dolan, Sherardian Professor of Botany at the University of Oxford. Professor Dolan will speak to senior cycle students about the evolution of life and in particular plant life and explain how his research in studying the developments of plants has led to a greater understanding of how plants work. He will also outline how these discoveries may lead to the development of plants that could grow in less fertile soils to help feed the Earth’s growing population. This is an excellent opportunity for school students to hear a world leader in this field and understand the important of basic research and see how it can lead to applied developments. And indeed, see that Irish people contribute at the forefront of science.

This wonderful festival is a partnership between visitor centres and organisations in the Southeast interested in promoting science outdoors and is particularly designed for young people. The event is co-ordinated by CALMAST- Waterford Institute of Technology’s award winning centre for the Advancement of Learning of Maths, Science and Technology that provides you with science, technology, engineering and maths events, now serving over 12,000 visitors each year from schools in the region.

We have events for primary and secondary schools and we have events on in the evening and weekends to suit adults and families.

In ancient Celtic times the festival of Bealtaine celebrated the arrival of Summer. Our Bealtaine Science Festival of Outdoor Science celebrates out Living Planet with an emphasis on activities outdoors understanding our surroundings and the plants and animals that we share the world with.A number of groups in the Southeast have come together to create this festival, which is coordinated by CALMAST at Waterford IT. Participants in the festival include:

• The Copper Coast Geopark
• JFK Arboretum
• Waterford County Council
• Waterford City Council
• Wexford Wildfowl Reserve
• Waterford IT
• Fenor Bog
• National Biodiversity Data Collection Centre
• Lismore Heritage Centre
• Geological Survey of Ireland
• Birdwatch Ireland
• Irish Wildlife Trust

If you are visiting the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, look out for us. We have a fantastic stand stuffed full of technologies of interest to students and adults alike.

As usual, we are giving out thousands of trees to enable young scientists to make a positive contribution to climate change. This year we are launching a new initiative called Tree Club. Visit the web site to find out more.

The camp will include: Forensics, Computing,Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Make and launch a rocket.

No special level of science is required, only a willingness to have fun and make friends!

The camp will take place in WIT from 10 am to 4pm each day. The course fee is 120 euro. Places are limited so early booking is advised.

Booking at the Fitness suite or  at the Sport & Rec office, WIT 302238/302724

An exciting range of activities on offer for teenagers with an inquiring spirit. No special knowledge of these areas required, just a willingness to particpate and have fun!

All activities designed and led by lecturers and researchers in Engineering, Science, Computing and Maths.

For secondary school pupils. For primary school pupils see our Get SET for Summer Primary Science, Engineeringa and Technology Summer Camp

Engineering Week in Waterford will run as part of the nationwide Engineers Ireland Engineers Week

See Programme here.

It is expected that additional events will be added.

Maths Week Ireland 2010 kicked off with Maths in the City in Dublin on Saturday 9th and finished with the Hamilton Walk on Saturday the 16th. In between we had Maths in the City in Waterford, Limerick and Belfast and about 100 other events around the island. In addition over 85,000 young people in schools North and South did exciting and engaging maths activities specially for Maths Week! Surpassing the expectations of the organisers and showing the appetite among our young people for well presented and packaged mathematics and the interest and dedication of teachers all over Ireland.

Check out all the great activities that have been posted on this website! Lecturers from Higher Educational Institutes put on great presentations for visiting groups. Our International visitors were a big hit again With Marcus dusautoy enthralling over 1,000 people at the RDS, Andrew Jeffrey entertained over 1300 pupuils at DCU's Helix and Steve Humble did Maths in the Pub. Fernando Blasco, Matt Parker, Colin Wright, Rob Eastaway, Kjartan Poskitt, Paco Gomez, Robert Hill and Jenny Piggott all motivated thousands across the island. The 16th is Hamilton Day, commemorating the day that William Rowan Hamilton discovered quaternions in 1843. Every year the Maths department at NUI Maynooth organises the Hamilton Walk from Dunsink to Broom Bridge to celebrate this event.

In 2010, for the 5th annual Maths Week Ireland, we had fun maths games, puzzles and performances at Dunsink for all the family. Maths Week 2010 has broken all the records with over 86,000 pupils on the island doing activities in school and attending events. Together with all the other things going on that indicates that over 100,000 people participated.this year. And we'll start working now to beat that next year. Coordinated by Calmast at Waterford Institute of Technology,

Maths Week Ireland is a partnership of universities, institutes and interested groups working together to promote awareness, appreciation and understanding of mathematics to all. Thanks to all our sponsors for supporting this importanty work.

