2018 NI Science Festival programme

Page 1

LET YOUR MIND WONDER. 15—25 FEBRUARY 2018

1

NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

ONGOING EVENTS

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS THU 15 FEB FRI 16 FEB SAT 17 FEB SUN 18 FEB MON 19 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

Director’s Foreword We are delighted to present to you the full public programme for the fourth NI Science Festival, an annual celebration of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. Thanks to the generous and continued support of our Principle Funders & Partners, we’ve been able to deliver our largest selection of events to date, championing great pioneers both locally and internationally, and expand our horizons to include more of Northern Ireland than ever before. During the day, the Festival offers a range of workshops, talks and interactive activities for young people and parents. In the evening, we will present a mix of scientific debate, talks, theatres, comedy, music and film for adults. 2018 will see the return of the Regional Roadshow - an eclectic selection of family friendly events across all disciplines across the province for the NISF Road Show, to get the mind buzzing with curiosity. We welcome you all to join us.

The Festival Team Festival Director: Chris McCreery Festival Manager: Jillian Thompson Marketing Manager: Andrew Moore

TUE 20 FEB

Regional Programme Manager: Susan Heaney North West Programme Manager: Rachel McDermott Events & Marketing Intern: Méabh Rooney Communications & PR: Gillian Grattan & Orry Robinson (J Comms)

WED 21 FEB

Graphic Design: Rinky | rinkydesign.com Website: Steven Henry | kingsteven.com

General Enquiries

NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

NI Science Festival 7 North Street, Belfast BT1 1NH Tel: 028 9162 9204 | info@nisciencefestival.com

circlefacebook niscifest circletwitterbird niscifest Booking information Most of our events are open to the public. Suitability, admission and booking information are indicated in the listings.

Concession rates apply to those aged 16 and under, over 65s, students, the unemployed, disabled persons and their personal assistants, unless otherwise stated. Proof of status may be required.

The Festival Board Claire Burgoyne, Tony Byrne, Liz Conlon, Bill Connor (Chair), Alan Fitzsimmons, Judith Harvey, Sarah Jones, Emma Leahy, Frances Morton, Jonathan Wallace, Victoria Simms.

Disabled Access All partnering venues aim to be as accessible as possible however a small number have restricted access. Should you or your group require information or assistance please contact info@nisciencefestival.com. Venue Information is also available through the Access400 online service at adaptni.org.

Programme Changes Please note that all events are subject to change. Be sure to check our website or social media forums for the most up to date information.

Ticketing links for events can be found via the festival website nisciencefestival.com. Please bring a printed or email copy of your ticket to the event.

11 DAYS. 180+ EVENTS. INFINITE IDEAS. NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM NI Science Festival is a not-for-profit charity organisation.2Company number NI 324114 | Charity Number NIC100332


5 Thursday 15 February

12

Friday 16 February

Monday 19 February

Tuesday 20 February

Friday 23 February

Sunday 25 February

19 25

Saturday 17 February

36

Sunday 18 February

42

46 50

Wednesday 21 February

54

Thursday 22 February

63

Saturday 24 February

59

74

102 80

15–25 FEBRUARY 2018

Ongoing Events

At A Glance

North West Events


Our Funders

Our Partners

Accommodation Partner


Featuring all this and more: • A Celestial Journey (3D show) • Superhero Science: First Class (Show) • Lego Technic workshops • ClayRazy workshops • Get your body MOT’d with the Institute of Public Health • Examine the minute world of veterinary nasties with AFBI • Investigate safewater with Ulster University • Make your own fossil with Marble Arch Caves

DATE | VENUE

Thursday 15 February | STEM Centre, South West College, Circular Road, Dungannon, BT71 6BQ Friday 16 February | Northern Regional College, Union Street, Coleraine, BT52 1QA Saturday 17 February | Crest Centre, South West College, Killyhevlin Industrial Estate, Enniskillen, BT74 4EJ Sunday 18 February | Southern Regional College (West), Patrick Street, Newry, BT35 8DN SUITABILITY

10.00am–1.00pm & 2.00–5.00pm

All Ages

ADMISSION & BOOKING

ONGOING EVENTS SAT 24 FEB

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

SUN 25 FEB

After the resounding success of the first NI Science Festival Roadshow, this free, familyfriendly event is returning with a range of activities, experiments and shows. We encourage you to come along and experience the wonders of science.

5

NORTH WEST

TIME(S)

THU 22 FEB

NI Science Festival Roadshow

FRI 23 FEB

SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

AFBI Research Vessel Corystes Open House Tours DATE

TIME(S)

Thursday 15–Sunday 18 February

10.00am–4.00pm Tours take place every hour on the hour

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Queen’s Quay, Titanic Quarter, Belfast (Beside SSE Arena)

All Ages

Science Storytelling

NORTH WEST

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Various libraries across NI

4–8 Yrs & Parents/ Guardians

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. No Booking Required.

Join a STEM ambassador for a story time event in the library during the NI Science Festival. Children will be treated to a selection of stories to discover science in a fun way! The books chosen will spark excitement, teach something new and make STEM accessible to children. These readings will take place in the following libraries across Northern Ireland:

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Back by popular demand, the Agri-Food and Bioscience Institute (AFBI) research ship, the RV Corystes, is again opening its doors to welcome aboard members of the public as part of the NI Science Festival. Climb on-board and join one of the hourly tours of the ship. Meet the crew and scientists and find out what they do when the go to sea!

Sat 17 Feb, 11am | Waterside Library, The Workhouse, 23 Glendermott Rd, Derry/ Londonderry BT47 6BG Sat 17 Feb, 2pm | Dungannon Library, Market Square, Dungannon BT70 1JD Sat 17 Feb, 3pm | Banbridge Library, 23 Scarva Road, Banbridge BT32 3AD Tue 20 Feb, 3.30pm | Ormeau Library, Ormeau Rd, Belfast BT7 3GG Sat 24 Feb, 11.30am | Portrush Library, 12 Causeway St, Portrush, BT56 8AB Sat 24 Feb, 2.30pm | Enniskillen Library, Halls Ln, Enniskillen, BT74 7DR Sat 24 Feb, 2.30pm | Newry Library, 79 Hill St, Newry BT34 1DG

Tours last 35-40 minutes and must be booked in advance. No high heels permitted on-board.

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

NATURAL WORLD

6


ONGOING EVENTS TIME(S)

Thursday 15 – Sunday 25 February

10.00am–5.00pm (Closed Mondays

VENUE

SUITABILITY

VENUE

SUITABILITY

W5, The Odyssey, 2 Queen’s Quay, Belfast BT3 9QQ

All Ages

Ulster Museum Botanic Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5AB

All Ages

ADMISSION & BOOKING

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free with admission into W5.

Free. Drop in event.

Museum of the Moon is an amazing new touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram. Measuring seven metres in diameter, the inflated moon features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface. At an approximate scale of 1:500,000, each centimetre of the spherical sculpture represents 5km of the moon’s surface. This spectacular installation is internally lit and is accompanied by a musical composition which has been especially created by BAFTA and Ivor Novello award-winning composer Dan Jones.

Ever wondered why a light bulb brightens up a whole room while a laser produces only a very narrow beam of light? Lasers Live will demonstrate how light is a form of energy, how different colours interact differently, and how lasers can provide us with technologies that were the stuff of dreams just a decade ago. Experts from the Centre for Plasma Physics, Queen’s University Belfast, will be on hand to explain these topics and many more. A unique opportunity for adults and children alike to discover how research by laser and plasma physicists at Queen’s is playing a leading role in how our future world will look.

7

NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

This will be a unique opportunity, for young and old, to experience the moon close up in an exquisite, three-dimensional way!

MON 19 FEB

DATE

10.00am–5.00pm

TUE 20 FEB

TIME(S)

Thursday 15 – Sunday 25 February

WED 21 FEB

DATE

THU 22 FEB

Museum of the Moon Lasers Live

FRI 23 FEB

MATHS & PHYSICS

SAT 24 FEB

SPACE

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

IMAGE: LUKE JERRAM

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

NATURAL WORLD

ART & SCIENCE

Operation Earth DATE

TIME(S)

Thursday 15–Sunday 18 February

10.00am–5.00pm (30 minute sessions)

VENUE

SUITABILITY

W5, The Odyssey, 2 Queen’s Quay, Belfast BT3 9QQ

5–12 Yrs

“It has been scientifically proven that Art makes you happy.” DATE

TIME(S)

10.00am–4.00pm

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Thursday 15 – Sunday 25 February

Free with admission into W5.

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Boom! Studios, 80a Main Street, Bangor, BT20 6AE

All Ages

Over half-term, W5 is launching Operation Earth, part of a two-year-long national programme that will engage, inspire and involve school-age children and their families with Natural Environment Research Council’s world-leading environmental science research. The programme will highlight the relevance of contemporary environmental science issues to everyone’s daily lives and to society’s future and will explore the importance of environmental science in helping us understand our changing world.

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Drop in.

An exhibition from the Boom! Studios collective of artists to provoke happiness. We will be measuring the impact of this exhibition to see whether you are happier after you have visited this exhibition.

The programme will highlight the relevance of contemporary environmental science to everyone’s daily lives and to society’s future, whilst exploring the importance of environmental science in helping us understand our changing world.

8


ONGOING EVENTS

TIME(S)

DATE

TIME(S)

Thursday 15–Sunday 25 February Opening reception Thurs 15 February, 6.00–8.00pm

11.00am–4.00pm (Closed Mondays)

Thursday 15 – Saturday 24 February

11.00am–6.00pm (Closed Sundays & Mondays)

SUITABILITY

Naughton Gallery, Queen’s University Belfast, University Rd, Belfast BT7 1NN

All Ages

VENUE

SUITABILITY

ArtisAnn Gallery, 70 Bloomfield Avenue, Belfast, BT5 5AE

All Ages

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Drop in.

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Drop in.

An exhibition of art and science celebrating astronomy, the planets and the stars. Since the dawn of time, artists and scientists have been inspired by the heavens. Scientists strive to understand the nature of the cosmos while artists wrestle to capture the majesty of the endless sky.

Curated in collaboration with Rachel Steinberg, Director of SOHO20 Gallery, Brooklyn, the Naughton Gallery at Queen’s University Belfast presents an international group exhibition by contemporary artists interested in how Science Fiction relates to the body. Where does a body end and a piece of technology begin? What does it mean to have a body as it relates to consciousness? Can we synthesise the metrics of experiencing a body? All of these questions are challenged through artworks which explore cyborgs, artificial intelligence and alien life. This exhibition has been generously supported by British Council Northern Ireland.

MON 19 FEB SUN 25 FEB

This exhibition brings together great art that captures the awe of the celestial bodies alongside scientific artefacts and photographs by leading astronomers.

9

NORTH WEST

VENUE

TUE 20 FEB

DATE

WED 21 FEB

The View from Earth, the View from Space

THU 22 FEB

Science Fiction and the Body

FRI 23 FEB

ART & SCIENCE

SAT 24 FEB

ART & SCIENCE

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

IMAGE: KATIE TORN, #BATHROOMSELFIE (2016)

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS

ART & SCIENCE

TECH & DIGITAL

The Cabinet of Myths The Great QR Hunt and Curiosities DATE

Thursday 15 – Sunday 25 February

DATE

TIME(S)

Thursday 15 – Saturday 24 February

11.00am–6.00pm (Closed Sundays & Mondays)

VENUE

SUITABILITY

ArtisAnn Gallery, 70 Bloomfield Avenue, Belfast, BT5 5AE

All Ages

NORTH WEST

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Across Northern Ireland

All Ages

ADMISSION & BOOKING

For more information contact wwcyouthlead@gmail.com

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Drop in.

This year at the NI Science Festival comes the first ever Great QR Hunt! Open to all, the aim of the game is simple. Hidden across several Festival venues are a number of QR codes. When a code is scanned, using a phone or tablet, players will receive a hint and a clue

Inspired by ‘Fake News’ and over-hyped advertising, this exhibition turns all the mad, unfounded claims plaguing modern society into unique works of art such as curing baldness, attracting the perfect partner and losing weight without trying!

Encouraging computational thinking: following instructions (algorithms), breaking tasks down (decomposition), deciphering what matters (abstraction) and using logic, once all QR codes are collected, the final riddle will revealed! Winner will be announced on Friday 23 February.

You will be amazed! You won’t believe your eyes! Buy into our fake science (and buy some genuine art)! Come to the Greatest Show on Earth – The Cabinet of Myths and Curiosities.

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

10


ONGOING EVENTS SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

ART & SCIENCE

W5, The Odyssey, 2 Queen’s Quay, Belfast BT3 9QQ

5–12 Yrs

MON 19 FEB

10.30am–6.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Framewerk, 10 Upper Newtownards Rd, Belfast BT4 3EL

All Ages

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free with admission into W5.

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Drop In.

Take part in W5’s new Lecture Theatre show ‘The Secret World of Gases’ and discover how gases will be used in the future. Find out how cold liquid nitrogen is and how air can become a liquid. Explore how hydrogen could power our future, heat our homes and run our buses.

The academic and writer Brené Brown suggests that we are “hardwired for struggle.” As human beings, we recognise the all too familiar oscillations of success and failure Our worlds pivot around the demands of work, relationships, responsibilities and urgency, leaving us feeling off-kilter and longing for peace and stability. Is the holy grail of a holistic and finelytuned equilibrium a myth? Or is the notion of balance a tangible possibility?

This programme has been developed with the UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres and is delivered with support from BOC and The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Artist Heather Dornan Wilson joins Ulster University psychologist, Dr Victoria Simms, actor and theatre maker Stephen Beggs & writer Jan Carson to explore issues around balance, tension, calibration and equilibrium, relating to our emotional wellbeing.

11

TUE 20 FEB

SUITABILITY

TIME(S)

Monday 19–Sunday 25 February

WED 21 FEB

VENUE

DATE

THU 22 FEB

Various times. Check w5online.com for info.

FRI 23 FEB

TIME(S)

Thursday 15 – Sunday 25 February

SAT 24 FEB

DATE

The Notion of Balance

SUN 25 FEB

The Secret World of Gases

NORTH WEST

EARTH & ELEMENTS


ONGOING EVENTS

TECH & DIGITAL

NATURAL WORLD

Arduino Workshops

Forest School

DATE

TIME(S)

DATE

TIME(S)

Thursday 15 February

10.00am–1.00pm 2.00pm–5.00pm

Thursday 15 February

10.00am, 1.00pm & 3.00pm (90 mins)

VENUE

SUITABILITY

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Ormeau Baths, 18 Ormeau Ave, Belfast BT2 8HS

12+

The Jungle NI, 60 Desertmartin Road, Moneymore, BT45 7RB

3–14 Yrs

ADMISSION & BOOKING

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£5. Book via nisciencefestival.com

£5. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Get to grips with the basics of coding and learn how you can use an Arduino to make just about anything! This workshop will focus on creating code that enables you to get input and output devices to do the things you want using basic coding language. If you are interested in getting into coding or simply want to have a go this is the workshop for you. No prior experience necessary.

Forest School is a unique natural classroom experience. The outdoor environment is an amazing classroom. Children learn best when challenged and interested; their self-esteem grows and they interact better with others. At the Jungle Forest School, our highly trained and skilled Forest School Leaders will work with children to allow them to explore the outdoors with appropriate support; giving children the time and space to develop a deep connection with nature. During the session participants will be getting hands-on experiences in a safe environment e.g. using tools, building dens, lighting fires, craft activities (making natural paints), tree climbing and much more.

NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

12


VENUE

SUITABILITY

Glengormley Library, 40 Carnmoney Rd, Glengormley, BT36 6HP & Ballymena Library, 5 Pat’s Brae, Ballymena BT43 5AX

10 Yrs + & Parents/ Guardians

ONGOING EVENTS

DATE

TIME(S)

Thursday 15–Friday 16 February

From 10.00am (90 mins, last admission 2.30pm)

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Ulster American Folk Park, Castletown, Omagh BT78 5QY

All Ages

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free with admission to Ulster American Folk Park

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Hear the story of Irish emigration through our “History, Maths and Mystery” tour, incorporating history, magic tricks and mystery over the midterm break. Visit nine exhibits at the Folk Park, learning more about why people left Ireland, the hazardous Atlantic journey on the ship Brig Union and what awaited the emigrants in the New World. This unique, interactive adventure trail uses magic tricks and each visitor will receive a free booklet, explaining how to recreate the tricks at home.

MON 19 FEB SUN 25 FEB

The BBC micro:bit is a tiny computer that has been given to schools and selected libraries to help teach kids to code. In this workshop for beginners you will create Python programs that control the various components, with the help of our dedicated coach. Designed to teach you the fundamentals of programming, you will have the opportunity to create your own program and show us what you’ve done. Whether it be rock, paper, scissors, a banana keyboard or a milk carton robot, there’s an endless possibility of fun projects with the BBC micro:bit!

TUE 20 FEB

10.00am–12PM (Glengormley Library) 1.00–3.00pm (Ballymena Library)

WED 21 FEB

TIME(S)

Thursday 15 February (Glengormley Library) Saturday 24 February (Ballymena Library)

13

NORTH WEST

DATE

THU 22 FEB

Micro:Bit Workshops History, Maths and Mystery

FRI 23 FEB

MATHS & PHYSICS

SAT 24 FEB

TECH & DIGITAL

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

MIND & BODY

Kitchen Science

Lead Exposure & Safe Motherhood

DATE

Thursday 15 February 10.00am–11.30am Holywood Arches 1.00–2.30pm Grove library Friday 16 February 10.00am–11.30am Finaghy 12.30–2.00pm Colin Glen Library VENUE

SUITABILITY

Libraries across Belfast Check Website For Details

3–14 Yrs

TIME(S)

Thursday 15 February

1.00–2.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Black Box, 18-22 Hill St, Belfast, BT1 2LA

16+

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

ADMISSION & BOOKING

What do you know about lead toxicity and its impact on your health and the health of your baby? There is a rising concern over the effect of products such as ceramics, solders, cosmetics, hair dye, aeroplanes and even water in lead pipes. This talk will explore new technology and techniques that could predict the toxicity levels of lead on the developing foetus and what care plan should be adopted for soon-to-be parents.

Free. Drop In Event.

Prepare to get messy with fizzy, hands-on, kitchen science fun with Science Starz. This mobile lab allows for children of all ages to carry out a variety of interactive science experiments using ingredients found in the kitchen.

SUN 25 FEB NORTH WEST

DATE

ADMISSION & BOOKING

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

14


ONGOING EVENTS

DATE

TIME(S)

DATE

TIME(S)

Thursday 15 February

1.00pm

Thursday 15 February

2.00–3.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5AB

All Ages

Tropical Ravine, Botanic Gardens, Belfast BT7 1LP

14+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

£3. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Biological control is the use of natural enemies to control pests. In the home garden this can be done by introducing predators that eat the pests, parasitic wasps that parasitize the pests or pathogenic nematodes that enter into and infect the pest with a fatal bacterial disease. Join our expert among the plants on the ground floor of the newly refurbished Tropical Ravine to engage in live demonstrations and watch the world of pest and predator as they do battle.

