January, 2009

New Year wishes! for this, the International Year of Astronomy and the Darwin 200 celebrations.

Darwin 200

Charles Darwin’s work on the origin of species changed how we think about life on Earth, and is arguably one of the most revolutionary ideas of all time. This year marks Darwin’s bi-centenary (born 1809), and 150 years since the publication in 1859 of ‘Origin’. Events are taking place across Ireland, and there is a wealth of resources online — notably a wonderful dedicated section at The Guardian, and another rich offering at the BBC, that includes various radio and TVprogrammes, plus a section at Nature with reviews, essays and a PDF for teachers (and anyone else!) with 15 recent studies that provide evidence for natural selection.

The Man and the Myths: Darwin was an honorary member of the RIA, and the academy is marking the occasion with a discourse, by QUB science historian, Prof Peter Bowler, Monday, January 19, 6pm. Booking advised

Mr Darwin’s Big Idea: marking Darwin Day at the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin, Dr Matthew Jebb will introduce Darwin’s life and discoveries, achievements and insights. Plus an exhibition of Darwin’s correspondence with David Moore, director of the gardens in the mid-1800s. Thursday Feb 12, 3pm.

Darwin, and human evolution: events at the National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, include a talk by TCD geneticist Dr Miguel De Arce about Darwin’s life (Thursday 15th January 1pm & 6 pm), while UCD zoologist, Prof Tom Hayden, will talk about human evolution on Thursday, January 29, 1pm & 6 pm. Adm free, all welcome

Darwin Day and the humanists: Darwin, genetics and the nature of humankind, is this year’s Humanist Association Darwin day lecture, to be given by TCD geneticist, Prof David McConnell, Dublin Thursday, February 12, 7:30 p.m.

Art, society & culture

RECOMMENDED! The Third Policeman: Flann O’Brien’s surreal story of bicycles and molecules, and the physics of de Selby comes to Dublin in an acclaimed stage adaptation by Sligo company Blue Raincoat. Project Theatre, February 16-18. Post-show discussion with Jocelyn Clarke (writer), Niall Henry (director) and the cast on Tuesday 23 February.

Lightwave — defy the darkness: dispel the depths of winter with a festival of light at the TCD Science Gallery, including electric fish, a camera obscura, and a kaleidoscope that tracks earthquakes around the world. Events: Jan 24th-Feb 1st; exhibitions continue until Feb 21st.

Bodies: The Exhibition

The body politic: the controversial ‘Bodies’ exhibition, featuring dissected and ‘plastinated’ human bodies, opens in Dublin on January 24 at the Ambassador Theatre. Controversy surrounds the source of some of the cadavers: all are from a special facility in China, but some were unclaimed bodies with no next of kin, and no consent. Read Fiona McCann’s report in the Irish Times.

Living with robots: a chance to hear robotics expert, Prof Noel Sharkey (Univ Sheffield, and originally from Northern Ireland), frequently outspoken on the ethics of robots in caring for elderly people, and the military use of robotics. The Digital Hub, Dublin, February 12, 6pm. All welcome.

UnConventional music: a two-day ‘unconference’ on digital music for musicians and music industry professionals, which showcases, presentations, and ‘speed mentoring’, takes place in Belfast, Feb 6-7, organised by the NI Digital Content Industry Group.

Fictional functions, functional fictions: explore the social, cultural and ethical implications of new designs and emerging technologies, with Prof Anthony Dunne, Design Interactions, Royal College of Art in London. Free lecture, Wednesday, January 15, noon, TCD Science Gallery.

Omniumgatherum

Goldilocks goes digital: you can now catch quite a bit of radio science, thanks to RTE’s new digital station, Choice. The science and related programmes include some new, some recent and some from the archives, among them my own recent geology series The Goldilocks World, the archive ‘Green Light ‘environment series, and the latest ‘Science in Action’ (BBC World Service).

Five Minutes to Midnight? Climate change will transform Ireland sooner than we think according to a new book by NUI Galway geographer, Dr Kieran Hickey, intended as a wake-up call for Irish readers and politicians. Hickey covers not just climate, but also diseases (e.g. skin cancer and malaria), the arrival of great white sharks off Irish coasts, changes to farming and fisheries, and landscapes.

