iSCAN Newsletter
Vol. 5 May 1998

iSCAN Spring AGM

The iSCAN Spring Meeting was held on Saturday, 28 March at the Ulster Museum, Belfast by kind invitation of Dr Sally Montgomery. A group of Dublin members travelled north in a mini coach provided courtesy of the British Council. The morning session included talks from our visiting speakers: Dr Graham Durant of the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow spoke about the Scottish Science Trust and Aisling Byrne of the Science Museum in London spoke about the new Wellcome Wing extension; their talks are summarised below.

The AGM was held before lunch with reports on the year's activities and election of a new committee. The main activities were the holding of two general meetings and two special meetings. Progress had been made in compiling a directory of Irish science centres and in designing an iSCAN webpage. Some concern was expressed that membership renewal to date was running at about 50% of the 1997 level. The following were elected to the new committee: John Daly, Bill Davis, John Donovan, Ian Elliott, John Feehan, Brendan Finucane, John Flynn, Michele Griffin, Rose Kevany, Sally Montgomery, Helen Perry and Tom Waugh.

Lunch in the Museum café was followed by a guided tour of the Early Ireland Gallery. The afternoon session started with two contributions from the Ulster Museum. Dr Sally Montgomery spoke about the Odyssey Project and Dr Damian McFerran followed with a description of the Centre for Environmental Data and Recording. The meeting closed with two contributions from Dublin: Eugene Forde on the Forfás Awareness Programme and Dr John Donovan on the Irish Research Scientists' Association. Discussion and networking continued during the return journey to Dublin.

Our best thanks are due to Mr Harold Fish of the British Council and to Dr Sally Montgomery of the Ulster Museum for their help in making this a successful meeting.

The Scottish Science Trust

Dr Graham Durant of the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow described the work of the Scottish Science Trust which has been established to co-ordinate activities related to the public understanding of science in Scotland. The general aim is to set up a network of science centres to help support the formal education system. The Trust has representatives from the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Scottish Development Board and Scottish industries. It sets policies and standards, co-ordinates activities and helps to raise funds.

The Scottish Science Consortium consists of science centres in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness and Orkney. The UK Millennium Commission has made an award of £35 million for a £71.5 million development in Glasgow consisting of a science centre, a 100 metre tower and a 350-seat IMAX theatre. It will be built on a derelict site in Glasgow docklands. The science centre will have an area of 5000 sq. metres and will include a 120-seat planetarium.

New contemporary exhibitions at the Science Museum, London

The original aim of the founders of the Science Museum was to create an institution that would embody the huge importance of science and technology to the prosperity and well-being of the nation. However, over time the focus of the Museum had become more historical and the exhibitions had tended to represent the scientific findings of the past.

Almost 10 years ago, the Museum embarked on a programme to improve the representation of contemporary science and technology, ranging from a series of small temporary exhibitions, to public understanding of science initiatives such as the co-organisation of the Science Book Prize and a consensus conference with a lay panel considering the merits of genetic engineering.

Now, a new extension, the Wellcome Wing, will enable the Museum to fully recover and re-interpret the original vision. After the Wing opens in 2000, the Science Museum will become the world's leading centre for the presentation of contemporary science and technology to the public.

This £47m project, with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Wellcome Trust, will increase the size of the Museum by a third, create 4 substantial exhibition spaces, a 3-D IMAX cinema and new catering and retail areas. In addition, the Museum is developing a traditional object-based exhibition in the existing building, Making the Modern World, which will highlight all the significant artefacts in the Museum's collections.

While all the exhibitions will be unified by the theme of contemporaneity, there are some other common strands. All the exhibitions will be visitor-centred, that is to say, they will take into account our visitor's needs, wants, expectations and understandings. In addition, the exhibits will strive to allow our visitors to comment and feed back their own reactions to the subjects raised.

On the ground floor, News and Views will be a series of rapid response exhibitions reflecting the most important events in science as they are reported in the news. Another area, Pattern Place will provide opportunities for children under eight and the adults with them to explore the world of scientific patterns.