15

MON 19 FEB NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

Have you ever wondered how beautiful the Earth looks from space? Join Dr Armando Marino for an interactive talk on the science of Earth Observation (EO), the skill of making sense of our Earth using satellite sensors. Come along to see what the satellites get to see!

TUE 20 FEB

The Battle of Predator and Pest

WED 21 FEB

Curious Eyes in the Sky

THU 22 FEB

NATURAL WORLD

FRI 23 FEB

SPACE

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

MATHS & PHYSICS

Entangled: John Bell Lecture & Concert Performance DATE

TIME(S)

Thursday 15 February

6.00–10.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Sonic Arts Research Centre, Queen’s University Belfast, Cloreen Park, Belfast BT9 5HN

14+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£8. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Electro-acoustic composer, Matthew Whiteside, has been commissioned by the Institute of Physics to write Entangled a new piece for string quartet, electronics and film. Exploring the work of renowned quantum physicist, John Bell from Tates Avenue Belfast, who is also Matthew’s great uncle, the piece will be performed by the Aurea Quartet with a film by Marisa Zanotti. John Bell proved that in the quantum realm, particles are entangled in a ‘spooky’ way. Quantum entanglement was first visualised by the Anton Zeilinger group in Vienna using a camera developed by Belfast-based Andor. Following the annual John Bell Lecture, which will look at at the applications of quantum entanglement, the evening will conclude with the Aurea Quartet performing a concert of music inspired by physics. This unique Institute of Physics-sponsored event brings music and quantum physics together and celebrates an inspirational role model from Belfast.

16


TIME(S)

Thursday 15 February

7.00–8.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5AB

14+

ONGOING EVENTS

DATE

TIME(S)

Thursday 15 February

7.00–10.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Taylor & Clay Restaurant, Bullitt Hotel, 40A Church Lane, Belfast, BT1 4QN

18+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£44. Book via events@bullitthotel.com or call on 028 95 900600

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Enjoy an intimate dining experience at Taylor & Clay. The focus of ingredients will be based around fermented, preserved and good bacteria based foods, served alongside our flax fed wagyu beef cooked over ash wood on our signature Asador Grill.

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

The island of Ireland possesses extraordinary beauty and diversity in its geological heritage and has played a crucial role in the history of geology itself. In this talk, based on his book of the same title, Dr Patrick Roycroft will showcase this heritage with a special emphasis on Northern Ireland. In addition, there will be a demonstration of how everyone, young and old, can see for themselves spectacularly colourful zoning patterns in the common mineral muscovite mica.

17

NORTH WEST

DATE

MON 19 FEB

What’s Your Beef?

A Geological Miscellany of Ireland

TUE 20 FEB

648 Billion Sunrises

WED 21 FEB

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

THU 22 FEB

EARTH & ELEMENTS

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

SPACE

An Evening with Colonel Chris Hadfield DATE

TIME(S)

Thursday 15 February

7.30–9.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

The SSE Arena, 2 Queen’s Quay, BT3 9QQ Belfast, United Kingdom

All Ages

ADMISSION & BOOKING

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

£22.50 Student / £38.00 / £48.00 / £95.00 VIP

Since his retirement from active duty, Colonel Chris Hadfield has appeared worldwide onstage and television. Last year he returned to the BBC to host Astronauts: Do you Have What it Takes? The series took 12 applicants through a process of challenges, devised by Chris, to test their suitability to become an astronaut. During his five month stay on the International Space Station (ISS), Chris Hadfield became something of an extra-planetary media star. He not only shared extraordinary photos, he talked to schoolchildren, strummed his guitar and provided demonstration videos about daily life. On his last day on the ISS, he posted a farewell music video online – his version of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity”. It instantly went viral and has since been viewed more than 38 million times.

NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

An evening with Chris Hadfield will open your eyes to dream the impossible!

18


Thought Police

ONGOING EVENTS

Rainforest Feasts

DATE

TIME(S)

DATE

TIME(S)

Friday 16 February

10.00am–3.00pm

Friday 16 February

11.00–11.45am

VENUE

SUITABILITY

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5AB

All Ages

Tropical Ravine, Botanic Gardens, College Park E, Belfast BT7 1LP

All Ages

ADMISSION & BOOKING

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Drop in.

MON 19 FEB

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

TUE 20 FEB

SCIENCE IN SOCIETY

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

wCome and join us in the lower canopy of the newly refurbished Tropical Ravine. Like the Victorian Plant Hunters of the past, we’ll explore the history of a now very familiar fruit and delve into a world of tasting and identifying exotic fruits and spices.

FRI 23 FEB

Participants will be asked a short, psychological questionnaire, which explores their hypothetical moral standpoints, loosely based on themes of surveillance and thought crime. By the end of the questionnaire we will reveal whether you are part of the Thought Police or part of the resistance!

THU 22 FEB

The Thought Police is an interactive, immersive performance using screen print imagery to invite the public to consider the question - Are you in the Thought Police?

WED 21 FEB

£2. Book via nisciencefestival.com

19

NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

You will be given a screen-printed poster to reflect your group before being sent off with some ideas to consider and play with during the rest of the day.


ONGOING EVENTS

SPACE

SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

Mission to Mars with Maddie Moate

Science Books Activity Day

DATE

TIME(S)

DATE

TIME(S)

Friday 16 February

12.00pm & 2.00pm

Friday 16 February

12.00–4.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5AB

6 Yrs +

Lisburn City Library, 23 Linenhall Street, BT28 1FJ

6–14 Yrs

ADMISSION & BOOKING

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£6 / £20 for Family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children). Book via nisciencefestival.com.

Free. Booking via nisciencefestival.com

Get creative at this hands-on, family friendly event inspired by some incredible science books. Join us for an exciting afternoon of arts and crafts and surprising science experiments all revolving around the books shortlisted for The Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize 2017.

Maddie is looking for new recruits to join her Astronaut Academy for a one of a kind Mission to Mars! Have you ever wondered how rockets work? Or how space suits are made? Find out with children’s television presenter Maddie Moate as she takes you on a journey through the solar system, equipped with special cameras and science demos!

Browse these fantastic books and find out how you and your school can help us decide next year’s winner.

NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

20


ONGOING EVENTS

DATE

TIME(S)

DATE

TIME(S)

Friday 16 February

1.00–2.00pm

Friday 16 February

3.00–4.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Crescent Arts Centre, 2-4 University Rd, Belfast, BT7 1NH

14 Yrs+

Belfast Central Library, Royal Ave, Belfast BT1 1EA

0-6 Yrs

ADMISSION & BOOKING

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£6/£3. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Do you know a little scientist? Come and join four real-life scientists as they read some science storybooks! An informal story-time session designed to ignite little scientists’ passion for the subject.

21

NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

You may think science is perfectly objective, but in the study of people, it’s all too easy for bias and prejudice to creep in. For centuries, many scientists have told us that women are biologically inferior to men, that they are intellectually less capable, sexually more chaste, and naturally designed to be homemakers and caregivers. Science journalist Angela Saini, author of the critically-acclaimed book, Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong and the New Research That’s Rewriting the Story, has investigated the science behind the stereotypes and asks whether we need a radical overhaul of the way we think about women.

MON 19 FEB

Storytime for Little Scientists

TUE 20 FEB

How Science Got Women Wrong

WED 21 FEB

SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

THU 22 FEB

SCIENCE IN SOCIETY

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS

TECH & DIGITAL

NATURAL WORLD

The Ethical Hacker DATE

TIME(S)

Friday 16 February

6.30–7.30pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Black Box, 18-22 Hill St, Belfast, BT1 2LA

18+

The Earth Beneath Our Oceans How Do We Listen To See What’s There?

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£5. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Jamie Woodruff is one of the world’s leading authorities on hacking and cyber security. He first entered the public eye when he successfully hacked Facebook as part of a student competition at Bangor University, where he was studying computer information systems. Jamie, who’s still only in his early 20s, has since uncovered security holes in numerous high-profile operations, including Kim Kardashian’s website, which he hacked to reveal that it was putting her fans’ data at serious risk.

NORTH WEST

DATE

TIME(S)

Friday 16 February

6.30–7.30pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

David Keir Building, Queen’s University, University Rd, Belfast BT7 1NN

All Ages

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Over 65% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water and in some places more than 10km deep! Most of the Earth’s plate building processes operate here: generated heat is dissipated, economic resources are formed, life exists in environments as hostile as the surface of other planets and islands soar to elevations higher than Everest above the surrounding seabed. We need to see through the seabed to know what forms the Earth beneath. Now remote sounding is enabling us to see by listening. Professor Christine Peirce will reveal how this is done with equipment deployed from state-of-theart research vessels and examples drawn from current Discovery Science projects.

Join Jamie as he discusses hacking tools, techniques and how even seemingly secure organisations can be laid bare.

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

22


SUITABILITY

Queen’s Film Theatre, 20 University Square, Belfast BT7 1PA

10 Yrs +

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£6/£3 concession. Book via nisciencefestival.com

The universe is vast, complex and sometimes overwhelming. Our very existence is instantly crushed into perspective once we try to fathom the breadth of our expanding universe. There is a huge timeline behind us and, in this context, we are nothing more than a micro blip in the universe’s history.

ONGOING EVENTS

DATE

TIME(S)

Friday 16 February

7.00–8.30pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

National Football Stadium at Windsor Park, Donegall Ave, Belfast BT12 6LU

14 Yrs+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Booking via nisciencefestival.com

The science behind sporting performance is vital for success. This seminar will feature expert contributions focusing on video and performance analysis, sports psychology and reflective practice in elite coaching.

The evening includes a panel discussion from leading experts about the potential role of immersive technologies in space exploration and education, a series of short films curated by Belfast Film Festival and a first look at a Virtual Reality experience brought to you by Boom Clap Play, Northern Ireland Screen and the NI Science Festival.

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

This interactive session will use case study examples from elite sport to demonstrate how sports science can be introduced at a club level.

MON 19 FEB

6:00 pm–8:45pm

VENUE

TUE 20 FEB

TIME(S)

Friday 16 February

23

NORTH WEST

DATE

Science Behind Sporting Performance

WED 21 FEB

Immersed In Space

THU 22 FEB

MIND & BODY

FRI 23 FEB

SPACE

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

MIND & BODY

Evolution & Sex DATE

TIME(S)

Friday 16 February

7.45–9.15pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Lecture Theatre 1, Medical Biology Centre, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL

14 Yrs +

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Why did sex evolve? How has sex shaped human psychology? Is there really a biological necessity for sex? Showcasing three unique viewpoints. Social psychologist Dr. Holly Parker (Harvard University) will discuss how evolutionary forces still impact how human beings relate to each other. Dr. Edel Hyland (QUB) will take a broad perspective – asking, why does sexual reproduction hold many advantages to the success of all life? Finally, science communicator Emer Maguire (UK Famelab Winner and host of BBC Radio Ulster’s Science & Stuff) will give her very unique perspective! Our presenters highlight the prominent role women have in science following the recent award of a Gold Athena Swan award to the School of Biological Sciences at QUB.

NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

£3. Book via nisciencefestival.com

24


VENUE

SUITABILITY

Belfast Zoo, Antrim Road, Belfast, BT36 7PN

15–18 Yrs

ONGOING EVENTS

VENUE

SUITABILITY

W5 at Odyssey, 2 Queen’s Quay, Belfast, BT3 9QQ

6 Yrs +

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free with admission into W5. Places must be prebooked by phoning 028 90467790

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£15. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Why not come to W5 over half-term and celebrate the night skies with our exciting programme of astronomy events? Explore the wonder and the discoveries made by astronomers throughout the last 400 years in our mobile, Fulldome planetarium. Discover mesmerising celestial objects hidden to the naked eye through images from the Hubble Space Telescope. Learn about the future of astronomy, space telescopes and the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope mission. You can also make your own planisphere to take home and explore the skies in your own time!

Zookeeping is not just shovelling poo and seeing magnificent animals every day. Over 90% of our keepers are qualified in the science behind animal care, health, behaviour, nutrition, and much more to enable them to care for endangered animals. Would you like a little taster of all of that? During our half day learning experience, you will be talking to keepers, curators, educators, researchers, the vet and getting some hands-on experience. You will learn the importance of caring for elephants’ feet and see up close how it’s done. Use your imagination and create an enrichment item to support the mental well-being of one of our animals.

SUN 25 FEB

This programme has been developed with support from the Science and Technology Facilities Council.

MON 19 FEB

9.15am–2.30pm

10.00am–2.00pm

TUE 20 FEB

Saturday 17 & Saturday 24 February

TIME(S)

Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 February

WED 21 FEB

TIME(S)

DATE

25

NORTH WEST

DATE

Life Through A Lens

THU 22 FEB

Science Behind the Zoo

FRI 23 FEB

SPACE

SAT 24 FEB

NATURAL WORLD

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

TECH & DIGITAL

MIND & BODY

Dye Tracing CCRCB Open Day a Decade of Advances Experiment in Marble Celebrating in Cancer Research Arch Caves DATE

TIME(S)

Saturday 17 February

10.00am–12.30pm 1.30–3.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Marble Arch Caves, UNESCO Global Geopark, 43 Marlbank Rd, Florencecourt, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, BT92 1EW

10 Yrs +

DATE

TIME(S)

Saturday 17 February

10.30am & 12.30pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Centre for Cancer Research & Cell Biology, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7AE

All Ages

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Registration is advised.

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

The Centre for Cancer Research & Cell Biology (CCRCB) Public Open Day on Saturday 17 February 2018 celebrates a decade of advances in Cancer Research in Belfast. There will be two sessions - one starting at 10.30am and the second at 12.30pm. Our leading researchers will present an overview of the Centre and explain what is needed to develop new cancer treatments - from basic biology to clinical trials. ‘Behind the scenes’ tours will provide an opportunity to view our laboratories and meet our research teams. Information stands will include clinical trials, the NI Biobank, cancer prevention and our local charity funders. A range of interactive activities will ensure that all the family can engage in this exciting and informative event.

The world famous Marble Arch Caves provide a glimpse into a fascinating, natural underworld of rivers, winding passages and lofty chambers and are a key site within the wider UNESCO Global Geopark. Join GSNI, Arup and Geopark staff to hear about the hydrology of these fascinating caves while watching the Owenbrean River turn a luminous shade of green! Dye tracing is a method used by hydrologists to track and trace the flow of underground streams and rivers. Learn about the importance of dye tracing in the field of Geology and the various equipment used to carry out these exciting experiments. Find out more about the tracing experiments that have been carried out in the wonderfully wet counties of Fermanagh and Cavan.

26


ONGOING EVENTS

Sounds From Beyond The Joy of Toys DATE

TIME(S)

DATE

TIME(S)

Saturday 17 February

10.30am–5.30pm

Saturday 17 February

10.30–11.15am 11.30am–12.15pm

All Ages

VENUE

SUITABILITY

The MAC, 10 Exchange Street West, Belfast, BT1 2NJ

6 mths–2 Yrs & Parents/ Guardians

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. No booking required.

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£5. Book via nisciencefestival.com

The School of Arts, English and Languages is opening its doors through the Sonic Arts Research Centre to showcase amazing work around the theme of “Sounds from Beyond”. Join us for several showcase events where you’ll experience anything from hands-on workshops on sound synthesis and sound editing, to talks and demos on themes such as ‘The Science of Victorian Ghosts’ or ‘Sounds from Space’. If you are really game you can even get a virtual haircut using binaural sound. We will showcase instruments of some of our students, and there will be a listening hour where you can play your own track in our gigantic 3D Sonic Space – a top professional, industry standard sound diffusion system – unique on this planet!

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

Psychologists Caspar Addyman and Victoria Simms reveal the science inside the toy box in this interactive play session with your baby. Let your little one enjoy the colours, textures, sounds and movements and discover how toys are helping their brains develop.

WED 21 FEB

Sonic Arts Research Centre, Queen’s University, Cloreen Park, Belfast BT9 5HN

THU 22 FEB

SUITABILITY

27

NORTH WEST

VENUE

MON 19 FEB

MIND & BODY

TUE 20 FEB

TECH & DIGITAL

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

ENGINEERING AND ROBOTICS

SCIENCE IN SOCIETY

The TQ Giants Trail DATE

TIME(S)

Saturday 17 February

10.30am (90 minutes)

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Titanic Foundation, Titanic House, 6 Queens Road, Belfast, BT3 9DT

All Ages

Who Stole The Car? A Crime Scene Investigation

WED 21 FEB THU 22 FEB

11.00am–12.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Open University, 110 Victoria St, Belfast BT1 3GN

All Ages

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

A family friendly trail where you will be provided with a treasure map & lots of clues. Spend the morning exploring the Titanic Quarter (TQ) searching for industrial giants. Discover how these ‘Giants’ have played a huge role in TQ’s maritime history, and the one thing that links them all. There are prizes to be won!

Three people have been arrested on suspicion of car theft, but all three say that they are innocent. There are no witnesses, but crime scene investigators have found fibres on the car seats. Using well-known forensic techniques, join members of The Open University’s School of Life, Health and Chemical Sciences, and let’s work out who stole the car!

The Wee Tram will ferry everyone around the area, accompanied by a guide and TQ heritage helpers.

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

TIME(S)

Saturday 17 February

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

NORTH WEST

DATE

28


11am–1.00pm Workshop 1.30pm–4.00pm Masterclass

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Black Box, 18-22 Hill St, Belfast, BT1 2LA

12+

ONGOING EVENTS TIME(S)

Saturday 17 February

11.00am–12.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Emeleus Lecture Hall, Queen’s University Belfast, University Rd, BT7 1NN

14 Yrs +

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£2. Book via nisciencefestival.com

The first Frisbees came free with the purchase of the “invisible string” that they appeared to be attached to when they flew. Their magical flight paths have fascinated many since. They go round corners and twist and turn when thrown upside down. Controlling the route taken by the flying disk is of particular interest to aficionados of “ultimate”, a high-speed sport in which passing to team-mates doesn’t have to involve straight lines. Dr Trevor Agus introduces the physics of Frisbee flight with demonstrations from Belfast Ultimate and Queen’s Ultimate sports clubs.

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£5. Book via nisciencefestival.com

In partnership with Explosion Sound System and Black Box, Bounce Culture will lead a workshop exploring beat making techniques using cutting edge software in contrast to wiring analogue speaker systems used in sound clashes from Jamaican music culture.

