Kilkenny Science Festival attendances have broken all previous records, preliminary figures show.
As many as 4,500 people attended an extended programme of events run in schools, pubs, a theatre, a museum, Kilkenny Castle and elsewhere and extra room had to be added at several venues to accommodate public demand, Nollaig Healy, Project Manager with CALMAST, the South East Technological University’s STEM engagement centre explained.
New events included the science behind stone masonry at the Medieval Mile museum, Chemistry in the Movies’ with Dr John O’Donoghue and ‘Serial Killers: Fascination with True Crime’ with psychologists at SETU, Dr Lorraine Bowman Grieve and Dr Jennifer O’Mahoney.
Nollaig Healy said the new events really worked and thanked the public, the speakers, the venue hosts, and everyone who worked together to break all audience participation records.
“The Kilkenny public have always rowed in behind Science Week. But this year was extra special. We are extremely thankful to Research Ireland for their funding and guidance again this year. We worked very closely with the library services, with Rothe House, the Medieval Mile Museum, Kilkenny Castle, Castlecomer Discovery Park, Sullivans Brewing Company and others to make sure the programme of events were contemporary and interesting.
“STEM engagement is crucial in Kilkenny and across the south east, particularly for long-established companies like Glanbia and new employers such as Abbott heavily invested in Kilkenny. Their continued success requires that they have a skilled, available local talent pool. The level of STEM interest and engagement from primary school level right up to the retired really augurs well for the future and we’re very thankful to everyone who played their part.”
