BEARDED DRAGONS and mini-bugs, the physics behind circus skills and experiments in “supermarket science” absorbed the attention of thousands of west of Ireland schoolchildren at yesterday’s Galway Science and Technology Exhibition.
In spite of storm force winds, at least 10,000 children took their adults to the 12th annual event in Salthill, Galway, which is the largest science fair of its type in the State.
The “golden mean”, the science behind chain chemical reactions and the mini-bug communities in wildlife gardens were among the themes of a number of school projects at the exhibition.
NUI Galway, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, the Marine Institute and a number of multinationals, such as heart-stent manufacturer Medtronic, also participated.
Fourth-class pupils from Scoil Phroinsias in Tirellan worked with secondary students from the Presentation College in Galway on a digital hedge school project at Brigit’s Garden in Roscahill, Co Galway.
The link between mathematics, art and design, defined as the “golden ratio” and discovered by 13th century Italian mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci, was explored by sixth-class students from Galway Educate Together NS. Volcanic eruptions “as Gaeilge” were demonstrated by pupils from Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin, An Cheathrú Rua.
The science show programme included Galway’s own Mad Science troupe, and circus master James Soper, who demonstrated the properties of magnetism, gravity and natural forces while juggling on a unicycle.
Sue McGrath, former senior manager in Belfast’s science centre W5, demonstrated how explosions, pops and bangs can be generated from a supermarket shop.