MON 19 FEB SUN 25 FEB

Beats created during the workshop will be used during the masterclass to truely test out the Explosion Soundsystem. The best loops will also be used during an improvised loop jam session that afternoon and within the Neo Neo #6 night time event.

TUE 20 FEB

Saturday 17 February

DATE

WED 21 FEB

TIME(S)

(Well, Frisbees!)

29

NORTH WEST

DATE

The Science of Flying Saucers

THU 22 FEB

Found Soundsystems Workshop & Masterclass

FRI 23 FEB

SPORT SCIENCE

SAT 24 FEB

TECH & DIGITAL

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

SPACE

NATURAL WORLD

Life as an Astronaut DATE

TIME(S)

Saturday 17 & Saturday 24 February

11.15am – 12.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, College Hill, Armagh, BT61 9DB

All Ages

ParkLife Saturday Clubs

Free with admission into Armagh Observatory and Planetarium

NORTH WEST

TIME(S)

Saturday 17 February

11.30am–1.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Bowling Pavilion, Botanic Gardens, College Park E, Belfast BT7 1LP

0–14 Yrs & Parents/ Guardians

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via parklife@belfastcity.gov.uk

Do you know what it takes to become an astronaut? How has life changed from the early Apollo missions to the current missions to the International Space Station? How do you eat in space? What does space food taste like? Can you have a bath in space? What will happen to the future explorers, will it be possible to actually live on Mars?

Come along to our Saturday club and heart your park. Find out all about your health and heart by playing games with a natural twist and showing your park how much you love it!

Find out the answers to these questions and more at the Armagh Planetarium’s ‘Life as an Astronaut’ workshop, suitable for all the family.

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

ADMISSION & BOOKING

DATE

30


Earth

ONGOING EVENTS

The Science of Harry Potter

(2007, Documentary, PG)

SUITABILITY

Strand Arts Centre, 156 Holywood Road, Belfast BT4 1NY

All Ages

ADMISSION & BOOKING

DATE

TIME(S)

Saturday 17 February

1pm–2pm & 3pm–4pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Black Box, 18-22 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LA

All Ages

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

£6/£20 for family of four (2 Parents, 2 Children). Book via nisciencefestival.com

Be transported across planet Earth, from the icy plains of the Arctic to the sweltering African savannah. Narrated by Patrick Stewart and set to beautiful music, this documentary shows the diversity of habitats on Earth and the incredible animals, big and small, that inhabit them. Following the stories of various animal mothers, learn how precarious raising young in the wild really is and how these animals overcome it! After the film come join us for our creative workshop for kids, inspired by the film.

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

Did you ever wonder if science has any explanation for the fantastic feats found in the Potter series? Join Jon Chase, co-author of The Science of Harry Potter, on a journey through some of the man-made versions of wizarding wonders.

WED 21 FEB

12.00–1.30pm

VENUE

THU 22 FEB

TIME(S)

Saturday 17 February

31

NORTH WEST

DATE

MON 19 FEB

SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

TUE 20 FEB

NATURAL WORLD

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

TECH & DIGITAL

MIND & BODY

Northern Ireland Raspberry Jam NISF Special DATE

TIME(S)

Saturday 17 February

1.00–5.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

School of Maths and Physics Teaching Centre Queen’s University 7-9 College Park E Belfast BT7 1PS

6+

Know Your Enemy Disease-Focussed Research at Queen’s University DATE

TIME(S)

Saturday 17 February

1.00–5.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Centre for Experimental Medicine, Wellcome Wolfson Building, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL

All Ages

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Drop in event.

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Join scientists from the Centre for Experimental Medicine at Queen’s to explore how the human body works and how we are leading the fight against disease. You will hear about the work of local scientists who are committed to improving the lives of patients, and who focus their efforts around three disease themes: eye disease, diabetes/vascular disease and respiratory/infectious disease. Come explore our exciting research and let us inspire you through a range of short talks, demonstrations and interactive stands, all led by the Centre’s staff and students. The whole family can experience research up close and tours of our stateof-the-art building will allow visitors to appreciate our commitment to disease-focused research.

Come one, come all to the Northern Ireland Raspberry Jam! In collaboration with the School of Physics and Mathematics at Queens, Farset Labs and the Northern Ireland Raspberry Jam team, these free monthly events involve tinkering, coding, electronics and generally just having a stack of fun making stuff! Whether you want to try out computer programming for the first time, hack some electronics or just generally have some fun inventing, we have something for everyone! All equipment is provided and we have activities for complete beginners right up to seasoned Pi experts.

32


The Dating Game 16 Yrs +

ADMISSION & BOOKING

ONGOING EVENTS

DATE

TIME(S)

Saturday 17 February

2.00–3.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

The MAC, 10 Exchange Street West, Belfast BT1 2NJ

All Ages

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

£5. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Have you ever wondered how radiocarbon dating is used to produce dates for archaeologists and geoscientists? This event will introduce you to radiocarbon dating through a short lecture followed by a tour of the 14CHRONO Centre – QUB’s Accelerator Mass Spectrometer (AMS) radiocarbon dating facility – the only one on the island of Ireland.

Join Developmental Psychologists Caspar Addyman and Victoria Simms as they explore the latest infant research attempting to understand what is really going on inside the brain of a baby! This session will explore our current understanding of infant development, something which parents and non-parents will find intriguing!

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

This event is intended for adults, but children are welcome.

WED 21 FEB

SUITABILITY

School of Natural & Built Environment, Queen’s University Belfast, 6AZ, Elmwood Ave, Belfast BT9

THU 22 FEB

2.00–4.00pm

VENUE

FRI 23 FEB

TIME(S)

Saturday 17 February

33

NORTH WEST

DATE

What Do Babies Think?

MON 19 FEB

MIND & BODY

TUE 20 FEB

SCIENCE IN SOCIETY

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

The Hans Sloane The Rot or Not Show Chocolate Experience Bacteria, Fungus & Food DATE

TIME(S)

Saturday 17 February

2.00–2.45pm & 3.15–4.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Dufferin Coaching Inn Hall, 35 High Street, Killyleagh, Co. Down BT30 9QF

6 Yrs +

DATE

TIME(S)

Saturday 17 February

2.00–3.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Medical Biology Centre, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL

All Ages

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book nisciencefestival.com

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£2.50. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Over one third of all food produced globally is lost or wasted; that’s the equivalent of 1.3 billion tonnes of food. In 2015, UK households alone wasted an estimated 7.3 million tonnes of food and most of this was avoidable. Join us to find out about the microorganisms that cause our food to rot, how wasting food damages our environment and discover some interesting ways we can put wasted food to good use.

Meet Sir Hans Sloane who discovered drinking chocolate and hear his amazing story. Find out about his life as a small boy in Killyleagh village and how he learned to read and write in the library of Killyleagh Castle. Hear about his adventures and how he became the King’s very own doctor, sent on a special mission to Jamaica. After an epic journey home to London, he found fame and fortune and promoted drinking chocolate for good health. Discover all about chocolate and where it comes from. Taste different types of chocolate and decide which one you like best. Finally after all your hard work enjoy a cup of delicious hot chocolate and a choc chip cookie or brownie.

34


10 Yrs +

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

ONGOING EVENTS

DATE

TIME(S)

Saturday 17 February

2.15–3.15pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

The Old Museum Building, 7 College Square North, Belfast BT1 6AR

18 +

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Bogs today are mainly seen as little more than a source of fuel and peat moss. But bogs have stories to tell... Since the end of the last ice age, bogs have been capturing snapshots of the environment. From rain patterns, pollen levels, evidence of flora & fauna (including humans!) and even ash from far-flung volcanoes, bogs provide a window into the history of the environment.

Born and educated in Belfast, John Stewart Bell FRS (1928-1990) was one of the most original theoretical physicists of recent times. Working on a range of topics across quantum mechanics, particle physics and relativity, Bell asked profound questions and made lasting contributions. Recognition has grown since his death, and the lecture will take place just across the street from ‘John Bell House’, the former Technical College. It will be given by Professor Andrew Whitaker of Queen’s University, the leading expert on Bell’s life and work and his biographer. Although Bell’s work may seem challenging to the nonspecialist, the lecture will be of general interest, covering Bell’s life and an outline appreciation of his achievements.

This workshop will introduce you to the types of information archaeologists and palaeoecologists can recover from bogs, with hands-on displays of some of the evidence that we recover to reconstruct the past environment, past climate and past human activity.

35

MON 19 FEB TUE 20 FEB

SUITABILITY

School of Natural & Built Environment, Queen’s University Belfast, 6AZ, Elmwood Ave, Belfast BT9

WED 21 FEB

2.00–3.30pm

VENUE

THU 22 FEB

TIME(S)

Saturday 17 February

FRI 23 FEB

DATE

John Stewart Bell: A Great Belfast Physicist of our Time

SAT 24 FEB

The Hidden Secrets of Irish Bogs

SUN 25 FEB

MATHS & PHYSICS

NORTH WEST

NATURAL WORLD

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

MIND AND BODY

ART & SCIENCE

Neo Neo #6

Mind over Money

DATE

TIME(S)

DATE

TIME(S)

Saturday 17 February

9.30pm–Late

Sunday 18 February

12:00–1.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Black Box, 18-22 Hill St, Belfast, BT1 2LA

18+

Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5AB

14 Yrs +

ADMISSION & BOOKING

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£6. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Pay what you think it’s worth! Book via nisciencefestival.com

Neo Neo is an event series that showcases the finest in experimental music and contemporary visual art, providing opportunity for collaborative practices. Neo Neo events are live and immersive where audiences are part of a unique experience. Previous Neo Neo artists include The Host, Kaidi Tatham, Sina, Stephen Henry, Ken & Ryu, TONN Recordings, Touch Sensitive Records, DEFCON, Shammen Delly, Black Mountain Transmitter, Aideen Doran, Ben Craig, Helena Hamilton.

Most of us think we’re good at spotting deals, but as award-winning broadcaster and writer Claudia Hammond reveals in this talk on the psychology of money, this is far from the truth. In a whistlestop tour of the world’s best psychological and neuroscientific research on money, the author of “Mind Over Money” highlights the mistakes we all have a tendency to make and shares her evidence-based tips for a healthier relationship with money.

For the sixth iteration of Neo Neo we are delighted to announce BLOOM, whose latest remixing credits include Bjork, headlines an evening with some of Belfast’s most exciting artist and music creators. All will be playing through the Explosion Soundsystem with a surprise collaboration on offer. Heavy weight vibrations will surrounded visuals curated by Rachael Campbell Palmer. Organised in partnership with Bounce Culture and Black Box Belfast. 36


TIME(S)

Sunday 18 February

1.00–4.30pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5AB

10 Yrs +

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. No booking required.

ONGOING EVENTS

DATE

TIME(S)

Sunday 18 February

1.00–2.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Black Box, 18-22 Hill St, Belfast, BT1 2LA

18+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£5. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Five years ago, on 15th February 2013, a 10,000 tonne meteorite exploded over the Russian city of Chelyabinsk. Some pieces of this giant rock from Space, and other meteorites, are on display in the Ulster Museum but curator and meteorite expert Dr Mike Simms will bring out some others from the museum’s collections for you to handle and admire. If you have a meteorite yourself, or think you have found one, then bring it along for Mike to take a look at.

MON 19 FEB SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

What’s that? A non-trivial zero not on the critical line? An infinity of them? And a new type of spiral? Musician Colin Reid has another go at cracking the uncrackable and shows us how to tune a guitar with the zeta landscape.

37

NORTH WEST

DATE

TUE 20 FEB

Chelyabinsk Day: How to Almost Meet the Meteorites (Un)Solve the Riemann Hypothesis

WED 21 FEB

MATHS & PHYSICS

THU 22 FEB

SPACE

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

IMAGE: @jackf

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

NATURAL WORLD

MIND & BODY

Resilient Oceans in a Morbid Anatomy: Changing World Life & Death Inside The Mortuary DATE

TIME(S)

Sunday 18 February

2.00–3.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5AB

14 Yrs +

£3. Book via nisciencefestival.com

1.00–2.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Black Box, 18-22 Hill St, Belfast, BT1 2LA

16+

£6. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Journey into the deep to discover how our oceans are adapting to a changing world.

Join Carla Valentine, curator of the world-famous Barts Pathology Museum in London and queen of the specimen jar, as she talks all things autopsy and anatomy. Drawing upon her experience as a mortician, she sheds light on what the living can learn from investigations into death, considers how our cultural attitudes to mortality have changed throughout history, and provides fascinating insight into what happens when the mortuary doors swing shut.

Whether from overfishing, our growing population or a rapidly changing climate, the oceans and the abundance of life within them are under threat. Join our expert panel to discuss the impact of humanity on our blue planet and discover how we can build resilience in this rich and fascinating ecosystem.

SUN 25 FEB NORTH WEST

TIME(S)

Sunday 18 February

ADMISSION & BOOKING

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

ADMISSION & BOOKING

DATE

38


ONGOING EVENTS

TIME(S)

DATE

TIME(S)

Sunday 18 February

3.00–4.00pm

Sunday 18 February

3.00–4.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Black Box, 18 – 22 Hill St, Belfast, BT1 2LA

All Ages

Sonic Arts Research Centre, Cloreen Park, Belfast, BT9 5HN

14 Yrs+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

£3. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Why does the position of the trombone’s slide affect the notes the player’s lips can make? Why does over-blowing make the flute, recorder and oboe go up an octave—but not the clarinet? Is there any logic behind the different fingerings for different instruments? What makes wind instruments sound different? Why do reeds vibrate at all?! Dr Trevor Agus is joined by Colin Stark and other wind players from the Ulster Orchestra for some music, demonstrations, and the science behind the sounds. The talk will be followed by a Q&A session and the chance to play some instruments yourself.

39

MON 19 FEB NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

Join Dr Rachel McMullan from The Open University as we explore the origins of disgust. Using live demonstrations and audience experiments let’s find out together how the behaviour of humans, macaques and even worms protects them from disease and why the things that make you feel disgusted could actually be protecting you.

TUE 20 FEB

DATE

WED 21 FEB

Science of Wind Instruments

THU 22 FEB

Yuck, That’s Disgusting!

FRI 23 FEB

ART & SCIENCE

SAT 24 FEB

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

ART & SCIENCE

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Wed-Lough: A Cycle Urban Bee Keeping of Duets from Nature A Faculty Lecture DATE

TIME(S)

Sunday 18 February

3.00–3.45pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Artspace, Oxford Island National Nature Reserve, Craigavon, BT66 6NJ

All Ages

DATE

TIME(S)

Sunday 18 February

3.00–4.30pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Black Box, 18-22 Hill St, Belfast, BT1 2LA

All Ages

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£6. Book via nisciencefestival.com

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Tonya McMullan, co-founder of Infinity Farm, presents a lecture on the subject of Urban Beekeeping. Infinity Farm CIC is an urban agriculture and art project in Belfast, which aims to connect people, herbs and bees through urban agriculture, art and educational workshops.

From October 2017 to January 2018, writer and composer, Reggie Chamberlain-King, is artist-in-residence at Oxford Island National Nature Reserve at Lough Neagh. He can trace his family back to a shotgun wedding on the shores of the lough in the 18th century and, in this, the year of his own marriage, he aims to compare and contrast those human experiences with the bonding behaviours, mating rituals, and survival instincts of the unique flora and fauna of the reserve: the themes of life itself. This performance will be the premier of Wed-Lough, the work produced during the residency, a new cycle of duets for a mix of instruments, spokenword, and field recordings.

Tonya is a visual artist and Infinity Farm is an extension of an art practice that is concerned with public space. She has been a bee keeper for three years and has recently set up an urban apiary on the roof of an artist run space, “Bank”, in East Belfast.

40


ONGOING EVENTS

DATE

TIME(S)

4.00–5.00pm

Sunday 18 February

7.30–10.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5AB

14 Yrs +

Sunflower Public House, 65 Union Street, Belfast, BT1 2JG

18+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£3. Book via niscienfestival.com

£6. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Discover the thought-provoking world of transhumanism with author and journalist Mark O’Connell.

Participants are invited to join the “Electronica Ensemble” in this unique opportunity to provide a new live score for the iconic 1927 sci-fi film Metropolis. This unique evening will involve the musical collaboration of the Ensemble alongside the melodious participation from those in the room – not by simply ringing the triangle but through the latest app technology, downloaded. IPads will be dispersed throughout the room and contributors can tinker away on the programme whilst watching the movie and sounds will be blended and mixed together to create a one-off immersive experience.

From individuals who are enhancing their bodies with technology to immortalists trying to ‘solve’ the problem of death, we uncover the futuristic movement that questions what next for humankind. To Be A Machine was shortlisted for the 2017 Royal Society Insight Investment Science Book Prize.

41

NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

Event hosted by Claudia Hammond.

MON 19 FEB

TIME(S)

Sunday 18 February

TUE 20 FEB

DATE

WED 21 FEB

TAP

THU 22 FEB

To Be A Machine

FRI 23 FEB

ART & SCIENCE

SAT 24 FEB

ENGINEERING & ROBOTICS

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS

NATURAL WORLD

ART & SCIENCE

Winter Tree Trail in Botanic Gardens

The Science of Photography

DATE

TIME(S)

DATE

TIME(S)

Monday 19 & Tuesday 20 February

11.00am–12.30pm

Monday 19 February

6.00–9.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Bowling Green, Botanic Gardens, College Park E, Belfast BT7 1LP

16 Yrs +

NORTH WEST

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Belfast Exposed, 23 Donegal Street,Belfast, BT1 2FF

18+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£30. Book via m.smyth@belfastexposed.org

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£3. Book via nisciencefestival.com

The importance of light in a photographic portrait, travelling in waves and particles, offers both measurable and dramatic compositions. In a portrait, we use light to create atmosphere and mood. Measuring the light correctly helps to achieve different effects. This workshop looks at creative portrait lighting and the science used to obtain the perfect measured balance of mood and composition. We will learn 5 different lighting set-ups: High Key; Low Key; Rembrandt; Butterfly and Split lighting.

Winter Tree Trail gives the public a chance to visit some of the 500+ trees in the Botanic Gardens and learn to recognise them in their winter clothes. This features a guided walk through the tree collections starting with the conifers – the sequoias, the pines, the recently discovered Wollemia and many others from around the world. We will then look at a number of deciduous trees that can be identified from their winter twigs, followed by a short workshop in the warmth of the Bowling Pavilion where we can look at specimens collected and make use of tree identification books.

We will look at the science behind light being reflected in the spectrum to let us see the colour of an object and how other light in the spectrum is absorbed enhancing this.

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

42


ONGOING EVENTS TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

MIND & BODY

Sport Insight

THU 22 FEB

All Ages

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Sports Correspondent, Denise Watson will be joined by an expert panel featuring coaches, sport scientists and sport medicine providers will share their insights on ‘Pursuing Performance Improvement’ in this Q&A style event. This session will challenge thinking and provide take home messages for all interested in sports improvement at an individual or team level. Lessons in profiling, monitoring and prescribing training in order to gain performance improvement and the importance of high performance behaviours in the journey to success will all be discussed.

