Growing shamrock in space,geekgirl dinners, Yenka software for teachers, sci-comm conference, and much more as always.
Art, books & culture
Can you infect the web? With an idea that will attract 1 million page views by July 17th? That’s the challenge as part of INFECTIOUS the new epdidemic, I mean exhibition, at TCD’s science gallery. The ideas are spreading, and I’m looking forward to catching it myself next week. Until July.
Arts Technology Research Lab: this new facility at TCD, to be opened on Wednesday, April 29th, will, the press release says: bring together film, video, music, sound production, theatre, dance, live art and installation in a state-of-the art digital environment for the purpose of interdisciplinary postgraduate research. Expect a PhD programme in Digital Arts Technologies, and a new digital arts and humanities programme starting September 2010.
Can you think small? TCD’s Science Gallery is calling all miniaturists, self assemblers, molecular manipulators and sub-micron philosophers with ideas for art/science installations and performance for a new exhibition and festival on nanoscale phenomena. Closing date April 30th.
Omniumgatherum
Educational experiment modelling: for the teachers among you . . . Yenka is a new software modelling tool that lets you simulate concepts and set up maths, science and technology experiments on a computer, eg build a light experiment with various lenses and send rays of light through it to see what happens. Includes electrical and chemical experiments, 3D shapes, statistics, printed circuit boards, and more. Free to teachers and students for personal use.
The best science blogs: the touching short post by a pathologist about the merit of a fountain pen in communicating a death, caught my eye among the many posts selected for this year’s ‘best of’ list. Others include the thought provoking ethics of research on vulnerable children, the tasty ice cream as an geological specimen, and the intriguing experiment: how to make your eye feel like it’s closed, when it’s actually open. The best 50 are also in a new book, The Open Laboratory (Lulu.com).
Science blog roll: I still haven’t found many Irish science blogs to add to the blog roll (right). Do point me to any I may have missed
Debating Darwin: a welcome repeat for zoologist Damien Walshe’s 2006 radio series exploring Darwin and his ideas. RTE Radio 1, Fridays, 8.30pm
Geek girl dinners: for those with two x-chromosomes, we like this new networking idea, that couples dinner with a chance to hear from some interesting speakers. Already in Belfast and Dublin. Watch this space for the next event.
The world’s most remote place? It’s official: the Tibetan plateau (34.7°N, 85.7°E), is three weeks travelling from a city of at least 50,000 people (one day by car and 20 days on foot). I enjoyed this new way of viewing the world in maps.
On the airwaves: keep track of the rich science and nature programming at the BBC (radio & TV) with this useful site.
TV & film science awards: this year’s winners, announced in early April, include a short British web-film on ‘the good heart attack’, and a 50-minute Danish drama about Copernicus and his legacy.
Conferences & opportunities…
West Offaly’s industrial heritage: fancy a tour of west Offaly’s industrial heritage in the company of friendly and knowledgeable experts? The tour is part of the Industrial Heritage Assoc of Ireland’s agm on Saturday May 16th, one-day meeting in Tullamore. These events are highly recommended for anyone interested in the region or the topic. A small charge applies to cover transport and lunch. Details here.
Geometry & physics: marking the life and legacy of TCD mathematician, James MacCullagh (1809-1847), a
one-day symposium May 14, RIA Dublin, adm free, booking advised.
Geology trip to Isle of Man: fancy a weekend exploring the Isle of Man’s geology and mining history, with the Irish geology association? John Morris of the Geological Survey of Ireland is leading a 3-day trip May 8-11. Details here.
Bealtaine Festival: the yearly festival of ‘outdoor environment and science’ in the south-east has Darwin and biodiversity as it’s theme this year. More details here.
Science, engineering & communications: best practice is the theme for the 3rd annual one-day communications and outreach conference, Thurs May 21st organised by Engineers Ireland, Dublin. Details here.