New science bookclub: the Science Gallery has started a new monthly book club, kicking off with ‘The frog who croaked blue’, Jamie Ward’s book about synaesthesia. The discussion will be led by two TCD scientists who are studying the genetics of synaesthesia. Join the discussion on Wednesday, January 28.

Conferences & opportunities…

Online networking masterclass: are you LinkedIn? Do you twitter? Learn how to master online networking, and improve your visibility, reputation and business success . . . in a half-day workshop run by WITS (Women in Technology & Science), and given by Krishna De. Free to members, €55 for non-members, incl lunch. Join WITS here. Sat January 24, 10am-1.30pm, Dublin.

New sciences in society: from nanoscience to stem cells . . . a symposium, Negotiating new sciences in society, aims to examine public attitudes, and ethical and regulatory issues, with speakers from France, Denmark and USA. 22-23 January at DCU. Contact: padraig.murphy@dcu.ie €50, incl dinner.

Life, language and landscape, art culture and the environment — some of the topics of discussion in this year’s Burren sprint conference, directed by Fintan O’Toole. February 6-8, Co Clare.

Teaching, learning & technology: the Computer Education Society of Ireland (CESI) two-day national conference is on ICT and learning, with presentations and workshops on topics such as blogging, digital video essentials, and ‘virtual school twinning’. Dublin, February 13-14

Out & about

A heavenly year: sidewalk astronomy, astronomical art, a constellation of stars, and hours of observing the night sky. . . a rich programme of events is promised for this international year of astronomy, and taking place around the country from Armagh Observatory to Blackrock Castle Observatory in Cork. Full details at the astronomy2009.ie and you can keep in touch by subscribing to their RSS feed.
21st-Century science: IRCSET, the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology, is hosting a lecture on: Complexity; Science for the 21st Century, Thursday, January 22, Dublin. Contact: jdenari@ircset.ie

Costing the earth? TV geologist Dr Iain Stewart, of the new BBC series, How Earth Made Us, will talk about the cultural and economic importance of minerals (think: The Iron Age, and now, the silicon age), and why we need to husband our geological resources, in a New Year lecture for the Irish Geological Association, Thursday Jan 22nd, TCD, 8 pm; free, all welcome.

Touch a meteorite! Hold a bit of outer space, and inspect meteorites under a microscope, with geologist Dr Matthew Parkes, at the ongoing Earth & Space exhibition in the National Museum, Turlough Park, Co Mayo. January 18, 2-5pm. Adm free, all welcome.

The human body, ultimate physics: the physics of aneurysms, flatulence and perspiration . . . this year’s Tyndall lecture for schools is by medical physicist Dr Kevin McGuigan (RCSI). Venues around the country January-February. Transition year and above; booking essential.

New geology course: study the Earth, with this introductory geology course, focusing on the southeast of Ireland and especially Waterford’s wonderful volcanic Copper Coast. Start Mon, January 26, Dungarvan VEC. Workshops, and 9 lectures; fee applies.

Climate change, seminars: a new series of Friday lunchtime seminars, organised by UCD’s Earth Systems Institute, starts this Fri Jan 16th, with a talk by meteorologist Prof Peter Lynch, on the mathematics and computer modelling involved in ‘calculating’ climate change for Ireland. Future topics include extreme weather events, sustainable road transport, and Europe’s carbon market. Adm free, all welcome. Fridays, 12.30pm until June, Dublin.

How to improve your brain function! TCD neuroscientist Prof Ian Robertson gave an entertaining presentation to the Alchemist Cafe in Dublin in November. If you missed it, you can watch the video here. No details yet for any New Year alchemy.

The stars, the stars: dark nights, and hopefully clear skies, and keep your eyes peeled for Comet Lulin later in the month. It is 40 years since Apollo 11 landed on the moon. Dublin cosmologist Prof Denis O’Sullivan will talk about his work on several Apollo missions, for the Irish Astronomy Society January talk (January 19, Dunsink Observatory, 8pm), plus a small exhibition of objects that have travelled to the moon and back. The western winter star party, organised by Galway astronomy club, with an excellent line-up of speakers, and topics ranging from prehistoric Irish astronomy to the latest gamma ray science. GAlway, January 30-31,

Next edition: February, 2009

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