43

FRI 23 FEB

SUITABILITY

Crescent Arts Centre, 2-4 University Rd, Belfast BT7 1NH

SAT 24 FEB

7.00–8.00pm

VENUE

SUN 25 FEB

TIME(S)

Monday 19 February

NORTH WEST

DATE

WED 21 FEB

Pursuing Performance Improvement


ONGOING EVENTS TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

ENGINEERING & ROBOTICS

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Robochallenge DATE

TIME(S)

Monday 19 February

7.00–9.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

South Dining Hall, Queen’s University Belfast, University Rd, Belfast BT7 1NN

10–14 Yrs

Wine, Whisky & Beer The Role of Geology

WED 21 FEB

7.30–8.30pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5AB

18+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

It’s alive! Well, kind of… In this fun, engaging, hands-on workshop, you will be introduced to the basics of programming and robotics by the engineering team from Sentinus. Put your robot to the test as you work together to program it to follow commands, navigate its way around a course and complete challenges. May the best robot win!

We read that the rocks and stones in vineyards affect the taste of wine and that whisky is influenced by the rocks the water encountered on its way to the distillery. With beer, in contrast, geology is rarely mentioned. In his talk, Professor Alex Maltman will review this situation and present evidence that leads to perhaps surprising conclusions. It may even prompt you to think about your favourite tipples in a new light!

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

TIME(S)

Monday 19 February

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

NORTH WEST

DATE

44


Black Box, 18-22 Hill St, Belfast BT1 2LA

18+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£2 per person. No booking required.

ONGOING EVENTS

DATE

TIME(S)

Monday 19 February

8.00–8.45pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Queen’s University, Belfast, David Kier Building, University Rd, Belfast BT7 1NN (confirm this with School of Chemistry)

14+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Make the most of your Monday! Drop in to The Black Box for a light-hearted team quiz devised by Mensa. No football, no soaps – just science, technology, engineering and a bit of general knowledge. Even if your quizzing is less than impressive, grab a few friends and come on down for the craic! You might even win a prize. Teams of up to six people welcome.

The search for alternative fuel is a challenge but what if we only had to look as far as the contents of our bins? Over the course of a lifetime, a person throws away the equivalent of 14.5 school buses of rubbish. In the UK, around 7.3 million tonnes of food are wasted each year, costing £13 billion. Most of this is put in landfill or incinerated, usually contaminated by grease and oils, which can damage recycling equipment. Dr Ahmed Osman of Queen’s University Belfast has discovered a pioneering way to convert your rubbish into a biofuel catalyst, which could help to solve global waste and energy problems.

45

MON 19 FEB TUE 20 FEB

SUITABILITY

WED 21 FEB

7.30–10.30pm

VENUE

THU 22 FEB

TIME(S)

Monday 19 February

FRI 23 FEB

DATE

How To Fill Your Car From Your Bin

SAT 24 FEB

Mensa Magnificent Monday Quiz

SUN 25 FEB

SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

NORTH WEST

SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

ENGINEERING AND ROBOTICS

ENGINEERING AND ROBOTICS

Sir Bernard Crossland Annual Lecture

Exploring the New World of Self-Driving Vehicles

Responsibility amidst a Revolution in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics DATE

TIME(S)

Tuesday 20 February

6.00–7.30pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Riddel Hall, Queen’s University, 185 Stranmillis Rd, Belfast BT9 5EE

18+

THU 22 FEB FRI 23 FEB SAT 24 FEB SUN 25 FEB

TIME(S)

Tuesday 20 February

6.30–8.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

The Metropolitan Arts Centre, 10 Exchange Street West, Belfast BT1 2NJ

14+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

ADMISSION & BOOKING

NORTH WEST

DATE

The self-driving cars, trucks and vans of the future are already here. How will these new forms of transport affect the towns and countryside we live in? How will this new technology change the way in which we carry out our everyday activities? How might patterns of working and shopping change? Improved road safety and increased mobility may be the upside of these changes but will we need new rules of the road, new cyber safety standards and new models of vehicle ownership? This presentation from the Institution of Engineering and Technology will look at some of these issues.

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

This year, Engineers Ireland and the Chief Executives Club at Queen’s University, with support from the Institution of Engineering and Technology, are delighted to welcome Professor Noel Sharkey (Judge on Robot Wars). Noel will be discussing the fascinating topic of robotics and artificial intelligence in his lecture. He will address how we might be responsible in an ever-changing world of engineering and technology for these fields of study. Professor David Jones, Pro-ViceChancellor for Education and Students, will give the welcome address at this event.

46


ONGOING EVENTS SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

SUITABILITY

Queen’s Film Theatre, 20 University Square, Belfast BT7 1PA

16+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£3. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Food Evolution shows how easily misinformation, confusion and fear can overwhelm objective analysis. How do we ensure that our food supply is safe, and that everyone has enough to eat? How do we feed the world while also protecting the planet? Has genetic engineering increased or decreased pesticide use? Are GMO foods bad for your health? And, most importantly, what data, evidence and sources are we using to approach these important questions?

Around 10% of the Northern Irish population are redheads, but how much do we know about the science behind this wonderful fiery feature? In this illuminating seminar, scientist and proud redhead Dr Declan McKenna discusses the ginger gene, explaining how it affects hair colour and why it is so common in this part of the world. Along the way he will explore the cultural significance of red hair throughout human history, discuss gingerism and explain why red hair is the new object of desire. This event will be run in conjunction with the Belfast Science Cafe and is suitable for all ages. Gingernuts and carrot-tops are especially welcome!

Where do ethical and political questions lie in this issue? Who controls genetic engineering and in whose interests, is it developed? What are the grounds upon which it is being opposed? Does being opposed to GMOs reflect an ‘antiscience’ and ‘Luddite’ perspective? A panel discussion will take place after the film focusing on issues relating to GMO foods with Johnathan J. Dalzell and Professor John Barry from Queen’s University Belfast.

47

MON 19 FEB

18+

6.30–8.30pm

VENUE

TUE 20 FEB

SUITABILITY

Black Box, 18-22 Hill St, Belfast BT1 2LA

TIME(S)

Tuesday 20 February

WED 21 FEB

VENUE

DATE

THU 22 FEB

6.30–7.30pm

FRI 23 FEB

TIME(S)

Tuesday 20 February

SAT 24 FEB

DATE

SUN 25 FEB

Belfast Science Cafe: Food Evolution Screening and Panel Discussion Ginger Genetics

SUN 18 FEB

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

NORTH WEST

MIND & BODY


ONGOING EVENTS

SPACE

ENGINEERING AND ROBOTICS

Stargazing Open Night

Superdomes

DATE

TIME(S)

Tuesday 20 February

7.00–9.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, College Hill, Armagh BT619DB

All Ages

NORTH WEST

DATE

TIME(S)

Tuesday 20 February

7.00–9.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Queens University, Whitla Hall University Road, Belfast BT7 1NN

10-14 Yrs. with guardians

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£2.50 per child, £3 per adult, £10 per family (2 Adults + 3 Children). Pre-booking is essential for digital theatre show. Telephone 028 3752 3689 or email reception@armaghplanet.com

Come and learn how to build “nature’s perfect structure”. Using minimal materials and having the potential to cover enormous spaces, not only are geodesic domes environmentally friendly and incredibly strong, they are an incredible mathematical feat! This hands-on construction based workshop gives children and their parents a chance to build a superdome of their own. This is a fantastic free event, perfect for any budding engineer or architect.

Marvel at the wonders of the cosmos on this very special evening at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium. Visitors are invited to travel to the stars through a Digital Theatre show and find more about our astronomers’ ground-breaking research during interactive talks. You will also have an opportunity to peek through our public telescope during this late opening session but make sure to wrap up as it will definitely be chilly! Telescope viewing is weather dependent.

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

48


8.00–9.30pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Strand Arts Centre, 156 Holywood Road, Belfast BT4 1NY

All Ages

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£4. Book via nisciencefestival.com

ONGOING EVENTS

DATE

TIME(S)

Tuesday 20 February

6.30–8.30pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Sixteen South Television, 1 Clarence Street, Belfast BT2 8DX

14+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£6. Book via nisciencefestival.com

When Apollo astronaut, Eugene Cernan, stepped off the moon in 1972, he left his footprints and his daughter’s initials in the lunar dust. Only now, forty years later, is he ready to share his epic but deeply personal story. Cernan’s burning ambition carried him to the spectacular and hazardous environment of space and to the moon, but there was a heavy price to pay for the fame and privilege that followed. As his wife famously remarked, ‘If you think going to the moon is hard, try staying at home.’ This documentary combines rare archive material, compelling visual effects and unprecedented access to present an iconic historical character on the big screen.

MON 19 FEB SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

Join some of the very talented creators and digital animators from Sixteen South for a talk and introductory workshop and hear about the process of creating quality television, with a heart, for children across the globe. The team includes James Law Art, Director of the Pinkalicious production; Ash O’Brien, Animator for the Claude production and Daniel Lazenby, Senior Designer for the Claude production.

TUE 20 FEB

TIME(S)

Tuesday 20 February

49

NORTH WEST

DATE

Sixteen South Animation Masterclass

WED 21 FEB

The Last Man on the Moon (PG)

THU 22 FEB

TECH & DIGITAL

FRI 23 FEB

SPACE

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

ENGINEERING AND ROBOTICS

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SCIENCE IN SOCIETY

Mapathon: The Missing Maps Project DATE

TIME(S)

Wednesday 21 February

6.00–7.30pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Medical Biology Centre Room 01/110, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL

14 Yrs + (Minors must be accompanied by an adult)

Pitch200

WED 21 FEB THU 22 FEB FRI 23 FEB

6.30–8.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Black Box, 18-22 Hill St, Belfast BT1 2LA

18+

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Civil Engineers make modern life possible. A bold statement you may say, but after this 90-minute event, we think you’ll agree! Pitch200 is a quickfire event designed to transform your thinking in 200 seconds or less! Civil engineers will compete to give the best demonstration of what they do in just 200 seconds (or less). With talks ranging from transport systems, the creation of spaces for human habitation, energy, water supply and much more! Join in the fun, grab some free grub and learn how civil engineers build our quality of life.

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Come and join us for an evening of humanitarian mapping using an open Geographical Information System (GIS). The Missing Maps Project maps the most crisis-prone parts of the world utilising satellite, aerial and drone images. Using web map tools, identify buildings and directly help humanitarian organisations improve the lives of some of the planet’s most vulnerable people. Whether you’re an experienced Humanitarian Mapper or have never mapped before, come along to learn more about the Missing Maps Project, OpenStreetMaps and GIS. This event is run in partnership with Geography at QUB and the Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

TIME(S)

Wednesday 21 February

ADMISSION & BOOKING

ADMISSION & BOOKING

NORTH WEST

DATE

50


The Antibiotic Apocalypse

ONGOING EVENTS

Sport Insight

Reloading for the next performance

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Conor Lecture Theatre, Ulster University, 25-51 York St, Belfast BT15 1ED

14+

7.00–8.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Crescent Arts Centre, 2-4 University Rd, Belfast BT7 1NH

14+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£2. Book via nisciencefestival.com

As a follow up to Monday’s event, ‘Sport Insight - Pursuing Performance Improvement’, Sports Correspondent, Denise Watson will be joined by another expert panel at another Q&A style event, into why ‘smart recovery’ is critical for many athletes and the role of sport science has in aiding recovery. By challenging thinking and providing take home messages for all interested in sports improvement at an individual or team level this is a great opportunity to learn lessons from how the best athletes recover.

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

The development and spread of superbugs promises a terrible future, one which plunges medicine back into the dark-ages – a simple cut to your finger could leave you fighting for your life; getting your appendix removed, a hip replacement or childbirth could become deadly medical procedures. Bacterial pathogens have developed resistance to our miracle medicine “antibiotics“ and without swift action we could be facing The Antibiotic Apocalypse. Glimpse into this potential terrible future via the short-film “CATCH”, hear from experts in infection control and those developing new medical treatments to tackle antibiotic resistant bacteria, take part in hands-on agar art and infection control workshops and win prizes beating the Superbugs Game.

WED 21 FEB

7.00–9.00pm

TIME(S)

Wednesday 21 February

THU 22 FEB

Wednesday 21 February

DATE

FRI 23 FEB

TIME(S)

51

NORTH WEST

DATE

MON 19 FEB

SPORT SCIENCE

TUE 20 FEB

SCIENCE IN SOCIETY

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

SPACE

Coffee Culture Chemistry DATE

TIME(S)

Wednesday 21 February

7.00–8.30pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Bullitt Hotel, 40a Church Lane, Belfast BT1 4QN

18+

10 things you didn’t know about meteorites (but thought you did)

£10.00. To book, contact events@bullitthotel.com or call 02895900600

7.00–8.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5AB

18+

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Meteor or meteorite? Did one, or the other, really kill the dinosaurs? Why you almost never see a meteorite as it falls. Was a dog really killed by a Martian? Rocks from the Moon and Mars: how do we know? And how do we know how long they took to get here? These and other intriguing questions will be answered by Ulster Museum’s meteorite expert Dr Mike Simms, or you can ask your own.

SUN 25 FEB NORTH WEST

TIME(S)

Wednesday 21 February

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Did you know there is a surprising amount of chemistry in that perfect cup of coffee? Back by popular demand, join us for an evening with Bailies Coffee Roasters, who will explain how the company’s own brand of coffee is specially sourced and perfectly prepared to create its famous aroma and rich flavour. Enjoy coffee samples throughout the evening, served to perfection by our experienced in-house baristas.

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

ADMISSION & BOOKING

DATE

52


ONGOING EVENTS

TIME(S)

DATE

TIME(S)

Wednesday 21 February

7.30–9.00pm

Wednesday 21 February

8.30–10.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Belfast café TBC, check nisciencefestival.com for details.

14+

Black Box Green Room, 18-22 Hill St, Belfast BT1 2LA

18+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Drop in.

£6.50. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Enjoy a relaxed evening of scientific colouring with “Life under the lens” colouring book artist, Jennifer Delaney. Explore the hidden beauty of microscopic life through colouring with friends or family. Colour the photosynthetic strands of cyanobacteria or the thorasic limbs of marine barnacles. Allow yourself to escape to the world beneath the lens and marvel at the beauty of life in its smallest form. All colouring materials will be provided on the night.

The Half Bap is an old name for the Cathedral Quarter because the people who lived there could only afford half a Belfast Bap. The Half Bap Cabaret is not a high-end cabaret with top hats and velvet curtains. In the true spirit of cabaret, it is alternative, rowdy and of the people – this time with added science!

53

MON 19 FEB NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

Joining regular host Leonie McDonagh will be four Belfast acts; Emer Maguire, Caolan McBride, Jan Carson and Robin Price, each of which would be worth the admission price on their own.

TUE 20 FEB

DATE

WED 21 FEB

The Half Bap Science Cabaret

THU 22 FEB

Scientific Colouring Evening Belfast

FRI 23 FEB

ART AND SCIENCE

SAT 24 FEB

ART AND SCIENCE

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS

IMAGE: BRIAN FARRELL

NATURAL WORLD

ART AND SCIENCE

The Basics of Plant Identification

Make It Super Assembly

DATE

TIME(S)

DATE

TIME(S)

Thursday 22 February

11.00–12.30pm

Thursday 22 February

2.00–2.45pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Botanic Gardens Bowling Pavilion, College Park, Botanic Avenue, Belfast, BT7

18+

Live stream - bbc.co.uk/makeit

14+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

£5. Book via nisciencefestival.com

How do you identify a plant you have never seen before? Make a key of course! In this 90-minute workshop attendees are introduced to a variety of plant keys (e.g. Dichotomous keys, multi-entry keys etc.) and the terminology used in them. Work as a team to ID plants, make your own plant key to identify various flora within Botanic Gardens and see whether others can use it.

Artist, inventor and explorer Paddy Bloomer is the man behind crazy creations like the Whinbush Rocket, the Scary-go-round and the Binboat. Sometimes in science you have to break the rules. Paddy has lots of stories to tell about his unconventional journey, like the time he made a stair lift rollercoaster for older people! Join us for a Super Assembly with a difference as he races against the clock to invent something – extreme DIY style. Make It is the BBC’s campaign to make sense of the world of work and help you become the very best you can be.

NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

54


Thursday 22 February

6.30–8.30pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Belfast City Hall, Donegal Square, Belfast BT1 5GS

14+

ONGOING EVENTS

DATE

TIME(S)

Thursday 22 February

6.30–8.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5AB

All Ages

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£5. Book via nisciencefestival.com

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

The idea that we’re in a post truth world has put politicians and researchers on the defensive. Should they be? Are we really in a world where the public doesn’t care about evidence? Join Jonathan McCrea and our panel of amazing speakers to discuss this and how we can all rally around to stand up for evidence!

Join Dr Andy Harter CBE FREng FIET FBCS for the 2018 Turing Lecture. In his talk, Dr Harter will examine the role of “art” in technology including not only form and beauty but also craft, design, skill, invention and intuition. Can we do more to appreciate and promote the importance of “art” as a feature on the interdisciplinary landscape?

Organised in partnership with Sense About Science and the Instiutute of Physics.

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

Dr Andy Harter is a distinguished innovator and entrepreneur. He was Director of Research and Engineering at the influential AT&T Cambridge Laboratory where he led many hardware and software projects through to commercial exploitation. He was responsible for VNC software and its seminal role in establishing the remote access market. The technology is on over a billion devices, is on more different kinds of computer than any other application and is an official part of the internet.

MON 19 FEB

TIME(S)

55

NORTH WEST

DATE

TUE 20 FEB

“Post Truth” & Science

Innovation & Technology Art or Science?

WED 21 FEB

Turing Lecture 2018

THU 22 FEB

SCIENCE IN SOCIETY

FRI 23 FEB

TECH AND DIGITAL

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS

MIND & BODY

ART AND SCIENCE

Health Technology Futures

The Art and Science of Linen

DATE

TIME(S)

DATE

TIME(S)

Thursday 22 February

6.00–8.00pm

Thursday 22 February

7.00–8.30pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

VENUE

SUITABILITY

NIBEC, Ulster University, Jordanstown, Newtownabbey BT37 OQB

All Ages

PRONI, 2 Titanic Boulevard, Titanic Quarter, Belfast BT3 9HQ

14+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but as health technologies become increasingly more advanced, it’s more likely that your “doctor” will be made by Apple (or android for that matter). Come along and learn all about the new health technologies heading our way in the very near future. With an exciting mix of workshops and live demonstrations this event will explore a range topics such as diagnostic technologies, assisted living and biodevices.

