SFI Science Week 2018
Teagasc hosted a series of exciting events for Science Week (November 11-18) as part of ‘The Festival of Farming and Food – SFI Science Week at Teagasc’. Many of Teagasc’s research centres around the country opened their doors for school and college visits, where students got to perform hands-on experiments and find out about careers in STEM. Teagasc also hosted three events for the general public – two in Dublin and one in Kilkenny.
Margie McCarthy, Interim Director Innovation and Education, Science Foundation Ireland said: “We know from research we’ve carried out that about half the Irish population feel uninformed about science, technology and engineering but that more than half are interested in these areas. Science Week is not only aimed at engaging and informing the public but also to normalise science in our everyday lives and creating a long-lasting appetite for science culture. The SFI Science Week funding allows us to support and invest in quality events that will take place across the country and allow us to reach as wide and as diverse an audience as possible”.
Catriona Boyle, Teagasc’s Science Communication and Outreach Officer said: “Teagasc is delighted to be one of 12 regional festivals to receive funding from Science Foundation Ireland for its Science Week Festivals programme in 2018. Attendees will learn about a wide variety of topics and how they apply to their everyday lives including food for health, food product development and improvement, food safety, sustainability of animal and plant production, healthy soils & biodiversity and the development of rural areas”.
Healthy animals, healthy food
During November 13th & 14th Teagasc, Grange, Co. Meath hosted primary school students from the locality as well as from the Trinity Access Programme and secondary school students from local schools. This event explained the importance of healthy animals and the link to healthy food. Watch the videos to check the highlights.