Squeals and gory tales get Festival of Curiosity off to grisly start

There were giggles and squeals at the launch of the Festival of Curiosity at Smock Alley, Dublin, yesterday.

A young audience heard gory tales from the history of medicine at Dr Death and the Medi-Evil Medicine Show, performed by Simon Watt, a biologist and writer.

“The history of medicine is . . . filled with grisly stories, so kids love it,” said Watt.

The four-day festival, which is now in its third year, offers “playful days”, “curious nights” and fun for young and old, according to founders Ellen Byrne and Vince McCarthy.

“The weekend is about creating a culture of curiosity in Dublin and beyond, so people have the confidence to make and do and invent and explore,” said McCarthy.

The festival hosts speakers such as palaeontologist Jack Horner, an adviser to the Jurassic Park movies and inspiration for Sam Neill's character in the films. He will be on hand today to inspire young explorers to dig for dinosaurs.

Budding garden shed inventors can get inspiration at Dublin Maker, a showcase of invention and creativity at the Trinity College campus tomorrow.

Prototypes

Makers showing their prototypes will include a resourceful nine-year-old who developed a handwriting robot to copy her parents’ signature, as well as a group from the Institute of Technology, Tallaght, that 3D-prints prosthetic limbs.

“It’s an opportunity for people to come and explore whatever it is that they’re curious about,” said an organiser, David McKeown. “You find people will come along to show their kids, but in the end they’ll be the ones playing with the exhibits and not wanting to leave.”

Volunteers, including biochemists, artists and mathematicians, help run the events, many of which are free. For more, see festivalofcuriosity.ie.