Join artists Anna Dumitriu and Alex May in conversation following a showing of the video artwork “The Art and Science of Linen”. This video artwork was created by Anna, Alex, and microbiologist Dr John Paul, with sound by Martin A. Smith. It looks at the whole ecology of linen production from the bacteria used to break down the flax in retting tanks, to the industrial production of linen and its cultural importance. Hear about heritage crafts, such as natural dyeing, and how they link to modern microbiology. Alex will highlight the manual processes filmed in Northern Ireland and the editing, from his background in VJing, which is the creation or manipulation of imagery in real-time through technological mediation.

NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

56


MIND & BODY

The Genius Within DATE

TIME(S)

Thursday 22 February

7.00–8.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

The Black Box, 18-22 Hill Street, Belfast

18+

ONGOING EVENTS WED 21 FEB

Smart Pills, Brain Hacks and Adventures in Intelligence

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

Dr David Adam is the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Man Who Couldn’t Stop and an editor at Nature, the world’s leading scientific journal. He was named Feature Writer of the Year by the Association of British Science Writers.

57

FRI 23 FEB SAT 24 FEB

Adam will explore the groundbreaking neuroscience of cognitive enhancement that is changing the way the brain and the mind works – to make it better, sharper, more focused and, yes, more intelligent. Sharing his own experiments with revolutionary smart drugs and electrical brain stimulation, he delves into the sinister history of intelligence tests, meets savants and brain hackers and reveals how he boosted his own IQ to cheat his way into Mensa.

SUN 25 FEB

Could you be a genius? Award-winning science writer David Adam reveals how frontier neuroscience can enhance your intelligence – making you smarter, sharper and brighter than you ever thought you could be.

NORTH WEST

£6. Book via nisciencefestival.com

THU 22 FEB

ADMISSION & BOOKING


ONGOING EVENTS

SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

NATURAL WORLD

Explain Like I’m 5

Bodysong (2003)

DATE

TIME(S)

DATE

TIME(S)

Thursday 22 February

7.30–9.00pm

Thursday 22 February

8.30–10.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Farset Labs, 1 Weavers Court, Linfield Road, BT12 5GH

All Ages

Strand Arts Centre, 156 Holywood Road, Belfast BT4 1NY

18+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

£4. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Explain Like I’m 5 is our collaborative speaker series, where local developers, technologists, entrepreneurs, artists, performers, scientists, and business people take a concept that may be highly specific to their area of expertise or work, and break it down to a lay audience from right across the STEAM spectrum with a minimal expectation of prior knowledge.

In this unusual BAFTA winning documentary, director Simon Pummel creates a universal representation of the human experience through a variety of images, found footage, sights and sounds – all without uttering a word of dialogue. From the moment of conception to the end of life, Pummel chooses to depict the scenes most commonly shared by all humankind throughout its entire existence. These moments of life are set to music composed by Johnny Greenwood of Radiohead.

The target audience is anyone and everyone who loves learning and expanding their horizons. No topic is off limits as long as you are confident that it can be delivered to a lay audience within the constraints of the format. In partnership with Farset Labs.

NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

58


The Magic of Plants Magnified

ONGOING EVENTS

Cyber Security Training: Capture the Flag!

DATE

TIME(S)

DATE

TIME(S)

Friday 23 February

11.00am–12.30pm

Friday 23 February

6.30–9.30pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Botanic Gardens Bowling Pavilion, College Park, Botanic Avenue, Belfast, BT7

18+

Farset Labs, Weavers Court, Linfield Rd, Belfast BT12 5GH

18+

MON 19 FEB

TECH AND DIGITAL

TUE 20 FEB

NATURAL WORLD

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

THU 22 FEB

Come and join us for an evening of cyber security awareness, hacking and fun! No prior experience required, except a healthy thirst for knowledge! This event will be an evening-long workshop. Simon Whittaker from Vertical Structure will be giving training on the basics and practice of hacking and penetration testing with Security Shepherd and Juicebox as part of the NI Science Festival.

59

NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

A practical demonstration and workshop on the beautiful details of ferns, mosses, horsetails and liverworts, the often-neglected green background of our parks and gardens. Live demonstrations using modern stereo-binocular and high magnification microscopes with live video projection so that all participants can see at the same time. Making use of plants from the Tropical Ravine and Belfast Botanic Gardens freshly collected for the workshop. This will be of interest gardeners, natural historians and a great source of inspiration for artists.

FRI 23 FEB

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

£5. Book via nisciencefestival.com

WED 21 FEB

ADMISSION & BOOKING

ADMISSION & BOOKING


ONGOING EVENTS TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

SPACE

MATHS & PHYSICS

Cosmic Cuilcagh

Pints & Puzzles

DATE

TIME(S)

DATE

TIME(S)

Friday 23 February

7.00–10.00pm

Friday 23 February

7.00–9.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Marble Arch Caves Visitor Centre, 43 Marlbank Road, Florencecourt, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh BT92 1EW

All Ages

Northern Lights, 451 Ormeau Rd, Belfast BT7 3GQ

18+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£5. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Adult £5. Child £3. Family ticket (2 adults, 2 Children) £12. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Enjoy a pub quiz with a twist – with puzzles and problem-solving instead of general knowledge. Join puzzle-mad mathematicians Katie Steckles and Ben Sparks for a brain-teasing selection of mathematical puzzles, themed around everything from pouring pints to flipping beer mats, with plenty of hints and clues if you get stuck.

Due to its location – straddling the border between Counties Fermanagh and Cavan – the remarkable Marble Arch Caves UNESCO Global Geopark has inky dark skies to rival many. The Marble Arch Caves Visitor Centre, nestled in the foothills of Cuilcagh Mountain, is a perfect place to observe and learn more about the mysterious night sky above! Join Geopark staff and Dark Sky Experts for an exciting evening involving outdoor stargazing (so wrap up warm) and an array of entertaining interactive indoor activities and shows for all ages.

NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

ADMISSION & BOOKING

60


ONGOING EVENTS

TIME(S)

DATE

TIME(S)

Friday 23 February

7.00–10.00pm

Friday 23 February

7.30–10.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Black Box, 18-22 Hill St, Belfast BT1 2LA

18+

The Sonic Arts Research Centre, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, BT7 1NN

18+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£3. Book via nisciencefestival.com

£8. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Are you ready to get quizzical and a little pedantic? Join science troubadour, Jonny Berliner, and Ugly Animal wrangler, Simon Watt, for this madcap twist on the pub quiz where points mean the tapered end of objects, and prizes promise to enhance your nerd credentials. Be warned, each and every round will be a little bit weird.

Celebrating 60 Years, The Radiophonic Workshop are one of the most influential electronic music groups of all time. As the in-house composers of music and effects for the BBC they created the sonic backdrops for Doctor Who, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Tomorrow’s World and countless others.

61

MON 19 FEB NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

Join Mark Ayres and Dick Mills from the Radiophonic Workshop as they talk about some of their personal highlights and the wondrous melodies that soundtracked the childhoods of several generations.

TUE 20 FEB

DATE

WED 21 FEB

The Radiophonic Workshop at 60 Years

THU 22 FEB

Universilly Challenged

FRI 23 FEB

ART & SCIENCE

SAT 24 FEB

SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

A Taste of Prehistory DATE

TIME(S)

Friday 23 February

7.00–11.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5AB

18+

NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£50. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Travel back to a time BC (Before Crisps – the potato only made its way here in the 16th century), when our ancestors sourced their food in the landscape around them. With Professor Alice Roberts as your host, your tastebuds will be tickled by a three-course special menu created by our friends at Yellow Door Deli, inspired by ingredients found in Ireland in Prehistoric times. Hear the call of ancient musical horns played at feasts and explore the science behind food and archaeology with a range of appropriately ancient-themed activities, including bone identification and lipid analysis (“what’s that” you ask? You’ll have to join us to find out!). This is a night at the museum like no other....

62


SUITABILITY

St George’s Market, 12-20 East Bridge Street, Belfast BT1 3NQ

All Ages

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Drop in.

Meet the British Heart Foundation as you enter our pop-up laboratory and try your hand at being a heart scientist. You can see heart imaging and watch heart cells beating, touch and feel some of the technology used in heart surgery and put your questions to real heart scientists.

ONGOING EVENTS

DATE

TIME(S)

Saturday 24 February

9.30am. Check website for exact timings

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Queen’s University, Computer Science Building, 18 Malone Rd, Belfast BT9 6RT

16+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Code4good NI are organising a space hackathon based on the framework from Smart Cities Belfast which aims to harness new technologies and data science to support local economic growth and improve outcomes for citizens. Code4good would like to use this opportunity to not only promote the value of satellite data being used in government but also its benefits to the wider public and industry.

Science, funded by British Heart Foundation, has led to advances in pacemakers, transplant surgery, defibrillators and the development of statins. Learn how the charity has made history in heart research with this interactive exhibition for all ages.

MON 19 FEB SUN 25 FEB

The hackathon will encourage teams to use open data to deliver prototypes for public good that will meet the challenges set out in the smart cities framework. In partnership with Code for Good.

TUE 20 FEB

10.00am–4.00pm

VENUE

WED 21 FEB

TIME(S)

Saturday 24 February

63

NORTH WEST

DATE

THU 22 FEB

The Heart Experience Space Cities Space Hackathon

FRI 23 FEB

SCIENCE IN SOCIETY

SAT 24 FEB

MIND & BODY

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

NATURAL WORLD

MIND AND BODY

Busy Bees DATE

TIME(S)

Saturday 24 February

10.00am–12.30pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Musgrave Park, Stockman’s Lane, Belfast, BT9 7JB

14+

Museum of Thought Experiments

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

DATE

TIME(S)

Saturday 24 February

10.00am–4.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

W5, 2 Queens Quay, Belfast BT3 9QQ

All Ages

Free with admission to W5.

Our pollinators are in trouble due to hunger, homelessness and disease. Discover what pollinators do for us and what we can all do to help them.

The Museum of Thought Experiments represents a level up in walkabout performance and an amazing head melting trip for adults and kids alike. We’ve created an interactive installation where characters aren’t just funny and engaging but they’ll mess with your heads as well! If philosophy is a gym for your brain then our thought experiments are a gym and a funfair for your brain at the same time. A museum of challenge. A museum of questions. A museum of thought experiments.

Learn about our local bumble bees and how to identify them. We’ll then walk around Musgrave Park and look at plants and easy practical measures which are good for pollinators. This event is part of the Bee-licious project which is supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund (hlf.org.uk), Your Heritage Programme.

Young or old learning to question is perhaps the most important skill we can practice in today’s mental world so we’ve curated a space where magic, laughter and dexterity will not just entertain but challenge and teach.

NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

ADMISSION & BOOKING

64


Understanding Our Oceans

ONGOING EVENTS

Dr Megaphone’s Irish Jaunt

DATE

TIME(S)

DATE

TIME(S)

Saturday 24 February; Sunday 25 February

11.00am–5.00pm

Saturday 24 February

11.00am–12.00pm 10 Yrs +

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free with admission to Exploris.

Join engineer Ian Johnston (Dr Megaphone) from The Open University, singer-songwriter Alan McClure and long-suffering demonstrator, Sandy the Science Boy for a journey in words, pictures, music and live experiments through Ireland’s history in science, technology and engineering. Learn about hurricanes, diving bells and a cat that may, or may not, be alive.

SAT 24 FEB

Dive into Exploris Aquarium’s series of handson, fun and educative workshops and activities. Suitable for all ages, these workshops will expand your knowledge of the Oceans around you and teach you how you can do your part to protect them. Workshops offered are: The Rise of The Humboldt Squid; Ocean Currents; Rock Pooling Masterclass and Ocean Pollution – Can You Clean Up an Oil Spill?

WED 21 FEB

All Ages

THU 22 FEB

Exploris Aquarium, The Rope Walk, Castle Street, Portaferry BT22 1NZ

SUITABILITY

Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5AB

FRI 23 FEB

SUITABILITY

SUN 25 FEB

Talks on Aquatic Ecosystems will also be available during our daily open pool demonstrations as well as Ocean themed arts and crafts in the Crabby Craft Club. Check Exploris Aquarium’s website for workshop information.

65

NORTH WEST

VENUE

VENUE

MON 19 FEB

ENGINEERING AND ROBOTICS

TUE 20 FEB

NATURAL WORLD

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

SHeroes Assemble! DATE

TIME(S)

Saturday 24 February

10.00am–4.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Metropolitan Arts Centre (MAC), 10 Exchange Street West, Belfast BT1 2NJ

12+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Science... Ugh! BORING! Or is it? Prepare to have your mind opened and stereotypes destroyed! Come along to our loud, messy and fun Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths (STEAM) science fair for girls. With interactive stalls, full of awesome activities, drop by and talk to our real-life science superheroes and find out why working in STEAM could be right for you! So, come one, come all, to this fantastic event that encourages young women into the STEAM fields. The future is female and that’s how we like it!

NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

Free. Registration is advised via nisciencefestival.com

66


ONGOING EVENTS

DATE

TIME(S)

DATE

TIME(S)

Saturday 24 February

10.00–11.30am

Saturday 24 February

Various. Check nisciencefestival.com for full listings.

SUITABILITY

Ballysillan Bowling Pavillion, Ballysillan Road, Belfast BT14

3–14

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. ParkLife@belfastcity.gov.uk

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Boom! Studios, 80a Main Street, Bangor BT20 3AH

All Ages

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Various. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Come along to our Saturday club and heart your park. Find out all about your health and heart by playing games with a natural twist and showing your park how much you love it!

You may think that Art and Science are poles apart, but not at Boom! Studios.

MON 19 FEB SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

Join us for a fun, interactive day exploring how art and science can come together. With a multitude of different workshops such as “messy morning” for toddlers to “light painting” and even Minecraft art, there’s something for everyone! So, get creative and learn the science behind the process.

67

NORTH WEST

VENUE

TUE 20 FEB

Art & Science Saturday

WED 21 FEB

ParkLife Saturday Club: Ballysillan

THU 22 FEB

ART AND SCIENCE

FRI 23 FEB

NATURAL WORLD

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS

ART AND SCIENCE

SCIENCE IN SOCIETY

Titanic Taster Photography Tour Lenses, Light & Magnification TIME(S)

DATE

TIME(S)

10.30am–1.30pm

Saturday 24 February

11.00am–12.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

VENUE

SUITABILITY

1 Olympic Way, Queen’s Road, Titanic Quarter, Belfast BT3 9EP

18+

The Old Museum Building, 7 College Square North, Belfast BT1 6AR

16+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£20. Book via niciencefestival.com

On this interactive tour, you will be transported around the quarter in style on the Wee Tram with various stops along the way including the Great Light, Titanic’s Dock & Pump-House and H&W cranes.

SUN 25 FEB

Flight and World War I

Saturday 24 February

Become a Titanic inspired photographer for the day, learning all about the science behind photography while having the opportunity to explore Titanic Quarter’s industrial & maritime heritage. Photography is the physics of light and you will learn how to use light to create stunning images and the power of magnification at our very own giant optic lenses.

NORTH WEST

Spinning, Stalling and Falling Apart

DATE

SAT 24 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

The birth of fixed-wing, powered flight in the first decade of the twentieth century brought with it the potential of significant, unintended fatalities on the aircraft’s return to Earth. Join lecturer, Tony Royle, historian of mathematics and former airline captain with Virgin Atlantic, to hear stories from the eventful lives of some of the men and women involved: the nature of the contemporary mathematical and engineering debates surrounding flight, and the practical steps taken in Britain to create safer aircraft prior to, and during, WW1.

This event ncludes refreshment stop at Titanic’s Dock and Pump-House.

68


Pizza & Puzzles

ONGOING EVENTS

Lily’s Driftwood Bay

DATE

TIME(S)

DATE

TIME(S)

Saturday 24 February

12.30pm

Saturday 24 February

Session 1: 2.00–3.00pm Session 2: 3.45–4.45pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Strand Arts Centre, 152-154 Holywood Rd, Belfast BT4 1NY

2-8 Yrs, with guardians.

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£5. Book via nisciencefestival.com

ADMISSION & BOOKING

The Belfast-based studio Sixteen South is best known for Lily’s Driftwood Bay, a preschool mixed-media animated show about Lily, a 5 year old who lives in a beach hut on the shore with her Dad. Every day, the sea washes up a curious new treasure, which sparks Lily’s imagination about what might be happening across the way on Driftwood Bay. As part of this bespoke event, children will have an opportunity to watch a double length episode, “Salty Chicken”, which features Dolly Parton. This will be followed by Lily’s Driftwood workshop where little ones will have the opportunity to make crafts from sea treasures and meet the wonderful people from Ulster Wildlife as they share some of their seashore, before a personal meet and greet with the Lily costume character.

69

THU 22 FEB

Enjoy a pizza lunch with a twist – puzzles and problem-solving alongside your pepperoni. Join puzzle-mad mathematicians Katie Steckles and Ben Sparks for a brain-teasing selection of mathematical puzzles, themed around everything from slicing a pizza to mixing your condiments, with plenty of hints and clues if you get stuck.

WED 21 FEB

£5 (Adults Free) Book via nisciencefestival.com

FRI 23 FEB

10 Yrs+

SAT 24 FEB

Black Box, 18 – 22 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LA

SUN 25 FEB

SUITABILITY

NORTH WEST

VENUE

MON 19 FEB

NATURAL WORLD

TUE 20 FEB

MATHS & PHYSICS

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS

SPACE

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Look Up! DATE

TIME(S)

Saturday 24 February

1.00 & 3.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Black Box, 18-22 Hill St, Belfast BT1 2LA

6 Yrs+

Shortcross Gin Distillery Tour

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£6/£3 concession. Book via nisciencefestival.com

TIME(S)

Saturday 24 February

2.00 & 4.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Rademon Estate Distillery, Church Road, Crossgar, Co. Down, BT30 9HR

18+

£20. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Rademon Estate Distillery opens its doors during the NI Science Festival for an exclusive tour and tasting experience, which will unlock some of the secrets and skills that go into creating Shortcross Gin. David Boyd-Armstrong, head distiller, will talk you through the fascinating process; from how they harvest local botanicals, draw fresh water from the distillery well, distil on a bespoke copper pot still and bottle and label the finished product on site.

SAT 24 FEB

After the tour, discover the Visitors Centre and the Shortcross Gin Bar. Enjoy a guided tasting of Shortcross Gin and browse in the Distillery Shop.

SUN 25 FEB NORTH WEST

DATE

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Simon Watt explores some of the science behind space exploration. Which planet is hottest? Which would float in a swimming pool? Which is the most studied? And just how much space is in space? Join him in this live show to see what experiments you can recreate at home and learn about what you can see if you only look up!