On the first floor, the largest exhibition space will deal exclusively with biomedical science. Visitors will be encouraged to examine what defines their identity and makes them different to others, while exploring new techniques such as genetic analysis, imaging and psychological profiling.

On the second floor, Digitations will provide a state of the art introduction to the digital revolution, exploring its impact on the worlds of production, visual arts and the music business.

Finally on the third floor, we are seeking to develop quite a different type of space from the rest of the exhibitions. Future Space will be a continually evolving multimedia art installation designed to invoke the many possibilities for the future. It will encourage visitors to reflect and consider what the worlds of science might hold for them and for their futures.

In addition, another free-standing building is being developed to house a major centre for the public understanding of science, where innovative events and activities will broaden the interpretation of the subjects of the new Wing.

The development of the Wellcome Wing will allow the Museum to do justice not only to the past work of scientists and technologists, but also to the work that is going on today. For further information about this project, please contact:
Aisling Byrne
e-mail: a.byrne at nmsi.ac.uk
phone 00 44 171 938 8232.

The Odyssey Project by Dr Sally Montgomery

Science Centre at Odyssey is part of the Landmark Millennium Project for Northern Ireland which also includes an IMAX theatre, an arena seating 10,000 people for sports and entertainment events, cinemas, bars and restaurants. This £90 Million project must be completed by the end of the year 2000. The site is on the old coal quays by the River Lagan and is part of the Belfast Harbour Estate.

The Science Centre will be operated by the Ulster Museum. The Ulster Museum is now part of the National Museum and Galleries for Northern Ireland having recently merged with the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, and later this year with the Ulster American Folk Park.

The Science Centre will motivate and inspire children, parents, teachers and individuals to discover the wonders of science, engineering and technology, and their practical application to daily life, through exciting interactive exhibits and multimedia displays.

This first large-scale purpose-built Science Centre on the island of Ireland will combine education and entertainment to make science fun and accessible. It will be a place devoted to "Hands-on" learning experiences.

The Centre will be developed in five Zones which will explore aspects of science, engineering and technology relevant to people in Northern Ireland.

The Zones are:

Ourselves:
to explore the wonders of the human body and how to keep it healthy through sensible eating and exercise.

Energy and Movement:
to explore sources of energy and their use in transport such as boats and planes.

Communication:
to explore the many forms of communicating, both natural and technological.

Changing Earth:
to explore the changing weather and the many other physical changes that effect the Earth.

Under Eight's:
a special place for the very young to explore in their own protected space the other four themes through the medium of play. A place for children and parents to interact and learn together.

The Centre will also have a temporary exhibition area for special travelling, community and industry exhibitions, flexible teaching rooms for special classes and events, and a lecture theatre for science drama and demonstrations. All will promote lifelong learning and access to the modern world of science and technology.

The total cost of the Science Centre is £32 million. Since the iSCAN meeting the project has had confirmation of full funding and final approval by the Millennium Commission which will provide £45 Million of the capital funds. The remaining funds are from the Sheridan Group, Laganside Development and the Northern Ireland Office.

Dr Sally Montgomery
Ulster Museum
Botanic Gardens, Belfast BT9 5AB
Email: sallymontgomery at compuserve.com

Strangford Lough Management Committee

Strangford Lough, in County Down, is one of Europe's most important marine sites. This magnificent sea lough with 150 km of contorted shore line has an amazing diversity of habitats. Broad, serene mud flats at its northern end are associated with internationally important numbers of overwintering waders and wildfowl. The arrival of thousands of Light-bellied brent geese from Canada is a magnificent spectacle in Autumn. 30 km to the south is the deep, fast flowing tidal water of the rocky gorge called the Narrows. This is the best area to encounter Irelands largest colony of Common Seal.

This beautiful landscape and fascinating wildlife is one of the main attractions for tourists and recreational users of the Lough, giving a welcome boost to the local economy. The Lough is also used by the fishing industry and for shellfish aquaculture. All of these human activities are dependent on a healthy marine environment but all of them place it under considerable stress. Growth in population brings its own problems, mainly through sewage discharge, loss of habitat and increasing disturbance. Farming activities also affect water quality and shore line habitat.

