Date confirmed for Mayo Science and Technology Festival
THE Mayo Science and Technology Festival are hosting the 12th annual ‘Science Open Day’ in Mayo GMIT Campus, Castlebar, on Sunday, November 18, from 11.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. with special guest Dr Margaret Murnane, director of the US National Science Foundation.
The Mayo Science & Technology Festival ‘Open Day’ has taken place every year since 2007 in County Mayo.
Initially, Mayo County Council collaborated with the Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) Castlebar Campus, the Innovation in Business Centre, the Mayo Education Centre, Mayo Ideas Lab, for WESTBIC, Mayo North East LEADER Company and the South West Mayo Development Company in 2007 and established the first Mayo Science Festival.
Since then, the collaboration has extended to include Foroíge, the Local Enterprise Office, Comhairle na nÓg, Tacú Family Resource Centre and the National Museum of Ireland Country Life.
Again, this year there will be a huge mix of interactive events, presentations and workshops in GMIT on Sunday, November 18.
All events are free of charge with half of all tickets now available online at www.mayoscience.ie, with the remainder available at 11.30a.m. sharp on the Open Day.
This year’s Open Day will feature an exciting blend of fantastic shows including The Animal Encounter Zone, the popular Exploration Dome, the National Reptile Zoo, Madlabs and the Mad Professor Science Workshop.
There will also be industry demonstrations where people young and old can try out the exciting ‘Dream Flyer’ as well as presentations such as ‘Drone Jobs of the Future’.
Dr. Margaret Murnane, the director of the US National Science Foundation, will be delivering an interesting presentation on the use of lasers in medicine, security screening and science in the future. Dr Murnane has strong Castlebar connections and the Mayo Science and Technology Festival are very excited in welcoming her to the GMIT Castlebar campus.
The primary objective of the Mayo Science & Technology Festival is to promote interest and take-up in STEM subjects among Mayo students.
The festival aims to promote inquisitiveness and questioning among children and present them with opportunities to see things working and to make new things work and to make a link in young people's minds between the choices they make at Leaving Certificate and 3rd Level and the various science / technology / engineering employment opportunities that may one day be available to them in their home county.
The Mayo Science and Technology Festival provides children, young people, marginalised groups and the general public with the opportunity to experience the important role Science and Technology play in formulating some of the responses needed for sustainable, long-term, competitiveness and improved quality of life for Mayo.
There's something for all the family in GMIT Castlebar on this Sunday. Due to the high level of demand, advance booking online is advised or arrive early on the day in GMIT Castlebar.
A full brochure of events and free tickets are available now on www.mayoscience.ie