EXPLODING BOTTLES of Coca-Cola, the secrets of the night sky and liquid dance moves were just some of the attractions at Sligo Institute of Technology’s annual Science Fair, which kicked off Science Week Ireland 2011.
Thousands of visitors arrived for an action-packed programme which drew excited children into the world of science.
As well as professional tutors and presenters, many pupils from schools within the region were on hand to eagerly demonstrate their talents and experiments.
Hip-hop dance troupe from Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, the Chemistry Crew, combined their interpretation of liquids, solids and gas into a choreographic piece. Their regular performances saw more children join in at each stage. Group leader Victoria Walker said, “We’re trying to encourage children to express themselves and realise that dance can be linked with science.”
A clear favourite with the families was the live experiments including the famous exploding Coke drink when mixed with mint sweets. However physics and chemistry teacher Graham Hewston from Manorhamilton designed an ingenious series of plastic tubing which saw the Coke “recycled” into glasses for future consumption. His humorous presentations throughout the day were greeted with rapturous applause in the packed main auditorium.
The night sky is a source of fascination for people of all ages and the return of Dr Ed Barnett with his mobile planetarium was also a major attraction as was the pair of spectacular eagles from the Eagle’s Flying sanctuary in Ballymote, Co Sligo.
And budding archaeologists were treated to handling artefacts and weapons in an interactive archaeological adventure designed for people of all ages.