Managing such a sensitive and sought after resource in a sustainable manner is no easy task. It requires voluntary local and user support as well as a sound legal framework. Scientific evidence of the environmental importance of the Lough has qualified it for numerous protective designations but these will be meaningless if they are not acted upon.

The Strangford Lough Management Committee (SLMC) brings together all organisations with a direct in the Lough: the Northern Ireland Fish Producers Association; Association of Strangford Yacht Clubs; Northern Ireland Farmers Union; and the National Trust, to name but a few. It is comprised of scientists and non-scientists and advises Government (particularly Environment and Heritage Services, the Department of Fisheries and Agriculture and DOE planning Service) on all matters relating to Strangford Lough. Using sound scientific information and sensible local knowledge SLMC aims to : enthuse people on the environmental importance of Strangford Lough; develop a rational, strategic approach to management; help resolve conflict; and encourage a partnership approach.

Some activities planned for 1998 :

• Advise on the development of the overall management scheme for the Lough
• Zoning of aquaculture activities
• Research on seal numbers and movements
• Communication of the meaning and implication of European Designations
• Report on the Human Use of Strangford Lough
• IT/interactive project aiming to raise awareness of, and interest in, the scientific and management planning work being done on Strangford Lough

The Centre for Environmental Data and Recording (CEDaR(NI))

The CEDaR project is three years old, and the recording community has already declared it to be a success. CEDaR is servicing an incredible interest in, and demand for, environmental recording within Northern Ireland. The key objectives of CEDaR are:

• to store information on geological sites, and the distribution of the flora and fauna within Northern Ireland and its coastal waters, on computerised databases
• to make available these data (while ensuring the confidentiality of sensitive records) in a variety of forms, for research, monitoring, nature conservation, education and commercial purposes.

There are a number of significant reasons why CEDaR has flourished over the last three years. Central to these has been the substantial funding that the Ulster Museum has received from the Environment and Heritage Service. Furthermore, all the recording schemes that CEDaR is co-ordinating have been established within a formal and recognisable framework. Underpinning the early achievements of these projects has been the identification, and securing, of processes for the collection, management, analysis and dissemination of data. The achievements of the CEDaR project have been recognised by the consortium developing the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) in the United Kingdom. The NBN will be a partnership of local and national custodians of wildlife information to facilitate access to environmental records within a framework of standards. Within this framework, CEDaR has been described as a suitable model for all developing Local Records Centres. CEDaR has come a long way over the past three years, but it still has a considerable distance to go. The question that should focus the mind over the coming year is: How do we maintain the incredible interest and enthusiasm that CEDaR has generated both at the local and national level?

The thread that is holding us together, is the quest for information. Fundamental to the success of all current biodiversity projects is the availability of information. The Holy Grail that we should all be searching for is: the mechanism through which we can gain access to all relevant environmental data? Put simply, unless we develop ways to gain access to information (be it for a site or species), we cannot make informed decisions. Critically, it is on the assumption that all reliable, and up-to-date information has been made available, that we base our conservation and planning decisions. The recording community within Northern Ireland comprises 'biodiversity information officers'. We should look after this group and pamper them, because it is from such origins that CEDaR's are born.

D.M. McFerran & J.D. Nunn
Centre for Environmental Data and Recording (CEDaR)
Ulster Museum
Botanic Gardens,
Belfast BT9 5AB

The STI Awareness Programme 1998

The Science, Technology and Innovation Awareness Programme 1998, which is managed by Forfás on behalf of the Office of Science and Technology, was launched at the end of February by the Minister for Science, Technology and Commerce Mr. Noel Treacy T.D. at at The theme of the Programme is 'Science for a Successful Ireland' and the key messages are that STI develops:

• Leading-edge industry and skilled jobs
• exciting career options
• creativity in our children

The Programme aims to increase media attention on STI as well as organising and participating in a number of events through the year.

Highlights of the activities include the National Innovation Awards for Business, the ScienceWorks Roadshow for primary schools, a series of science documentaries to be broadcast by RTE in the Autumn, "The Lab" on DEN TV for children, STI Pavilion at the Ideal Homes Exhibition, publication of the Irish Scientist Yearbook and the annual North/South Innovation lecture.