Waterford IT's fourth annual SciFest took place on Thursday the 7th of April. 70 projects were entered from school around the Southeast. This represented over 150 students exhibiting at the Institute this year, with hundreds more visiting, all reflecting the Southeast region’s innovative approach to science.

27 Judges from Local Industry and authorities joined WIT experts in different disciplines in the difficult task of deciding who would be winners on the day. Chair of the Technology Judging Panel, Waterford County Manager, Ray O'Dwyer commended all the exhibitors for the high standard of work and presentation, remarking " The region's future will be bright with the creativity, innovation and problem solving skills demonstrated at WIT today". Dr. Ciaran Geoghan (founder of Microchem) also praised the high standard of all the entrants stressing that the judges' task had been very difficult.

SciFest is a series of one-day science fairs held across Ireland which  are funded by Intel Ireland and Discover Science and Engineering.

For Poster (web-size) Click here

For Poster (printing resolution 2.8MB) click Here

For WIT Entry Form Click Here

All information about entries, advice on inquiry based learning, projects, categories etc. available on Scifest Website  www.scifest.ie Click here

Scifest Waterford is organised by CALMAST, the award winning science outreach centre at WIT. 

“We are delighted to welcome so many second level students from the south east to Scifest Waterford” said Sheila Donegan, WIT local organiser. “This exhibition gives students the chance to develop their own science projects, to explore their creativity and to present their work to a high level judging panel drawn from leading science and technology companies in the south east and from the WIT community.

SciFest is jointly funded by Intel and Discover Science and Engineering. It is supported by a number of other partners and the Institutes of Technology. The project thus creates a valuable link between the second and third level education sectors and between education and industry.

The South East Science Festival has been organised by CALMAST at WIT as part of Science Week. Science Week will promote the relevance of science, engineering and technology in our everyday lives. There will be a number of family focused evening events taking place throughout the week. 

Eoin Gill, Co-ordinator of the South East Science Festival and Director of CALMAST said: “The South East Science festival is a great opportunity to get people of all ages to understand the importance of Science in our everyday lives. Everything from the technology that we use everyday to solving crime relies on science; from the phone in your pocket to the 3D films so popular at the moment - they are all based on science. The perception of science as being test-tubes and potions needs to be challenged and we hope to do that with a week of fun events.”

Highlights of the week are set to be, the Bubble Show on Monday 8th November, CSI Ireland on Tuesday 9th November and Treemendous Trees! on Wednesday 10th November. The “Bubble Show”, with the London Science Museum, will be held at 7pm on Monday 8th November Technology. This will feature bubbles of all sizes and looks at how certain materials change the way others behave as well as offering the chance to step inside a ‘human bubble’.

CSI Ireland will be held at 7pm on Tuesday 9th November will see Ireland’s State Pathologist, Professor Marie Cassidy, explain the importance of science in solving crime. 

Treemendous Trees! on Wednesday November 10th, with Dr Nick Mc Carthy of WIT, will enlighten young people about the wonderful world of trees, and how they are an integral part of our lives. Using photos and samples the presenter will take you on a tour through the life and science of trees. From the simple science of how trees function and grow, to the provision of shelter for both animals and ourselves the presenter will also talk about why we grow trees and the everyday products that are produced from those trees.  

Speaking about the range of events taking place during the South East Science Festival Sheila Donegen, co-ordinator at CALMAST in WIT said,

“Events running throughout the week are not only aimed at primary and secondary students, there are many family focused events and we would encourage families to attend together to have fun with science. We would especially recommend the Bubble Show, CSI Ireland and Treemendous Trees! as a great evening out for all the family. ”

Waterford Engineering Week will provide 2,000 places for schools in the region.

Schedule

Programme Details

Waterford Institute of Technology has a long tradition of engineering education producing engineers and engineering technicians for industry in the Southeast, throughout Ireland and around the world. The presence of a successful engineering school is a major factor in attracting and maintaining industry in the region.

Courses are offered in the main disciplines of engineering: electronic, electrical, mechanical, manufacturing and civil, with specialist courses also available in building services engineering and sustainable energy engineering. Direct entry is available to courses from level 6 (Higher Certificate) to 8 (Honours Degree) and progression is possible all the way to PhD. WIT also offers courses in related disciplines in construction, computing and science.

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