The natural world will be under the microscope at Cork Carnival of Science which will see Fitzgerald Park transformed into a STEM playground from 8th-9th June
The newly launched programme for this year’s STEMtastic festival will spotlight nature based science!
- The lineup includes live science shows in circus tents that investigate topics like weather, water, forces of gravity and the silly side of science, along with scientific showstoppers, giant puzzles, Lego mania, remote controlled robots, DNA investigations, battery making and more
Ireland’s largest outdoor science engagement event, Cork Carnival of Science, has announced a STEMtastic programme for this year’s festival, which will pop up at Fitzgerald Park from 8th – 9th June.
Supported by Cork City Council and Science Foundation Ireland and organised by Cork City Council’s Lifetime Lab @ Old Cork Waterworks Experience, this hugely impressive and high quality 2 day STEM engagement event will see Fitzgerald Park transformed into a science super park for the weekend. Curious kids and fun-loving families are invited to explore, investigate, experiment, and discover the wonders of science, which will delve into climate and the natural world from a scientific point of view.this year.
Almost 25,000 people attend each year and this year’s budding scientists are invited to unlock nature’s secrets and explore more than 45 different STEM based activities. There will be 26 live seated science shows in Circus Top and Stretch Tents, demonstrations throughout the scenic park, walkabout scientific performers, the animal roadshow, interactive stands, an active zone, microscopic wonders, lego mania, remote controlled robots, DNA investigations, and discoveries big and small along the way – all for free.
Topping the bill are, of course, the live science shows performed by stars of the science education and entertainment realm. These seated shows draw large crowds and offer regular performances throughout the day. This year’s headliners include Airforce’ by Simply Science physicists Dr. Stephen Davitt and Phil Smyth from RTÉ’s Home School Hub, ‘The Crazy Weather Show’ by Science 2 Life’s wonderfully dramatic Scientific Sue, ‘Now that’s what I call Science’ by W5 from Belfast ‘Its Only Water’ by Science Made Simple, ‘Airheads’ by Thunder Bolts & Lightning and ‘The Circus Science Show’ by Inspirational Science.
New activities on the programme for 2024 include ‘Bee-ology’ a circus-science performance that juggles bee and insect stories and facts. There’s also ‘OurKidsCode’ offering parents of primary school aged children taster coding club workshops which they hope will inspire a network of coding clubs around the country. UCC will be on hand to showcase their Free Hydro Cells research project which aims to create energy from sustainable materials. Also new on Discovery Drive will be the Curiosity Cube where kids can join the team from Merck and investigate the life cycle of a t-shirt in a fun and hands-on way.
This year’s theme will put nature under the microscope with a number of activities. The Irish Tree Network will take you on a remarkable journey through the world of plants where you will learn about plants as sources of oxygen, food, fuel and medicine, habitats, mitigators in climate change and importance in health and wellbeing. The Marine Institute will bring their Explorers Education Programme which aims to encourage greater understanding of the marine world and encourage more young people to become ocean champions in Ireland. Cork’s very own Lifetime Lab will be on hand to demonstrate the use of microscopes to get up and close with mini beasties from our rivers and the Animal Roadshow will bring along their petting zoo featuring lizards, snakes, spiders, owls, frogs and more.
Large scale favourites making a welcome return include the Stardome Giant Inflatable Planetarium from Blackrock Castle Observatory and the 40ft walkthrough inflatable model of the human digestive system from APC Microbiome Ireland, while the Active Zone will feature a host of ‘science of sport’ activities facilitated by Transport for Ireland, Cork City Sports Partnership, IRFU and FAI.
Guiding you on your scientific adventure will be themed routes including ‘Exploration Avenue’, ‘Innovation Way’ and ‘Discovery Drive’ which will map out where rows of workshops and interactive experiences are located within the park. Here hands-on workshops will offer the chance to try out a broad variety of science-based tasks.
Families wishing to make a day of it will delight in the opportunity to bring a leave no trace picnic or choose from the 12 food trucks located near the Rose Garden section of the park, which will have plenty of picnic tables and space to lay a picnic blanket. On Sunday at 12.30 a Youth Orchestra will perform in this area, adding some extra ambiance.
Accessibility is a key focus to ensure enjoyment for all, and in consultation with the Deaf Community in Cork, provision will again be made by Cork Carnival of Science to ensure sign language interpretation is available at live show performances and for ad hoc requests. They will also have a designated quiet zone in the area near the Sky Garden (where the reflective silver spheres are) which might be useful for young children or those with noise sensitivities.
Make sure to scan our QR Code for the festival brochure on arrival, this includes a colourful map of Fitzgerald’s Park with all the festival attractions laid out alongside the key what, where and when details of shows, workshops, and demonstrations to check out throughout the weekend.
For more information see www.corkcity.ie/corkcarnivalofscience or stay tuned to social media updates from @corkcitycouncilofficial. #BelieveInScience