The year will culminate in Science Week Ireland 1998 to be held during 1-8 November 1998. Science Week Ireland promotes science and technology to all levels of society, to all age groups and in all parts of the country. All organisations active in promoting science and technology should contribute to Science Week Ireland in order to maximise public attention on science and technology and its importance to our economy and society. This year there is a special emphasis on STI and the community e.g. the way in which science and technology benefits our environment, local industry and job creation. The Programme hopes that all STI-related and community bodies, including schools, colleges, firms, libraries etc., will take this opportunity to promote themselves by organising an activity, however small, during the week when the attention of the public, government etc. will be on matters scientific. For example, you could organise a walk, a talk, an exhibition, an open day or media coverage of your organisation or activities. The Programme is starting to draw up the calendar of events which will be listed on its website:
http://www.forfas.ie/st/stap.htm

The Programme will publish the calendar of events and promote the week in the media as well as organising a number of flagship events, including an exhibition, lecture and the Forfás National Innovation Conference. Minister Treacy will launch the promotion of Science Week Ireland in Galway, Waterford and Dundalk during May and June.

For further details contact:
Martina McDonnell at Forfás,
Tel. (01)-607-3082.
Eugene Forde, Forfás.
Email: eugene.forde at forfas.ie

Research as a believable activity in Ireland.

The Irish Research Scientists' Association was founded in 1993 as a representative association for Irish researchers. To date we have some 700 members in 17 countries around the world. The main strength of the Association is its multidisciplinary, multi-institutional nature. Though subtitled "The Association for Researchers in Science, Engineering, Technology and Medicine, the Association is open to anybody with a professional interest in research. Teachers, civil servants, politicians, journalists are all associated with IRSA.

The Association has been supported since its foundation by the annual subscription from members, for the last three years by a grant-in-aid from the Office of Science and Technology, Forfás and Forbairt and by a small but growing income from its project activities. Sponsorship and corporate membership is an issue that is being addressed at the present time.

No article about the IRSA would be complete without a brief outline of the current research situation in the Republic. For example, physics research in Queens University is eight times better funded than all the physics research in the Republic. It is this kind of disparity that initially spurred the IRSA founders into setting up the Association.

The Association has a broad range of activities. It lobbies politicians on research issues and has helped in the formulation of Fianna Fáil's S&T policy document of 1997. Science has always been more than just the doing of research and in the last 50 years it has become an integral part of our daily lives. Without increased public awareness of S&T it has no future. IRSA has always been active in promoting S&T awareness. It has often been involved with other organisations both in planning and in running these types of events. One area that has, up to now, been ignored is direct support for research; this is the other side of the public awareness coin and is one which the Association will promote in the future.

One of the most exciting projects being planned at the moment is the Robert Boyle Foundation. This Foundation is being established by IRSA to be an umbrella mechanism to support research and the people who do the research. It will provide a framework for co-operation between researchers in different institutes while maintaining the regional diversity of expertise. The Foundation opens up the possibility of "virtual institutes" where researchers across the country and around the world can collaborate.

The Association is, in many ways, at the end of its infancy and is beginning to emerge as the real voice of research in Ireland. The Association needs new members, as many as possible.
Further details are on our WWW site at:
http://www.irsa.ie

Dr John Donovan
Executive Secretary, IRSA.
Tel/Fax: (01)-295-0630
email: jdonovan at iol.ie

Science Festivals

A special iSCAN meeting and discussion was held on 3 February at DIAS, Burlington Road, Dublin at which Mr Howie Firth of the Orkney Science Foundation and Ms Christiane Berodias of Euro-Pacific made a presentation on Science Festivals. The fundamental reason for having a science festival is to bridge the gap between science and human affairs. A science festival should put science in a human context, it should promote the local region and it should involve the entire community. A community can be stimulated by a focus on education and career choices in science and technology. Mr Firth cited his experience in running the Orkney Science Festival where diverse themes included archaeoastronomy, the oil industry and fishing. at at at

The main benefits to a region of science festival include an assessment of its natural resources, a heightened awareness of the problems and opportunities of local industry and an influx of new ideas. A festival can enhance the profile of a region and raise the self esteem of its community. When running a festival, it is often beneficial to organise a conference which will focus on a particular topic relevant to the development of the region. Above all, a creative flair is essential to involve the entire community.