The Epidemic in Modern History: this conference bringing together scholars in the humanities and medicine, takes place in UCC November 6-7th, 2009. A first call for papers has been issued, for themes such as the role of folk medicine in combating disease, and war and epidemics. Contact Oonagh Walsh (o.walsh at ucc.ie).
Spring gentian
Burren in Bloom festival: Mid-May is traditionally the time to visit the Burren, especially for the wild flowers. It’s also festival time, when geologists, botanical artists, ornithologists, lepidopterists and more . . . will share their expertise. Month of May, in Ballyvaughan . Most events free.
Irish Association for Social, Scientific and Environmental Education: the society’s conference this year will focus on teacher education and educational research in history, geography and science. June 18-19, 2009, Dublin
Out & about
Treasures of the dead zoo: the Natural History Museum remains closed to the public, but happily some of its treasures feature in a new exhibition at Collins Barracks opening April 30th, including new geological material on display for the first time and the popular exhibition ‘Planet Earth – Our place in Space’, previously on display at Turlough Park.
The stars, the stars: the evenings may be brighter, but there’s still lots of astronomical events planned for the coming weeks. Keep an eye out for local events at the Year of Astronomy website, here. Cork’s Blackrock Castle Observatory continues its excellent programme of events its First Friday viewing sessions on May 1st. A day and night of observations is promised at Castle Archdale, Co Fermanagh, on Sat May 23rd, hosted by the IAA. Including an afternoon observing the sun, then the night sky. Growing shamrock in space is the topic for Astronomy Ireland’s May talk, Monday May 11th, 8pm TCD.
The challenge of climate change: this excellent series of Friday lunchtime seminars, run by UCD Earth Systems Institute, continues with yet more wide-ranging talks, including bog slides (May 1st), concrete, construction and climate change (May 8th), shaping the Dublin of 2020 (May 15th), and the future of crop production in Ireland (June 5th). RCPI, Kildare St, Dublin; 12.30pm; adm free, all welcome. And if you missed previous ones, videos are now avilable online.
Got a mystery fossil? Bring your rocks and fossils to show off or to have them identified at the Irish Geological Association’s annual gathering. Talks, snacks and wine are also promised. Wed. May 13th, UCD 8pm
18th-century Irish doctor’s chinese books: the surprising book collection owned by Sir Hans Sloane, the doctor originally from Co Down, whose collection was the foundation of the British Library and Museum. Talk, Chester Beatty library, Dublin Thurs 14th May 1.10pm.
Copper coast, Co Waterford: a week-long geology course, and evening geology walks are among the Copper Coast events for Geopark Week, May 25-31st.
Climate change challenge — the lecture tour: a series of public talks exploring issues around climate change, including the psychology of risk, is touring venues around Ireland in May, and organised by Siemens. Details here.
Dawn chorus: the early bird catches the dawn chorus. Gather at the Glendalough education centre at 5am (!) and join with the expert rangers and bird-watchers from BWI. Sunday May 17th. All welcome. It’s a more civilised 11am start for the sand dune walk at Brittas Bay beach the following Saturday.
Darwin the botanist: Dr Matthew Jebb, Keeper of the national herbarium at the Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, will talk about Darwin’s work on plants, Wed May 6th 3pm. You can also see a reconstruction there of Darwin’s study. And on Friday May 22nd, 2.30pm,there’s a special tour of the gardens to mark international biodiversity day.
Punk science comedy: just one of the many events taking place at London’s DANA centre. Always worth a look if you’re across the water.
Remarkable trees and rhododendrons: Not visited Kilmacurragh Gardens in Co Wicklow? These guided tours are the perfect time to see the Botanic Gardens Wicklow ‘wing’ and the Rhododendron Avenue at its best. Sundays May 3rd and 10th, 2.30pm.
Learning from patients: how rare diseases inform immunology is the topic for a public talk by Prof John O’Shea at the RDS, Thursday, May 21, 7pm. Adm free, booking advised.
May alchemy? No details yet of the next Alchemist Cafe in Dublin. Watch this space for info, and details of previous gatherings.
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