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

70


NATURAL WORLD

DATE

TIME(S)

Saturday 24 February

2.00–3.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Whitla Hall, University Road, Belfast BT7 1NN

14+

ONGOING EVENTS WED 21 FEB

Tamed with Professor Alice Roberts

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

ADMISSION & BOOKING

71

FRI 23 FEB SAT 24 FEB

In her book, Tamed, Alice Roberts uncovers the amazing history of ten familiar species with incredible wild pasts. In this talk, she tells the story of three key species: dogs, cattle and horses. She reveals how becoming part of our world changed these animals, and shows how they became our allies - essential to the survival and success of our own species.

SUN 25 FEB

For hundreds of thousands of years, our ancestors depended on wild plants and animals for survival. They were hunter- gatherers, consummate foraging experts, taking the world as they found it. Then a revolution occurred – our ancestors’ interaction with other species changed. They began to tame them. The human population boomed; civilisation began.

NORTH WEST

Join Alice Roberts as she delves into archaeology, history and genetics to reveal the amazing stories of three species that became our allies.

THU 22 FEB

£14/£10 concession. Book via nisciencefestival.com


ONGOING EVENTS SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

TECH & DIGITAL

MATHS & PHYSICS

Girl STEM Toy Hackathon

Mathematical Life Hacks

DATE

TIME(S)

DATE

TIME(S)

Saturday 24 February

2.00 & 5.00pm

Saturday 24 February

2.30–3.30pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

VENUE

SUITABILITY

W5, 2 Queen’s Quay, Belfast BT3 9QQ

18+

Black Box, 18-22 Hill St, Belfast BT1 2LA

16+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

£6/£3. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Girls as young as seven are being turned off maths, which explains why only 10% of jobs in STEM are held by women. What toy can we invent to help lay a foundation in STEAM for developing girls and boys? How can we attract more intuitive learners to the revelations of data oriented subjects and increase the number of women working in STEAM through play? Hosted by Little Citizens Boutique, the Girl STEM Toy Hackathon will mix up teams of designers, educators, entrepreneurs, students, scientists, engineers, parents, artists and punters to come up with a toy prototype that helps prepare children for our changing world. Teams will compete for a cash prize to create the best toy with the potential to bring it to market.

We all know that people with maths, science and technology skills are experienced at problemsolving. But how useful are those skills in the real world? Mathematician and speaker Katie Steckles will show you some mathematical, logical and geometrical tricks to solve some of everyday life’s minor challenges – from tying your shoelace to changing a duvet cover, and plenty of others. You’ll never fold a t-shirt the same way again!

Join us, no experience necessary, just an open mind and a willingness to participate.

72


SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

DATE

TIME(S)

Saturday 24 February

7.00–11.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

W5 at Odyssey, 2 Queen’s Quay, Belfast, BT3 9QQ

18+

ONGOING EVENTS THU 22 FEB

Late Night Science at W5

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

ADMISSION & BOOKING

73

SAT 24 FEB SUN 25 FEB

There will be a fully licensed bar where you can have a glass of wine or cold beer.

NORTH WEST

Have you always wanted to visit W5 but been put off by all the children? Late Night Science is a strictly adults-only, after-hours evening of interactive science experiments and your opportunity to engage with over 250 interactive science exhibits at Northern Ireland’s award-winning science and discovery centre! You can even scale the mighty heights of Climbit, and visit the Museum of the Moon, an amazing new touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram.

FRI 23 FEB

£15. Book via nisciencefestival.com


ONGOING EVENTS TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

MATHS & PHYSICS

Physics Busking

Bakineering in Space

DATE

TIME(S)

DATE

TIME(S)

Saturday 24 & Sunday 25 February

10.00am –4.00pm

Sunday 25 February

1.00–2.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Ulster Museum, Botanic Ct, Belfast BT9 5AB (Sat) and St, George’s Market (Sun)

All Ages

WED 21 FEB THU 22 FEB

14+

£14. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Free. Drop in.

How can a retro dessert explain how astronauts safely return to Earth? In this interactive session Andrew & Tom, from the Great British Bake Off, will explore the surprising connections between everyday bakes and the extraordinary engineering that helps keep astronauts alive in space. Expect to have your curiosity stirred, whisked and taken out of this world.

Come along to be entertained by some of the best Physics Busking in the Universe. Be amazed by sights and tricks, using everyday objects to open up a new world of curiosity and understanding. The Institute of Physics team invites you into a realm of invisible forces and remarkable matter. You are encouraged to play along and join in the unstoppably infectious physics fun!

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

SUITABILITY

Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5AB ADMISSION & BOOKING

ADMISSION & BOOKING

NORTH WEST

VENUE

74


1.00–2.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Black Box, 18 – 22 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LA

14+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£3. Book via nisciencefestival.com

ONGOING EVENTS

DATE

TIME(S)

Sunday 25 February

2.00–3.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Ulster Museum, Botanic Ct, Belfast BT9 5AB

16+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

While mathematicians are undoubtedly brilliant, and their work is used in all kinds of amazing scientific and technological discoveries, there are still questions they can’t answer. Every mathematical question is a puzzle to be solved, and while there’ll be plenty of puzzles for you to chew on, we’ll also discuss some of the questions that still leave mathematicians stumped - from simple-sounding number and shape problems to some truly mind-bending fundamental questions.

Surgery has advanced significantly over the last 100 years, especially in organ transplantation. Pankaj Chandak charts a journey of progressive innovation from the early times of Listerian surgery to the challenges facing modern day surgeons and scientists. He highlights the advances in minimally invasive surgery, 3D printing and machine perfusion technology in organ transplantation.

MON 19 FEB SUN 25 FEB

Pankaj Chandak is the winner of the British Science Association’s Charles Darwin Award Lecture for Agricultural, Biological & Medical Sciences.

TUE 20 FEB

Sunday 25 February

Surgical innovation in organ transplantation

WED 21 FEB

TIME(S)

75

NORTH WEST

DATE

From Kings to Keyholes

THU 22 FEB

Maths’s Greatest Unsolved Puzzles

FRI 23 FEB

MIND AND BODY

SAT 24 FEB

MATHS & PHYSICS

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

MATHS & PHYSICS

ART AND SCIENCE

Sacred Geometry of Chance DATE

TIME(S)

Sunday 25 February

3.00–4.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Black Box, 18 – 22 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LA

18+

The Mystery of Music According to Science A Faculty Lecture

£3. Book via nisciencefestival.com

3.00–4.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Black Box, 18 – 22 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LA

14 Yrs+

£6. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Do you cry every time you hear ‘Tears in Heaven’? Do your feet move uncontrollably when you hear ‘Uptown Funk’? Do you still remember the lyrics to the first ever song you learned in primary school? Music is everywhere; from first wedding dances to national anthems, to every party you’ve ever been to! But why do we love music, and why does it make us think, feel, laugh, cry, and dance? Why are some of us obsessed with heavy metal, while others swear by The Beatles? How is a brain wired up to make a musical prodigy...and what’s happening in the mind of someone with two left feet?! Join Emer Maguire, to solve the mystery of music (according to science!)

SAT 24 FEB SUN 25 FEB NORTH WEST

TIME(S)

Sunday 25 February

ADMISSION & BOOKING

In his nineties song “Shape of My Heart”, Sting sang about a gambler finding beauty in the “hidden laws” of probability that govern poker. In this session, we will deal the cards to investigate, and uncover some surprising hidden laws – and we’ll try to find what really makes “numbers dance”.

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

ADMISSION & BOOKING

DATE

76


NATURAL WORLD

DATE

TIME(S)

Sunday 25 February

3.30–4.30pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Whitla Hall, University Road, Belfast BT7 1NN

All Ages

ONGOING EVENTS WED 21 FEB

Doug Allan - An Eye Below Zero

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

ADMISSION & BOOKING

“For me, wildlife cameramen don’t come much more special than Doug. There’s just no one else who knows these frozen worlds as he does”. - David Attenborough 77

FRI 23 FEB SAT 24 FEB

Doug has become one of the world’s best known and respected cameramen. In his 30-year filming career, he’s worked for BBC, Discovery, National Geographic and many others, filming for series like The Blue Planet, Planet Earth, Frozen Planet, Ocean Giants, Operation Iceberg, Wild Cameramen at Work and most recently Forces of Nature on BBC 1.

SUN 25 FEB

Join wildlife cameraman Doug Allan for a fascinating talk on marine biology, diving and filming at the poles, and how climate change is affecting these regions of Earth. With over 40 years experience of the poles, Doug has witnessed, first-hand, the effects of changes in sea ice cover on the populations of animals north and south.

NORTH WEST

Have you ever wondered how to approach belugas underwater? How to get up close and personal with polar bears without being eaten? Or how not to lose that important dive hole when you’re diving under the ice?

THU 22 FEB

£14/£10 concession. Book via nisciencefestival.com


ONGOING EVENTS NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

ART & SCIENCE

SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

Shooting The Stars Workshop

Tenx9: Doctors & Nurses

DATE

TIME(S)

DATE

TIME(S)

Sunday 25 February

1.00pm, 2.30pm & 4.00pm Field Trip: 6.30pm

Sunday 25 February

7.00–10.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Crescent Arts Centre, 2-4 University Rd, Belfast BT7 1NH

16 Yrs +

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Black Box, 18 – 22 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LA

18+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. No booking required.

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£20. Book via nisciencefestival.com

We’ve all needed them, some of us have been them: doctors and nurses. Come join us for the final event of the 2018 NI Science Festival, hearing true stories of nurses and doctors: training to be one, loving one, hating one, needing one, surviving one and thanking one.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, the images captured by Adam Porter of The Northern Light Gallery and Studio, are worth a library! Adam’s incredible eye, talent and skills in capturing stunning images of landscapes and our celestial heavens are widely recognised and his images have been published by the Irish Times, RTE and Audi, among others.

Tenx9 was started in Belfast by Paul Doran and Pádraig Ó Tuama and is now a global storytelling sensation (okay, in about ten cities). Nine people have up to ten minutes each to tell a true story from their lives. Come early, it’s un-ticketed and free, but always busy.

This technical workshop will teach participants the skills required to capture their own stunning images of our stellar skies at night by mastering some of the myriad features of participants own digital SLR cameras. Once all workshops have finished, Adam will lead interested participants on a field trip to a local spot where they can test their newly acquired skills, regardless of weather conditions. NOTE: Participants must bring their own Digital SLR camera and tripod to this workshop as equipment will not be supplied. Transport for the (optional) field trip is not supplied. 78


PROGRAMMED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NERVE CENTRE

79

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

NORTH WEST EVENTS

NORTH WEST

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

ONGOING EVENTS

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS

ART & SCIENCE

ART & SCIENCE

International Images of Science DATE

TIME(S)

Ongoing 15 - 25 February

9.00am–5.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Millennium Forum, Newmarket Street, Derry/Londonderry, BT48 6EB

All Ages

Balloon Astronaut

NORTH WEST

DATE

TIME(S)

Ongoing 15 - 25 February

9.00am–6.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Foyleside Shopping Centre, Orchard St, Derry/Londonderry BT48 6XY

All Ages

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Drop In.

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Drop In.

Come see our giant balloon model of an astronaut at Foyleside Shopping Centre. Created by Ryan Tracey from Duff Balloons, Ryan is famous for his appearance on Britain’s Got Talent and set the Guinness World Record for fastest balloon modelling.

International Images for Science is an exhibition of eye-catching photographs that show how science is all around us. The subjects range from the smallest microbes to the distant universe and were taken by a wide assortment of students, amateur photographers and the very best researchers and science photographers. Some images were made on million-pound microscopes, others captured on smartphones and everything in between! 100 images were chosen from over 2500 entries. Each is visually stunning yet also has a science story to tell.

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

80


Shooting The Stars Exhibition VENUE

SUITABILITY

Garden of Reflection, 16 Bishop Street, Derry/Londonderry, BT48 6PW

All Ages

ONGOING EVENTS

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Tower Museum, Union Hall Pl, Derry/Londonderry, BT48 6LU

All Ages

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Drop In.

ADMISSION & BOOKING

In the darkest reaches of the Tower Museum warehouse lie some of the most weird and wonderful objects of curiosity! This temporary exhibition, specially created for the NI Science Festival, will bring some of those objects out of their hiding places to delight those with inquisitive minds of all ages. Messages in bottles, ships made of bone and 19th century GPS devices are just some of the wacky items that await the prying eyes of the public!

Free. Drop In.

SAT 24 FEB

To complement the Shooting the Stars photographic workshops, Inner City Trust will host a photographic exhibition in their Garden of Reflection by Adam Porter from The Northern Light Gallery and Studio. Adam’s eye, talent and photographic skills have resulted in the capture of stunning images of landscapes and our celestial heavens, and his work has been published by the Irish Times, RTÉ and Audi Ireland, among many others.

WED 21 FEB

10.00am–4.00pm

10.00am–5.30pm

THU 22 FEB

Ongoing 15 - 25 February

TIME(S)

Ongoing 15 - 25 February

FRI 23 FEB

TIME(S)

DATE

SUN 25 FEB

This exhibition showcases the unique combination of rugged landscapes and dark skies environment which we have in the North West of Ireland and encourages viewers to point their cameras towards our celestial heavens.

81

NORTH WEST

DATE

Curious Collections

MON 19 FEB

ART & SCIENCE

TUE 20 FEB

SPACE

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

ART & SCIENCE

SCIENCE IN SOCIETY

ChromoHydroculture

How Loud Can You Shout?!

DATE

TIME(S)

DATE

TIME(S)

15–20 February. Opening Reception Friday 16 February 7:00pm

10.00am–5.30pm

Thursday 15 – Sunday 18 February

10.00am–4.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

The Playhouse, 5-7 Artillery St, Derry/Londonderry BT48 6RG

All Ages

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Foyleside Shopping Centre, Orchard Street, Derry/ Londonderry, BT48 6XY

All Ages

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Drop In.

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Drop In.

Come along to The Open University sound booth to shout as loud as you can! See how loud you can shout and compare yourself to other day-to-day sounds such as the traffic or construction drills.

Aislinn Cassidy is a local artist from Derry, a graduate in microbiology and teacher in the final year of her Fine Art degree at Ulster University. She uses a broad range of approaches in her work focusing mainly on installation, video art and photography. Her work, having scientific, artistic and poetic value, offers viewers an opportunity to reflect upon the beauty and wonder of nature. This exhibition showcases Aislinn’s experimental artworks which plant biology, chemistry and art. It will explore visually and scientifically hydroponics and fluid uptake in flowers and plants. Supported by Allgo Mechanical Engineering Ltd.

82


ONGOING EVENTS

DATE

TIME(S)

DATE

TIME(S)

Friday 16 February

9.30am–3.00pm

Friday 16 February

10.00am–5.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Tour begins from School of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine

All Ages

Loughs Agency, 22 Victoria Road, Derry/Londonderry BT47 2AB

All Ages

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Booking via nisciencefestival.com

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£6. Booking via nisciencefestival.com

The Loughs Agency will hold an open day to showcase some of the scientific work undertaken to protect the different fish and shellfish species found in the Foyle and Carlingford catchments. There will be workshops suitable for all ages based around freshwater invertebrates, marine invertebrates, fish anatomy and behaviour and tours of the working building.

83

MON 19 FEB NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

Winter is coming to the spectacular North Coast! Join us on a tour of Westeros and learn more about the environmental processes that have helped create some of the most iconic landscapes of Game of Thrones. Led by staff at the School of Geography and Environmental Sciences at Ulster University, we ride north (and south) to the House of Greyjoy, the Iron Islands, the Kingsroad and the Coast of Dorne. At each stop we will experience the magical landscape of the famous TV series, as well as having some hands-on activities that will show you what it is like being a scientist out in the field. Lunch stop and plenty of photo opportunities are included in the tour.

TUE 20 FEB

Loughs Agency Open Day

WED 21 FEB

Game of Thrones Landscape Tour

THU 22 FEB

NATURAL WORLD

FRI 23 FEB

SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

ENGINEERING & ROBOTICS

TECH & DIGITAL

Close Encounters of the Nerve Kind DATE

TIME(S)

Friday 16 February

1.00–4.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Nerve Centre, 7-8 Magazine St, Derry/Londonderry BT48 6HJ

All Ages

How Are Drones Used Within The Film Industry

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. No booking required.

TIME(S)

Friday 16 February

2.30–3.30pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Nerve Centre, 7-8 Magazine St, Derry/Londonderry BT48 6HJ

All Ages

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£5. Book Via: nisciencefestival.com

A science-themed day featuring an explosive selection of interactive for all ages, including green screen, animation, VR station, FabLab, robotics, Minecraft and much more – you’ll not want to miss out!

Ka-Boom will take you on a journey of how they use drones within the TV and Film Industry. Having done extensive work for studios such as Sony, Disney, HBO, BBC, ITV and Channel 4 this event will give you an introduction into how and why these devices are used to capture aerial footage, including both their advantages and drawbacks.

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

Supported by Children In Need.

NORTH WEST

DATE

84


ONGOING EVENTS

DATE

TIME(S)

11.00am–12.30pm

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Saturday 17 February, Sunday 18 February, Saturday 24 February & Sunday 25 February

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine BT52 1SA

All Ages

All Ages

I’m Happy present a fun-filled, creative technology event will include workshops and demonstrations including: 30 minute workshops in robotics, 3D printing, vinyl and laser cutting, BBC micro:bit and gaming and demonstrations using 3D printing, Meccanoid, drones, Oculus Rift, & Spheros Chemistry.

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£2. Book via nisciencefestival.com

SUN 25 FEB

Why is it that what you like to eat someone else might detest? How can what we touch and hear influence what we taste? Can you be persuaded towards healthier food choices simply by incorporating a few psychological illusions and neuroscience insights into your cooking and eating? These are just a few intriguing questions that we will address at our food sensory event.

THU 22 FEB

SUITABILITY

Diamond Shopping Centre, Bridge St, Coleraine, BT52 1DT

FRI 23 FEB

10.00am–4.00pm

VENUE

SAT 24 FEB

TIME(S)

Saturday 17 February

85

NORTH WEST

DATE

The Multisensory Science of Food & Eating

MON 19 FEB

I’m Happy Family Fun Day

TUE 20 FEB

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

WED 21 FEB

TECH & DIGITAL

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS

SPACE

SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

Mission To Mars with Maddie Moate

Science Books Activity Day

DATE

TIME(S)

DATE

TIME(S)

Saturday 17 February

12.00pm & 2.00pm

Saturday 17 February

12.00–4.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Nerve Centre, 7-8 Magazine Street, Derry/Londonderry, BT48 6HJ

6 Yrs +

Strabane Library, 1 Railway Street, BT82 8EF

6–14 Yrs

ADMISSION & BOOKING

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Registration advised. Book via nisciencefestival.com

£6 / £20 for Family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children). Book via nisciencefestival.com

Get creative at this hands-on, family friendly event inspired by some incredible science books. Join us for an exciting afternoon of arts and crafts and surprising science experiments all revolving around the books shortlisted for The Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize 2017.