Howie Firth may be contacted at:
Tel: 00-44-1856-876214,
email: science at orkney.com

Award for newMetropolis

The Director of newMetropolis in Amsterdam, Hein Willems, has announced that the interactive game 'Super Banker', developed by the newMetropolis science centre, has been awarded first prize in the 1998 Industry Forum Interaction Design Award Competition at CeBIT '98 at Hannover. The game is part of the Interactive Zone on the first floor of the science centre and it allows visitors to test their financial and communication skills. Each visitor receives an entrance ticket with a magnetic stripe which entitles them to a basic investment and a limited amount of playing time. The game was developed by newMetropolis in collaboration with ABN AMRO Bank, one of the main sponsors of the science centre.

The purpose of the competition is to identify good design in product communication and media design. The criteria for judging this category were interactivity, innovation, aesthetics and the way information is structured.

The BIG Event

The British Interactive Group is organising a Fabricator's Conference and BIG Event in July at the Herstmonceux Science Centre, Sussex. The Fabricator's Conference (21-23 July) is an opportunity for those who design and operate hands-on exhibits to exchange ideas and to try out new designs. The BIG Event (23-26 July) includes entertainment, science shows, demonstrations and talks, with the accent on interactivity. All the events are open to non-members of BIG and there is a special rate for students.

Further particulars may be obtained from:
Ian Elliott
Dunsink Observatory
Tel: (01)-838-7911
Email: ie at dunsink.dias.ie

Irish Mining and Exploration Group (IMEG) welcomes
Minister's support for National Mining and Heritage Centre
at Shalee, Co. Tipperary

IMEG represents the mineral exploration and mining section within the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC). IMEG welcomes the strong support expressed recently by Minister Michael Smith (T.D. North Tipperary) for a National Mining Heritage Centre at the disused Shallee Mine near Silvermines, Co. Tipperary. Minister Smith's support is a significant stimulus to the development of this project and complements the backing expressed earlier by the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Michael Woods, T.D.

The concept of a Mining Museum at Shallee has been studied and promoted by Shannon Development, by Shannon Heritage and by local supporters for several years. IMEG has also been closely involved with Shannon Heritage in promoting this concept. it represents a unique opportunity to create a professionally designed and operated tourism attraction which will bring mining history to life for a wider public.

The Shallee Mine is an important element of a mining history at Silvermines which spans 700 years. The Shallee site encompasses accessible underground vistas and a range of historical mine buildings together with interesting botanical features. Following Minister Smith's intervention, IMEG looks forward to a speedy implementation of Shannon Heritage's plans by the Millennium.

For further information please contact:
Derek Maynard
Director IMEG
01-6601011

Sean Finlay
Vice Chairman IMEG
01-6611245

Stokes Summer School, Skreen, Co. Sligo 6-10 August, 1998

A celebration at his birthplace of the many areas of physics and mathematics to which Sir George Gabriel Stokes made major contributions. Among the speakers are some of the world's leading authorities.

Speakers who have accepted invitations to date include:
Prof. Alastair Wood (DCU)
Prof. Keith Moffatt (Cambridge)
Dr Christopher Howls (Brunel)

Deadline 30 May, 1998
Registration £220
(including accommodation and meals).

For further information and bookings:
Ms Carmel Morley
School of Mathematical Sciences, DCU
Glasnevin, Dublin 9
Tel : +353 - 1 - 7045293
Fax : +353 - 1 - 7045786
email: carmel.morley at dcu.ie

[ vol.1 ] [ vol.2 ] [ vol.3 ] [ vol.4 ] [ vol.5 ] [ vol.6 ] [ vol.7 ] [ vol.8 ] [ vol.9 ]
[ vol.10 ] [ vol.11 ] [ vol.12 ] [ vol.13 ]