Celebrations are full STEAM ahead: A decade of the NI Science Festival
11 January 2024
NI Science Festival marks ten years of inspiring the future, from Thursday 15 – Sunday 25 February
The NI Science Festival returns to celebrate a decade of exploration and discovery, a milestone in the journey to inspire inquisitive minds that has resulted in the festival becoming one of the largest science events in Europe.
From Thursday 15 – Sunday 25 February, scientists and enthusiasts including biological anthropologist, author and broadcaster Professor Alice Roberts, aerospace engineer-turned-baker Andrew Smyth, wildlife filmmaker and presenter Gordon Buchanan and Limerick’s own ‘cultural phenomenon’ Blindboy (set to grace the stage of the Millennium Forum) join the festival’s largest ever programme of archaeologists, environmentalists, psychologists, neuroscientists and much more to ignite scientific curiosity and explore the workings of ourselves and the world around us.
From astronomy to autopsy, biology to beer brewing and Teeny Tiny Creatures to Tetris, the annual festival of all things science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM), will return for a jam-packed 11 days to thrill audiences in the North-West and beyond.
Over 300 events are planned across Northern Ireland covering everything from the natural world, our planet, and the vast expanse of space to technology, engineering, the mind and body, food and much more.
Commenting on the launch of this year’s festival, its director, Sarah Jones, said, “We are very excited to be celebrating our tenth anniversary with a fantastic programme of events for young and old, that not only showcases the marvels of science but also explores its connections with arts and culture and beyond.
“Our tenth anniversary is as much about ensuring our legacy for years to come, as it is about celebrating our legacy thus far. That’s why we were so pleased to mark our launch with some tree planting with the Woodland Trust in the Faughan Valley, ahead of the Family Tree Planting Day they will host during our festival.
“As ever, our festival extends right across Northern Ireland and for the first time even crosses borders. For ten years we have spread the joy of science, sparked fascination with technology, engineering and maths and facilitated thought-provoking discussions regarding the arts – we look forward to building upon this not only this year but for many more to come.”
Speaking ahead of the festival launch, Graeme Wilkinson, Director of Skills at the Department for the Economy, said, “The Department for the Economy is delighted to congratulate the Northern Ireland Science Festival on reaching its tenth anniversary. The Department has been lead sponsor for the Festival since it began in 2015 and has watched it grow into the major event it is today.
“The Festival has engaged thousands of young people in science and introduced them to the wide range of career opportunities available in this field. This continues to be a key aspiration for the Department, given how vital science and other STEM skills are to the economy. We wish the Science Festival team every success with this milestone event and look forward to continuing to work with them in the future.”
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Patricia Logue said the NI Science Festival is a hugely important event in the calendar that offers a world class programme of learning and participation across the region. “I am absolutely delighted that the festival is in its 10th year and has continued to flourish and grow to bring together an exciting programme of events, talks and activities that are focused around science. The programme is designed to inspire and inform young minds and spark curiosity and interest in the world around us and I wish everyone associated with the festival every success.”
Professor Victoria Simms, Chair of NI Science Festival, added, “We are delighted to launch your largest ever Northern Ireland Science Festival programme to celebrate our 10th anniversary. This really reflects the vibrancy of the scientific community in Northern Ireland and the creativity of our brilliant team. We can’t wait for you all to join us in February at our inspiring events.”
On Friday 16th February, judge of Netflix’s “Baking Impossible”, Andrew Smyth, is set to take audiences at The Playhouse on a journey to explore the surprising connections between everyday bakes and the extraordinary engineering that helps keep astronauts alive. CBeebies’ Grace Webb then returns to the Waterside Theatre on 17th February with all new gadgets as well as some exciting surprises for a brand-new Race Edition; discover how her Green Race Gadgets work, how they move and what makes them really amazing.
The city is also set to host a range of events dealing sensitively with important matters of mental health including An Evening with Danny Quigley (Nerve Centre, 16th February), tracing his transformation from grief to fitness expert to an advocate for mental health, showcasing his incredible charity feats while delving into the science and benefits of physical challenges, with all proceeds from the event dedicated to the Lighthouse Fund supporting mental health initiatives. In Never Say ‘At Least’: Recognising the Real Loss in Miscarriage (The Playhouse, 18th February), the panel will delve into the often-hidden topic of miscarriage and pregnancy loss, drawing insights from psychology, therapy, and personal experiences to shed light on its impact on families.
On Saturday 24th February, the Foyle Arena hosts The Foyle Science Showcase, an engaging and interactive free experience for all ages, featuring robotics experts discussing cutting-edge research, a mobile planetarium for solar system exploration, diverse animal encounters, and workshops exploring nature, the human body, food, psychology, and technology for young science enthusiasts.
Alongside some friends from previous editions, the NI Science Festival will celebrate its tenth birthday with a takeover of the awe-inspiring surrounds of the Ulster Transport Museum. On Saturday 17th February, Scientific Sue, Strong Women in Science and many more will join a packed day of interactive activities, workshops, immersive experiences and much more that the whole family can enjoy.
Alongside a wide selection of events taking place right across Northern Ireland, the festival will also take to the road with its Regional Roadshow. Join CBeebies’ Teeny Tiny Creatures animal experts Chantelle and Rory as they shed a light on the vital planet-saving role that our tiniest animals play in the wonderful web, and science communicator Jon Chase who will explore the science behind THE movie franchise that helped change the way we see dinosaurs. The roadshow will visit Bangor (15 February), Newcastle (16 February), Enniskillen (17 February) and Portrush (18 February).
NI Science Festival is supported by the Department for the Economy, Belfast City Council, Derry City and Strabane District Council, Ulster University, Queen’s University Belfast, British Council Northern Ireland, MCS Group, The Open University NI, Arts & Business NI, Matrix NI, Film Hub NI, Institute of Physics, OCN NI and Belfast Harbour.
The 2024 NI Science Festival runs 15–25 February. For more information about events and bookings, visit nisciencefestival.com. Keep up to date with the festival on social media via Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.