Maddie is looking for new recruits to join her Astronaut Academy for a one of a kind Mission to Mars! Have you ever wondered how rockets work? Or how space suits are made? Find out with children’s television presenter Maddie Moate as she takes you on a journey through the solar system, equipped with special cameras and science demos!

Browse these fantastic books and find out how you and your school can help us decide next year’s winner.

NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

86


ONGOING EVENTS

DATE

TIME(S)

1.00–2.00pm

Saturday 17 February

2.00–7.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Nerve Centre, 7-8 Magazine Street, Derry/Londonderry, BT48 6HJ

All Ages

Various across Derry/ Londonderry

18+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£50. Book Via: nisciencefestival.com

£3. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Explore how science shapes sweets. Put chocolate under the microscope, discover the many forms of sugar and how physicists help to make the perfect jelly in this very important (and interactive) investigation into the making of the world’s favourite treats.

Sippy Brewery Tour is a unique walking and beer sampling tour which showcases the incredible science behind brewing beer in some of the North West’s very own breweries. Beginning at the Grand Central Bar (Strand Road), we will begin our tour over a light lunch while sampling from the Dopey Dick Brewing Company’s range.

87

NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

Following lunch, we will visit the Northbound Brewery and Walled City Brewery, before finishing up at the Guildhall Taphouse with music and sustenance. At each of these locations, we will meet brew masters, learn some of the secrets of their craft, and sample their allimportant products.

MON 19 FEB

TIME(S)

Saturday 17 February

TUE 20 FEB

DATE

WED 21 FEB

Sippy Brewery Tour

THU 22 FEB

Science of Sweets

FRI 23 FEB

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

SAT 24 FEB

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

Physics of Gin DATE

TIME(S)

Saturday 17 February

7.30pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Nerve Centre, 7-8 Magazine Street, Derry/Londonderry, BT48 6HJ

18+

The Science of Harry Potter

ADMISSION & BOOKING

1.00pm & 3.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Nerve Centre, 7-8 Magazine Street, Derry/Londonderry, BT48 6HJ

All Ages

£6 | £20 family of 4 (2 Parents 2 children) Book via: nisciencefestival.com

Did you ever wonder if science has any explanation for the fantastic feats found in the Potter series? Join Jon Chase, co-author of The Science of Harry Potter, on a journey through some of the man-made versions of wizarding wonders.

Music provided by Our Krypton Son.

SUN 25 FEB NORTH WEST

TIME(S)

Sunday 18 February

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Join physicist Dr Anne Pawsey from Edinburgh University for a hands-on exploration of the physics of gin. In this interactive workshop you will explore the physics of alcohol, the influence of ice, and what actually happens when you shake a Martini. The rules on drinking in the laboratory may be relaxed.

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

£8. Book via nisciencefestival.com

DATE

88


VENUE

SUITABILITY

Garden of Reflection, 16 Bishop Street, Derry/Londonderry, BT48 6PW

16 Yrs+

ONGOING EVENTS

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Various venues across Derry/Londonderry City Centre

12–18 Yrs

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via rachel@nisciencefestival.com

Build a retro arcade machine! Using the Fab Lab’s digital fabrication tools, you will learn how to design, cut and assemble the structure of an arcade machine. Then with the help of UV Arts Graffiti artists you will decorate your finished structure. Once this is done, it is then time to Code! Using Raspberry Pi you will learn how to programme your arcade machine so that you have access to lots of fun retro games- games which you have even personalised yourself. You could also create your very own game too! No previous coding experience is required.

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£20. Book via nisciencefestival.com

If a picture is worth a thousand words, the images by Adam Porter (The Northern Light Gallery and Studio) are worth a library. Adam’s skill in capturing stunning images of landscapes and our celestial heavens have been noted by the Irish Times, RTÉ and Audi Ireland, among others. This technical workshop will teach participants the skills required to capture their own stunning images of our stellar skies using features of the digital SLR camera.

Please note you must attend each evening. Places are limited.

That evening, Adam will lead a local field trip for participants to test their newly acquired skills. NOTE: Participants must bring their own Digital SLR camera and tripod to this workshop as equipment cannot be supplied. Participants are also responsible for their own field trip transport.

RURAL RETROCADE

89

MON 19 FEB TUE 20 FEB

1.00pm, 2.30pm & 4.00pm | Field Trip: 6.30pm

6.00–8.00pm

WED 21 FEB

Monday 19 February

TIME(S)

Monday 19 February– Thursday 22 February

THU 22 FEB

TIME(S)

DATE

FRI 23 FEB

DATE

Pi Arcade

SAT 24 FEB

Shooting The Stars Workshop

SUN 25 FEB

TECH & DIGITAL

NORTH WEST

ART & SCIENCE

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS

MIND & BODY

ENGINEERING & ROBOTICS

In Conversation with Robochallenge Paddy McCourt & Marty McCann DATE

TIME(S)

Wednesday 21 February

7.00–8.30pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Ulster University, Magee Campus, Northland Rd, Derry/ Londonderry BT48 7JL

8 Yrs+

NORTH WEST

DATE

TIME(S)

Thursday 22 February

7.00–9.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Northwest Regional College, Student Zone, Strand Road, Derry/Londonderry BT48 7AL

10–14 Yrs & Parents

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com

It’s alive! Well, kind of… In this fun, engaging, hands-on workshop, you will be introduced to the basics of programming and robotics by the engineering team from Sentinus. Put your robot to the test as you work together to programme it to follow commands, navigate its way around a course and complete challenges. May the best robot win!

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£6. Book via nisciencefestival.com

Join ex-Celtic star, Paddy McCourt, ex-Derry City assistant manager, Marty McCann and their invited guests to discuss why sport science is vital to developing and nurturing a standard of excellence amongst young soccer players in the North West of Ireland. These local icons of soccer will explain why understanding our bodies, combined with healthy eating and top training skills can assist our soccer stars of the future to reach their full potential. In partnership with Talent Development Agency.

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

90


SUITABILITY

Centre for Contemporary Art, 10-12 Artillery Street, Derry/ Londonderry BT48 6RG

18+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£25. Book via nisciencefestival.com

ONGOING EVENTS

DATE

TIME(S)

Thursday 22 February

7.30pm–9.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

St Jude Eatery, The Yellow Yard, Palace Street, Derry/ Londonderry BT48 6PS

All Ages

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Drop In.

Come learn about ‘natural wine’ at this special event taking place alongside the Centre for Contemporary Art’s (CCA) current exhibition, “Kills 99.9% of Bacteria”. A partnership between the CCA and Thrive Local Organic Food Hub, guests at this event will hear about and taste a variety of natural wines - those made with little or no chemical and technological intervention in growing grapes and making them into wine. We’ll hear about the ways in which the micobiome of grapes (the mix of bacteria and yeast naturally present on them) affect flavour and may be an important part of the wines’ ‘terroir’...the thing that makes them unique. Local, organic snacks will be provided by Thrive Local Organic Food Hub.

Enjoy a relaxed evening of scientific colouring with “Life under the lens” colouring book artist, Jennifer Delaney. Explore the hidden beauty of microscopic life through colouring with friends or family. Colour the photosynthetic strands of cyanobacteria or the thorasic limbs of marine barnacles. Allow yourself to escape to the world beneath the lens and marvel at the beauty of life in its smallest form, all whilst enjoying a cup of coffee in St Judes Eatery.

MON 19 FEB SUN 25 FEB

All colouring materials will be provided on the night.

TUE 20 FEB

7.00–10.00pm

VENUE

WED 21 FEB

TIME(S)

Thursday 22 February

91

NORTH WEST

DATE

THU 22 FEB

Natural Wine Tasting Scientific Colouring Evening

FRI 23 FEB

ART & SCIENCE

SAT 24 FEB

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

ENGINEERING & ROBOTICS

Discovery Day DATE

TIME(S)

Friday 23 February

3.00–8.00pm Professor Peter Redmond Talk 7pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Intelligent Systems Research Centre, Ulster University, Magee Campus, Derry/ Londonderry BT48 7JL

All Ages

Scientific Sue: Science of Bubbles DATE

TIME(S)

Friday 23 February

8.00–9.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Nerve Centre, 7-8 Magazine St, Derry/Londonderry BT48 6HJ

18+

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£5. Book via nisciencefestival.com

ADMISSION & BOOKING

Free. Drop In.

Scientific Sue returns with her slightly orange, green and blue ‘Science of Bubbles Show’ for adults. From chemical bath bombs to the accidental biological ones let’s explore which ones are potentially explosive? Find out the surprising and ‘possibly’ shocking, ingredient for giant bubbles. Could you be sipping bubbles whilst trapped inside one?

Situated on the Magee campus of Ulster University, the ISRC is a world class centre of research and innovation. During “Discovery Day” we will open the doors of the centre to the public and lift the lid on some of the exciting research currently underway. Some of the things to see and do during Discovery Day: • Visit the cognitive robotics lab and see our fleet of robots in action • See how we can communicate and control games using brainwaves alone • Virtual worlds – a voyage of discovery into the exciting world of virtual reality • Visit the Centre for Engineering & Renewable Energies (CERE) • Professor Peter Redmond Family Robotics Talk

This slightly risqué show is all about science fun – How can Sue turn making a strawberry daiquiri into one of the coolest demos ever?

92


Foyle Science Showcase: Robots, Beasties and Dragons DATE

TIME(S)

Saturday 24 February

10.00am–5.00pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Foyle Arena, Limavady Rd, Derry/Londonderry, BT47 6JY

All Ages

ONGOING EVENTS WED 21 FEB

Supported by Innovate UK

TUE 20 FEB

SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

ADMISSION & BOOKING

93

FRI 23 FEB SAT 24 FEB

To top this all off we have our amazing ‘Science of Dragons’ show brought to you by Scientific Sue. This show is based on the books written by Cressida Cowell: How to Train Your Dragon.

SUN 25 FEB

Get up close and personal with weird and wonderful animals from around the world. We also have many workshops where you can learn about the wonders of nature, the human body, food, psychology and technology.

NORTH WEST

The Foyle Science Showcase is a fun, hands-on event designed to introduce young people to the wonderful world of science and technology. Meet RuBot, our life-sized Rubik’s code solving robot who appeared in the 2010 Guinness Book of World Records. Join the robotics experts at Ulster University to hear about their world leading robotics research. Discover the solar system, whilst sitting beneath the stars in our mobile planetarium.

THU 22 FEB

Free. Book via nisciencefestival.com


ONGOING EVENTS

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

SPACE

Food Fermenting Workshop DATE

TIME(S)

Saturday 24 February

2.00–3.30pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Centre for Contemporary Art, 10-12 Artillery St, Derry/ Londonderry, BT48 6RG

All Ages

A Celestial Journey

NORTH WEST

DATE

TIME(S)

Sunday 25 February

11.00am, 1.00pm, 3.00pm & 4:30pm

VENUE

SUITABILITY

Nerve Centre, 7-8 Magazine St, Derry/Londonderry BT48 6HJ

All Ages

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£6/£3 Book via nisciencefestival.com

ADMISSION & BOOKING

£3. Book via nisciencefestival.com

The International Space Station is mankind’s outpost in space and stepping stone to other worlds.

A partnership between The Centre for Contemporary Art and Thrive Local Organic Food Hub, this intergenerational food-fermenting workshop is open to adults and children from age 6 (accompanied by parents). Taking place alongside CCA’s current exhibition, “Kills 99.9% of Bacteria”, this hands-on workshop will provide an opportunity for participants to make their own fermented products to take home with them. Learn about the trillions of bacterial organisms that live inside our bodies and the amazing and delicious ways that bacteria and yeasts can transform food!

We begin our celestial journey by visiting the Space Station to observe how astronauts live and work on-board this incredible man-made facility, which is whizzing around Planet Earth. We will then be transported back in time to see the beginning of the Solar System and witness our star, the Sun, burst into life. Along the way we will investigate what exists at the very edges of the Solar System and how we as a species are exploring our place in space. As part of our Solar System voyage we will see how our knowledge of Planet Mars has rapidly increased, and take a flight over the surface of the Red Planet using our latest knowledge and images as a guide for discovery.

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

94


We’re the UK’s innovation agency, and we’re delighted to be supporting the Northern Ireland Science Festival. We look forward to meeting and talking with all those across Northern Ireland who are as curious and passionate about scientific discovery as we are.

95

ONGOING EVENTS NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

After all, between us, we can’t stop thinking about the future.

SAT 17 FEB

At Innovate UK, we know these underpin solutions to many of society’s most pressing challenges – from sustainable food supply to healthy ageing, cyber security to clean energy – driving high quality jobs and a stronger economy along the way.

SUN 18 FEB

They become great innovations and then – in turn – goods, products and services we all use to change our lives for the better.

MON 19 FEB

Good ideas, rooted in scientific imagination and discovery, shape our future.

TUE 20 FEB

We can’t stop thinking about the future

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

ONGOING EVENTS

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

96


ONGOING EVENTS

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

THU 15 FEB

Say hello to more...

#discoverni 97

NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

Make the most of your quality time. Book your ideal short break now.

FRI 23 FEB

Whether you want exploration or relaxation, Northern Ireland’s brimming with getaway options. Check out the Titanic City of Belfast, the epic Causeway Coastal Route or the Walled City of Derry-Londonderry. Or simply escape to one of the many fantastic resorts and hotels across the region.

SAT 24 FEB

Whatever you look for in a short break, Northern Ireland will be your new favourite place to find it.

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

SS Nomadic & Titanic Belfast

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

unforgettable getaways


ONGOING EVENTS

Everyday 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are generated – 90% of the data in the world today has been created in the last two years alone.

Ulster University’s new Cognitive Analytics Research Lab delivers worldclass research and expertise within the crucial area of data analytics.

NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

Find out more ulster.ac.uk/CARL 98


ONGOING EVENTS SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

We’re ranked in the

top 1% of universities in the world

(QS World University Rankings 2018/ Webometrics.info)

99

NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

IT ALL STARTS HERE


ONGOING EVENTS THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

FRI 16 FEB

SCIENCE THROUGH THE BRITISH COUNCIL

SAT 17 FEB

There are many international opportunities in science for individuals and organisations through the British Council. We link scientists globally, encourage grassroots discussion and promote science in education.

SUN 18 FEB

Our work in public engagement includes FameLab, a competition which showcases upcoming talent in science communication and engages the public.

MON 19 FEB

In higher education, the IAESTE programme provides STEM students with international, paid work experience. It also provides employers with access to highly skilled students from over 80 countries. In addition, science and innovation partnerships are developed under The Newton Fund, to promote the economic development and welfare of people in partnering countries and beyond.

TUE 20 FEB

Schools can also get involved in international science work through partnerships and staff mobility in programmes like eTwinning, Erasmus+ and Connecting Classrooms.

NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

http://nireland.britishcouncil.org https://www.facebook.com/britishcouncilnorthernireland @BCouncil_NI

100


SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

101 MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

THE WEEKEND STARTS HERE!

NORTH WEST

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

ONGOING EVENTS

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS THU 15 FEB FRI 16 FEB SAT 17 FEB SUN 18 FEB MON 19 FEB TUE 20 FEB

AT A GLANCE GUIDE THURSDAY 15 FEBRUARY (PAGES 12–18) NI Science Festival Roadshow

STEM Centre, South West College, Dungannon

10.00am & 2.00pm

Science Communication

Arduino Workshops

Ormeau Baths, Belfast

10.00am & 2.00pm

Tech & Digital

Forest School

The Jungle NI, Magherafelt

10am, 1pm & 3pm

Natural World

Micro:Bit Workshops

Glengormley Library

10.00am

Tech & Digital

History, Maths and Mystery (also on Friday 16 February)

Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh

10.00am

Maths & Physics

Kitchen Science (also on Friday 16 February)

Libraries across Belfast

10.00am

Food For Thought

Lead Exposure & Safe Motherhood

Black Box, Belfast

1.00pm

Mind & Body

Curious Eyes in the Sky

Ulster Museum, Belfast

1.00pm

Space

The Battle of Predator and Pest

Tropical Ravine, Belfast

2.00pm

Natural World

Entangled – John Bell Lecture & Concert Performance

Sonic Arts Research Centre, QUB

6.30pm

Maths & Physics

648 Billion Sunrises: A Geological Miscellan

Ulster Museum, Belfast

7.00pm

Earth and Elements

What’s Your Beef?

Bullitt Hotel, Belfast

7.00pm

Food For Thought

An Evening with Colonel Chris Hadfield

The SSE Arena, Belfast

7.30pm

Space

Northern Regional College

10am & 2pm

Science Communication

Thought Police

St. Georges Market, Belfast

10.00am

Science In Society

Rainforest Feasts

Tropical Ravine, Botanic Gardens Belfast

11.00am

Food for Thought

FRI 23 FEB

Mission to Mars

Ulster Museum, Belfast

12pm & 2pm

Space

Science Books Activity Day

Lisburn City Library

12:00pm

Science Communication

How Science Got Women Wrong

Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

1.00pm

Science In Society

Story time for Little Scientists

Belfast Central Library

3:00pm

Science Communication

The Ethical Hacker

Black Box, Belfast

6.30pm

Tech & Digital

The Earth Beneath Our Oceans

David Keir Building, QUB

6.30pm

Natural World

Immersed In Space

Queen’s Film Theatre, Belfast

6.00pm

Space

Science Behind Sporting Performance

National Football Stadium at Windsor Park, Belfast

7:00pm

Mind & Body

Evolution & Sex

Medical Biology Centre, QUB

7.45pm

Mind & Body

NORTH WEST

THU 22 FEB

NI Science Festival Roadshow

SAT 24 FEB

FRIDAY 16 FEBRUARY (PAGES 19–24)

SUN 25 FEB

WED 21 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

102


ONGOING EVENTS

10.00am

Space

Dye Tracing Experiment in Marble Arch Caves

Marble Arch Caves, Enniskillen

10.00am & 1.30pm

Earth & Elements

CCRCB Open Day 2018 Celebrating a Decade of Advances in Cancer Research

Centre for Cancer Research & Cell Biology, QUB

10.30am & 12.30pm

Mind & Body

Sounds From Beyond

Sonic Arts Research Centre, QUB

10.30am

Tech & Digital

The Joy of Toys

The MAC, Belfast

10.30am & 11.30am

Mind & Body

The TQ Giants Trail

Titanic Foundation, Titanic House, Belfast

10.30am

Engineering and Robotics

Who Stole The Car? A Crime Scene Investigation

Open University, Belfast

11.00am

Science in Society

Found Sound Masterclass Performance

Black Box, Belfast

11.00am

Tech & Digital

The Science of Flying Saucers (Well, Frisbees!)

Emeleus Lecture Hall, Queen’s University Belfast

11.00am

Sport Science

Life as an Astronaut (also on Saturday 24 February)

Armagh Observatory and Planetarium

11.00am

Space

ParkLife Saturday Clubs

Botanic Gardens, Belfast

11.15am

Natural World

Earth (2007)

Strand Arts Centre, Belfast

12.00pm

Natural World

The Science of Harry Potter

Black Box, Belfast

1pm & 3pm

Science Communication

Northern Ireland Raspberry Jam | NISF Special

School of Maths and Physics Teaching, QUB

1:00pm & 3:00pm

Tech & Digital

Know Your Enemy: DiseaseFocussed Research at Queen’s University

Centre for Experimental Medicine, Welcome Wolfson Building QUB

1.00pm

Mind & Body

The Dating Game

School of Natural & Built Environment, QUB

2.00pm

Science in Society

What Do Babies Think?

The MAC, Belfast

2:00pm

Mind & Body

The Hans Sloane Chocolate Experience

Dufferin Coaching Inn Hall, Killyleagh

2:00pm & 3.15pm

Food For Thought

The Rot or Not Show: Bacteria, Fungus & Food

Medical Biology Centre, QUB

2.00pm

Food For Thought

The Hidden Secrets of Irish Bogs

School of Natural and Built Environment, QUB

2:00pm

Natural World

John Stewart Bell: A Great Belfast Physicist of our Time

The Old Museum Building, Belfast

2.15pm

Maths & Physics

Neo Neo

Black Box, Belfast

9.30pm

Art & Science

103

THU 15 FEB

W5, Belfast

FRI 16 FEB

Life Through A Lens (also on Sunday 18 February)

SAT 17 FEB

Natural World

SUN 18 FEB

9.15am

MON 19 FEB

Belfast Zoo,

TUE 20 FEB

Science Behind the Zoo (also on Saturday 24 February)

WED 21 FEB

Science Communication

THU 22 FEB

10am & 2pm

FRI 23 FEB

South West College, Enniskillen

SAT 24 FEB

NI Science Festival Roadshow

SUN 25 FEB

SATURDAY 17 FEBRUARY (PAGES 25–35)

NORTH WEST

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS THU 15 FEB FRI 16 FEB SAT 17 FEB SUN 18 FEB MON 19 FEB TUE 20 FEB

AT A GLANCE GUIDE SUNDAY 18 FEBRUARY (PAGES 36–41) NI Science Festival Roadshow

Southern Regional College (West) Newry

10.00am & 2.00pm

Science Communication

Mind Over Money

Ulster Museum, Belfast

12.00pm

Mind & Body

Chelyabinsk Day: Meet the Meteorites

Ulster Museum, Belfast

1.00pm

Space

How to Almost (Un)Solve the Riemann Hypothesis

Black Box, Belfast

1.00pm

Maths & Physics

Resilient Oceans in a Changing World

Ulster Museum, Belfast

1.00pm

Natural World

Life & Death Inside The Mortuary

Black Box, Belfast

1.00pm

Mind & Body

Yuck, That’s Disgusting!

Black Box, Belfast

3:00pm

Food For Thought

Science of Wind Instruments

Sonic Arts Research Centre, QUB

3:00pm

Art & Science

Wed-Lough: A Cycle of Duets from Nature

Oxford Island National Nature Reserve, Craigavon

3:00pm

Art & Science

Urban Bee Keeping - A Faculty Lecture

Black Box, Belfast

3:00pm

Food For Thought

To Be A Machine

Ulster Museum, Belfast

4:00pm

Engineering & Robotics

TAP

Sunflower Public House, Belfast

7.30pm

Art & Science

Botanic Gardens, Belfast

11.00am

Natural World/Art & Science

The Science of Photography

Belfast Exposed

6:00pm

Art & Science

Robochallenge

South Dining Hall, QUB

7:00pm

Engineering & Robotics

Sport Insight - Pursuing Performance Improvement

Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

7:00pm

Mind & Body

Wine, Whisky & Beer: The Role of Geology

Ulster Museum, Belfast

7.30pm

Food For Thought

Mensa Magnificent Monday Quiz

Black Box, Belfast

7.30pm

Science Communication

How To Fill Your Car From Your Bin

David Kier Building, QUB

8:00pm

Science Communication

NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

THU 22 FEB

Winter Tree Trail in Botanic Gardens (also on Tuesday 20 February)

FRI 23 FEB

MONDAY 19 FEBRUARY (PAGES 42–45)

SAT 24 FEB

WED 21 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

TUESDAY 20 FEBRUARY (PAGES 46–49) Sir Bernard Crossland Annual Lecture

Riddel Hall, QUB

6:00pm

Engineering and Robotics

Sixteen South Animation Masterclass

Sixteen South Television, Belfast

6.30pm

Tech & Digital

104


Stargazing Open Night

Armagh Observatory and Planetarium

7:00pm

Space

Superdomes

Queens University, Whitla Hall

7:00pm

Engineering and Robotics

The Last Man on the Moon (PG)

Strand Arts Centre, Belfast

8:00pm

Space

WEDNESDAY 21 FEBRUARY (PAGES 50–53) Mapathon

Medical Biology Centre, QUB

6:00pm

Science in Society

Pitch200

Black Box, Belfast

6.30pm

Engineering and Robotics

Animation Workshop

Sixteen South Television, Belfast

6.30pm

Tech & Digital

The Antibiotic Apocalypse

Ulster University, Belfast

7:00pm

Science in Society

Sport Insight - Reloading for the Next Performance

Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

7:00pm

Sport Science

Coffee Culture Chemistry

Bullitt Hotel, Belfast

7:00pm

Food for Thought

10 things you didn’t know about meteorites (but thought you did)

Ulster Museum, Belfast

7:00pm

Space

Scientific Colouring Evening

Belfast café TBC)

7.30pm

Art and Science

The Half Bap Science Cabaret

Black Box, Belfast

8.30pm

Art and Science

THURSDAY 22 FEBRUARY (PAGES 54–58) The Basics of Plant Identification

Botanic Gardens, Belfast

11.00am

Natural World

Make It Super Assembly

Live stream - bbc.co.uk/makeit

2:00pm

Art and Science

Health Technology Futures

NIBEC, Ulster University, Jordanstown

6:00pm

Mind and Body

Turing Lecture 2018: Innovation and Technology – Art or Science?

Belfast City Hall

6.30pm

Tech and Digital

"Post Truth" and Science

Ulster Museum, Belfast

6.30pm

Science in Society

Health Technology Futures

NIBEC, Ulster University, Jordanstown

6:00pm

Mind and Body

The Art and Science of Linen

PRONI, Belfast

7:00pm

Art and Science

The Genius Within: Smart Pills, Brainhacks & Adventures in Intelligence

Black Box, Belfast

7.00pm

Mind and Body

Explain Like I'm 5

Farset Labs, Belfast

7.30pm

Science Communication

Bodysong (2003)

Strand Arts Centre, Belfast

8.30pm

Natural World

105

ONGOING EVENTS

Food for Thought

THU 15 FEB

6.30pm

FRI 16 FEB

Queen's Film Theatre, Belfast

SAT 17 FEB

Food Evolution – Screening and Panel Discussion

SUN 18 FEB

Mind and Body

MON 19 FEB

6.30pm

TUE 20 FEB

Black Box, Belfast

WED 21 FEB

Belfast Science Cafe: Ginger Genetics

THU 22 FEB

Engineering and Robotics

FRI 23 FEB

6.30pm

SAT 24 FEB

The MAC, Belfast

SUN 25 FEB

Exploring the new world of self-driving vehicles

NORTH WEST

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS THU 15 FEB FRI 16 FEB SAT 17 FEB SUN 18 FEB MON 19 FEB TUE 20 FEB WED 21 FEB THU 22 FEB FRI 23 FEB SAT 24 FEB SUN 25 FEB NORTH WEST

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

AT A GLANCE GUIDE FRIDAY 23 FEBRUARY (PAGES 59–62) The Magic of Plants Magnified

Botanic Gardens, Belfast

11.00am

Natural World

Cyber Security Training: Capture the Flag!

Farset Labs, Belfast

6.30pm

Tech and Digital

Cosmic Cuilcagh

Marble Arch Caves, Enniskillen

7:00pm

Space

Pints & Puzzles

Northern Lights, Belfast

7:00pm

Maths & Physics

Universilly Challenged

Black Box, Belfast

7:00pm

Science Communication

A Taste of Prehistory

Ulster Museum, Belfast

7:00pm

Food for Thought

The BBC Radiophonic Workshop at 60 Years

Sonic Arts Research Centre, QUB

7.30pm

Art & Science

SATURDAY 24 FEBRUARY (PAGES 63–73) The Heart Experience

St George's Market, Belfast

10.00am

10.00am

Physics Busking

Ulster Museum, Belfast

10.00am

Maths & Physics

Space Cities Space Hackathon

Computer Science Building, QUB

9.30 AM. Check full listing.

9.30 AM. Check full listing.

Busy Bees

Musgrave Park, Belfast

10.00am

10.00am

Museum of Thought Experiments

W5, Belfast

10.00am

10.00am

Understanding Our Oceans

Exploris Aquarium, Portaferry

11.00am

11.00am

Dr Megaphone’s Irish Jaunt

Ulster Museum, Belfast

11.00am

11.00am

SHeroes Assemble!

Metropolitan Arts Centre (MAC),

10.00am

10.00am

ParkLife Saturday Club

Ballysillan Bowling Pavillion

10.00am

10.00am

Art & Science Saturday

Boom! Studios, 80a Main Street, Bangor

Various. Check full listing.

Various. Check full listing.

Titanic Taster Photography Tour: Lenses, Light & Magnification

Titanic Quarter, Belfast

10.30am

10.30am

Spinning, stalling and falling apart: Flight and World War I

The Old Museum Building

11.00am

11.00am

Pizza & Puzzles

Black Box, Belfast

12.30pm

12.30pm

Micro:Bit Workshops

Ballymena Library

1.00pm

Tech & Digital

Lily’s Driftwood Bay

Strand Arts Centre, Belfast

2.00pm & 3.45pm

1.10pm & 1.50pm

Look Up!

Black Box, Belfast

1.00pm

1.00pm

Micro:Bit Workshops

Ballymena Library

1.00pm

Tech & Digital

Tamed with Professor Alice Roberts

Whitla Hall, QUB

2:00pm

2:00pm

106


Late Night Science at W5

W5, Belfast

7:00pm

7:00pm

SUNDAY 25 FEBRUARY (PAGES 74–78) Physics Busking

St George's Market, Belfast

10.00am

Maths & Physics

Shooting The Stars Workshop

Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

1.00pm, 2.30pm & 4.00pm | Field Trip: 6.30pm

Art & Science

Maths's Greatest Unsolved Puzzles

Black Box, Belfast

1.00pm

Maths & Physics

Bakineering In Space

Ulster Museum, Belfast

1.00pm

Food For Thought

From Kings to Keyholes: Surgical Innovation in Organ Transplantation

Ulster Museum, Belfast

2:00pm

Mind and Body

Sacred Geometry of Chance

Black Box, Belfast

3:00pm

Maths & Physics

The Mystery of Music According to Science - A Faculty Lecture

Black Box, Belfast

3:00pm

Art and Science

Doug Allan - An Eye Below Zero

Whitla Hall, QUB

3.30pm

Natural World

Tenx9 - Doctors & Nurses

Black Box, Belfast

7:00pm

Science Communication

ONGOING EVENTS (PAGES 5–11) AFBI Research Vessel Corystes Open House Tours

Queen’s Quay, Titanic Quarter, Belfast

10.00am

Natural World

Science Storytelling

Various libraries across NI

Various times

Science Communication

Museum of the Moon

W5, Belfast

10.00am

Space

Operation Earth

W5, Belfast

10.00am

Natural World

“It has been scientifically proven that Art makes you happy.”

Boom! Studios, Bangor

10.00am

Art & Science

Lasers Live

Ulster Museum, Belfast

10.00am

Maths & Physics

Science Fiction and the Body

Naughton Gallery, QUB

11.00am

Art and Science

The View from Earth, the View from Space

ArtisAnn Gallery, Belfast

11.00am

Art & Science

The Cabinet of Myths and Curiosities

ArtisAnn Gallery, Belfast

11.00am

Art & Science

The Great QR Hunt!

Across Northern Ireland

N/A

Tech & Digital

The Secret World of Gases

W5, Belfast

Various

Earth & Elements

The Notion of Balance

Framewerk, Belfast

10.30am

Art & Science

107

ONGOING EVENTS

2.30pm

THU 15 FEB

2.30pm

FRI 16 FEB

Black Box, Belfast

SAT 17 FEB

Mathematical Life Hacks

SUN 18 FEB

2:00pm

MON 19 FEB

2:00pm

TUE 20 FEB

W5, Belfast

WED 21 FEB

Girl STEM Toy Hackathon

THU 22 FEB

2:00pm

FRI 23 FEB

2:00pm

SAT 24 FEB

Rademon Estate Distillery, Crossgar

SUN 25 FEB

Shortcross Gin Distillery Tour

NORTH WEST

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


ONGOING EVENTS THU 15 FEB FRI 16 FEB SAT 17 FEB SUN 18 FEB MON 19 FEB TUE 20 FEB WED 21 FEB THU 22 FEB FRI 23 FEB SAT 24 FEB SUN 25 FEB NORTH WEST

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

AT A GLANCE NORTH WEST EVENTS THURSDAY 15 FEBRUARY (PAGE 82) How Loud Can You Shout?!

Botanic Gardens, Belfast

11.00am

Natural World

FRIDAY 16 FEBRUARY (PAGES 83–84) Game of Thrones Landscape Tour

Ulster University, Coleraine Campus

9.30am

Science Communication

Loughs Agency Open Day

Loughs Agency, Derry/ Londonderry

10.00am

Natural World

Close Encounters of the Nerve Kind

Nerve Centre, Derry/ Londonderry

1.00pm

Tech & Digital

How Are Drones Used Within The Film Industry

Nerve Centre, Derry/ Londonderry

2:30pm

Engineering & Robotics

SATURDAY 17 FEBRUARY (PAGES 85–88) IM HAPPY Family Fun Day

Diamond Shopping Centre, Coleraine

10.00am

Tech & Digital

The Multisensory Science of Food & Eating (also Sunday 18 February, Saturday 24 February & Sunday 25 February

Ulster University, Coleraine Campus

11.00am

Food For Thought

Mission To Mars

Nerve Centre, Derry/ Londonderry

12.00pm & 2.00pm

Space

Science Books Activity Day

Strabane Library

12:00pm

Science Communication

Science of Sweets

Nerve Centre, Derry/ Londonderry

1.00pm

Food For Thought

Sippy Brewery Tour

Various across Derry

2:00pm

Food For Thought

Physics of Gin

Nerve Centre, Derry/ Londonderry

7:30pm

Food For Thought

1.00pm & 3.00pm

Science Communication

SUNDAY 18 FEBRUARY (PAGE 88) The Science of Harry Potter

Nerve Centre, Derry/ Londonderry

MONDAY 19 FEBRUARY (PAGE 89) Shooting The Stars Workshop

Garden of Reflection, Derry/ Londonderry

1.00pm, 2.30pm & 4.00pm | Field Trip: 6.30pm

Art & Science

Pi Arcade (on until Thursday 22 February)

Various venues across Derry City Centre

6:00pm

Tech & Digital

108


ONGOING EVENTS

WEDNESDAY 21 FEBRUARY (PAGE 90) In Conversation with Paddy McCourt & Marty McCann

Ulster University, Magee Campus

7:00pm

Mind & Body

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

7:00pm

Robotics & Engineering

Natural Wine Tasting

Centre for Contemporary Art, Derry/Londonderry

7:00pm

Food For Thought

Scientific Colouring Evening

St Judes, The Yellow Yard, Derry/ Londonderry

7:30pm

Art & Science

FRIDAY 23 FEBRUARY (PAGE 92) Discovery Day

Ulster University, ISRC, Magee Campus

3:00pm

Engineering & Robotics

Scientific Sue: Science of Bubbles

Nerve Centre, Derry/ Londonderry

8.00pm

Science Communication

SUN 18 FEB

Northwest Regional College

MON 19 FEB

Robochallenge

SAT 17 FEB

THURSDAY 22 FEBRUARY (PAGES 90–91)

2:00pm

Food For Thought

Game of Thrones Drinks Event

Nerve Centre, Derry/ Londonderry

7:30pm

Food For Thought

11.00am, 1.00pm, 3.00pm & 4:30pm

Space

SUNDAY 25 FEBRUARY (PAGE 94) A Celestial Journey

Nerve Centre, Derry/ Londonderry

ONGOING EVENTS (PAGES 80–82) International Images of Science

Millennium Forum, Derry/ Londonderry

9.00am

Art & Science

Balloon Astronaut

Foyleside Shopping Centre, Derry/Londonderry

9.00am

Arts & Science

Shooting The Stars Exhibition

Garden of Reflection, Derry/ Londonderry

10.00am

Space

How Loud Can You Shout!?

Foyleside Shopping Centre, Derry/Londonderry

10.00am

Science in Society

Curious Collections

Tower Museum, Derry/ Londonderry

10.00am

Art & Science

Chromo-Hydroculture

The Playhouse, Derry/ Londonderry

10.00am

Art & Science

109

WED 21 FEB

Centre for Contemporary Art, Derry/Londonderry

THU 22 FEB

Food Fermenting Workshop

FRI 23 FEB

Science Communication

SAT 24 FEB

10.00am

SUN 25 FEB

Foyle Arena, Derry/Londonderry

NORTH WEST

Foyle Science Showcase: Robots, Beasties and Dragons

TUE 20 FEB

SATURDAY 24 FEBRUARY (PAGES 93–94)


InnovateUs & Skills Focus Get the skills your business needs to succeed Does your business have a new product, process or service idea? The InnovateUs programme could be for you.

Did you know that you can receive 75% funding through the Skills Focus programme towards the cost of accredited qualifications?

ITS

THE BENEF

INCREASED PROFITABILITY

A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS

TRAINED, VALUED & MOTIVATED STAFF

INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY

For more information Contact your local college Details can be found on https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/esp The Skills Focus and InnovateUs programmes are funded by the Department for the Economy and delivered across Northern Ireland by the six Further Education colleges.


111

NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

ONGOING EVENTS

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM


NORTH WEST

SUN 25 FEB

SAT 24 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

THU 22 FEB

WED 21 FEB

TUE 20 FEB

MON 19 FEB

SUN 18 FEB

SAT 17 FEB

FRI 16 FEB

THU 15 FEB

ONGOING EVENTS

NI SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2018 | NISCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM

nisciencefestival.com

112


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.